Rutgers NCAA Tournament. Mar 10, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Clifford Omoruyi (11) reacts to a call against his team during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The field of 68 was revealed on Sunday night for the 2023 NCAA Tournament. However, there’s always one team every year that many expected to get into the tournament and ultimately doesn’t. That team this year appears to be the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers didn’t have the best finish to the season, losing seven of their last 10 games including a Big Ten Tournament loss to eventual Big Ten champion Purdue. This seems to be the deciding factor that ultimately had them on the outside of the bubble.

They were ultimately the second team left out of the NCAA Tournament according to the NCAA Tournament selection committee behind Oklahoma State.

Their resume compares pretty favorably to teams that ultimately did get into the tournament. Rutgers have a higher NET rating, which ranks both defensive and offensive efficiency than both Providence and Arizona State, who were both tournament teams.

Many around the college basketball world see this as the major mistake of this year’s NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday.

 

Perhaps the biggest reason for Rutgers’ omission could have been prevented entirely before the season even began. Their non-conference strength of schedule left much to be desired, sitting at 314th most difficult in the country.

If they had tested themselves better outside of conference play, they would certainly have a much better argument to be in the tournament.

They will instead be playing in the NIT Tournament, agreeing to play in the tournament on Sunday night shortly after missing out on the NCAA Tournament.

[Bryan Fischer on Twitter]

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.