RU-SHU rivalry

[bac2therac]

Honestly as someone who got really into the rivalry while we were in the A10 trying to catchup to them in the Big East when they were in the glory years and then trying to prove ourself when we entered the Big East, I really do not get all hyped up or care too much for this game. Sure its great when we thumped them at home two years ago but I am sort of indifferent about this loss this year especially since we beat Purdue. Bigger games and bigger programs in the Big 10. Two schools that do not seem to recruit the same type of players and have different philosophies. I do not even go on their board anymore. Remember how heated the back and forth used to be between boards. I think this is a game that means more to the Pirates but more importantly I think its the media who actually loves the series more than anyone else.

That RU finally arrived and made the NCAA for 2 seasons* makes me worry a lot less about this game. I do not think the program has to prove anything. Is this such a heated rivalry between players like we used to see in the 90s and 00s. I just dont see it anymore

I know others will totally disagree with me. Hell I think the Princeton rivalry rightlfully gradually faded into obsecurity over time.

Incoming in 1, 2, 3......

 

[sct1111]

I believe Willard shares your sentiment. He said something along the lines of "I hate this game, it means nothing to me" in his press conference.

I love the rivalry.

 

[kcg88]

Local rivalries make college sports great.

 

[bac2therac]

Local rivalries make college sports great.

they do but I am sort of over it since we made the NCAA. To me I think Rutgers was always in prove it mode every year they faced SHU and to me its just another game since our league schedule is full of NCAA caliber teams. I know I am in the minority here.

 

[The RUT]

I felt very meh about it this year as well, but it’s an important game for the program.

We don’t have anything close to this type of game in the B1G. I do enjoy watching the rivalry better at the RAC vs SHU though.

 

[RUsojo]

Regardless of how down I have been on this team and how my head told me shu would handle us with easy, I still get fired up for a shu game at tip off.

IMO it’s important to have a game that no matter the state of the teams still gives a large part of the fanbases something to look forward to.

 

[SHUSource]

I tend to embrace it more in the years when we win and start to question its value when we lose. That might read as snark, but it's not intended. In normal times, though - that is, when it's not the week of the game or the week after - I still value the series very much. It's fun. Is it as strategically important for Seton Hall as beating, say, Villanova or Xavier? No, not in as much as those are league game against opponents with national profiles. But still, it's two major conference programs from different leagues that are what, 25 miles apart? How is that not a big deal?

I plainly say (and have for thirty years) that it is a big deal and I LOVE when we win that game ... just as much as I LOATHE when we lose it. That was absolutely miserable two years ago, knowing by the first TV timeout that we had no chance and there I was, stuck sitting there for two more hours. And even five days later when we beat No. 7 Maryland without Mamu or Powell in the lineup, I though, "This is great," but having lost like that to Rutgers on Sunday definitely diminished the overall level of joy - at least for me.

I've always enjoyed this board and plenty of posters/people on it, some of whom I know personally, but there is almost nothing in sports I enjoy as much as beating Rutgers, so when it happens, that feeling tells me all I need to know about the value of the series. Same as the feeling when we lose, actually. And as it tends to be pretty even overall, it remains a fun event, something I always look forward to ... even with whatever trepidation it carries with it.

 

[kcg88]

they do but I am sort of over it since we made the NCAA. To me I think Rutgers was always in prove it mode every year they faced SHU and to me its just another game since our league schedule is full of NCAA caliber teams. I know I am in the minority here.

The downside is if we stop playing it Pikiell will schedule Delaware State instead.

 

[batts]

For me it started when NJ became a hot bed of recruiting, and RU and SHU were competing for the same recruits. Back then it was Tim Thomas. Marquis Webb, A Bassett and Freeman. I think now it's a primarily a product of these Message Boards. Fans on the RU and SHU Boards take frequent shots at our respective programs and that makes our Team want to kick the other Team's ***. You guys are still talking about the 2019 beatdown in almost everyone of your threads on this Board. I'm sure we'd do the same on the SHU Board if the circumstances were reversed.

 

[jordkap]

We don’t have a Big Ten rival, this game is the only rivalry game we truly have in either basketball or football. I wish we would have a yearly game with a local football team too that we do every year.

