Rutgers got its first live look at the 2026-27 team on Sunday, and even in a 77-75 exhibition loss to Villanova at Jersey Mike’s Arena, a few things stood out quickly.
The clearest one: the Scarlet Knights have a center who can actually produce. After last season featured one of the least effective center situations in the country, sophomore Christian Gurdak looked ready for a much bigger role.
He finished with 19 points on 8-for-16 shooting and added eight rebounds, showing a feel around the rim that Rutgers fans have not seen from a big man in a long time. He did it against a serious test too, matching up with 7-foot-3 center Luigi Suigo, a potential first-round draft pick.
Gurdak, who came over from Virginia Tech, is building on a freshman year that hinted at this kind of leap. He averaged 5 points per game and made 10 starts last season.
The frontcourt picture still has a question mark attached to it, though, since 7-foot-2 senior Dorin Buca did not play Sunday. Even so, Gurdak appears to be in the mix to start in the Big Ten.
Rutgers also found a new shot maker in junior guard Darin Smith Jr., one of the team’s biggest offseason additions. The NEC player of the year scored 20 points and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, flashing the three-level scoring ability that can change how this offense looks. At 6-foot-7, he brings a dimension the Knights were missing a year ago.
That matters because when senior guard Tariq Francis was the engine of the offense in 2025, the ball often went through isolation possessions. Francis was out Sunday, but Smith looked capable of carrying a similar load when needed. He didn’t need a long warmup to show he can create his own shot.
The bigger structural question around the offense, especially with head coach Steve Pikiell away from the program while recovering from cancer and assistant Brandin Knight handling the duties in the interim, is whether the style changes at all. Based on Sunday, the answer looked like no.
Rutgers still leaned heavily on mid-range looks and isolation play, and the 3-point line remained a problem area. The Scarlet Knights went just 4-for-17 from deep, while Villanova hit 13 of its 36 attempts.
If Rutgers is going to take a real step forward, that has to improve.
In Other News...
Rutgers Debut Brought Back One Concern Fans Hoped Was Gone
Rutgers first look of the preseason came with a familiar feel in more ways than one. In an exhibition against Villanova, associate head coach Brandin Knight handled the sideline duties for Steve Pikiell, and the Scarlet Knights dropped a 77-75 decision in a game that echoed too many of last seasons offensive stretches. Even in an early setting, the possession flow and scoring patterns looked like concerns the program had hoped to move past.
There were also absences to note, with Tariq Francis, Will Sydnor, Dorin Buca and Martin Tonejc not taking part. The bright spot was Virginia Tech transfer Christian Gurdak, who made his Rutgers debut at center and gave the staff something to build on in the frontcourt. For a team still sorting out its identity before the games start to count, that kind of first impression matters, even if the bigger questions from the exhibition remain unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Heads Into A Defining Big Ten Test With Pressure Rising
The Week 7 trip to Maryland arrives with Rutgers still searching for its first breakthrough in Power Four play, and the early betting market reflects how tight the matchup looks on paper. The Scarlet Knights opened as 4.5-point underdogs on the road, a nod to a game that pits two teams still trying to steady themselves after defensive struggles have defined much of the season.
Greg Schianos group is walking into a tough setting as well, with Maryland getting its Homecoming spotlight and an offense that leans heavily on the pass. ESPNs matchup predictor also gives the Terps the edge, so Rutgers is facing more than just another conference road game, it is staring at a test that could say plenty about where this team stands in Big Ten play. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Swimming Is Showing Early Depth Fans Can Feel Good About
Rutgers swimming and diving continued to make a strong early impression at the Rutgers Invitational, closing out the second day with multiple first-place finishes and a steady stream of top-three efforts across both the pool and the boards. The Scarlet Knights looked balanced throughout the meet, with contributions from several areas and enough depth to suggest the roster is settling in well this fall.
The results also hinted at how much room this group may have to keep climbing, especially with a tri-meet against Liberty and James Madison coming next. Rutgers left the invitational with momentum from strong swimming and diving performances, and the kind of early-season showing that can give a team confidence before the schedule gets busier. [Read more 🡒]