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The full non-conference schedule for the Rutgers men’s basketball team has not been released yet. However, today Jon Rothstein from CBS Sports reported that Rutgers will return to Madison Square Garden for a game next season.
St. John's will play Penn State and Rutgers will face Fordham in the Holiday Festival at MSG on 12/18, sources told @CBSSports. #SJUBB
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 15, 2016
Fordham of the Atlantic 10 went 17-14 in the first season with Jeff Neubauer as their head coach. Rutgers is 15-19 all-time against the Rams. They last played on December 8th, 2002 when Rutgers won at the RAC 94-83.
This will be one of two games now scheduled for next season at the Garden. It was announced previously that Rutgers will take on Big Ten foe Wisconsin on January 28th, 2017 as part of a “Super Saturday” basketball and hockey doubleheader. The Badgers will play in the hockey game as well, taking on Ohio State.
The last game that Rutgers played at the Garden was against Manhattan during the 2013-2014 season, winning 63-55. The last Big East Tournament appearance at the Garden for Rutgers was in 2012 in a 70-49 loss to Villanova. Rutgers blew a 4 point lead at the half after knocking out St. John’s the night before 61-58.
Rutgers actually played against head coach Steve Pikiell in 2011 at the Garden when he was at Stony Brook. They played on December 17th in Mike Rice’s last season as coach. Rutgers won the game 67-58.
As for non-conference opponents that have been officially announced so far for next season, Rutgers will play at DePaul for the Gavitt Games, which features the Big Ten against the Big East, at Miami in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, and of course in-state rival Seton Hall. The date for that game, to be played at the Prudential Center in Newark, has not been confirmed, but Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press hinted it was right before Christmas:
Sounds like Rutgers at Seton Hall is going to be Friday, Dec. 23, which is an awful date. I expect it to move back to early Dec. next year.
— Jerry Carino (@NJHoopsHaven) June 22, 2016
I’ve always preferred the Saturday afternoon game for this rivalry, but perhaps an early holiday gift will come this year for Rutgers fans and a win will be in the cards. Seton Hall has won three straight against Rutgers, including 27+ point blowouts the past two seasons.
As for the Big Ten portion of the schedule, we highlighted the matchups here, although Rutgers has not yet confirmed. The full schedule listing every non-conference opponent, along with dates of every game next season should be released in the next couple of weeks.