Rutgers Heads to Las Vegas for College Basketball Crown Showdown
As the Rutgers Scarlet Knights gear up for postseason action, they're setting their sights on Las Vegas to compete in the College Basketball Crown. Their journey kicks off against Creighton in the Quarterfinals on Thursday, April 2, with a late tipoff at 10:30 pm Eastern Time.
This tournament, now in its second year, features eight teams vying for the title. Last season, Nebraska took home the inaugural trophy, using that momentum to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament as a 4-seed, reaching their first-ever Sweet 16. With UCF and Villanova also making NCAA appearances after competing in the Crown, the event is becoming a notable stage for rising programs.
Fans can catch the game on FS1, with Tim Brando, Jim Jackson, and Allison Williams bringing the action to life. For those who prefer radio, WFAN has you covered.
The Scarlet Knights enter the tournament with a 14-19 record, having shown resilience in the Big Ten with seven conference wins. They've also notched victories against NCAA Tournament teams Lehigh and Penn.
Rutgers has been on a roll lately, winning five of their last eight games, including key triumphs over Maryland, Penn State, and Minnesota. Tariq Francis was a standout against the Gophers, dropping 29 points and hitting five from downtown, while the team collectively dished out 22 assists.
Rutgers is no stranger to Las Vegas, having competed there earlier this season in the Players Era Tournament. They faced off against Tennessee, Notre Dame, and UNLV, marking their second consecutive appearance in that event.
Nationally, Rutgers ranks in the top 50 for bench points and turnovers per game. Tariq Francis shines individually, boasting a 90.5% free throw shooting percentage, placing him tenth nationally.
Lino Mark is coming off a strong performance against UCLA, scoring 17 points and maintaining double figures in seven of his last ten outings. Emmanuel Ogbole, celebrated on Senior Day, has hit his stride with three of his top five scoring games recently. Darren Buchanan has been a consistent contributor, averaging 10.5 points over the past six games and grabbing nine or more rebounds in two of those contests.
This marks Rutgers' first appearance in The Crown and their third postseason tournament under head coach Steve Pikiell. Their last postseason run was in 2023 at the NIT, and they made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022.
Creighton, led by the retiring Greg McDermott, enters with a 15-17 record. McDermott's illustrious career includes 365 wins over 16 seasons with Creighton and over 500 career victories. Alan Huss is set to take over after The Crown, having guided High Point to the NCAA Tournament last season.
Creighton's season has been a rollercoaster, with a 12-8 start followed by a 3-9 stretch. They boast former Iowa players Josh Dix and Owen Freeman, with Dix leading the team in scoring and Freeman having previously shined against Rutgers.
Nick Graves orchestrates Creighton's offense, averaging 4.3 assists and maintaining a top-50 assist/turnover ratio. Austin Swartz adds depth, contributing 10.9 points per game.
Rutgers and Creighton last met in Las Vegas during the "Men Who Speak Up Main Event" in 2016, where Creighton emerged victorious. Tariq Francis now has a chance to etch his name in Rutgers history, closing in on several scoring and free throw milestones.
Should Rutgers advance, they'll play in the Semifinals on Saturday, April 4, with a potential Championship game on Sunday, April 5. Their path could see them face Stanford, West Virginia, or other formidable opponents like Minnesota, Baylor, Colorado, and Oklahoma.
The stage is set for an exciting postseason, and Rutgers is ready to make their mark.