Rutgers Scarlet Knights News

Dorin Buca - Still recovering from injury Buca is recovering from a knee injury, according to Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press.

Impact Previously undisclosed, Buca's knee injury indicates why Rutgers will not use him Sunday despite the team playing an exhibition game. The senior's rest is precautionary. Thus, Buca should become available before Rutgers' regular-season schedule begins.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Will Sydnor - Good to go for preseason game Sydnor (undisclosed) is available for Saturday's exhibition game with St. John's, according to Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press.

Impact Despite sitting out the 2025-26 NCAA season, Sydnor is reasonably confident that he can log a meaningful role for Rutgers in what will be his junior campaign. Two seasons ago, during the 2024-25 campaign, he averaged 13.9 points and 6.7 rebounds across 30 games (29 starts) with Manhattan.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Tariq Francis - Available for preseason game Francis (undisclosed) is available for Saturday's exhibition game with St. John's, according to Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press.

Impact Rutgers had a week to prepare for the team's next exhibition, and Francis is quickly ready to go after sitting out the previous preseason showcase. The senior guard has averaged 17.0 points for the Scarlet Knights, so he is expected to be the biggest piece in their rotation this season.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Gevonte Ware - Two points in exhibition Ware (undisclosed) scored two points (1-1 FG, 0-1 FT) and grabbed three rebounds in 11 minutes during Sunday's 77-75 exhibition loss to Villanova.

Impact Ware had been dealing with an undisclosed injury during the offseason, but he was able to suit up during Sunday's exhibition, albeit in a limited fashion. The 6-foot-9 sophomore is hoping for an expanded role with the Scarlet Knights moving forward after a season in which he appeared in just six games for an average of six minutes per game a year ago.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Will Sydnor - Sits out exhibition game Sydnor (undisclosed) sat out Friday's exhibition game against Villanova, per Alec Crouthamel of On3.com.

Impact Sydnor missed Rutgers' first exhibition game due to an undisclosed injury. The 6-foot-8 forward is expected to be a starter in the frontcourt this season, and he still has time to recover before the team's season opener against New Haven on Nov. 6. In his last full season in 2024-25, he averaged 13.9 points and 6.8 rebounds across 29.5 minutes per game, starting 29 of 30 contests.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Tariq Francis - DNP in exhibition Francis (undisclosed) did not play during Sunday's exhibition matchup against Villanova due to an injury, per Alec Crouthamel of On3.com.

Impact Francis did not play against the Wildcats due to an undisclosed injury. The 6-foot-1 senior was a star for the Scarlet Knights last season, averaging 17 points and 2.9 assists per game across 34 contests. His status will be worth monitoring as the start of the 2026-27 season draws closer, with his next opportunity coming in another exhibition against St. John's on October 18.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell says he is receiving treatment for cancer

Rutgers men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell says he has been diagnosed with cancer after visiting doctors a few months ago when “not feeling 100%.”

SEPTEMBER 9 • Associated Press

Kansas men's hoops signs a five-year contract to play in the Players Era Festival through 2030-31

Kansas has signed a five-year contract for the Jayhawks to participate in the Players Era Festival

AUGUST 4 • Associated Press

Christian Gurdak Details Why Rutgers Basketball Won Him Over After Virginia Tech Transfer Pikiell, Rutgers Staff Made an Early Impression Rutgers center Christian Gurdak said the Scarlet Knights' coaching staff, defensive identity...

JULY 7 • SI.COM

Tariq Francis Explains Why Returning to Rutgers Was an Easy Decision Ahead of Year Two Staying With Rutgers Was Never Much of a Question Rutgers guard Tariq Francis said that he never entertained the thought of leaving the Scar...

JULY 6 • SI.COM

Did Steve Pikiell Deserve a No. 15 Ranking Among Big Ten Coaches? Pikiell Lands at No. 15 Steve Pikiell Ranked No. 15 Among Big Ten Basketball Coaches for 2026-27. The College Basketball Report has released...

JULY 1 • SI.COM

Will Sydnor - Projected as starter Sydnor is projected as a starter for Rutgers' 2026-27 team, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Impact Rothstein envisions that Sydnor will log a smooth transition to Rutgers though an eligibility problem, according to Sam Federman of Basket Under Review, ruled the student-athlete out for all of last season. During his 2024-25 season, he averaged 13.9 points and 6.7 rebounds for Manhattan. Statistically, Sydnor has previous excellence that Rutgers' updated frontcourt lacks, which explains why his ceiling may be high.

JUNE 30 • ROTOWIRE

Steal → alley-oop → finish 💥

JUNE 9 • FOX SPORTS

Can Rutgers bounce back and be a Big Ten Contender? With a few notable changes this offseason, we're looking at Rutgers and wondering if the Scarlet Knights can be competitive in the Big Ten a...