 

[kcg88]

Basically any high-majors that share a state, especially a state with few high majors, should play every single season. Louisville-Kentucky, Marquette-Wisconsin, Penn State-Pitt, Nebraska-Creighton, Georgia-Georgia State, Xavier-Cincinnati. There's no reason any of these games should stop, Rutgers-SHU included.

 

[bethlehemfan]

The game is not important to the program at all. It’s important to some fans. Mostly SHU fans I think. It really stings them when they lose. Agree with bac not really an important game other than it could have helped our resume. Does nothing for RU or for SHU programs in the big picture really. Shu and ru over the years have done nothing collaboratively to jointly elevate nj basketball. Myopic thinking on both sides. I could take it or leave it.

 

[STLPirate12]

I believe Willard shares your sentiment. He said something along the lines of "I hate this game, it means nothing to me" in his press conference.

I love the rivalry.

Yeah, Willard's always hated it. He just wants to coach his team and he sees all the extra hype that comes with the RU game as distractions that he'd rather not deal with. He recognizes though, that it's good for the schools and the fans enjoy it.

 

[RW90]

When we were in the A10 while the Hall was in BE, the game meant more to us. Now, since we're no longer both in the BE, roles are reversed (not referring to talent/recruiting here), the attitudes seem to have have reversed. A B1G win means more to their resume than a BE win would ours. Of course, regardless their fans will always continue to relish our lack of relative hoops success.

At this point, personally speaking I take more pleasure in beating the likes of Mich. (eventually?), MSU, and other B1G stalwarts.

 

[Rutgers56_rivals]

Could not agree more, Bac. Take me back 20 years, I felt differently because the schools played in various sports. But I don’t care about Seton Hall from an academic perspective like I do Princeton, a team I’d much rather play. Do we play Seton Hall in any other sports anymore? I know there have been rumblings about baseball getting a series back on the books but that’s it.

Even in league, I care more about beating teams we play all the time — Northwestern (smart), Michigan (blue blood) as examples — for various reasons than I do a school Rutgers has no connection to with the exception of proximity and two hours every 365 or so days.

 

[King of S]

Great series- should never end.

 

[HALL85]

When we were in the A10 while the Hall was in BE, the game meant more to us. Now, since we're no longer both in the BE, roles are reversed (not referring to talent/recruiting here), the attitudes seem to have have reversed. A B1G win means more to their resume than a BE win would ours. Of course, regardless their fans will always continue to relish our lack of relative hoops success.

At this point, personally speaking I take more pleasure in beating the likes of Mich. (eventually?), MSU, and other B1G stalwarts.

I don’t agree with Willard on this. Personally, I think the series is good for the state and adds juice to recruiting. There were a ton of HS kids there last night. These are games they want to play.
Your “what means more” logic is illogical. This would have been a Quad 1 win for RU; only a 3 or 4 for SHU.

And let’s be honest, as much as either fanbase (….the one that loses) wants to down play the series we both despise losing to each other.

 

[RW90]

I don’t agree with Willard on this. Personally, I think the series is good for the state and adds juice to recruiting. There were a ton of HS kids there last night. These are games they want to play.
Your “what means more” logic is illogical. This would have been a Quad 1 win for RU; only a 3 or 4 for SHU.

And let’s be honest, as much as either fanbase (….the one that loses) wants to down play the series we both despise losing to each other.

Congrats on your victory last night. But while your Quad argument holds true for this season, it would just have likely been reversed last season had the game been played. All I am saying is the B1G affords RU more opportunities on the big stage. The game is a nice rivalry, but since entering the B1G it undoubtedly has lost some juice for this fan at least.

 

[HALL85]

Congrats on your victory last night. But while your Quad argument holds true for this season, it would just have likely been reversed last season had the game been played.

Thanks! But that’s my point…a win means more depending on who has the higher Quad vs what conference you’re in.

That Purdue win was crazy good.

 

[Big boy stan]

I like the series a lot and hope it stays for a long time. I am not sure what "important" means in this context. If the only goal of the season is a NCAA bid then I guess it is no more or less important then any other OOC game against a good team. For me, this game is always a nice diversion in the first half of the season that I look forward to. I can tell you that I felt more disappointed after last nights game then I did after the Ill game.

