Thank you, Caleb McConnell (
@caleb_mcco
).
I've never seen a better wing defender in college basketball.
It was an honor for that player to be wearing a
@RutgersMBB
jersey.
#Rutgers
' all-time leader in steals & a culture changer.
Caleb left an indelible mark on the RU program.
The greatest Woj Bomb in the history of Woj Bombs.
Today,
@RutgersMBB
changed forever.
On Dec. 6, 2023, you could make the argument that
#Rutgers
basketball has the best recruiting class in all of college basketball.
RU fans, cherish these times.
Dylan Harper, enjoy your day!
Don Bosco (N.J.) Prep guard Dylan Harper — the No. 2 prospect in the ESPN Class of 2024 — is committing to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, he tells ESPN. Harper is making public that decision at the
@Fanatics
offices in New York shortly.
I am going to puke.
That was incredible.
Only we have to suffer through an ending like that. Ever.
@RutgersMBB
goes into Mackey & beats No. 1 Purdue.
#Rutgers
will be in the mix in every game this season.
5 thoughts before I somehow put together a Spaces.
#TheKnighthood
This is one of the major wins of the college hoops offseason.
Cliff Omoruyi will be a critical piece to
@RutgersMBB
's defense in 2023-2024 & has a chance to develop more offensive weapons for
#NBA
scouts come next spring.
Big Cliff, welcome back to RU!
#Rutgers
#TheKnighthood
I'm sure there are people in the Syracuse basketball community who liked Jim Boeheim.
Maybe he even did kind-hearted things for them.
Bottom line: Jim was a bad guy, who disrespected & demeaned anyone without power.
He did not deserve a position of authority.
Good riddance.
*BREAKING*
With today’s results in East Lansing & Columbus, your
#Rutgers
Scarlet Knights enter Sunday, February 20, 2022 in the Top 4 in the Big Ten standings.
@RutgersMBB
fans, you can start dreaming about a double bye.
Just keep winning. It’s nearly March.
#GardenStatement
BREAKING:
I am blubbering like a baby alone in my apartment.
It is a damn good feeling. A great cry.
@RutgersMBB
locks up its first NCAA bid since 1991, in typical
#Rutgers
fashion.
The most excruciating way possible.
5 thoughts on RU's OT win @ Minnesota.
#GardenStatement
Absolutely gutted.
It is likely
#Rutgers
entered the week dead to a Big Ten Tournament title, because it's clear the NCAA committee deemed that 4 Quad 3 losses was disqualifying.
Not even the first team out, so that's all you need to know.
Finality is crushing.
#TheKnighthood
In one of the most stunning comebacks in
@RutgersMBB
history,
#Rutgers
somehow steals a victory from certain defeat.
From 19 points back & left for dead, RU picks up its 6th Q1 win & 4th Q1 road Big Ten win, rallying to beat Penn State.
5 thoughts then Spaces...
#TheKnighthood
RANK
#RUTGERS
.
This series has provided incredible games.
RU defeats OSU in OT, validating advanced metrics & likely putting the Scarlet Knights into tomorrow’s Top 25.
5 thoughts coming up from Highland Park in a bit as we hang with the parents for the Gmen.
#TheKnighthood
Rutgers junior Jeremiah Williams confirms he will remain with the Scarlet Knights next season.
“Rutgers is home !”
Williams averaged 12.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists this season
Reasons why
#Rutgers
should be in the NCAA Tournament:
- 6 Q1 wins, 9 Q1/2 wins, 7-8 wins against the field
Bad marks:
- Q4 loss to Lafayette when Geo Baker missed the final 7 minutes
- Q3 loss to UMass that Geo Baker missed
Wins matter. This isn’t calculus.
#GardenStatement
** BREAKING
#RUTGERS
NEWS **
With OSU’s win at Northwestern,
#Rutgers
ends Jan. 1, 2023 at No. 18 in KenPom… tied for the
@RutgersMBB
record on the site.
RU last held the No. 18 spot on Jan. 1, 2021 following a win vs. Purdue.
RU visits No. 1 Purdue tomorrow.
#TheKnighthood
Results beget talent.
