PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers Athletics today announced a wide-ranging men's basketball promotional and performance calendar to enhance the game day experience at the RAC in 2017-18. Among the notable giveaways are ugly sweaters, Scarlet Knight Socks, scarlet glow sticks, rally towels, Rutgers suit shirts, as well as t-shirts and hats in accordance with the "Jersey Series," which seeks to determine longtime Garden State grub disputes.

Halftime performances will include Red Panda, Drums of Thunder, Mutts Gone Nuts, Tyler's Amazing Balancing Act, baby races, Irish step dancing, Rutgers Dance Team Nationals Routine and more.

The Michigan State game will feature a halftime teddy bear toss. All fans in attendance are encouraged to bring a new or gently used teddy bear to the game to throw on the court during halftime. Rutgers Athletics and Rutgers SAAC (Student Athletic Advisory Committee) will donate all of the teddy bears to a local children in need.

Numerous student promotions are featured throughout the winter. Among them is "Winter Break at the RAC," which enables students with a valid Rutgers identification to bring up to two free guests in the student section during the four winter break games. Student admission is always free with a valid Rutgers ID. There is also free parking in the Yellow Lot with a valid Rutgers hangtag, as well as direct shuttles for all weekend games from the College Ave Student Center, Busch Campus Center, and Cook Recreation Center. These shuttles will not make any stops other than the RAC. There are also five games with half-court shots for $10,000.

Additional promotions, as well as halftime performances, are still to be announced.

Rutgers plays 31 regular season games before competing in the 2018 Big Ten Tournament at Madison Square Garden, Feb. 28-March 4. Fans have the opportunity to support the Scarlet Knights 23 times at the RAC, including nine contests versus opponents that earned NCAA (6) or NIT (3) bids last season, and against seven foes that hail from the New York metropolitan region. 
 
The first opportunity is on Sunday, Nov. 5, when RU and St. John's square off in a charity exhibition game with all net proceeds donated to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Tickets for the game are just $10, with general admission seating to be employed. 

Fans have the opportunity to purchase a flex ticket plan and select any four games from the schedule to create their own package. Four-game flex ticket plans are $140.00 for 200 level center tickets, $120.00 for 200 level wing tickets, and $60.00 for 300 level tickets. Season tickets, flex plans and November single game tickets are available by calling the Rutgers Athletics Ticket Office at 1-866-445-GORU (4678) or by clicking here.
 

