Rutgers men’s basketball has scheduled another exhibition game against St. John’s, the third time in four years, according to St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino, who announced the game while on a Zoom call with reporters. The game will be held at Madison Square Garden, as both teams have traded hosting duties over the past few years.
It is expected that this game will be a charity game like the last few, where all the revenue generated from each game was donated.
The date and time of the game is yet
to be announced.
Both teams are no stranger to playing each other, as they were conference rivals who met 42 times on the hardwood back during the Big East days. The Red Storm currently lead the overall series 28-14.
Both teams will use this as one of the first tests for their new look squads who underwent signifigant overhuals in the transfer portal. Last season, the Red Storm finished 30-7 (18-2) on the year before falling to Duke in the sweet 16, while Rutgers finished 14-20 (6-14) and lost in the opening round of the College Basketball Crown tournament.
Despite the ugly season, the Knights were able to keep a core of solid returning players, and add a few solid pickups in the portal as well. Having an exhibition game like this against a very tough opponent will give the newly renovated team an early glimpse of what is to come when Players Era Tournament and Big Ten play rolls around.
