Princeton and Rutgers are separated by 17 miles on Route 1 in New Jersey. Rutgers is one of Princeton’s most familiar foes. The Tigers lead the overall series, 77-45, but Rutgers has won six out of the last 10 meetings.
The game has held major significance for Princeton and Rutgers players across the decades, a history sure to grow when the teams play Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark at noon.
“It was for the establishment of New Jersey dominance,” former Princeton star and athletic director Gary Walters said.
Walters has a 2-1 record against Rutgers, suffering a bitter 68-66 Dillon Gym loss to Rutgers and star guards Bobby Lloyd and Jim Valvano in 1965. Walters and company got revenge in 1967 at the College Avenue Gym in 1967 in a 97-74 triumph. The 1966-67 Princeton squad is acclaimed by many as the best Princeton team in history. The Rutgers team those Tigers beat had a All-American first teamer in Bob Lloyd.
Matt Madlinger played in one of the greatest eras in Rutgers basketball history, from 1977 to 1981.
“Princeton was such a big game for us back then,” Madlinger said. I remember (Rutgers) president Ed Bloustein bringing (New Jersey) Governor Brendan Byrne into our locker room pregame. The message (was), ‘We are the state university. Don’t lose.'” Madlinger went 2-2 against the Tigers.
Rutgers coach Eddie Jordan, who helmed the Scarlet Knights from 2013 to 2016, lost his first game against the Tigers and refused to play them again.
Steve Pikiell took over the Rutgers reins in 2016 and did not resume the rivalry until last season. Princeton defeated Rutgers 68-61 last November in Trenton.
Princeton has an 8-4 season ledger and Rutgers sits at 7-4. Rutgers boasts two of the top three freshmen in the country in Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Both are projected to be top-five picks in the 2025 NBA draft.
Zach Martini was one of two Princeton captains last season. He is playing his fifth year at Rutgers, earning an Master of Business Administration and is one of two Rutgers captains.
Mike Dabney, one of the stars of the 1976 undefeated regular season Rutgers team and a third-round NBA Draft choice of the Los Angeles Lakers, owns a 5-1 record against Princeton, including an epic 54-53 win over the Tigers in the 1976 NCAA Tournament.
“The meeting with Princeton should be fun to watch. Two distinct offensive strategies,” Dabney said before predicting Rutgers would win “in a close one.”
A crowd of 10,000 is expected, and it will undoubtedly be largely scarlet-clad. Let’s hope the series continues beyond this game and convenes at home sites in the future.
Very enjoyable article. Should be a fun game to watch! I think this year’s Rutgers team has too much firepower in Bailey and Harper . I predict Rutgers 80 Tigers 68