No. 1 Purdue Upset by Unranked Rutgers for 1st Loss of Season
Jan 3, 2023
Rutgers players celebrates after defeated Purdue in 65-64 in an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
And then there was one.
New Mexico is the last remaining unbeaten team in men's college basketball after No. 1 Purdue was upset by visiting Rutgers 65-64 on Monday night.
Scarlet Knights guard Cam Spencer drilled a go-ahead three-pointer with 13.3 seconds remaining to quiet the Mackey Arena crowd. That followed a three-pointer from Boilermakers guard Fletcher Loyer with 29.3 seconds on the clock that put his team ahead.
Purdue (13-1, 2-1 in Big Ten) had two chances to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Guard Ethan Morton had a good look from long range, but his effort hit the front rim and bounced off the backboard.
The Boilermakers then couldn't get a shot off with 0.4 seconds to play.
This is the second straight year Rutgers (10-4, 2-1) took down No. 1 Purdue. Last year's upset went down to the wire as well, with Ron Harper Jr.'s desperation heave finding the mark.
"We know what's coming," Purdue head coach Matt Painter told reporters. "What Rutgers did tonight didn't shock us. If we were going to war, we'd stop by New Jersey and pick them up."
Spencer finished with 14 points and was one of three Rutgers players to score in double figures.
Senior guard Paul Mulcahy led the way with 16 points, and his offensive flurry late in the second half was instrumental in turning the tide. He scored seven points inside the final four minutes as Rutgers went ahead 62-57.
On the other side, a double-double by Purdue center Zach Edey (19 points, 11 rebounds) wasn't enough. The Boilermakers shot 39.6 percent from the field 7-of-23 from beyond the arc.
Purdue has an opportunity to rebound and perhaps retain its top-ranked status Thursday when it hits the road to play No. 24 Ohio State.
Notre Dame Beats Rutgers in 2OT, Will Play Alabama in 1st Round of March Madness
Mar 17, 2022
DAYTON, OHIO - MARCH 16: Blake Wesley #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish drives with the ball in the second half of the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the First Four game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 16, 2022 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The ACC lost the ACC/Big Ten Challenge earlier this season, but it earned some bragging rights between the two conferences in dramatic fashion in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish stunned the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 89-87 in double-overtime in Wednesday's First Four game in Dayton, Ohio. Paul Atkinson Jr., Cormac Ryan and Nate Laszewski led the way for the victors in the matchup of No. 11 seeds in the West Region.
Atkinson's putback in the final two seconds of the second overtime decided it, and Notre Dame will now look to keep rolling against Alabama in the round of 64.
Happy St. Patrick's Day! š@NDmbb wins a thriller in double OT to knock off Rutgers!
Something had to give in Wednesday's matchup between a red-hot team and one that is accustomed to thriving under the bright lights of pressure-packed games this season.
Notre Dame appeared well on its way to a disappointing campaign with a 4-5 start, but it finished the regular season on an 18-5 tear to clinch a spot in the Big Dance. Rutgers also earned its spot in impressive fashion with victories over Purdue, Michigan, Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois.
After defeating a who's who list of programs in the Big Ten, the Scarlet Knights were ready for the bright lights of March out of the gates and jumped out to a 41-36 halftime lead.
Harper banged in the post and showed he could extend his game outside the arc like he has all season, but McConnell was the early story. He took advantage of the space created by the attention Harper drew and poured in 18 first-half points with a combination of outside shots and strong drives to go with his buzzer-beater in transition.
Frankly, it was a stunning start since McConnell's season-high point total was 16, but the Fighting Irish stayed within striking distance by pounding the paint. Atkinson overwhelmed Rutgers' frontcourt with his physicality and ability to finish at the rim for extended stretches.
That proved key because Notre Dame answered with a spark of its own after intermission with back-to-back threes from Ryan and Dane Goodwin before Blake Wesley's layup gave the ACC representative its first lead of the second half.
The momentum completely swung as Notre Dame took a more balanced attack with Ryan, Goodwin and Laszewski providing support for Atkinson that was largely missing when Rutgers controlled the first half.