In 2016, when Steve Pikiell took over
@RutgersMBB
that March, his recruiting class was ranked outside the Top 100 with just one Top 250 player.
Today, his 2023 class is Top 25, & 2024 class is Top 5 with more momentum by the day.
#Rutgers
#TheKnighthood
What has
#Rutgers
added in the portal to join two projected Top 10
#NBA
Draft picks & a veteran PG?
- One of the top scorers in the nation (Tyson Acuff)
- A tough, catch & shoot 4 (Zach Martini)
- Maybe the best defensive guard in the portal (Jordan Derkack)
All-in on center.
Already seeing some tweets about Steve Pikiell entertaining the Notre Dame job.
This isn’t 2013.
#Rutgers
is an exponentially better basketball job than ND & will continue to be so for a long time.
Sure, give the man another raise & extension.
Build a statue.
#TheKnighthood
#RUTGERS
deserved THAT.
Eric Curry tried to steal it.
That nothing-burger
#Maryland
crowd couldn't will them to a win.
5 thoughts as RU wins back-to-back road games, walking into College Park & knocking off Kevin Willard once again.
SPACES WILL FOLLOW!
#TheKnighthood
Take a step back.
5 years ago this week,
#Rutgers
lost its 6th game in a row to drop to 2-15 in the Big Ten.
Today, the Scarlet Knights are favored against Big Ten co-leader
#Wisconsin
, while on the NCAA bubble for the 3rd straight February.
Appreciate it.
#GardenStatement
The year is 2023.
@RutgersMBB
is ranked No. 19 in KenPom & No. 21 in NET.
#Rutgers
visits the No. 1 team in the nation (Purdue) Monday night & metrics believe it will be a game.
We are not in a simulation, folks. This is the new normal.
Happy new year to all!
#TheKnighthood
CAM SPENCER.
Best shooter at Rutgers since Quincy Douby.
#Rutgers
goes on the road & beats
#Northwestern
plus a few referees for a massive Q1 win in Evanston.
5 thoughts before we jump on Spaces.
#TheKnighthood
Quick reminder to
#Rutgers
fans to act like human beings re: some of the decisions being made this week & next.
I understand reading into social media posts from RU players, but commenting on them with your "hoops expertise" relative to a personal decision?
Get lost with that.
Thanks to Jalen Miller for being an important part of the
@RutgersMBB
program.
It was so evident how much his teammates loved him.
His defensive intensity in the Dec. 2021 win over No. 1 Purdue, waving on the Boilermakers guards, was his RAC moment.
#Rutgers
#TheKnighthood
Rutgers guard Jalen Miller has entered the transfer portal, a source told me.
Miller just wrapped up his sophomore season with the Scarlet Knight and played his high school ball at Bishop Walsh (MD).
Former 3⭐️ recruit.
No player has done more to change the
@RutgersMBB
culture than Geo Baker.
Whether this is an evaluation before pursuing pro basketball options, or time to consider returning to
#Rutgers
for a 5th year, I hope Geo finds what's best for his future.
Thank you
#0
.
#GardenStatement
Jacob Young:
- Dunked Purdue’s Matt Haarms out of the Big Ten to provide a lasting pre-pandemic memory
- Intercepted a pass at mid-court & dominated Minnesota in OT to send
#Rutgers
to the NCAAs for the first time in 30 years
JY gave RU plenty in 2 years.
#GardenStatement
It is remarkable what Steve Pikiell has done for my favorite sports program.
@RutgersMBB
was relatively irrelevant (albeit loved by many) for 25 years.
The last 4 years have been fun & it seems things are about to get even better.
Happy birthday Steve!
#Rutgers
#TheKnighthood
Happy birthday to one of the greatest coaches in Rutgers History, STEVE PIKIELL. Please celebrate by defending, rebounding, destroying your phone with a sledge hammer and having an unbelievable day!
Note to the NCAA Tournament committee:
The last time that
@RutgersMBB
gave up 98 points in a regulation game was Feb. 27, 2016 @ Northwestern.
Eddie Jordan was in his final weeks as
#Rutgers
' head coach.
#Nevada
did that in your tournament last night. Pathetic.
#TheKnighthood
WE DID IT FAM!
