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Message: [QUOTE="Hey Adrien!, post: 4575290, member: 5787"] Rutgers wouldn't renege that deal if they had a chance to do so today. Pikiell has provided Rutgers something it hasn't had: stability and respect. After not getting ranked since 1979 and not making the tournament since 1991, Pikiell has led Rutgers to three tournament selections and three seasons that included a top-25 ranking in the last four years. Right now, Rutgers isn't looking for championships, they want respect, and they've gotten it: attendance at the RAC has skyrocketed and the passion of its fanbase inside the building is back. If anyone watched last night's game (I caught OT, which was a blast to watch), it was clear that the RAC was rockin'. This season made a major turn when their second best defender, Mawot Mag, tore his ACL: 16-7 before the injury and 3-8 after. Pikiell has really improved their recruiting too: he still finds diamonds in the rough (McConnell #344, Simpson #226, Mag #212, Mulcahy #151), but recent four- and five-star pickups like Omoruyi in '20, Griffiths in '23 and Bailey in '24 have each separately been the highest ranked recruit in program history. It's contrarian here, but as someone who dislikes B10 basketball, never thought of Rutgers as an actual rival (they were trash in the Big East!) and has genuine respect for Pikiell, I'm entertained following the program's development under Pikiell. [/QUOTE]