THE OFFICIAL 2026-2027 RUTGERS BASKETBALL SEASON PREDICTION THREAD

[bac2therac]

Nov. 6, 2026	New Haven
Nov. 10, 2026	NJIT
Nov. 13, 2026	Bryant
Nov. 17, 2026	vs. Houston (Players Era)
Nov. 24, 2026	Sacred Heart
Dec. 1, 2026	at Indiana
Dec. 9, 2026	Michigan
Dec. 12, 2026	Seton Hall
Dec. 16, 2026	Saint Peter’s
Dec. 20, 2026	Army
Dec. 29, 2026	Delaware State
Jan. 2, 2027	at Purdue
Jan. 5, 2027	UCLA
Jan. 8, 2027	USC
Jan. 12, 2027	Iowa
Jan. 16, 2027	at Northwestern
Jan. 19, 2027	at Maryland
Jan. 23, 2027	Minnesota
Jan. 27, 2027	at Oregon
Jan. 30, 2027	at Washington
Feb. 3, 2027	Purdue
Feb. 6, 2027	vs. Syracuse (Barclays Center)
Feb. 10, 2027	at Michigan State
Feb. 13, 2027	Wisconsin
Feb. 16, 2027	at Nebraska
Feb. 20, 2027	Penn State
Feb. 25, 2027	at Ohio State
Feb. 28, 2027	Maryland
Mar. 3, 2027	Illinois
Mar. 7, 2027	at Penn State

 

[bac2therac]

Nov. 6, 2026	New Haven	W 1-0
Nov. 10, 2026	NJIT	W 2-0
Nov. 13, 2026	Bryant	W 3-0
Nov. 17, 2026	vs. Houston (Players Era)/2nd game/3rd game	L 3-1/L 3-2/W 4-2
Nov. 24, 2026	Sacred Heart	W 5-2
Dec. 1, 2026	at Indiana	L 5-3/0-1
Dec. 9, 2026	Michigan	L 5-4/0-2
Dec. 12, 2026	Seton Hall	W 6-4/0-2
Dec. 16, 2026	Saint Peter’s	W 7-4/0-2
Dec. 20, 2026	Army	W 8-4/0-2
Dec. 29, 2026	Delaware State	W 9-4/0-2
Jan. 2, 2027	at Purdue	L 9-5/0-3
Jan. 5, 2027	UCLA	L 9-6/0-4
Jan. 8, 2027	USC	W 10-6/1-4
Jan. 12, 2027	Iowa	L 10-7/1-5
Jan. 16, 2027	at Northwestern	W 11-7/2-5
Jan. 19, 2027	at Maryland	L 11-8/2-6
Jan. 23, 2027	Minnesota	W 12-8/3-6
Jan. 27, 2027	at Oregon	L 12-9/3-7
Jan. 30, 2027	at Washington	W 13-9/4-7
Feb. 3, 2027	Purdue	W 14-9/5-7
Feb. 6, 2027	vs. Syracuse (Barclays Center)	L 14-10/5-7
Feb. 10, 2027	at Michigan State	L 14-11/5-8
Feb. 13, 2027	Wisconsin	W 15-11/6-8
Feb. 16, 2027	at Nebraska	L 15-12/6-9
Feb. 20, 2027	Penn State	W 16-12/7-9
Feb. 25, 2027	at Ohio State	L 16-13/7-10
Feb. 28, 2027	Maryland	W 17-13/8-10
Mar. 3, 2027	Illinois	L 17-14/8-11
Mar. 7, 2027	at Penn State	W 18-14/9-11

Regular Season: 18-14
Big 10: 9-11 tie for 10th
1-1 Big 10 tourney
19-15 and selected to participate in the Crown

Team will obviously be better. The Big 10 schedule is heavily front loaded and gets softer in the middle where RU needs to make its hay. If they can steal some early unexpected Big 10 wins vs the likes of Indiana or Michigan or UCLA then things could get interesting. Again its difficult to know where other programs stand with changeover. Schools like Maryland and USC figure to be significantly better than last season. While a schools like Purdue and perhaps Iowa are very vulnerable. You have the top schools in this league and the a tier probably above RU. Then RU is in a tier with everyone elses besides maybe Oregon and Penn State. Can RU win enough of those games against schools like themselves.