I jumped on my father & started tearing up (OK fine, all out crying).
A road win for
@RutgersMBB
in March to put the Scarlet Knights on solid footing for Selection Sunday.
5 thoughts on an all-timer the program.
#Rutgers
#GardenStatement
Here's the only upside to tomorrow's
@NCAA
distinction of a home game for
#Rutgers
at Madison Square Garden.
I'm pretty sure no Syracuse or UConn game at MSG has been deemed a home game.
Hat-tip to
@AdamHache
.
@RutgersMBB
- officially NYC's college hoops team.
#TheKnighthood
Oskar Palmquist is another guy who clearly brought more to the
#Rutgers
locker room than we see as outsiders.
Beyond those intangible contributions, he stepped up in a big way in February when Mawot Mag went down.
Thanks to Oskar for his time with
@RutgersMBB
.
#TheKnighthood
News: Rutgers reserve forward Oskar Palmquist has entered the transfer portal, per
@VerbalCommits
.
He becomes the second Scarlet Knight to explore a transfer this offseason:
One game at a time!
#Rutgers
grits out a W over
#Northwestern
without Mawot Mag.
Both teams fought through difficult rotations due to injuries & an ejection, but RU wins a 4th in a row to get to the Big Ten top half.
5 thoughts from the (hopefully) 9:14 train!
#TheKnighthood
Growing up, I watched a lot of GREAT defenders play at
#Rutgers
.
Mike Sherrod, Juel Wiggan, Herve Lamizana & Hamady N'Diaye were top-shelf.
Marquis Webb was the man to beat for a long time.
I'm not sure we'll ever see another like Caleb McConnell.
@RutgersMBB
#TheKnighthood
🏆𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔅𝔢𝔰𝔱 𝔇𝔢𝔣𝔢𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯 𝔦𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔑𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫 🏆
Caleb McConnell (
@caleb_mcco
) was surprised by his family and
@CoachPikiell
with the 2023 Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year Award.
#TheKnighthood
🛡️⚔️
Terrence Shannon Jr., checks in just 2:24 into the game to what sounded like mostly cheers in Champaign.
Has missed the last 6 games after being suspended.
There's been some discussion about the atmosphere on Saturday night in NJ.
I'll take a stab and say that it will be the most raucous football environment in Piscataway since Sept. 13, 2014 when PSU visited a 2-0 RU team.
#Rutgers
vs.
#Iowa
is a 7:10pm kickoff.
#CHOP
#FTC
#Rutgers
won conference realignment & is improving results in all sports (including multiple ‘21-‘22 Final Fours).
@RutgersU
provides more career resources & posts greater research success than 99% of schools complaining about its Big Ten admission 8 years later.
Why is that?
#Rutgers
gets the Garden State Hardwood Classic Trophy back.
The Scarlet Knights’ 3-point sharp shooting… yup, no need for a double take… lifts RU to its first W versus Seton Hall at Prudential Center since 2013.
5 thoughts coming from the 11:10 Newark to NYC.
#TheKnighthood
In today's
@kenpomeroy
rankings,
@RutgersMBB
is in front of the following teams:
- Indiana
- North Carolina
- Kentucky
- Duke
- Florida
- Gonzaga
Those six programs have 70 all-time Final Four appearances & 26 MBB national titles.
#Rutgers
is having a moment.
#TheKnighthood
Eric Curry takes games over.
He just called a technical foul that could dictate the final 3 minutes.
Whether or not a result shifts, he & Rob Riley remain the two officials that the Big Ten can no longer employ in good conscience.
It’s absolutely obscene.
#Rutgers
#Maryland
Important disclaimer:
We all can play hoops experts on Twitter, but these are college kids.
They have been isolated from friends, family, girlfriends & shuttled around the country.
Obviously want them to win, but thinking of their mental health too.
#Rutgers
#GardenStatement
NEVER, EVER, EVER TAKE THESE LAST THREE YEARS FOR GRANTED.
#Rutgers
is back to the NCAA Tournament, this time in the First Four as the Scarlet Knights travel to Dayton to take on Notre Dame.
The winner heads to San Diego to face Alabama.
FIVE KEYS for RU...
