Jerry Carino of Gannett reported on Monday that Rutgers men’s basketball and St. John’s are planning an exhibition game on Saturday, October 21 to be played in Queens at Carnesecca Arena. Tip is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. Proceeds will benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research founded by Rutgers alum Jim Valvano, who was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame last month.
The meeting was originally scheduled as a private scrimmage that many basketball programs typically arrange during the preseason. Zach Braziller of the NY Post reported the two schools received a waiver from the NCAA to turn it into a charity exhibition. Making it a public event for a good cause is a positive move for both schools.
Rutgers announced the exhibition later on Monday. Ticket info here.
Rick Pitino enters his first season at St. John’s and this will likely be his first public appearance on the sidelines for the Johnnies. His team features center Joel Soriano who will go head to head with Rutgers big man Cliff Omoruyi as the marquee matchup in the exhibition. Pitino has remade the St. John’s roster, adding 13 players this offseason including Ivy League Player of the Year Jordan Dingle.
This will be the third charity exhibition played by Rutgers under Steve Pikiell. The Scarlet Knights and St. John’s played for charity in 2018 as well at the RAC to benefit the Red Cross in support of Hurricane Maria that devastated Puerto Rico. In addition, Rutgers hosted Fairfield last year to benefit spinal cord research on behalf of Team LeGrand, founded by RU legend Eric LeGrand.
Rutgers last faced St. John’s during the 2018-2019 season that the Johnnies won at the RAC 84-65. St. John’s owns a 28-14 all-time series lead.
Thanks for reading the The Scarlet Faithful. For more Rutgers Athletics content from The Scarlet Faithful, follow us on Twitter and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can subscribe to The Scarlet Faithful podcast on Apple, Spotify, Pocket Casts and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. For advertising inquiries or to reach out directly, email at breitmanaaron@gmail.com