Unfortunately barring an incredible Players Era performance, the OOC is not one that will be an asset on the NCAA resume. The cupcakes are dreadful type schools bottom of the barrell. They absolutely have to run the table in these sisters of the poor games. Syracuse/Seton Hall are middle of the road mediocre and will not offer the real quality type win non conference the committee would be looking for. I think RU splits those games. 8 additional schools to make the NCAA but will need notch multiple Q1 wins in league play to make a serious run at an large NCAA bid. Ultimately I dont think there is enough leadership and experience to push the team to make a run in the Big 10 tourney. I think RU was not taken seriously last year and it allowed themselves to hang in some games and they did what they had to do beating all the teams below them. I think this year for RU it wont be about just outscoring RU. I have major concerns about the RU defense. Streaky shooting will carry them along way and that they have a knack for not giving up but I also think the long scoring droughts and poor 3 point shooting will do them in especially early in the season. This team will be much tougher by the end then they are in the beginning.

Best win: Dismantling of a down Purdue program at the RAC

Best atmosphere: Illinois with a crazy atmosphere that makes fans dream big dreams which comes up just short against a top 10 team

Worst loss: getting picked off by a bad Oregon on a trip to the West Coast, also losing a close one at the Barclays with insufferable Syracuse fans.

 

[RUfrom NJ]

16-16 (7-13)

Best win: Jan 5 v. UCLA
Worst loss: Feb 6 v. Syracuse

 

[Sweet Pea's Corner]

Usually pick after first game.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Nov. 6, 2026	New Haven	W 1-0
Nov. 10, 2026	NJIT	W 2-0
Nov. 13, 2026	Bryant	W 3-0
Nov. 17, 2026	vs. Houston (Players Era)/2nd game/3rd game	L 3-1/L 3-2/W 4-2
Nov. 24, 2026	Sacred Heart	W 5-2
Dec. 1, 2026	at Indiana	L 5-3/0-1
Dec. 9, 2026	Michigan	L 5-4/0-2
Dec. 12, 2026	Seton Hall	W 6-4/0-2
Dec. 16, 2026	Saint Peter’s	W 7-4/0-2
Dec. 20, 2026	Army	W 8-4/0-2
Dec. 29, 2026	Delaware State	W 9-4/0-2
Jan. 2, 2027	at Purdue	L 9-5/0-3
Jan. 5, 2027	UCLA	L 9-6/0-4
Jan. 8, 2027	USC	W 10-6/1-4
Jan. 12, 2027	Iowa	L 10-7/1-5
Jan. 16, 2027	at Northwestern	W 11-7/2-5
Jan. 19, 2027	at Maryland	L 11-8/2-6
Jan. 23, 2027	Minnesota	W 12-8/3-6
Jan. 27, 2027	at Oregon	L 12-9/3-7
Jan. 30, 2027	at Washington	W 13-9/4-7
Feb. 3, 2027	Purdue	W 14-9/5-7
Feb. 6, 2027	vs. Syracuse (Barclays Center)	L 14-10/5-7
Feb. 10, 2027	at Michigan State	L 14-11/5-8
Feb. 13, 2027	Wisconsin	W 15-11/6-8
Feb. 16, 2027	at Nebraska	L 15-12/6-9
Feb. 20, 2027	Penn State	W 16-12/7-9
Feb. 25, 2027	at Ohio State	L 16-13/7-10
Feb. 28, 2027	Maryland	W 17-13/8-10
Mar. 3, 2027	Illinois	L 17-14/8-11
Mar. 7, 2027	at Penn State	W 18-14/9-11

