by Mark Remsa and Richard Kent
The last time Rutgers men's basketball participated in a Feast Week multi-team event (MTE) was during the 2015-16 season when Eddie Jordan was at the helm and the Scarlet Knights played in the MGM Grand Main Event in Las Vegas. Sure, Rutgers lost both games to Creighton and Clemson, but it was an opportunity for the Scarlet Knights to play quality competition on a neutral floor in front of a national audience.
Since Steve Pikiell has taken over and helped Rutgers basketball ascend to new heights and respectability, the Scarlet Knights have yet to participate in a Feast Week MTE.
In a postgame interview after Rutgers dismantled Howard last week, Pikiell stated the players have "schoolwork too they need to kind of catch up on" and "guys are banged up.. we'll give them a little time off" as reasons why this team will not participate in a Feast Week MTE.
Pikiell has always been a proponent of allowing his players to spend time with their families during the holidays, but this season his team has an unusually long break of nine days off until their next game against Saint Peter's on November 27th.
While some of his statements are valid, the fan base has been longing for Rutgers to participate in a high-profile Feast Week MTE and Pikiell needs to get his future teams involved, especially next year's team.
Feast Week has largely grown into a popular tradition across college basketball and as we watch MTEs like the Maui Invitational, Battle 4 Atlantis, NIT Tip-Off Games, Myrtle Beach Invitational, Cancun Challenge, etc. it's fair to ask "where the hell is Rutgers" in all of this?
Many of the Feast Week MTEs are filled with talented teams and they present a huge opportunity for teams to make an early season statement. All of the games are played in the national spotlight in unfamiliar settings on neutral floors and can certainly help boost a team's NCAA Tournament resume.
NEXT YEAR'S TEAM
Next season, Pikiell will have his most talented roster to date as he has hauled in a Top 10 recruiting class for 2024, consisting of 5-star Ace Bailey, 4-star Lathan Sommerville, and 3-stars Bryce Dorth and Dylan Grant. Oh, let's not forget that he may also bring another 5-star in Dylan Harper to The Banks next season. So, what better way to prove doubters wrong that Rutgers deserves national attention next season by playing in a Feast Week MTE against some of the best competition in college basketball?
A Feast Week MTE would allow next year's team to make a statement early in the season, make them battle tested, and showcase their talents in front of a national audience.
PUSH FOR HIGH-PROFILE FEAST WEEK MTE
It's no secret the fans want to see their beloved Rutgers hoops team play in a high-profile Feast Week MTE like the Maui Invitational, Battle 4 Atlantis, or Baha Mar Bahamas Championship. While next season is highly unlikely since most of the participants have already been selected for many of the higher profile MTEs, Rutgers really needs to make their case and push to become a participant for the years to come.
If Rutgers truly wants to take their basketball program to the next level, they need to start appearing in some of the higher profile Feast Week MTEs.
TRAVEL
If travel or distance is a concern for Pikiell since he likes to keep his players local to spend time with their families for the holidays, then why not try to participate in an MTE close to home, perhaps New York or Philadelphia?
The NIT Tip-Off Games would be a wonderful option for Rutgers. For years, the NIT Tip-Off games have been played in New York, and this year's NIT Tip-Off Games were played at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn and consisted of several quality teams (Baylor, Florida, Pitt, etc.) that would surely help boost a team's NCAA Tournament resume.
The Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden could be another option for Rutgers as this year's field consisted of national champion Connecticut, Texas, Indiana and Louisville.
It may not be a high-profile MTE, but Penn hosts the Cathedral of College Basketball Classic at The Palestra in Philadelphia and it provides decent competition from mid-major programs (Belmont, Penn, etc.).
BOOST THE NCAA TOURNAMENT RESUME
Not only do Feast Week MTEs give teams a chance to play quality competition, but they really help boost a team's NCAA Tournament resume. For years, Pikiell has been reluctant to play in neutral site games or away from The RAC and its comeback to nip Rutgers in the butt.
Last season, Rutgers played in one neutral floor out-of-conference game against Temple and lost, thus resulting in a Quadrant 3 (Q3) loss. The NCAA Tournament Committee was not impressed with their lone neutral site loss and weak out-of-conference schedule last season as they ultimately passed on Rutgers for the NCAA Tournament.
Had Rutgers possibly played in a Feast Week MTE last season and possibly played in 2-3 neutral site games giving them chances to pick up quality wins, the Scarlet Knights could have moved the needle and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Neutral site wins are like gold to the NCAA Tournament Committee, and they are taken highly into consideration for a team's NCAA Tournament resume.
BREAK THE MOLD
It's been said many times before, Pikiell simply doesn't like playing away from The RAC. Pikiell loves the atmosphere at The RAC and uses it to his advantage when Rutgers plays their opponents, but at some point, he has to break the mold and get his teams on board with an MTE. Rutgers fans would love the opportunity to travel and support their team. If not during Feast Week, maybe another MTE?
OUTLOOK
Listen, you can't change a tiger's stripes, and Pikiell may be set in his ways, but we have seen him become a little more receptive to making changes to the out-of-conference schedule, and for the better.
This season Rutgers will have played two neutral site and two road out-of-conference games, something fans have never seen before under Pikiell. This could be a positive sign towards his approach when it comes to scheduling out-of-conference games.
The next step towards getting Rutgers on the national stage and improving the out-of-conference schedule would be for Pikiell to get next year's team involved in a Feast Week MTE.
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UPDATE (11.27.23): Our very own insider Richard Kent has confirmed with sources that Rutgers will not be a participant in next year's Legends Classic in Brooklyn.
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