Despite a recent cancer diagnosis, Steve Pikiell’s Rutgers Scarlet Knights are preparing for their 11th season in Piscataway. His teams have always proven to be tough and tenacious, as Pikiell’s fight goes by.
While Pikiell’s safety and good health are important, the Knights are focusing on his season. That’s where Rutgers is leaning on its experience, with several key players returning at guard. Elder Francis Tariq leads that group.
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With Francis at the helm and some major transfer additions, the Rutgers Crimson Knights are ready to fight for their coach this season. Let’s take a closer look at the 2026-27 Crimson Knights.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Basketball 2026-27 Season Preview
March March 1126; Chicago, IL, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Tariq Francis (0) makes a three-point basket against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half at the United Center. Cool Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Roster Make-Up
As above, Francis returns. He had one heck of a season in 2025-26. He finished with an average of 17 points per game, and developed a really good bond with other guards like Mark Leno and Jamichael Davis.
In the case of Davis, he is a two-time captain and by far the most skilled of Rutgers’ players. It was with Rutgers after the 2023-24 season. The Crimson Knights had to do some real work up front, however, as starting center Emmanuel Ogbole looked to try his hand at Kansas. So Rutgers went to the gate and landed two big guys who were sure to take care of the station.
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Those players are Dorin Buca, a 7-foot-2, 286-pound transfer from Kansas State. Like Christian Gurdak from Virginia Tech. Both have some steps to take this season, but both give Rutgers size and strength at the post.
Add in other new faces like Mervedi Miteo from Congo, along with returning sophomore Gevonte Ware, ready for a bigger role, and Rutgers has the size and depth to take on others in a tough Big Ten. Time will tell what Kaden Powers can do in his second season after breaking the starting line last season.
Returned: Francis, Darren Buchanan Jr., Mark, Max Fradkin, Ware, Powers and Davis.
Newcomers: Buca, Darin Smith Jr., Gurdak, Imahri Wooten, Miteo, RaSheed Jones, Will Sydnor, Martin Tonejc, and Diego Garavagila.
Schedule Outlook
Rutgers has the ability to live up to its schedule and the toughness in this season’s non-conference schedule. It all starts with a pair of spectacular matchups with two of the best programs in the New York and New Jersey area.
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The Crimson Knights host Villanova at Jersey Mike’s Arena before traveling to Madison Square Garden to face Rick Pitino’s St. John’s Red Storm. The Knights have plenty of other local teams, with New Haven, NJIT, and Bryant all visiting Piscataway.
Things to get started are really challenging on November 17; The Las Vegas Knights welcome back players from the Tribute Era. First up on the Cougars’ schedule is Houston. It’s a huge first game, and the results don’t get any easier with so many other highly-complicated programs.
Rutgers is guaranteed two games as part of its project. Jumping into what will be a Big Ten challenge. Especially when they travel to Bloomington on December 1st to play the Indiana Hoosiers, quickly followed by the title game of defending National Champion Michigan. The Seton Hall Pirates are a big opponent of Rutgers’ non-con schedule.
The rest of the Big Ten were swept. Rutgers will have a road scrimmage at Purdue and a road trip to East Lansing in early February, where they nearly beat Michigan State last season on Senior Night. Both USC and UCLA are huge draws for the RAC, especially since Rutgers is fighting to get into the top 15 of this 18-team league.
The last word
Given his health condition, it’s not true that Pikiell could be on the hot seat this season. Ball is a good coach and has gotten Rutgers into the Big Dance in the past. This group has similar pieces that everyone plays at a slow pace.
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You already saw last year when Michigan State had ties in both meetings. Heck, I won a Big Ten Tournament game last season against Minnesota, which had a little better talent. Not to mention, they hung around in the middle of the second round game with UCLA.
After getting a taste of the game last year, they also got a taste of the Big Ten Invitational to earn the College Basketball Crown, which is now a controversial NCAA tournament. Regardless of the outcome of Rutgers basketball in 2026-27, they will go to war for Pikiell.
Cool Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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