Day	Opponent	Time	Promotion(s)	Halftime
Sunday, Nov. 5	St. John's Charity exhibition with net proceeds to benefit American Red Cross Disaster Relief	1 p.m.	FANS: $10 General admission tickets STUDENTS: Receive complimentary admission
Friday, Nov. 10	CCNY Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Knight	7 p.m.	FANS: Free entry with Nov. 4 doubleheader ticket stubs; free admission for Junior Knights Club members; Dollar Hot Dog Knight SEASON TICKET HOLDERS: Free magnet schedule for season ticket holders; free concession loyalty card for season ticket holders STUDENTS: Student Greek Game 1	Riot Squad game
Sunday, Nov. 12	Central Connecticut State	2:30 p.m.	STUDENTS: Direct weekend shuttles for Rutgers students	Bachata Club Performance
Tuesday, Nov. 14	Cleveland State	7 p.m.	GRAD STUDENTS: Complimentary admission for Rutgers graduate students	Irish Step Dancing Club Performance
Sunday, Nov. 19	Coppin State	12:30 p.m.	FANS: Post-game player autographs; free admission for Junior Knights Club members STUDENTS: Direct weekend shuttles for Rutgers students	Baby Races
Tuesday, Nov. 21	Bryant	7 p.m.		Tyler's Amazing Balancing Act
Friday, Nov. 24	East Carolina Black Friday Knight – Wear Black	1 p.m.	ALL: Wear Black STUDENTS: Black Friday shopping package raffle for Rutgers students	Black Friday On-Court Challenge
Tuesday, Nov. 28	Florida State (B1G/ACC) Cyber Monday Knight	7 p.m.	FANS: First 500 Fans - Ugly Sweater Giveaway STUDENTS: Cyber Monday shopping package raffle for Rutgers students; $10,000 student half-court shot; Student Greek Game 2	Red Panda
Tuesday, Dec. 5	Michigan State*	7 p.m.	STUDENTS: $10,000 Student half-court shot; Student Greek Game 3	SAAC Teddy Bear Toss
Thursday, Dec. 7	NJIT	7 p.m.		Caribbean Fusion Dance Performance
Saturday, Dec. 9	Fairleigh Dickinson Heritage Knight	7 p.m.	FANS: Dollar Hot Dog Knight  STUDENTS: International Students Knight; direct weekend shuttles for Rutgers students	Alumni Dance Team Performance
Tuesday, Dec. 12	Fordham	7 p.m.	STUDENTS: Finals stress busters for Rutgers students: dog petting & massages	Caribbean Fusion Dance Performance
Saturday, Dec. 16	Seton Hall (GSH Classic) Operation Scarlet - Wear Scarlet	12 noon	ALL: Wear Scarlet FANS: Scarlet glow sticks for lower bowl seats STUDENTS: Student rally towel giveaway; $25,000 Student half-court shot; direct weekend shuttles for Rutgers students; Student Greek Game 4	Drums of Thunder
Friday, Dec. 22	Stony Brook	7 p.m.	STUDENTS: Winter Break at the RAC: Rutgers students with a valid ID can bring up to 2 free guests in the student section	Junior Knights Dance Team
Thursday, Dec. 28	Hartford	7 p.m.	STUDENTS: Winter Break at the RAC: Rutgers students with a valid ID can bring up to 2 free guests in the student section	Dance Team Nationals Routine
Friday, Jan. 5	Wisconsin* Military Appreciation Day; Scout Day	7 p.m.	FANS: First 500 Fans - Camo Hat Giveaway STUDENTS: Winter Break at the RAC: Rutgers students with a valid ID can bring up to 2 free guests in the student section	Mutts Gone Nuts
Sunday, Jan. 14	Ohio State* Music Knight Sub vs. Hoagie Knight	7 p.m.	FANS: Jersey Series - Choose a side: Sub versus Hoagie (#TEAMSUB & #TEAMHOAGIE shirt giveaway);  STUDENTS: Winter Break at the RAC: Rutgers students with a valid ID can bring up to 2 free guests in the student section	TBA
Wednesday, Jan. 17	Iowa* Rutgers Basketball Camper Knight	7 p.m.	STUDENTS: Student Greek Game 5	Dance Team Nationals Routine
Wednesday, Jan. 24	Nebraska* Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week	7 p.m.	FANS: Wear some sneakers (and even a suit) to support Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week; Rutgers suit shirt giveaway STUDENTS: Student Greek Game 6	Special Olympics game
Saturday, Feb. 3	Purdue* Educator Appreciation; Outstanding Student Day Taylor Ham® vs. Pork Roll Knight	4 p.m.	FANS: Jersey Series - Choose a side: Taylor Ham® versus Pork Roll (#TEAMTH & TEAMPR hat giveaway); STUDENTS: Student Greek Game 7; $10,000 student half-court shot; Direct weekend shuttles for Rutgers students	Junior Knights Dance Team
Monday, Feb. 5	Indiana* Black History Month Recognition	7 p.m.	FANS: Scarlet Knights socks giveaway STUDENTS: Greek Knight; $10,000 student half-court shot	Fraternity Stomp Dance
Tuesday, Feb. 13	Northwestern* Healthcare Appreciation	9 p.m.		Student-Athlete Dance
Sunday, Feb. 25	Illinois* Senior Day; Youth Sports Day; Fan Appreciation Day	3 p.m.	FANS: Giveaway TBA STUDENTS: Direct weekend shuttles for Rutgers students	Youth Halftime Game

 

Under head coach Steve Pikiell, whose 9-1 start marked the best head-coaching debut in Rutgers men's basketball history, RU earned the program's first Big Ten road and tournament victories and more than doubled its overall win total last season. The Scarlet Knights achieved a plus-117 rank improvement in RPI while playing the second-toughest conference schedule in the Big Ten according to Ken Pom analysis.
 
Follow Rutgers men's basketball (@RutgersMBB) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for additional news and updates.