#GardenStatement
Note to all in
#Columbus
tonight:
Let's remember that a player can't be the first to touch the basketball after being established out of bounds.
Just checking that we're all on the same page. Thanks.
@RutgersMBB
at 7pm on Big Ten Network.
#Rutgers
#OhioState
#TheKnighthood
**
#RUTGERS
YEAR-END THREAD **
I thought I could sleep, but it's a futile exercise. We're on 28 straight hours awake with no end in sight. Back in NYC trying to process the memories & emotions.
@RutgersMBB
plays in the NCAAs in consecutive years.
Long recap.
#GardenStatement
3.5 years ago, Isiah Pacheco did the first-ever
#Rutgers
#NIL
deal.
Now, he’s got Taylor Swift celebrating his TDs from a suite & throwing up his jersey number.
Congrats to Pop, an awesome representative of RU & a terrific competitor.
#CHOP
#FTC
@RFootball
@isiah_pachecoRB
Episode 85 is our first conversation with
@RFootball
RB
@isaih_pacheco
as part of his NIL deal with
@ScarletSpotRU
.
Pop talks openly about what drives him, playing during COVID, and his expectations for 2021.
Listen now:
Absolutely the right move for Cliff Omoruyi.
He’ll get some invaluable feedback at the NBA Draft assessments, but I do expect he’ll return to
#Rutgers
for his senior year.
Rim protection got so much better & now he’ll improve some offensive aspects of his game.
#TheKnighthood
Clifford Omoruyi (
@wizcliff77
) has declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, while maintaining his NCAA eligibility the junior center announced on Thursday afternoon.
#TheKnighthood
🛡️⚔️
#RUTGERS
SENIOR DAY TIME UPDATE:
The Scarlet Knights will honor their seniors @ ~11:42am Sunday morning in Piscataway.
Let's make sure we're actually in our seats by 11:30am, so the place is a madhouse the entire ceremony.
@RutgersMBB
vs. PSU tips at Noon ET.
#GardenStatement
Disregard upcoming overreactions from national reporters.
#Rutgers
will build around its generational opportunity.
- Simpson: 31% from 2 on 210+ attempts
- Mag: missed 18 of RU's last 20 games
- Cliff's blocks were unreal, but only 51.8% from 2
Chill, everyone.
#TheKnighthood
Rutgers has Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper incoming for next season but they are quickly losing their supporting cast with Cliff Omoruyi, Mawot Mag and Derek Simpson all transferring.
Scarlet Knights going to need to build a strong supporting cast for their young stars.
Flight, Airbnb & First Four tickets booked & ready to go for
@RutgersMBB
vs. Notre Dame.
#Rutgers
Nation, we'll see you in Dayton on Wednesday for a celebration of this RU team.
Hope everyone enjoyed Spaces.
Check out 5 thoughts & let's get pumped for NCAAs.
#GardenStatement
One of the greatest games in NCAA Tournament history.
Beyond gutted.
Not prepared to do 5 thoughts tonight, but will include them in my season recap thread this weekend.
No Spaces due to transportation stuff.
Love to all.
So proud of this program.
#Rutgers
#GardenStatement
.
@RutgersMBB
fans, here’s my message after today:
#Rutgers
is here to stay. This team can play with anyone.
It defends, rebounds & has 7 guys who can lead the team in scoring any night.
I don’t know what these next 8 weeks will bring, but let’s have some fun.
#GardenStatement
Pillow Soft. Hoosier Daddy. Feather in the cap W for
@RutgersMBB
.
#Rutgers
dominates
#Indiana
, holds them to 48 points, wins by 15 & takes its 6th straight over IU.
The Scarlet Knights get a Q1 W to start a big, four-game stretch.
5 thoughts coming up in a bit!
#TheKnighthood
For those who call Syracuse & UConn the college hoops teams of New York City, take this into account.
I’m at Penn Station after leaving my NYC apartment moments ago.
I had lunch, will attend
@RutgersMBB
& be back in NYC by dinner.
They can’t do that.
#Rutgers
#GardenStatement
What a wild two hours!
#Rutgers
dominates
#Wisconsin
in every facet of the game & defeats the
#Badgers
by 22.
