On Wednesday, the Big Ten Network debuted a spotlight on Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. On “The Journey”, the almost seven minute profile captures the amazing job that Pikiell has done in making the basketball program so successful.
It starts with a clip of Pikiell’s introductory press conference in 2016 and really captures how far Rutgers men’s basketball has come in his tenure. Now in his seventh season, the Scarlet Knights are 14-6 overall and in second place in the Big Ten with a 6-3 record. Tuesday’s winover Penn State was another masterful coaching performancefrom Pikiell.
As Rutgers fans know, it has taken a very long time for the program to earn the respect within the Big Ten and throughout college basketball. Pikiell has done that and more at RU. The Scarlet Knights are on course to making the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season for the first time in program history.
Interviews in the piece include Pikiell, AD Pat Hobbs, assistant coaches Brandin Knight and TJ Thompson, former star player Geo Baker and the dean of the Rutgers basketball beat Jerry Carino.
It’s a great piece and a must watch for every Rutgers fan. Seeing old clips, the road to success and how the demand for tickets have grown is fun to watch. Overall, this profile gives perspective of how different things were for Rutgers men’s basketball before Steve Pikiell arrived.
You can watch the 6:33 minute video here:
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I remember thinking as I watched that this guy was different and believable. Could he really turn the program around? I was an admitted skeptic but you couldn’t help pulling him even during those first few years of an ugly dribble, dribble, offense. Yet, you couldn’t help admire Pikiell’s insistence on establishing an identity built on defense & rebounding. A first class man has built a first class program that Rutgers can be proud of. Whatever Rutgers has to do, it’s got to hold onto this head coach!
Henry Rutgers
January 26, 2023 at 6:16 pm
Very cool. I’ll find it, record it or watch it.
If not for the fact that he lives in NY State, he could run for Govenor of NJ and win. It’s amazing how winning changes everything.
thevinman
January 26, 2023 at 7:31 pm
Great video! Thanks Aaron.
pj43
January 26, 2023 at 9:25 pm
Aaron, we appreciate the heads up on the video. It got me to watching the entire press conference back on March of 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osraZri5gak
I remember thinking as I watched that this guy was different and believable. Could he really turn the program around? I was an admitted skeptic but you couldn’t help pulling him even during those first few years of an ugly dribble, dribble, offense. Yet, you couldn’t help admire Pikiell’s insistence on establishing an identity built on defense & rebounding. A first class man has built a first class program that Rutgers can be proud of. Whatever Rutgers has to do, it’s got to hold onto this head coach!