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Rutgers will face Hofstra in NIT Opener

Rutgers accepted its invite to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) that begins in earnest on Tuesday night when the Scarlet Knights play host to Hofstra at 7 p.m. from Jersey…

Derek Simpson Rutgers

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 10: Derek Simpson #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights shoots against Zach Edey #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament at United Center on March 10, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Rutgers accepted its invite to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) that begins in earnest on Tuesday night when the Scarlet Knights play host to Hofstra at 7 p.m. from Jersey Mike's Arena.

Rutgers is a number 1 seed in a regional that features Hofstra, Seton Hall, Cincinnati, Colorado, Virginia Tech, New Mexico, and Utah Valley.  There is a chance the two Jersey schools: Rutgers and Seton Hall could face each other at Jersey Mike's Arena in a regional final.

Head Coach Steve Pikiell on the placement in the NIT:

"It is like any game," Pikiell said. "You must be ready to get your team off the mat. I want them to know I played in the NIT myself as a player and we had an unbelievable run when I was at the University of Connecticut in 1988. It was one of the great experiences that I had in basketball. Today they don't want to hear those things, but tomorrow we will get them in a room and try to make sure they understand that a lot of teams have hung up their uniforms and we have a chance to keep playing as a group."

Our coverage of Rutgers vs. Hofstra begins at 6:30 on Tuesday night.

Michael Cohen is the News and Sports Director at Fox Sports Radio New Jersey and Magic 98.3 FM, as well as a radio production assistant with Fox and Magic in New Jersey. He started his career in Somerset in 2018 initially as a news fill-in at WCTC 1450 AM, and soon moved up to higher responsibilities in the ensuing years, assuming News & Sports Director title in 2021Prior to his time with Fox Sports New Jersey, Michael was play-by-play voice for New Jersey Jackals baseball, and as well as play-by-play and color for the College of Staten Island basketball (men and women), softball and baseball. Michael began his career as a news and sportswriter with the Jersey Journal of Hudson County.