Regular Season: 18-14
Big 10: 9-11 tie for 10th
1-1 Big 10 tourney
19-15 and selected to participate in the Crown

Team will obviously be better. The Big 10 schedule is heavily front loaded and gets softer in the middle where RU needs to make its hay. If they can steal some early unexpected Big 10 wins vs the likes of Indiana or Michigan or UCLA then things could get interesting. Again its difficult to know where other programs stand with changeover. Schools like Maryland and USC figure to be significantly better than last season. While a schools like Purdue and perhaps Iowa are very vulnerable. You have the top schools in this league and the a tier probably above RU. Then RU is in a tier with everyone elses besides maybe Oregon and Penn State. Can RU win enough of those games against schools like themselves.

Unfortunately barring an incredible Players Era performance, the OOC is not one that will be an asset on the NCAA resume. The cupcakes are dreadful type schools bottom of the barrell. They absolutely have to run the table in these sisters of the poor games. Syracuse/Seton Hall are middle of the road mediocre and will not offer the real quality type win non conference the committee would be looking for. I think RU splits those games. 8 additional schools to make the NCAA but will need notch multiple Q1 wins in league play to make a serious run at an large NCAA bid. Ultimately I dont think there is enough leadership and experience to push the team to make a run in the Big 10 tourney. I think RU was not taken seriously last year and it allowed themselves to hang in some games and they did what they had to do beating all the teams below them. I think this year for RU it wont be about just outscoring RU. I have major concerns about the RU defense. Streaky shooting will carry them along way and that they have a knack for not giving up but I also think the long scoring droughts and poor 3 point shooting will do them in especially early in the season. This team will be much tougher by the end then they are in the beginning.

Best win: Dismantling of a down Purdue program at the RAC

Best atmosphere: Illinois with a crazy atmosphere that makes fans dream big dreams which comes up just short against a top 10 team

Worst loss: getting picked off by a bad Oregon on a trip to the West Coast, also losing a close one at the Barclays with insufferable Syracuse fans.

Bac, I agree on the final record. I have 18-14 regular season too. With the expanded tournament, shouldn’t the Big Ten get 10-11 teams in? Does that put RU on the bubble? Obviously that depends on the overall quality of the big ten, how the other top 2-3 conferences perform and the quality wins Rutgers can put on their resume.

 

[fatsam98]

Non-Con: 8-4

• 1-2 in Vegas after losing to Houston
• Lose to Seton Hall. Typical ugliness against a Seton Hall squad that looks decent defensively to me -- Sha will have them ready for us before going on to finish at the bottom of the Big East
• Beat Syracuse at Barclays in a game attended by hundreds of people. I don't think they're very good and could see the wheels coming off their season by February
• The cupcakes. The only one that worries me is Bryant. I'll go 6-1 here with a WTF loss to Bryant.

Big Ten: 9-11

• 6-4 at home
• 3-7 on the road

Overall: 17-15

Not gonna bother incorporating the Big Ten Tournament because it obviously plays zero factor in the Selection Committee's eyes. It's become a waste of time in this bloated conference anyway.

Best Win: take your pick, Iowa/USC/Maryland at home. And we finally win at Ohio State

Worst Loss: I have us losing to Bryant, but I'll say a brutal loss at Penn State to end the season is the worst loss that keeps us out of the expanded tournament

Best Atmosphere: Maryland at home coming off a win at Ohio State

A little negative in my prediction but I'm genuinely excited for tonight and the season as a whole. We all need something to latch onto given how football season has gone.

 

[GM]

I’m gonna be the optimist. 8-3 Non-Con, 11-9 B1G. I don’t think the top of the Big Ten is that incredible (I think Illinois has potential to be dominant) and I really do think this team has a decent framework to be good and win plenty of games. I see us winning a game in Las Vegas and splitting the Seton Hall and Syracuse games. I think the Gurdak factor is gonna be massive, I think he may actually be better than a fair amount of big men in this league and looking at team performance, I think there generally is a major correlation between good big men -> good results. 19-12 I think definitely gets us in the tournament, prob have to play a play in game however. But looking forward to this season!