It was the secondary support a Rutgers bench that finished with zero points failed to provide on the other side, which was all the more problematic because McConnell fizzled as the game continued.
Enter Baker in crunch time as the replacement scorer for McConnell.
He scored nine straight points for the Scarlet Knights to end regulation right when it appeared as if the game was slipping away. A three-pointer while falling to his left and an off-balance jumper in the lane tied it with less than two minutes remaining, but neither team scored a point for the rest of regulation, with Baker's shot at the buzzer falling short.
The first overtime was a series of hero moments. Harper banked in a three to give the Scarlet Knights the lead, but Ryan stole an inbounds pass and scored to take it right back. Paul Mulcahy then seemed to win it for the Big Ten team with a monster three with 10 seconds left, only for Wesley to save the day for his side and force double-overtime with a coast-to-coast layup.
Yet it was only Atkinson who played the role of hero in the second extra period with a shot he will remember for the rest of his life.
What's Next?
Notre Dame will face Alabama on Friday.
Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Former Rutgers Player, Hits Playground Shot in Viral Video
Dec 24, 2021
COLLEGE PARK, MD - FEBRUARY 01: Kathleen Fitzpatrick #10 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights shoots the ball against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on February 1, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
Turns out that the third-grade teacher who promised her class some hot chocolate if she made a deep basketāand promptly sank the shot, in a video that has since gone viralāhas some serious game.
As in, she's former Rutgers basketball player Kathleen Fitzpatrick.
"Keep spreading joy!"
Holy Trinity School with a follow-up message on their IG after teacher Ms. Fitz goes viral for this INCREDIBLE bucket š pic.twitter.com/rC0dMwwtQA
"I usually do play basketball with them at recess, and I don't really take it lightly," she said. "I play as hard as I can. And I just picked up a ball, and I said if I make thisāit was a Friday afternoonāand I said if I make this shot we'll have hot chocolate on Monday as a class. ... I just launched it and it went in."
Fitzpatrick added that she was equally excited to kick off Monday with a hot chocolate treat. Which, yeahāa hot chocolate party sounds amazing this time of year. Good job, Ms. Fitz.
Video: No. 1 Purdue Upset by Rutgers on Ron Harper Jr.'s Half-Court Buzzer-Beater
Dec 10, 2021
PISCATAWAY, NJ - DECEMBER 09: Ron Harper Jr. #24 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights lies on the court after sinking a three-point shot as teammates Paul Mulcahy #4, Mawot Mag #3 and Dean Reiber #21celebrate during the first half of a game at Jersey Mike's Arena on December 9, 2021 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Ron Harper Jr. sank a buzzer-beating three-pointer to propel the unranked Rutgers men's basketball team to a 70-68 home win over No. 1 Purdue on Thursday.
Purdue retook the lead after a Trevion Williams layup with four seconds left, but Harper capped his 30-point, 10-rebound night with the game-winning three for one of college basketball's biggest upsets this season.
The Boilermakers led for much of the second half and took a 57-47 lead with 8:37 remaining after a Sasha Stefanovic three-pointer, but Harper and the Scarlet Knights chipped away at the edge before earning the win over their Big Ten opponent.
Williams had 21 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Boilermakers, who made just 7-of-26 three-pointers.
Caleb McConnell complemented Harper's effort with 12 points, five assists and five rebounds for Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights had lost four of five games leading into the Purdue matchup, including an 86-51 defeat to Illinois on Friday. However, they bounced back in a big way to move to 5-4 on the year (1-1 Big Ten).
Purdue, which is now the third No. 1 team to fall after Gonzaga and Duke each fell from the top posts earlier this year, dropped to 8-1 (1-1 Big Ten).
Rutgers WBB HC C. Vivian Stringer to Sit out 2021-22 Season amid COVID-19 Concerns
Nov 9, 2021
PISCATAWAY, NJ - DECEMBER 14: Head coach C. Vivian Stringer of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during a regular season game at Rutgers Athletic Center on December 14, 2020 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images)
Rutgers women's basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer will miss the 2021-22 season with continued concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stringer didn't participate in the Big Ten's media day in October for the same reason.
