Rutgers basketball declines to play in NIT, College Basketball Crown

The Rutgers basketball team’s deeply disappointing 2024-25 season is now officially over.

The Scarlet Knights considered entering the NIT or the College Basketball Crown – a new consolation tournament sponsored by Fox – but discussions between head coach Steve Pikiell and his players ended with the uniforms getting tucked away.

“The Rutgers men’s basketball program will not participate in any postseason tournaments this season,” the program said in a statement Sunday morning. “We would like to thank our players and staff for their hard work this year and our fans for their continued support.”

Either tournament would have included the Scarlet Knights if they were willing. The College Basketball Crown is a 16-team event in Las Vegas featuring at least two programs from the each of the Big Ten, Big East and Big 12, but Rutgers did not receive an auto bid and thus was free to decline. The Crown doesn’t begin until March 31, which is a detriment because the transfer portal opens March 24.

In the NIT, Rutgers would have opened on the road sometime this week. The NIT dropped its .500 record requirement a few years ago.

Pikiell wanted his players to have agency with the decision, which comes after Rutgers – which started the campaign ranked No. 25 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 – finished 15-17 overall and 8-12 in the Big Ten. That’s why they took a few days to arrive at a decision after Wednesday’s loss to USC in the Big Ten Tournament’s opening round.

Superstar freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey will turn their attention to June’s NBA Draft, where they are viewed as top-5 picks. There will be some transfer-portal activity as well as Rutgers looks to rebuild around three other promising freshmen forwards – Lathan Sommerville, Dylan Grant and Bryce Dortch.

Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.

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