On Wednesday, Rutgers men’s basketball formally announced two neutral court games for the 2023-2024 season against Princeton and Mississippi State. The Scarlet Knights will open the season on November 6 against the Tigers in the inaugural Jersey Jam at CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton. RU will take on MSU in the Gotham Classic on December 23 at the Prudential Center in Newark. Tip-off times and TV assignments will be announced at a later date.
“We are so excited to open up our 2023-24 season schedule against Princeton,” Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said. “This is a matchup between two teams from the great state of New Jersey with a ton of history. We look forward to a great matchup in Trenton.
“Generations of Princeton and Rutgers fans know what this game means to both programs, alums and the state of New Jersey,” Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson said. We are thrilled that this tradition will be renewed and the next generation of Princeton & Rutgers fans will be able to experience this rivalry.”
Rutgers and Princeton have a well documented history and will meet for the first time since 2013. They’ve played 120 times with the Tigers leading the series 75-45 all-time. The two programs first met in 1917 and RU has won 11 of the last 15 meetings. Princeton has played Rutgers more than any other non-Ivy team in program history. Rutgers has played Princeton more than any other opponent all-time. Only three times have they played on a neutral court, the most famous being a 54-53 Rutgers victory in the first round of the 1976 NCAA Tournament.
Mitch Henderson is 2-1 against Rutgers in his Princeton tenure as head coach and 0-3 as a Tigers player in the mid-nineties. He returns the majority of his rotation from last season’s Sweet 16 team that finished 23-9. Henderson and Pikiell are 1-1 against each other when Stony Brook and Princeton played in 2015 and 2016.
“We are also looking forward to another marquee non-conference opponent in Mississippi State in Newark,” Pikiell added. “These are two great games against competitive opponents that will prepare our team for the gauntlet of the Big Ten Conference schedule ahead.”
Mississippi State earned an NCAA Tournament bid last season before losing to Pitt 60-59 in the First Four. Under first year head coach Chris Jans, the Bulldogs finished with a 21-13 record. They are set to return all five starters and added high profile transfer Andrew Taylor (Marshall). Rutgers and Mississippi State have played just once ever. It was on a neutral court in the consolation round of the Hoop and Quill Classic in St. Charles, Missouri on November 27, 1999. RU won 74-69.
Tickets for both games will be available for Rutgers season ticket holders on Wednesday via email. A presale for the general public through Ticket Master begins at noon ET on Wednesday and will be fully available at 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday. Ticket prices for the Jersey Jam against Princeton are $30-$60. The Gotham Classic against Mississippi State will have tickets priced between $30 and $75. Parking information and student tickets will be announced at a later date.
For a deeper dive on both matchups for Rutgers next season, click here.
The complete non-conference schedule has not been formally announced by Rutgers as of yet. However, it has been reported and I gave a full breakdown here. In addition, you can read about the opponent matchups for the 20 game Big Ten schedule here.
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