Sports

Eddie Jordan Era For Rutgers Men's Basketball Begins Nov. 8

The Scarlet Knights face Florida A&M at 7:30 p.m.

The Eddie Jordan era for the Rutgers University men's basketball program tips off Nov. 8.

The Scarlet Knights open the 2013-14 campaign that night with a home game against Florida A&M, the school announced on Thursday. The full schedule is available on scarletknights.com.

Jordan takes over for Mike Rice, the former coach who was fired after allegations of player abuse were revealed over the winter. His dismissal ultimately resulted in the resignation of former Athletic Director Tim Pernetti.

Julie Hermann has since taken over for Pernetti.

Jordan is the all-time leader in both assists and steals at Rutgers. He graduated from the University in 1977.

He was previously assistant coach at Rutgers twice (1984-85, 1988-92), with the team making four appearances in the NCAA tournament over that nine-year span.

Rutgers is coming off a season in which the Scarlet Knights went 15-16 after an 11-4 start.

In all, Rutgers will be involved in at least 19 nationally televised games, the school said.

After starting the season with Florida A&M, the Scarlet Knights go on the road to face the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) and have Yale at home before entering the NIT Season Tip-Off.

The NIT Season Tip-Off is a double elimination tournament. Rutgers hosts two regional tournament games on Nov. 18 and 19. The other teams in the region include Duke, Arizona and Alabama, according to scarletknights.com.

The regional winner advances to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 27. The final is on Nov. 29.

Former Big East foe and rival Seton Hall visits Rutgers on Dec. 8.

Rutgers begins its only season of play in the American Athletic Conference on Jan. 1, 2014 at home against Temple.

Defending national champion Louisville visits the Scarlet Knights on Jan. 4.

The regular season concludes at home against Cincinnati on March 8.

The American Athletic Conference tournament takes place March 12-15 at FedEx Forum in Memphis.


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