 

[GM]

Also, I think 18 wins very well could get us in the tournament with the expanded tourney, but that I wouldn’t completely hold my breath over. 19 and I’m pretty certain we make it.

 

[LOU-RU85]

I’m also predicting 17-15 with 9 to 10 B1G wins. I think we end up somewhere between 11-8 in conference position.

 

[NightKnight]

Regular Season: 17-15
2-1 Big 10 tourney
2-1 NCAA

 

[NightKnight]

Usually pick after first game.

Cool.
I like to place my roulette bets after the ball stops rolling.
I like to start the marathon just after that first mile marker weeds out the fatties.
When I'm in a spelling bee, I ask the judges, "Now what's that start with?"
I'd like to sleep with a lady and then buy her a nice dinner.
I'd like to know the results of my autopsy.
I usually wait until after the first battle before I decide which side of the war I'm on.
I wait until after election day to decide my political leanings.
"Call me Ishmeal?" I'm sorry, I don't understand. I never read the first chapter.
I say, you send them to boarding school when they're babies and get them back when they can walk, talk and do what you say.
I've watched The Two Towers and The Return of the King, but not the other one.
I go a fortune teller to find out how things are going to go in my appointment with the soothsayer.
I never order appetizers.
For me the Bible doesn't really get going until Exodus.
I don't even like the rides. I just love using the speed pass and looking at those sad faces right in the eye as I do it. "Hey, I didn't ask God to make me handicapped in a way that is not visibly identifiable!"
I never learned to skip. I went straight to galloping. I skipped skipping.
I don't even show up to a Tyson fight until the start of the second round.
My favorite Amendment? The Second Amendment. You got the good Second Amendment, you don't need any of those other dang Amendments.

 

[Rutgers25]

Concerned about the defense and Sydnor. Really was hoping that he would be a legit stretch 4 that did all the little things but so far it seems like he’s this years injury bug player.

I’ll go with 9-3 OOC
7-13 conference for 16-16 overall.

upside case is 10-2 OOC and 10-10 conference for 20-12

downside is 8-4 OOC and 6-14 conference for 14-18 overall

we’ll have some painful close losses I think

 

[seansherm]

Concerned about the defense and Sydnor. Really was hoping that he would be a legit stretch 4 that did all the little things but so far it seems like he’s this years injury bug player.

I’ll go with 9-3 OOC
7-13 conference for 16-16 overall.

upside case is 10-2 OOC and 10-10 conference for 20-12

downside is 8-4 OOC and 6-14 conference for 14-18 overall

we’ll have some painful close losses I think

Yeah, need to see Syndor healthy before deciding, he could be the difference between 14/15 wins and 17/18 A lot has to go right for more than that. Things go right its a bubble team.

 

[Degaz-RU]

9-3 OOC
9-11 B1G

18-14 overall regular season. Firmly on the newly-expanded Bubble.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Not going to go through game-by-game, I'm calling 19-13 (9-11 B10).

 

[RUChet]

14-18 wins but my guess is 16-16

 

[goru7]

I am going 19-13 which is optimistic and clearly 4 games I have as wins , Michigan , Purdue , Iowa and one of UCLa / USC could be losses as there is no RAC magic.

Think we get to be end of December at 10-3,losing 2/3 in Vegas and at Indiana. Calling the Michigan upset now.

Crucial home stand in January after playing at Purdue coming home to UcLA ,USC and Iowa. Have to find a way to get 2 out of 3. Will establish confidence for the rest of the Big 10 slate. Only losing after that at the RAC to Wisconsin and Illinois. That means beating Minnesota, Purdue and Maryland .

Predicting we beat both Seton Hall and Syracuse who are worse than Villanova and St. John’s.

I know this is quite optimistic and any injury or lost confidence leading to a losing streak can have us at 14-18 but I am stating positive. Rutgers Tough. !!!!!!!!