3 in a row for the Scarlet Knights, which look like an entirely different team with Jeremiah Williams.
5 thoughts in a bit as
#FebRuaRy
rolls on at RU.
#TheKnighthood
College basketball has been personally cancelled for me. Badgers stink. That was fun for 2 months now it sucks. Back to doo doo ville. No further questions
5) Folks,
#Rutgers
just won on the road against the No. 1 team in the nation. They’ve defeated Purdue 5 of the last 6, and the Indiana schools 11 of the last 12. It’s conceivable RU enters Selection Sunday with the only road win at a then No. 1. This lives in RU lore forever.
BREAKING: Rutgers is working extend men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell's contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told NJAM.
The BOG scheduled a special virtual meeting for Thursday to “act on a contract amendment for basketball coach.”
When you need a
#Rutgers
get-right game, tee up
#Indiana
.
@RutgersMBB
wins its 9th in 11 contests vs. the Hoosiers, including a 5th in a row in Piscataway
5 thoughts coming up from a 9:41 train, assuming we can float to NYC.
Big Ten win number one! 66-57 final.
#TheKnighthood
Recruiting update for
@RutgersMBB
:
✅ Ace Bailey
✅ Bryce Dortch
✅ Dylan Grant
✅ Lathan Sommerville
Zero drama down the stretch with this quartet of
#Rutgers
hoops recruits, with the fall signing deadline at 11:59pm tonight.
Now, RU fans wait on Dylan Harper.
#TheKnighthood
If you're looking for a 2024
@RutgersMBB
recruiting primer, here you go.
NLI timeline update for
#Rutgers
:
Today (Nov. 8) - Dylan Grant & Bryce Dortch
Saturday (Nov. 11) - Ace Bailey
Next Wednesday (Nov. 15) - Lathan Sommerville
Waiting on just one more guy...
#TheKnighthood
How can you not root for Mawot Mag?
What an awesome story that puts life into perspective.
Take 5 minutes and watch this tonight.
#Rutgers
#TheKnighthood
Mawot Mag was born in Sudan.
The South Sudanese Civil War sent him and family to a refugee camp in Egypt, before they immigrated to Melbourne, Australia.
@BTNJourney
shares the
@RutgersMBB
F's story.
The reaction to this weekend's
#Rutgers
events has been focused on not hiring a football coach.
To me, it represents a systemic issue at
@RutgersU
which has spanned my lifetime... an inability to supplant politics when passionate supporters are aligned.
I am very frustrated.
NEWS: UMass transfer Noah Fernandes has committed to Rutgers, he tells
@On3sports
.
Shot 45.2% from three and 48% from the field this season. Averaged 13.4 PTS, 2.5 REB, and 4.1 AST.
Story w/ quotes:
Midway through the 1st, I had lost hope.
Much like every moment since January 2020,
@RutgersMBB
comes through in a spot it absolutely needed to make the
#NCAA
Tournament.
#Rutgers
bursts
#Michigan
bubble, and maybe solidifies its spot in the field.
5 thoughts.
#TheKnighthood
As a family, we promised that no matter where we lived, on the first Selection Sunday since 1991 we'd find a way to be together.
Today, I leave Manhattan & tomorrow my brother will follow from Brooklyn to join Mom & Dad.
See you soon, Highland Park.
#Rutgers
#GardenStatement
4-4 football team with a legitimate shot at bowl eligibility.
Hoops squads looking for consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
Olympic Sports winning Big Ten titles (WSOC) & ranking Top 5 nationally (FH).
Heady times for
@RUAthletics
.
#Rutgers
#CHOP
#FTC
#GardenStatement
@NYPost_Brazille
For a college basketball reporter who skews toward shit-poster, you truly know how to avoid data.
Acuff: 21.7ppg (8th in nation)
Martini: 37% from deep on mostly catch & shoot
Derkack: -13.2 team DRtg delta with him off-court
I understand you don't like
#Rutgers
, but wow dude.
Dylan Harper & Ace Bailey are playing in the Slam Summer Classic at Rucker Park on Sat. Aug. 19.
Quick 15-minute Uber from my apartment, so I'll see you on West 155th Street.
