Rutgers-Seton Hall agree to continue series

After the series was in danger of ending after last season’s game was cancelled and both schools reportedly not on the same page, Rutgers and Seton Hall have agreed to resume its longstanding rivalry next season.

Rutgers will play the Garden State Hardwood Classic at Seton Hall on Sunday, Dec. 12 at the Prudential Center in Newark. It will be the 72nd meeting in the series which dates back to 1916. Jerry Carino broke the good news prior the official announcement coming from Rutgers on Tuesday afternoon.

Give credit to Rutgers AD Pat Hobbs and head coach Steve Pikiell for finding a way to continue what I consider one of the best rivalries in college basketball. They valued the big picture. I gave my impassioned plea for it to continue here. Finding a resolution keeps a much needed high profile non-conference game on the schedule for Rutgers for years to come. However, more importantly, this game just means more and parting ways with it would have been awful. Keeping this rivalry alive, which has produced two of the biggest wins in the Pikiell era, is also important for New Jersey basketball as well.

As for the rest of the non-conference schedule, it’s been previously reported by Jon Rothstein that Rutgers is also expected to play UMASS, Rider, Lehigh and Merrimack next season. Of course, we know they’ll also play in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and are in the rotation for this season to take part in the Gavitt Games versus the Big East.

For more on the previously announced Big Ten schedule and some takeaways on it, click here and here.