Wednesday, November 13
Piscataway, NJ
8:00 PM ET
Rutgers University
vs
Drexel
Photo by: Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts Drexel Wednesday Evening
Nov 11 | Men's Basketball
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (2-0) VS. DREXEL DRAGONS (2-1)
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 | 8 p.m. (ET)
The RAC (8,000) | Piscataway, N.J.
TV: BTN Plus (Lou Brogno, play-by-play, Ralph Bednarczyk, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/SiriusXM 973; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Troy DeSavino & Chris Tsakonas)
Series Record: Rutgers leads 15-2
Last Meeting: November 11, 2018 (Rutgers 95, Drexel 66)
OPENING TIP: Rutgers is looking to start out the season 3-0 for the third time in four years under head coach Steve Pikiell when it hosts Drexel on Wednesday at approximately 8 p.m. in the second half of a doubleheader at the RAC, where Pikiell has directed the Scarlet Knights to a 26-4 record in non-conference games. The match-up, which will tip of 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game against Niagara, is the third straight home game for RU over a span of seven days to begin its 108th collegiate season.
On Sunday, Rutgers shot 59.3 percent (35-of-59) and limited Niagara to a 30.8 percentage (16-of-52) from the field in a convincing 86-39 win. The 47-point margin of victory was the Scarlet Knights' largest against a Division I opponent since a 101-51 defeat of Rider on Nov. 29, 1978, as RU limited an opponent to under 40 points for the fifth time under head coach Steve Pikiell.
PROMOTION(S): Wednesday's doubleheader is Military Appreciation Day, with attending fans receiving military appreciation t-shirts.
THE OPPONENT: Under fourth-year head coach Zach Spiker, Drexel is 2-1 after an 86-83 home overtime win against Abilene Christian on Sunday. Zach Walton hit a game-winner three-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining in the extra stanza. The Dragons opened their season with a 70-62 loss at Temple before defeating Niagara at home by a 72-64 margin. James Butler leads the team with 14.0 points and 14.3 rebounds-per-game, courtesy of two double-doubles. The Dragons were picked eighth in the CAA preseason coaches poll, with sophomore guard Camren Winters earning second team preseason all-league honors.
THE SERIES: Rutgers and Drexel have met 17 times on the collegiate hardwood dating back to 1921, with the Scarlet Knights holding a 15-2 advantage. Rutgers is 14-2 all-time at home versus DU and 6-2 at the RAC. Wednesday is the third meeting in the past four years, with the Scarlet Knights taking the last two match-ups. Last season, Rutgers deposited 14 3-pointers, the second-most in program history, in a 95-66 win. In 2016, RU earned an 87-66 victory in Pikiell's second game at the helm.
HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
RUTGERS IN GAME THREE UNDER PIKIELL
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 | 8 p.m. (ET)
The RAC (8,000) | Piscataway, N.J.
TV: BTN Plus (Lou Brogno, play-by-play, Ralph Bednarczyk, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/SiriusXM 973; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Troy DeSavino & Chris Tsakonas)
Series Record: Rutgers leads 15-2
Last Meeting: November 11, 2018 (Rutgers 95, Drexel 66)
OPENING TIP: Rutgers is looking to start out the season 3-0 for the third time in four years under head coach Steve Pikiell when it hosts Drexel on Wednesday at approximately 8 p.m. in the second half of a doubleheader at the RAC, where Pikiell has directed the Scarlet Knights to a 26-4 record in non-conference games. The match-up, which will tip of 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game against Niagara, is the third straight home game for RU over a span of seven days to begin its 108th collegiate season.
On Sunday, Rutgers shot 59.3 percent (35-of-59) and limited Niagara to a 30.8 percentage (16-of-52) from the field in a convincing 86-39 win. The 47-point margin of victory was the Scarlet Knights' largest against a Division I opponent since a 101-51 defeat of Rider on Nov. 29, 1978, as RU limited an opponent to under 40 points for the fifth time under head coach Steve Pikiell.