The Scarlet Knights confirmed Monday that associate head coach Tim Eatman will continue running the 73-year-old's day-to-day duties.
Rutgers had to postpone seven straight games last year due to the Big Ten's health and safety protocols. The team still finished 14-5 overall and 10-3 in the conference before losing to BYU in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
The school announced in April it had extended Stringer's contract through the 2025-26 season.
The Pennsylvania native is one of the greatest coaches in women's basketball. She has collected 1,055 wins over her Hall of Fame career and reached the Final Four with Cheyney State in 1982 and Iowa in 1993 before making two more trips with Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights were runners-up to Tennessee in 2007. Their success on the court has leveled off a bit in recent years, though, as the program's last Sweet 16 appearance came in 2009.
In addition to the absence of Stringer, Rutgers has to replace last year's leading scorer Arella Guirantes, who moved on to the WNBA. Diamond Johnson also transferred to North Carolina State. Together, Guirantes and Johnson averaged 38.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
The Scarlet Knights host Saint Peter's in their opener Tuesday.
Why You Were Meant to Root for Rutgers
Mar 14, 2021
Rutgers' Jacob Young, left, and Ron Harper Jr. (24) celebrate with teammates after Rutgers beat Minnesota 77-70 in overtime of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Looking to hitch your wagon to a gutsy Cinderella squad? In that case, let's ride on the Jersey Turnpike and root for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
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Rutgers' Tourney History
Rutgers has gone three full decades without a men's NCAA tournament appearance. When the Scarlet Knights last made the Big Dance in 1991, TheĀ Silence of the Lambs topped the box office. Nobody on the current team went to the theaters, seeing as they weren't born yet.
One would have to go back even further to 1983 to pinpoint the Scarlet Knights' last tourney win. This also marked the first time since 1978-79 that they opened the season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.
At 20-11, Steve Pikiell's squad looked poised to end that drought in 2020. After missing that opportunity, most key players returned.Ā Although it's been a tumultuous season, a key win over Big Ten powerhouse Illinois highlighted a 6-0 start that showed what the Scarlet Knights can achieve at their finest.
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This Year's Best Players
The ancient lore of March Madness bracketology places a premium on experience, depth and a strong backcourt. Rutgers checks all three boxes.
The upperclassmen backcourt of Ron Harper Jr., Jacob Young and Geo Baker lead a methodical offense in scoring. Juniors Montez Mathis and Myles Johnson don't trail far behind.
There's not much star power, and Rutgers' perimeter shooting certainly lag behind most modern offenses. But this gritty squad gets its hands dirty by attacking the basket and playing hard-nosed defense.Ā
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Why They're Going to Win
Look, we don't have any fancy numbers to convince you Rutgers will win it all. The best we can do is live on a prayer like Bon Jovi and hope the Scarlet Knights, like Bruce Springsteen, were born to run the bracket.
Having plenty of experience punching up in a major conference, Rutgers is a scrappy underdog capable of persevering.
4-Star Center Cliff Omoruyi Commits to Rutgers, School's Top Recruit Since 2008
Mar 29, 2020
Rutgers got a huge addition to the basketball program Sunday with the commitment of center Cliff Omoruyi:
The New Jersey native is considered a 4-star recruit and No. 41 overall player in the 2020 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.
According to Jeff Borzello of ESPN, he is the highest-rated recruit in ESPN's ranking database to join the Scarlet Knights since 2008.
The 6'10" player is a true difference-maker in the paint, using his athleticism to make plays on both ends of the court. He should be especially valuable defensively as an elite rim-protector and rebounder.
Omoruyi will also be able to help offensively as a reliable finisher at the rim.
While he picked Rutgers over finalists Auburn and Arizona State, the big man got offers from aboutĀ two dozen programs, including Kentucky, Louisville, Arizona and more.
Joining the Scarlet Knights will help the team's meteoric rise under head coach Steve Pikiell.