MAY 21 • BUSTINGBRACKETS.COM

Rasheed Jones - Commits to Rutgers Jones has committed to Rutgers, Sam Kayser of League Ready reports.

Impact Jones will join the Scarlet Knights after playing the past two seasons with Coastal Carolina. In the 2025-26 campaign, the 6-foot-6 guard averaged 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and one steal per game. He'll aim to make an immediate impact with the Rutgers program.

MAY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Michigan Men's Basketball Announces 2026-27 Big Ten Opponents

Michigan men's basketball has revealed its 2026-27 Big Ten opponents. Here's what you need to know about the Wolverines' conference slate.

MAY 13 • FOX SPORTS

Michigan Men's Basketball Announces 2026-27 Big Ten Opponents

Recent champs Michigan and Florida headline fields in Players Era as its splits into 2 tournaments

The Players Era will expand from 18 to 24 teams this year and split into two tournaments

MAY 7 • Associated Press

Dorin Buca - Commits to Rutgers Buca (undisclosed) will transfer to Rutgers, per Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com.

Impact Buca spent the 2025-26 season at Kansas State. The 7-foot-2 center averaged 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds across 12.7 minutes last year. He appears to have one more season of eligibility to use in Piscataway, where he adds immediate frontcourt depth.

MAY 4 • ROTOWIRE

Kaden Powers - Returning to Rutgers Powers will run it back with Rutgers in 2026-27, the program announced.

Impact Powers averaged 6.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists with Rutgers in 2025-26. He'll run it back in Piscataway for his sophomore season, and will look to lock down a starting role.

APRIL 21 • ROTOWIRE

Will Sydnor - Heading to Rutgers Sydnor has committed to Rutgers, according to Dushawn London of 247Sports.

Impact Sydnor will compete for wing minutes at Rutgers after sitting out the entire 2025-26 season. He had a solid season with Manhattan in 2024-25, though. He averaged 13.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while starting in all but one of his 30 regular-season contests in that campaign.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

Christian Gurdak - Headed to Piscataway Gurdak will transfer to Rutgers, per Colby Giacubeno of 247Sports.

Impact Gurdak spent his freshman season with Virginia Tech, averaging 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds across 17.1 minutes. He largely played off the bench, starting just 10 of 31 games. The 6-foot-10 center, who also shot 63 percent from the field, will now take his talents to Rutgers ahead of his sophomore campaign.

APRIL 17 • ROTOWIRE

Darren Buchanan Jr. - Staying with Rutgers Buchanan has decided to return to Rutgers for the 2026-27 season, Chris Corso of ScarletKnights.com reports.

Impact Buchanan has decided to return for his second season with Rutgers. The junior guard averaged 8.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 24.0 minutes across 34 appearances.

APRIL 16 • ROTOWIRE

Darin Smith Jr. - Heading to Rutgers Smith has committed to play for Rutgers for the 2026-27 season, per Brian Fonseca of NJ.com.

Impact Smith will join the Scarlet Knights following three seasons with Central Connecticut. The 6-foot-7 sophomore averaged 20.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game across 30 contests for the Blue Devils this past season. He will retain two years of eligibility with Rutgers moving forward.

APRIL 16 • ROTOWIRE

Tariq Francis - Returning for 2026-27 season Francis has re-signed with Rutgers for the 2026-27 season, Chris Corso of ScarletKnights.com reports.

Impact Rutgers' team gets its leading scorer back for at least one more season. Even with the big move from NJIT to Rutgers, he still averaged 17.0 points on 41.9/35.1/91.1 shooting splits across 34 games (21 starts). Unless the Scarlet Knights add a big recruit or transfer, it looks like they will run their offense through Francis again next season.

APRIL 15 • ROTOWIRE

Lino Mark - Running it back with Rutgers Mark will return for the 2026-27 season, Chris Corso of ScarletKnights.com reports.

Impact Mark gradually worked his way up Rutgers' starting lineup, culminating his 2025-26 season with 11.0 points averaged across his last six games and starts. With that trajectory, it looks like a bigger role is in Mark's future come next season, which may see him be established as a top option for the Scarlet Knights.

APRIL 15 • ROTOWIRE

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Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell says he is receiving treatment for cancer

Kansas men's hoops signs a five-year contract to play in the Players Era Festival through 2030-31

Steal → alley-oop → finish 💥

Michigan Men's Basketball Announces 2026-27 Big Ten Opponents

Recent champs Michigan and Florida headline fields in Players Era as its splits into 2 tournaments