Rutgers men's basketball announces 2022-23 non-conference schedule
The Rutgers men’s basketball team released its full non-conference schedule last week. The slate includes 11 games, including nine home games at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Livingston campus starting on Nov. 7.
The season will start off with three home games against Columbia, Sacred Heart and UMass Lowell. The Scarlet Knights will then hit the road for the first time season to play Temple at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, before returning to New Jersey to take on Rider and Central Connecticut State.
The Blue Devils are 1 of 2 repeat opponents from last season. In the two teams’ game on New Year’s Day, Rutgers cruised its way to a 79-48 win behind a 19-point, 12-rebound performance from then-sophomore center Clifford Omoruyi.
Two of the Knights’ most difficult non-conference opponents follow the game against Central Connecticut State. First, on Nov. 30, Rutgers will travel to Coral Gables, Florida, to take part in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge against Miami.
The Hurricanes are one of the most accomplished teams in the Knights’ non-conference slate as, last season, the team finished 26-11 and made it all the way to the Elite Eight before losing to the eventual national champion, Kansas.
Following Miami, it will be Rutgers’ turn to host the annual Garden State Hardwood Classic against in-state rival Seton Hall on Dec. 11. The Knights dropped last season’s contest at the Prudential Center 77-63 despite four players scoring in double-figures.
Last time the Pirates visited Jersey Mike’s Arena, Rutgers stormed its way to a 68-48 victory in one of the most memorable victories of the past few seasons.
The Knights will round out their non-conference schedule around Christmas with home matchups against Wake Forest, Bucknell and Coppin State. The game against the Demon Deacons is part of a home-and-home series between the schools over the next two seasons.
“We are excited for the opportunity to play another challenging non-conference schedule and continuing to grow our incredible home court environment at Jersey Mike's Arena in 2022-23," said head coach Steve Pikiell. "Our team will be tested throughout each of these 11 games as we look forward to preparing to compete in the nation's most competitive conference in the Big Ten."
Rutgers will look to have a smoother non-conference run in 2022-23 as opposed to last season. In 2021-22, the Knights went 6-4 last season in their non-conference slate, with three of those losses coming to non-NCAA Tournament teams.
This season’s non-conference slate is a continuation of a trend under Pikiell of keeping the program’s strength of schedule among the best in the nation. Along with the help of playing in the Big Ten, Rutgers has had a strength of schedule inside the top 65 nationally every year since Pikiell took over in 2016.
With a strong performance from the team in this part of the schedule, the Knights would put themselves in a strong position to make it to a program-record third consecutive NCAA Tournament.
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