The squad had a losing record in 14 straight seasons until finishing 20-11 in 2019-20 with an impressive 11-9 mark in the Big Ten. The NCAA tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus, but all 97 predictions onĀ Bracket MatrixĀ had Rutgers in the March Madness field.
It would have been the school's first appearance in the men's NCAA tournament since 1991.
The latest addition will help Rutgers remain competitive in the Big Ten and nationally.
Scout: Issa Thiam Wins 3-Point Contest for Rutgers
Steve Pikiell to Rutgers: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction
Mar 19, 2016
Stony Brook head coach Steve Pikiell watches from the sideline in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
After leading Stony Brook to the NCAA tournament this season, Steve Pikiell has been hired as Rutgers' next men's basketballĀ head coach, the school announcedĀ on Tuesday.
Steve Politi of NJ.com first reported the news on Saturday, and ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman later confirmed the move.
On Wednesday, Jerry Carino of APP.com reported "Pikiell has told Eddie Jordan's staff that he will be bringing in his own people. Still possible he retains Greg Vetrone though."Ā
The 48-year-old native of Bristol, Connecticut, spent the past 11 seasons as head coach of the Seawolves and compiled a record of 192-155 during that time.
He led Stony Brook to a 26-7 record this season, including an America East Conference title and the first NCAA tournament berth in school history. Although the Seawolves were blown out 85-57 by an under-seeded Kentucky team, it was a banner year for the program.
The same can't be said for Rutgers, as it went 7-25 under Jordan, a disappointing finish that has become a common occurrence for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers hasn't had a winning season since it went 19-14 in 2005-06, and it hasn't taken part in the March Madness festivities since 1990-91, when Bob Wenzel was at the helm.
While the level of competition in the America East doesn't compare to what Pikiell will be up against in the Big Ten, he comes to Rutgers having won at least 22 games in six of the past seven seasons.
Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv laid out what Pikiell will have to do in order to make Rutgers competitive in one of college basketball's top conferences:
Steve Pikiell needs to hire a killer staff that can recruit Jersey and beyond. Needs hungry guys with knowledge and connections.
Stony Brook won just four games during Pikiell's first year on the job, but he ultimately turned the program around and led it to a postseason tournament on six occasions.
The former UConn point guard is well aware of what it takes to go from worst to first in the coaching ranks, and if he can apply what he did at Stony Brook to Rutgers, then the Scarlet Knights will have a chance to return to relevancy for the first time in 25 years.
The NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Staff has ruled that freshman forward Junior Etou (Republic of Congo) must be withheld six regular-season games for accepting impermissible benefits from a third party from overseas during the Fall of 2012. This decision was rendered as part of his amateurism certification condition.Impermissible benefits are those benefits provided to an individual based on their status as an athlete, unless other NCAA rules permit the benefit in question.Ā
āWe are thankful to have resolution on this matter,ā said Rutgers Head Coach Eddie Jordan. āJunior is acclimating well to the University environment and working hard every day in practice. We look forward to having him on the floor.ā
Rutgers University will have no further comment on this matter.
While a suspension certainly hurts Rutgers from a depth perspective, it is much better than losing Etou for the entire season. That is always a possibility when amateur statuses are being investigated by the NCAA, so coach Eddie Jordan can breathe a sigh of relief on that front.
Etou is expected to provide minutes off the bench for the Knights and anchor the defense down low. He was recruited as a shot blocker, which certainly would have helped in those first six games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2-JmHFTVTQ
Etou is the cousin of the Oklahoma City Thunderās Serge Ibaka, so shot-blocking obviously runs in the family.
Fortunately for Rutgers, it is a fairly manageable stretch, even with only 10 scholarship players. Florida A&M, UAB and Yale make up the first three contests, which isnāt exactly murdererās row for a nonconference start.
This is the latest dark mark on a tumultuous offseason for the Scarlet Knights that started with coach Mike Riceās firing for inappropriate behavior toward his players in practice and continued with questions about whether Jordan actually graduated from the university as reported.
Furthermore, the Scarlet Knights already had to sweat out eligibility decisions for transfers J.J. Moore and Kerwin Okoro. Both were granted waivers to play immediately.Ā