Any other
#Rutgers
fans making the trip to Harlem?
#TheKnighthood
#Rutgers
basketball ‘24-‘25 portal additions to date:
- Tyson Acuff: guard with size and a proven pure scorer
- Zach Martini: a pick & pop big who can shoot the 3 & will play any role asked of him
3-point specialist & rim-protecting center still on the docket.
#TheKnighthood
Since March 1, 2018,
#Rutgers
is 7-1 vs. Indiana in men's basketball.
RU now has defeated the Hoosiers in football back-to-back, including a road shutout last year.
You can't find many profiles in the Big Ten that match this level of success vs. IU.
#CHOP
#FTC
#GardenStatement
#Rutgers
went toe-to-toe with a No. 1 seed (maybe the top No. 2 seed) in
#Purdue
, bowing out in the Big Ten QFs.
If you watched today & evaluate the body of work,
@RutgersMBB
should be in the main NCAA field (not Dayton).
5 thoughts now, we'll do Spaces Sunday.
#TheKnighthood
HOOSIER DADDY.
5 thoughts as
#Rutgers
beats its underling
#Indiana
in Bloomington on Ronald Harper Jr.’s heroics.
Spaces will follow thoughts.
#GardenStatement
This is the general consensus right now.
#Rutgers
is likely the last bye heading into today.
That means this should be the RU fan rooting guide to avoid Dayton:
- Texas A&M over Vanderbilt
- Purdue over Ohio State
- FAU over UAB
Let's embrace this weekend, college hoops heads!
The third portal departure of the offseason, but all of the expected ones: Jalen Miller, Oskar Palmquist & Dean Reiber.
Thanks to Dean for some great
#Rutgers
flashes his freshman year, including in the blowout against Michigan State.
He's going to crush it at a lower level.
News -- Rutgers forward Dean Reiber is in the transfer portal, per
@VerbalCommits
. He is the third Scarlet Knight to explore a transfer this offseason:
Reasons why
#Rutgers
should be in the NCAA Tournament:
- 6 Q1 wins, 9 Q1/2 wins, 7-8 wins against the field
Bad marks:
- Q4 loss to Lafayette when Geo Baker missed the final 7 minutes
- Q3 loss to UMass that Geo Baker missed
Wins matter. This isn’t calculus.
#GardenStatement
Without playing on New Year's Eve,
@RutgersMBB
has jumped to No. 19 on KenPom, one shy of the
#Rutgers
record.
- Columbia > Yale
- Sacred Heart > LIU
- UMass Lowell > NJIT
- Rider > Canisius
- CCSU > SFNY
- Seton Hall > St. John's
- Wake Forest > Va Tech
Insane.
#TheKnighthood
Today is Bubble Day. 🫧
Critical day for these teams:
Rutgers
Michigan
Mississippi State
Pitt
Nevada
Penn State
Oklahoma State
North Carolina
NC State
Clemson
Utah State
Arizona State
THIS. DEFENSE.
A grind it out, massive win for
@RutgersMBB
in NYC.
#Rutgers
over Michigan State for a win that will carry weight on Selection Sunday.
Really hope Mawot Mag is OK.
5 thoughts coming up in a bit after I find my postgame meal crew in the lobby!
#TheKnighthood
Rutgers is just so damn good defensively. The Scarlet Knights stifle the Michigan State offense and slow them down to 55 points. I wouldn’t want to see Rutgers matched up against me in March.
Player decides to grad transfer for a master’s degree: “He must not be focused on basketball.”
Player highlights college athlete advocacy: “It’s a distraction.”
Player tests NBA Draft waters: “He’s not ready.”
Coach leaves mid-major for power conference school: “A+ hire.”
🙄
Statement win for Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights came into today with a 94 NET, but pick up its SIXTH Q1 win of the season. A resume unlike any other.
They certainly look like an NCAA tournament team.
Random
@RutgersMBB
stat for your Monday night:
#Rutgers
is No. 1 in the nation at forcing “non-steal turnovers.”
These consist of travels, balls thrown out of bounds, charges, etc.
RU forces these types of turnovers on 11.6% of possessions.
What a wild figure.
#TheKnighthood