If you’re a Rutgers basketball fan looking for a reason that the program can take a big leap in 2026-27 after a downturn over the past few years, here’s one: Steve Pikiell is no longer general manager and chief fundraiser, but he showed he can still coach.
After assembling a ragtag group of freshmen, mid-major up-transfers and holdovers from last year’s bench, Pikiell took a team that looked horrid in November and December and turned it into a competitor. The squad that took the floor during Thursday’s 72-59 loss to UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament’s third round was unrecognizable from mess that slogged through the season’s first half.
No one should take victory laps for a 14-19 season and a 14th-place finish in the Big Ten, but the biggest issues that derailed Pikiell since the onset of free agency – poor roster management, anemic financial support and a lack of modern infrastructure – have been addressed.
He no longer has to find revenue streams and assess free-agent valuations – two key skills in this new world that he struggled mightily with. Going forward, he can get back to being a full-time coach.
New athletics director Keli Zinn has taken care of the revenue part, giving him a competitive budget for the coming transfer portal season. And there’s finally a general manager in place – Rob Sullivan did a good job in that capacity at Saint Joseph’s, which is 21-10 and has the third seed in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament.
Back in October, everyone knew Pikiell had his work cut out of him with the bargain-bin roster he’d put together. And the worst fears seemed to be coming true when his team suffered a series of spankings along with a shocking home loss to Central Connecticut State.
But he never lost the locker room – no easy feat in an era when players have so many outsiders whispering in their ears – and guys got better. Tariq Francis, up from NJIT, earned All-Big Ten honors. Darren Buchanan, from George Washington, hit stride as a Swiss army knife wing. Freshman Lino Mark found another gear, showing Geo Baker-quality chutzpah and Jacob Young footspeed.
Since getting pummeled at UCLA by 32 points on Feb. 3, Rutgers won two Big Ten road games, pushed Michigan State to the wire in East Lansing, and avenged a 19-point loss to Minnesota by dissecting the Gophers in their opening Big Ten Tournament game. On Thursday, the Scarlet Knights were much more competitive against UCLA before bowing out. They ended up winning seven Big Ten games, which is seven more than some folks predicted.
The players seemed to absorb Pikiell’s lessons. They played hard. Their defense, abysmal for much of the season, held four of the final five opponents to 72 or fewer points. The offense, never a strong suit, actually graded out as one of the best of Pikiell’s tenure, in large part because of the staff’s expert use of Francis, tilting the board to his strengths. He’s a player Rutgers can build with next season, and all signs point toward him staying.
It needs to be said: A losing season is a losing season. Nobody is giving out awards for 14-19, and in 2026-27 the onus is squarely on Pikiell to produce with his newfound resources. But again, if you’re looking for optimism, it’s this: Steve Pikiell is no longer the general manager and no longer chief fundraiser. He is still the basketball coach.
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rutgers basketball falls at UCLA in Big Ten Tournament