Tariq Francis didn’t need much convincing to run it back at Rutgers.
After his freshman season, the junior guard said he never seriously considered leaving the Scarlet Knights, choosing instead to stay with Steve Pikiell, keep developing inside a veteran-heavy group and keep playing in front of Rutgers fans. Francis spoke with reporters on Tuesday at Rutgers’ summer media day and made it clear the return was about comfort, belief and continuity.
“Just to continue building and playing under Pikiell too. He's a very good coach and the rest of the coaching staff.
Just getting another opportunity to come back and play for this fan base and stay where I had a good year at. I feel like we can win once everything's put together.”
Francis said the final decision settled in after the season ended and he talked it over with his family.
“After the last game, I talked to my parents and talked to all my family just to make sure everything was good. I didn't really think about going nowhere.”
That matters for Rutgers, which is counting on a handful of returning backcourt pieces as it tries to get back on track in the Big Ten. Francis is one of the few primary guards from last season’s team coming back for the 2026-27 season, and the Scarlet Knights will lean heavily on veteran transfers to fill out most of the lineup.
For Francis, another year in the program should come with a cleaner feel and a bigger voice. He said he’s more comfortable now that he knows the system and the rhythm around Rutgers, and he expects that to help him guide the newcomers.
“I feel more confident. I know the play style and what's going on around Rutgers and the new team and getting everybody situated.
We have more experienced guys this year, and I think that'll help us because everybody has been through college and they know what they do well. Just putting them all together, everyone will feed off each other and have a better year.”
He also pointed to the work Rutgers’ newcomers have already put in, singling out freshman Christian Gurdak for the kind of approach the staff wants to see.
“Christian, like all the guys, is just a worker. Since day one they've been in the gym early mornings and after practice as well.
The biggest thing has been the will to work hard and want to win. They all stay in the gym and continue to work, and naturally they're going to get better.”
Francis said his own jump into the Big Ten came from trusting the process around him - his preparation, the staff and the film work that helped him fit his game to the league.
“I trusted my work and trusted the people I work with and the coaching staff. Watching film and putting myself in the best position to complement my game and my teammates' game. I'll keep working, keep my head down and try to get better every day.”
He also had praise for sophomore guard Lino Mark, saying the offseason has brought steady progress.
“Lino's been working. Everybody has been in the gym.
We're getting better, we're all trying to perfect our games and it's coming along good. We'll keep making strides.”
Francis said part of his role now is helping younger players understand what college basketball demands, and he believes Mark is already starting to grow into that kind of presence.
“I just try to give him some of the experiences that I've had. He's starting to shift from a freshman to more of a veteran-type guard at an early age. I think his game is coming along well, he's been working hard and it's definitely going to pay off.”
Rutgers will keep going through summer workouts before official preseason practice begins later this year. Francis returns as an experienced ball handler who knows Pikiell’s system and is stepping into a larger leadership role. For Rutgers, the formula is simple enough: lean on the veterans, keep the new pieces grinding and hope the whole thing starts to click in 2026-27.
In Other News...
Rutgers Just Added The Kind Of Running Back Fans Have Wanted
Rutgers has been looking for a backfield addition with real upside, and Aiden Gibson gives the Scarlet Knights exactly that. The four-star running back was once a 2027 prospect, ranked among the top backs in the country before reclassifying, and he is set to join the program immediately for the 2026 season. For a team that has long pointed to its history of producing NFL running backs, the move fits the kind of recruiting win fans have been waiting to see.
Gibson arrives with the chance to deepen a room that already has returning pieces, which only adds to the intrigue around how Rutgers will deploy him once he gets on campus. The timing matters as much as the talent here, because this is not a future stash for the roster, but a player who is stepping in right away and changing the conversation around the Scarlet Knights ground game. [Read more 🡒]
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Among the names drawing the most attention, Darin Smith Jr. stands out because of the scoring rsum he built at CCSU, even if the first Rutgers practice did not immediately look like a seamless transition. Jones has to prove he can absorb the physicality of the league after stops at Coastal Carolina and beyond, while Buca is already working from behind Christian Gurdak and Gevonte Ware and could see his path narrowed if Rutgers adds more frontcourt help. Sydnor, meanwhile, is dealing with a sprained ankle and missed practice last week, another reminder that this group still has a lot to sort out before the rotation takes shape. [Read more 🡒]