Rutgers and No. 22 Seton Hall meet in the Garden State Hardwood Classic on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at the RAC in Piscataway.
Seton Hall (6-3) leads the all-time series that dates back to 1916, 40-30, over Rutgers (7-3) and has won the last five out of six games, but the Scarlet Knights are currently preparing to take down their in-state rival.
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“Since I’ve been here, they’ve been really exciting, close games,” Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said during a conference call on Thursday afternoon. “It’s a great rivalry for New Jersey. You see two programs that are on the rise. ...The RAC will be rocking. People have been excited for a long time. We’ve developed a nice home court advantage. I think it’s exciting. I’ve been a part of many rivalries no matter the conference, and I really think the guys look forward to it. It’s an exciting rivalry we look forward to having a great game and I think Seton Hall feels the same way.”
Speaking of the RAC, which seats 8,000 spectators, and the crowd, Rutgers announced back in October that this game was sold out.
The Scarlet Knights had 6,361 fans watch their win on Wednesday night over Wisconsin in Piscataway.
“The crowd’s been great,” Pikiell told TKR. “Any time the RAC is jumping and loud, we’re a young team and they love the enthusiasm and love when the students are there. Hopefully we’ll have all of those things. It makes a huge difference. You see home records versus road records. The crowd really helps you in those areas.”
Rutgers junior guard Geo Baker mentioned that having a big, loud home crowd only helps.
“I think it really energizes us,” he said. “When we have the crowd on our side, I feel like the momentum goes our way and we have great energy and a little bit of a boost. That’s why home court advantage is so important. We appreciate the fans so much.
Ron Harper Jr., a sophomore guard/forward, echoed those sentiments.
“When you have thousands of fans screaming in our favor, it makes us want to play harder. They’ve been coming out all year and we really appreciate that and I hope they bring that same energy on Saturday,” Harper said.
Two years ago, the last time Rutgers upset a No. 15-ranked Seton Hall squad, the 8,318 fans in attendance stormed the court after the Scarlet Knights erased a 13-point deficit to win 71-65 at the RAC.
“The one thing I remember was how loud it was,” said Baker, then a true freshman who scored 17 points. “I couldn’t really hear anything. The RAC was rocking and it was great.”
Harper was a senior in high school at the time who had committed to the Scarlet Knights the August before. He was sitting behind the Rutgers bench for the contest.
“It was probably the most intense basketball game I’d ever been to,” Harper said. “Watching it happen and running on the court after we won, it was a great feeling and I couldn’t wait to play in that environment.”
Harper, a Franklin Lakes, N.J. native, said this rivalry is important to him and hopes the Rutgers faithful comes out to support the team and aid the Scarlet Knights to victory.
“It means a lot to me. Last year, we played at the Prudential Center and there was primarily a Seton Hall crowd. Their crowd was rowdy last year and I know this game was sold out in like 20 minutes,” the Don Bosco Prep product said. “The arena will be packed and I know 8,000 Scarlet Knights fans will be there and I’m looking forward to it.”
Follow Chris Nalwasky on Twitter @ChrisWasky.