 

[RW90]

Thanks! But that’s my point…a win means more depending on who has the higher Quad vs what conference you’re in.

Agreed, perhaps I shouldn't have used the word "resume" in that context. I'm talking from purely a fan's perspective, and not one of the selection committee.

 

[cm_13]

I believe Willard shares your sentiment. He said something along the lines of "I hate this game, it means nothing to me" in his press conference.

I love the rivalry.

He just doesn’t want to have to play at the RAC Jersey Mike’s Arena next year.

Joking but in actuality I do really look forward to this game every year. Why? Idk, but I do.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I think it is a win win for both programs.

However I don't like the fit of where it is...especially when you add the 2 early B1G games PLUS ACC challenge PLUS Gavitt games.

For this game to be the 4th of Clemson-at Illinois-Purdue-Seton Hall was counterproductive.

Similar yo NYY-NYM always playing in MLB, why can't this game be a constant in the Gavitt game series?

 

[RUPete]

Doesn't have the juice for me that it did when we were in the BE together and played twice each year. That said, I still think it's a good and useful rivalry (along the lines of Xavier-Cincy), unlike Princeton. Gives you an opportunity to get a quality win vs. a quality OOC opponent. And a loss doesn't hurt you as much as a Princeton loss.

 

[ScarletKid2008]

It's a great game. Rivalry has a great history and some iconic moments. Have to keep it. the fans love it. Some years it has more juice than others. It looked to me that the Pirate fans were pretty jacked up for this years matchup.

 

[goru7]

You are right Bac I totally disagree. We will never be UNC /Duke but no reason we cannot be Louisville / Kentucky or Cincinnati / Xavier. It requires both teams being good , being consistent NCAA caliber teams , which we are close to achieving . Timing was not good with the 2 BIg 10 games , Illinois first with the disappointing effort and then the ultimate high with the win over Number 1 Purdue. Hard to duplicate the effort and intensity of how important the league games are.

The fans in this state , even the casual fan , would be intrigued yearly if this involved 2 ranked teams going head to head. Look at what the media did with our victory over Number 1. ESPN’s college basketball coverage always starts with games against ranked teams and gets bigger coverage on rivalry games. If you both continue our upward trajectory the game will have more meaning nationally but also locally. This is a pro state and area but one thing this area could use is a good old fashioned rivalry game that has fireworks like it used to years ago. Plus there still is some pure hatred between the fans of both schools which always adds spice to the game. We only have that rarely in the Big 10 in both football and basketball , although we are developing it with a few schools. We are 27 miles apart and are the only 2 schools in the Power Conferences of College Basketball, so it has all of the natural ingredients of a rivalry , which is good for college basketball.

 

[IL Lusciato]

Its a really good rivalry. I'm pretty damn pissed about last night. And I'm sure hall fans were pissed 2 years ago.

 

[SH_Alum]

When we were in the A10 while the Hall was in BE, the game meant more to us. Now, since we're no longer both in the BE, roles are reversed (not referring to talent/recruiting here), the attitudes seem to have have reversed. A B1G win means more to their resume than a BE win would ours. Of course, regardless their fans will always continue to relish our lack of relative hoops success.

At this point, personally speaking I take more pleasure in beating the likes of Mich. (eventually?), MSU, and other B1G stalwarts.

Obviously differs year over year but last night's game would have meant more for your resume had you won than SHU's. Q1 win for you; Q4 loss for us. So while generally a Big Ten win means more to us, it's highly dependent on the opponent. I guess it depends on your meaning of "means more".

 

[BigLou]

Love the rivalry as much as I hate Seton Hall. For the record I spent 4 years in High school on that campus and lived within walking distance of SHU until age 17. And while I had a great experience and loved my years at the Prep, and despite the fact that I had a lot of friends go to SHU, I despise the school and the basketball team. If we were not to play them whatever game replaced this one on the schedule would not be as exciting a matchup as this one.
And despite my hatred of SHU I did not have a problem with them not wanting to play last year. this game is a big ticket sale game for them and I understand them not wanting the revenue loss. I do have a bit of a problem with the sneaky way they went about not scheduling Rutgers - pretending that they wanted the game while scheduling others in their place.
I do see this becoming a series where road wins are hard to come by.

