COLUMN: Rutgers athletics fans' expectations at all-time high ahead of 2024-2025
The 2023-2024 athletic year may not be over with many spring sports in full swing, but it's hard not to look toward the pivotal 2024-2025 Rutgers athletic year. The Rutgers football and men's basketball teams particularly will face crucial seasons, while many other sports face important seasons too.
Rutgers football team
The Scarlet Knights are coming off their first winning season since 2014, and with many key players returning and an easier schedule, it will be the most anticipated season in more than 10 years. Head coach Greg Schiano and his team have an opportunity to take another step up as a program if they win eight or more games. If they do not get to another bowl game, it will be a missed opportunity and questions will be asked about the program's direction.
Rutgers men's basketball team
Rutgers has a historic 2024 recruiting class that ranks fourth in the nation. With Dylan Harper and Airious "Ace" Bailey, two top-three recruits, the Knights will look to pick up talent in the transfer portal and make a deep run in both the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament. It will be the most anticipated season for Rutgers since before the 2000s. If the Knights can pull off some victories in these tournaments, head coach Steve Pikiell can use the momentum to further build the program.
If Rutgers flames out of both the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament, questions will be asked about the Knights' ceiling under Pikiell.
Other sports will also face pivotal seasons next year.
Rutgers women's basketball team
Rutgers is bringing in a strong recruiting class headlined by five-star guard Kiyomi McMiller. Freshman guard Lisa Thompson and sophomore guard and forward Antonia Bates have flashed potential and will return to the Knights as they aim for their first winning season in three years.
Rutgers men's and women's soccer teams
Both the soccer teams will be looking to challenge for the Big Ten Tournament title and make runs in the NCAA Tournament after both had slight down years in 2023. The women's team returns some strong players this upcoming season, such as sophomore forward Ashley Baran and senior forward Riley Tiernan, while the men will look for another productive season from junior forward Ian Abbey.
Rutgers wrestling
Rutgers will try to knock off some of the Big Ten wrestling powerhouses after having two of its wrestlers become All-Americans this past month. Much of the Knights' starting lineup will be returning next season.
Many other Rutgers teams will be in a position to make deep postseason runs.
As is usual in sports, bigger expectations mean bigger stakes. While that may make some fans nervous, it should be what they want before every athletic year. Whether the Knights rise to those expectations or crumble is still yet to be seen, but those expectations are what makes sports exciting.
With so much at stake for so many teams in the next school year, it can be easy to get caught up in the various emotions that the year brings. But, while we are in April and before any balls are thrown, shot or kicked, it is important to recognize the strides the athletics have taken to even be in this position of potential growth. Fans should be excited over the chance at a multitude of Rutgers teams taking the next step in their development.
Expectations, even if they disappoint, are always better than apathy.
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