 

[Sweet Pea's Corner]

Cool.
I like to place my roulette bets after the ball stops rolling.
I like to start the marathon just after that first mile marker weeds out the fatties.
When I'm in a spelling bee, I ask the judges, "Now what's that start with?"
I'd like to sleep with a lady and then buy her a nice dinner.
I'd like to know the results of my autopsy.
I usually wait until after the first battle before I decide which side of the war I'm on.
I wait until after election day to decide my political leanings.
"Call me Ishmeal?" I'm sorry, I don't understand. I never read the first chapter.
I say, you send them to boarding school when they're babies and get them back when they can walk, talk and do what you say.
I've watched The Two Towers and The Return of the King, but not the other one.
I go a foreteller to find out how things are going to go in my appointment with the soothsayer.
I never order appetizers.
For me the Bible doesn't really get going until Exodus.
I don't even like the rides. I just love using the speed pass and looking at those sad faces right in the eye as I do it. "Hey, I didn't ask God to make me handicapped in a way that is not visibly identifiable!"
I never learned to skip. I went straight to galloping. I skipped skipping.
I don't even show up to a Tyson fight until the start of the second round.
My favorite Amendment? The Second Amendment. You got the good Second Amendment, you don't need any of those other dang Amendments.

Wow. I'm impressed that you had that much time to do this. I've been doing this for years. But since your panties are in your crotch I had 18-14. Off hand I can't remember conference specifics since I'm on my way to the bb game.

Cool.
I like to place my roulette bets after the ball stops rolling.
I like to start the marathon just after that first mile marker weeds out the fatties.
When I'm in a spelling bee, I ask the judges, "Now what's that start with?"
I'd like to sleep with a lady and then buy her a nice dinner.
I'd like to know the results of my autopsy.
I usually wait until after the first battle before I decide which side of the war I'm on.
I wait until after election day to decide my political leanings.
"Call me Ishmeal?" I'm sorry, I don't understand. I never read the first chapter.
I say, you send them to boarding school when they're babies and get them back when they can walk, talk and do what you say.
I've watched The Two Towers and The Return of the King, but not the other one.
I go a foreteller to find out how things are going to go in my appointment with the soothsayer.
I never order appetizers.
For me the Bible doesn't really get going until Exodus.
I don't even like the rides. I just love using the speed pass and looking at those sad faces right in the eye as I do it. "Hey, I didn't ask God to make me handicapped in a way that is not visibly identifiable!"
I never learned to skip. I went straight to galloping. I skipped skipping.
I don't even show up to a Tyson fight until the start of the second round.
My favorite Amendment? The Second Amendment. You got the good Second Amendment, you don't need any of those other dang Amendments.

 

[bac2therac]

Non-Con: 8-4

• 1-2 in Vegas after losing to Houston
• Lose to Seton Hall. Typical ugliness against a Seton Hall squad that looks decent defensively to me -- Sha will have them ready for us before going on to finish at the bottom of the Big East
• Beat Syracuse at Barclays in a game attended by hundreds of people. I don't think they're very good and could see the wheels coming off their season by February
• The cupcakes. The only one that worries me is Bryant. I'll go 6-1 here with a WTF loss to Bryant.

Big Ten: 9-11

• 6-4 at home
• 3-7 on the road

Overall: 17-15

Not gonna bother incorporating the Big Ten Tournament because it obviously plays zero factor in the Selection Committee's eyes. It's become a waste of time in this bloated conference anyway.

Best Win: take your pick, Iowa/USC/Maryland at home. And we finally win at Ohio State

Worst Loss: I have us losing to Bryant, but I'll say a brutal loss at Penn State to end the season is the worst loss that keeps us out of the expanded tournament

Best Atmosphere: Maryland at home coming off a win at Ohio State

A little negative in my prediction but I'm genuinely excited for tonight and the season as a whole. We all need something to latch onto given how football season has gone.

