Rutgers men’s basketball head coach Steve Pikiell talks homecourt advantage

Rutgers men’s basketball head coach talks about the impact of Jersey Mike’s Arena on his team.

For Rutgers basketball, the expectation is now that of postseason appearances. The Scarlet Knights have established themselves as a top-half of the Big Ten caliber program as they look to build on their success from the last two years.

Rutgers is looking to make it three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Last year, Rutgers went 18-14 (12-8 Big Ten) and lost 89-87 in overtime to Notre Dame in the play-in game.

One reason why Rutgers is in the mix for the postseason again this year is their homecourt advantage. Last season at Jersey Mike’s Arena, Rutgers was 14-3 on their home court.

Speaking at the Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday, Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell was asked about his homecourt advantage.

“I mean, just the energy in the building. It starts way before the game. It starts leading up to the game, the days before,” Pikiell told reporters at the Big Ten’s media event this week.

“It’s a fan base that’s been very loyal, very passionate. Now we’ve added the elements of the great college students and their creativity, their youth and their enthusiasm.

“Jersey Mike’s is one of the toughest places I think to play. We love it. (An) Unbelievable home-court advantage there. Keeping these guys around keeps it that way, too. You’ve got to have good players. Basketball is about having good kids that are willing to sacrifice. We’ve talked a lot about that this year. They have to sacrifice minutes, their offense for defense, rebounds for points – those kind of things.

“I think our fans sacrifice. I think our players do. That has created a great environment for us.”

Pikiell said that his team plays with “a little Jersey grit and excitement and enthusiasm” which resonates with the fan base.

Jersey Mike’s Arena now home to Rutgers basketball, volleyball and wrestling

Rutgers Athletic Center is now the Jersey Mike’s Arena.

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Rutgers will be hoping to take a bite out of opponents in upcoming years at Jersey Mike’s Arena. The iconic Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) now has a fitting new name that is certainly worthy of the Garden State.

On Wednesday, Rutgers athletics announced the new naming rights for the facility that houses several athletic programs. Jersey Mike’s Arena is the home to both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, women’s volleyball and wrestling.

“Jersey Mike’s is the perfect partner for Rutgers Athletics,” Rutgers director of athletics Pat Hobbs said in a statement released by his department.

“Our New Jersey brand extends beyond our borders; it is a state of mind that speaks to our core values of grit and the pursuit of excellence. Jersey Mike’s is an organization also engaged in the relentless pursuit of excellence, so what better partner for the State University of New Jersey?”

 

Jersey Mike’s has grown from a single sandwich shop in Point Pleasant, N.J. into an operation with over 2,000 stores nationally. They will receive prominent signage and placement throughout the facility.

This is the first-ever naming rights in the history of the RAC.

“Rutgers University is a home state neighbor that shares our values of excellence and community involvement,” Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO Peter Cancro said in the same statement. “Jersey Mike’s is proud to partner with Rutgers Athletics and celebrate the school’s many dedicated student-athletes and their fans.”

News of the original naming rights deal between Jersey Mike’s and Rutgers was first broken in early October by Jerry Carino.