 

[nukem]

You guys arguing against this game are funny. This is always one of the most sought after tickets on the schedule for both teams. Both teams have refused to open up the tickets to the general public so the other teams fans can get their hands on them. There is a huge amount of history and animosity from both teams sides.

And from the way this game has been played by both teams through the years, I'd say this game means a lot to the players. These are always hard fought, chippy hotly contested games. No way should they get rid of this series. It's a great rivalry game with 2 teams located very closely together. I think it's one of the truly underappreciated rivalry games in all of college basketball.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

The game is great for both schools and for NJ basketball

Hopefully RU can up their talent level via the portal this off-season.

 

[HALL85]

Two of my best friends and golfing buddies played football for RU back in the 70s. Nicest guys that would give you the shirt off their back. And too much respect to give each other a hard time about who wins and loses. With that said, any SHU fan will tell you if they were being honest it’s a game that they hate to lose. That’s the definition of a rivalry. Last night or any game in the series….for either fan base….. Do we need a “safe space” for rivalry games now too?

 

[SHUSource]

Its a really good rivalry. I'm pretty damn pissed about last night. And I'm sure hall fans were pissed 2 years ago.

This.

 

[MLBash93]

Could not agree more, Bac. Take me back 20 years, I felt differently because the schools played in various sports. But I don’t care about Seton Hall from an academic perspective like I do Princeton, a team I’d much rather play. Do we play Seton Hall in any other sports anymore? I know there have been rumblings about baseball getting a series back on the books but that’s it.

Even in league, I care more about beating teams we play all the time — Northwestern (smart), Michigan (blue blood) as examples — for various reasons than I do a school Rutgers has no connection to with the exception of proximity and two hours every 365 or so days.

Why would you care about playing Princeton?

 

[Rutgers56_rivals]

Why would you care about playing Princeton?

It’s the best school in the country, possibly the world. We wrestle them and play them in lacrosse. There’s basketball history between the schools too. Seton Hall is … just there. There’s nothing interesting, exciting or impressive about Seton Hall.

 

[jordkap]

He just doesn’t want to have to play at the RAC Jersey Mike’s Arena next year.

Joking but in actuality I do really look forward to this game every year. Why? Idk, but I do.

Because it’s a rivalry game… I think both sides have a whole bunch of people clamoring they don’t care, but we all do. Had Seton Hall opened the top level, the building would have probably been a full sell out, because ITS A RIVALRY GAME. We hate them, they hate us, we both trade wins and losses even in up and down years.

 

[RUPete]

It’s the best school in the country, possibly the world. We wrestle them and play them in lacrosse. There’s basketball history between the schools too. Seton Hall is … just there. There’s nothing interesting, exciting or impressive about Seton Hall.

It's fine to play Princeton in those other sports but hoops does nothing for us especially now that we're in the B1G.

 

[MLBash93]

It’s the best school in the country, possibly the world. We wrestle them and play them in lacrosse. There’s basketball history between the schools too. Seton Hall is … just there. There’s nothing interesting, exciting or impressive about Seton Hall.

Academic achievements don't matter for athletics

 

[Shupirate2020]

As someone who’s been to every game played in this rivalry since 2016 I’m wondering where some of you are getting the “lacking juice” idea.

Outside of Nova the Rutgers games have easily been the most juiced the Pru center has been in recent years and the rac has been electric both times I’ve been there.

Maybe part of it is Rutgers not having the season everyone expected, but if a few bounces had gone your way and you came in 7-2 or 8-1 there would be a hell of a lot more juice coming from RU fans. I don’t see any reason for either side to want this rivalry to end

 

[armenius]

Terrible take by the OP. I wonder if this post is even made if Rutgers wins last night. I couldn't disagree more. Nothing is more exciting in Jersey basketball than when Rutgers and Seton Hall go head to head, even more so now when both are finally fielding competitive teams at the same time! I miss seeing them play twice a year.

Mad about last night's result, but may this series never end. Go RU, F Hall and see you at the RAC in 2022!