I dont think you are negative. I think my 18 is fairly optimistic. I could see as low as 13/14 and as many as 20

 

[needmorecowbell]

9-3 OOC
9-11 Big Ten
1-1 Big Ten Tournament
19-15

bubblicious

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Regular season......19-13
OOC............................9-3
B1G........................10-10
B1G tourney...............2-1

Then crank up some Wild Cherry.

...and they were dancin' and singin'
And movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me
Somebody turned around and shouted: Minneapolis Minnesota!!!

Best win of the season: Michigan State. Finally get a win in East Lansing vs. Izzo's boys.

 

[Waldo73]

15 wins

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

Agree with above 15 wins. Was higher on them before tonight.

 

[BillyC80]

All things considered, looks like a 19-win team to me.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Surprised no one stsrted this one up (copy and paste of my thread on the round table )

Prediction number one …we are going to be square on the bubble on March 3rd when the Illini comes to town ….and looking for another statement win to make the dance

My pick is based on Will snyder being a legit starting forward

9-3 out of conference
10-10 in the big ten
19-13 heading into the big ten tourney
1-1

20-14

aee you guys in Witchita on March -6th …..opening round ncaa game …Rutgers vs Derek Simpson and providence

 

[NightKnight]

Wow. I'm impressed that you had that much time to do this. I've been doing this for years. But since your panties are in your crotch I had 18-14. Off hand I can't remember conference specifics since I'm on my way to the bb game.

From what I remember about panties, I'm pretty sure they are suppose to be in your crotch. I know they're not suppose to be in a bunch or in a twist.

 

[RC80]

Actually was going to wait until mid- December to make my predictions - but don't want to get destroyed as I can see that might happen. So 17-15, 9-3 OOC; 8-12 Conf -- seems plausible. Unlike the pre-portal days when you knew who was on the other teams - I don't study this stuff, so mostly don't know who is on these other teams. But would like to think much better play out of the 5, Lino being better, and hopefully better bench play - can get an additional win or two. But that means beating Cuse & somebody else (Oregon ?) in Conf play.

 

[bac2therac]

From what I remember about panties, I'm pretty sure they are suppose to be in your crotch. I know they're not suppose to be in a bunch or in a twist.

A dog better not being wearing panties. In Sweet Peas case more like a diaper. We have all heard the rumors

 

[Knights 1212]

I believe we will be 9-3 in OOC and either 9-11 or 10-10 in league games for either 18-4 or 19-13. Too many people were ripping us since the end of last season. Steve and our staff worked very hard in the portal and kept several important players from last year and have us with much deeper depth. We must stay healthy. Gurdak makes us so much better at the center position and we have good height as well. Smith and Jones are really big pickups and Lino is stronger and very quick. We are somewhat small at the guard positions but Smith & Jones will help there. Miteo at only 17 will get better and better and Ware can get rebounds and help as a backup center along with Buca who is 7'2" and can get rebounds and block some shots. Davis has improved every year and Francis is still Francis. Snydor still is behind after missing many weeks but he is very athletic and I believe will show it during the season. Buchanan is a little slimmer and has really bought into the team sharing the ball. Diego I also think will become a good contributor as the season goes on. Wooten is good for a freshman and I think he has a good future with us. Powers should once again have some really big games during the season. Tonejc I think arrived late but could improve as the season goes on and even our walk on Fradkin got in the opener. The guy contributes so much in every practice. The entire team seems looked in on working as a team and to get the best available shots throughout the games. I am looking forward to seeing our progress during the season. I think we will pull some nice surprises. We need to win at least one game in Las Vegas and to make Jersey Mike's rock in our home games to give us a wonderful home atmosphere again. Our fans need to support our team all season and to be positive for a good season. Be Rutgers tough for Steve as our entire staff & team is working so hard evert single day.

 

[RUJMM78]

17-15 regular season.A sign of improvement would be to win a road game against league competition.

 

[LeapinLou]

I don't know enough about our competition to make a well informed prediction. But I'm not seeing anyone else say 16-16 so I'll go with that.