PROMOTION(S): Wednesday's doubleheader is Military Appreciation Day, with attending fans receiving military appreciation t-shirts.
THE OPPONENT: Under fourth-year head coach Zach Spiker, Drexel is 2-1 after an 86-83 home overtime win against Abilene Christian on Sunday. Zach Walton hit a game-winner three-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining in the extra stanza. The Dragons opened their season with a 70-62 loss at Temple before defeating Niagara at home by a 72-64 margin. James Butler leads the team with 14.0 points and 14.3 rebounds-per-game, courtesy of two double-doubles. The Dragons were picked eighth in the CAA preseason coaches poll, with sophomore guard Camren Winters earning second team preseason all-league honors.
THE SERIES: Rutgers and Drexel have met 17 times on the collegiate hardwood dating back to 1921, with the Scarlet Knights holding a 15-2 advantage. Rutgers is 14-2 all-time at home versus DU and 6-2 at the RAC. Wednesday is the third meeting in the past four years, with the Scarlet Knights taking the last two match-ups. Last season, Rutgers deposited 14 3-pointers, the second-most in program history, in a 95-66 win. In 2016, RU earned an 87-66 victory in Pikiell's second game at the helm.
HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
| Overall Record (years) | 238-210 (15th) |
| Rutgers Record (years) | 46-54 (4th) |
| Record vs. Drexel (RU) | 2-0 |
| Record vs. Drexel (overall) | 2-0 |
RUTGERS IN GAME THREE UNDER PIKIELL
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| 11/16/18 | St. John's | L, 84-65 |
| 11/14/17 | Cleveland State | W, 70-38 |
| 11/17/16 | at DePaul | W, 66-59 |
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
- The Scarlet Knights are currently No. 69 in the Pomeroy Ratings.
- Rutgers leads the Big Ten in defensive rebounds per game (31.0), scoring defense (55.0), turnover margin (7.0) and turnovers forced (19.0).
- Ball protection stands out. Caleb McConnell is tied for the national lead in turnover rate (0 TOs in 34 minutes) while Paul Mulcahy lead the B1G & is 5th nationally in assist-turnover ratio (9.0).
- Rutgers is still a young squad, currently ranking 207th nationally in experience per Pomeroy. The starting lineup has featured one junior (Baker) and four sophomores (Johnson, Mathis, Harper Jr., McConnell) through the initial two games.
- Rutgers entered the Fall 2019 semester with a 3.06 cumulative team grade point average.
- Rutgers was named the Most Improved Team of the 2018-19 season by Sports Illustrated in its year-end wards. The Scarlet Knights improved 70 positions in the Pomeroy ratings since the season's initial rating, best among all power conference programs.
- Rutgers was among the approximately 30,000 individuals who joined in the 18th annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk on Sept. 29. It marked the third consecutive year the team has participated in the event, with proceeds benefitting first responders and catastrophically injured service members. Under Steve Pikiell, RU has maintained 100 percent team participation in Leadership Development and Strategic Partnerships community service initiatives for the past three seasons.
- Rutgers posted a 4-0 record against professional club teams during a tour of Spain in August. RU outscored its opponents 387-284 and had five players with double figure scoring averages.
- Rutgers has its deepest roster in some time, with all 11 scholarship players expected to see action in the rotation. Of the 10 scholarship players who made the trip to Spain, all averaged 15 or more minutes.
- Of Rutgers' 11 scholarship players, 10 are 6'4 or above and seven are 6'6 or taller.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballSteve Pikiell Podcast: 2026 Transfer Portal Update
Wednesday, May 06
Steve Pikiell Podcast: Big Ten Tournament Recap, The Crown Tournament, and the Offseason Plan
Monday, March 16
Men's Basketball Postgame Press Conference: UCLA - Big Ten Tournament
Friday, March 13
Men's Basketball Postgame Press Conference - Big Ten Tournament Minnesota
Thursday, March 12
