Steve Pikiell Named HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Week
Dec 19 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY - Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell has been named the HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Week presented by Just Play Solutions. The second-year mentor led the Scarlet Knights to a 2-0 record, comprised of a 75-63 defeat of Fordham on Tuesday, before a 71-65 win over No. 15 Seton Hall on Saturday in the annual Garden State Hardwood Classic.
The honor is among a multitude of accolades received by the Scarlet Knights this week. Rutgers was named the NABC D-I National Team of the Week, Geo Baker was recognized as the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week and Corey Sanders earned Player of the Week from the Met Basketball Writers Association.
Rutgers (10-3) has an 18-1 record in non-conference home games under Pikiell.
On Saturday, Sanders scored 22 points, Deshawn Freeman added a double-double (12 points, 16 rebounds) and Baker posted 17 points versus SHU, as the Scarlet Knights earned their first nationally-ranked victory since a 67-62 win over No. 4 Wisconsin. A capacity crowd of 8,318 provided an energized setting for the rivalry contest, which signaled the largest at the RAC since February 23, 2002, a 66-60 RU win over the Pirates. The student section, which comprised a raucous segment of the crowd, flooded on to the floor at the game's conclusion to celebrate the comeback victory with their classmates.
On Tuesday, Sanders became the 42nd player in RU men's basketball history to reach 1,000 points, scoring 12 on 5-of-8 shooting, versus Fordham. Six players scored in double figures for the Scarlet Knights, including Freeman (14 points/10 rebounds) and Baker (12 points).
The Scarlet Knights lead the nation in rebounds (45.69) and offensive rebounds (16.15), while placing third among all D-I programs in scoring defense (58.3) and fourth in field goal percentage defense (36.3). RU is among the top three in the Big Ten in 16 NCAA statistical categories.
Rutgers returns to the hardwood to host Stony Brook in a 7 p.m. tip-off on Friday. The game will be streamed live via the web on BTN Plus.
Single game tickets for Rutgers men's basketball home games are available online or by calling the Rutgers Ticket Office at 1-866-445-GORU. Fans also have the opportunity to purchase flex ticket plans or a "Pikiell's Presents" package. Flex ticket plans enable fans to select any four games from the home schedule to create their own package. "Pikiell's Presents" includes two section 110 tickets to the games versus Stony Brook (Dec. 22) and Hartford (Dec. 28), along with two food vouchers per game and ugly holiday sweater t-shirts.
Follow Rutgers men's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMBB), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersMBB) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersMBB) for additional news and updates.
The honor is among a multitude of accolades received by the Scarlet Knights this week. Rutgers was named the NABC D-I National Team of the Week, Geo Baker was recognized as the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week and Corey Sanders earned Player of the Week from the Met Basketball Writers Association.
Rutgers (10-3) has an 18-1 record in non-conference home games under Pikiell.
On Saturday, Sanders scored 22 points, Deshawn Freeman added a double-double (12 points, 16 rebounds) and Baker posted 17 points versus SHU, as the Scarlet Knights earned their first nationally-ranked victory since a 67-62 win over No. 4 Wisconsin. A capacity crowd of 8,318 provided an energized setting for the rivalry contest, which signaled the largest at the RAC since February 23, 2002, a 66-60 RU win over the Pirates. The student section, which comprised a raucous segment of the crowd, flooded on to the floor at the game's conclusion to celebrate the comeback victory with their classmates.
On Tuesday, Sanders became the 42nd player in RU men's basketball history to reach 1,000 points, scoring 12 on 5-of-8 shooting, versus Fordham. Six players scored in double figures for the Scarlet Knights, including Freeman (14 points/10 rebounds) and Baker (12 points).
The Scarlet Knights lead the nation in rebounds (45.69) and offensive rebounds (16.15), while placing third among all D-I programs in scoring defense (58.3) and fourth in field goal percentage defense (36.3). RU is among the top three in the Big Ten in 16 NCAA statistical categories.
Rutgers returns to the hardwood to host Stony Brook in a 7 p.m. tip-off on Friday. The game will be streamed live via the web on BTN Plus.
Single game tickets for Rutgers men's basketball home games are available online or by calling the Rutgers Ticket Office at 1-866-445-GORU. Fans also have the opportunity to purchase flex ticket plans or a "Pikiell's Presents" package. Flex ticket plans enable fans to select any four games from the home schedule to create their own package. "Pikiell's Presents" includes two section 110 tickets to the games versus Stony Brook (Dec. 22) and Hartford (Dec. 28), along with two food vouchers per game and ugly holiday sweater t-shirts.
Follow Rutgers men's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMBB), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersMBB) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersMBB) for additional news and updates.
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