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Brian Fonseca Profile
Brian Fonseca

@briannnnf

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Rutgers beat reporter for NJ Advance Media/The Star-Ledger. Long-suffering @SportingCP supporter. Send tips/comments/questions to bfonseca @njadvancemedia .com.

Kearny, NJ.
Joined October 2012
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
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@briannnnf
Brian Fonseca
2 months
We will be updating this Rutgers basketball offseason tracker frequently over the next few months. I would bookmark it and check back frequently, if I were you:
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Brian Fonseca
5 years
Rutgers center Mike Maietti was so fired up about that touchdown, he legit punched QB Art Sitkowski in the face:
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Brian Fonseca
3 years
Jalen Suggs' all-time game-winner against UCLA called by Gonzaga's IMG radio team of Tom Hudson and Adam Morrison (yes, that Adam Morrison):
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Brian Fonseca
6 years
No better way to watch Cristiano Ronaldo's third goal against Spain than with commentary from legendary Portuguese radio play-by-play man Nuno Matos of Antena 1:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Fran McCaffery opens his presser by revealing that the Rutgers team wrote a card for his son Patrick, who is taking an indefinite leave from the team due to anxiety, and Pat Hobbs stopped by practice yesterday to send his well-wishes as well. "What a class operation Rutgers is."
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Brian Fonseca
6 years
This is March (in one photo).
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
BREAKING -- Ace Bailey, a five-star, top-10 prospect in the class of 2024, has committed to Rutgers, a source told NJ Advance Media. He becomes the highest-ranked commit in program history:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
In his NFL debut, former Rutgers running back Isiah Pacheco scores his first career touchdown:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Cam Spencer to the Northwestern crowd after hitting his latest dagger three-pointer: “It got quiet!”
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
FINAL: Rutgers 71, Purdue 68. Rutgers punches its first NCAA Tournament ticket in 29 years in one of the toughest environments in college basketball. Shine your shoes, pull out the scarlet suit -- Rutgers is going dancing.
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Here’s Rutgers reaction to making the NCAA Tournament:
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
The student section started a “We Want Cliff” chant for Cluff Omoruyi, and eventually the whole RAC joined him. The 4-star center stood up and got a raucous response:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Aron Cruikshank got ejected because of this late hit, and Greg Schiano and Ryan Day jawed at each other by the Ohio State sideline shortly after it happened:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Saint Peter's is one of the greatest stories in New Jersey hoops history. Shoutout Hudson County. Shoutout Jersey City. Shoutout New Jersey. Shoutout the Peacocks. 🦚
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Brian Fonseca
7 months
News: Rutgers earned two points in the latest AP Top 25 poll, making it the 34th-ranked team in the country. It marks the first time Rutgers has earned a vote in the AP Poll since Week 7 of the 2014 season:
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Brian Fonseca
6 months
BREAKING — Five-star guard Dylan Harper, the No. 2 player in the class of 2024, has committed to Rutgers, he told @wojespn , officially becoming the crown jewel of the greatest class in program history:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Tom Izzo: "Rutgers, in my humble opinion, is the second best team in this league right now."
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Brian Fonseca
9 months
The Harper brothers sitting in the stands at SHI Stadium, via the great @AndyMills_NJ :
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Brian Fonseca
6 years
Artur Sitkowski throws his 18th interception of the year, and this one is by far the worst. No pressure, off his back foot, with no receiver in the vicinity.
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Brian Fonseca
3 years
For context on why it is so incredible that Adam Morrison got to call the greatest moment in Gonzaga basketball history, this is what happened when Morrison's Zags faced UCLA in the 2006 NCAA Tournament:
@CBSSports
CBS Sports
3 years
Gonzaga and UCLA will meet in the Final Four. 15 years ago, @UCLAMBB stunned the Zags with one of the most incredible March Madness comebacks we've ever seen.
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard said Myles Powell had a really bad concussion. "He asked me during the game 'Why are we practicing at Rutgers?'"
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Brian Fonseca
9 months
Rutgers basketball is bringing a big-time visitor to today’s football opener: five-star guard Dylan Harper is expected to arrive for a visit soon, NJAM has learned. A big sheet from @RURiotSquad that reads “Harper University” is in the front of student section to welcome him:
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Brian Fonseca
7 months
Here’s a view of Tyreem Powell’s hit. It is called targeting after review. Powell is ejected and Michigan State gets the first down.
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Brian Fonseca
11 months
Jamarion Grant, the greatest kick returner in Rutgers football history, takes a punt from Adam Korsak, the greatest punter in program history, and scores a wild touchdown. An all-time Rutgers crossover in the CFL:
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Brian Fonseca
4 months
Taylor Swift - big fan of former Rutgers star Isiah Pacheco:
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Brian Fonseca
5 months
Greg Schiano lifts the Pinstripe Bowl trophy:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Listen to this:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Here is the Caleb McConnell block that saved the game:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
The crowd at the RAC chants Dylan Harper’s name, and the highly-touted 2024 prospect gets up to accept the cheers:
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Brian Fonseca
5 months
Timmy Ward survived cancer, overcame a torn ACL and earned a walk-on spot at Rutgers after starting out as an equipment manager. On Thursday, he scored the special teams touchdown that helped Rutgers beat Miami. @PatLanniNJ tells the story:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
The student section chants “Dylan Harper” at the end of the Senior Day ceremony. Ron Harper Jr.’s younger brother is one of the best prospects of the 2024 class.
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
FINAL: Rutgers 78, No. 9 Maryland 67. In their biggest game in decades, the Scarlet Knights beat the brakes off a top-10 team to finish 17-1 at the RAC and put themselves back on track for a long-awaited NCAA Tournament appearance. A seminal moment for Rutgers basketball.
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
FINAL: Rutgers 70, Purdue 63. Rutgers survives a near-collapse, guarantees its first non-losing season since 2005-06 and beats Purdue for the first time as a Big Ten member. A sentence I thought I’d never write in my life: Rutgers is better than Purdue at basketball.
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Brian Fonseca
6 years
That was one of the best goals of Quaresma's career, but nothing will beat this beauty he dropped on Belgium a decade ago:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Eight months ago, I watched Isiah Pacheco pace around a Vineland bar during the NFL Draft, worried he wouldn’t hear his name get called as pick after pick passed by. In two weeks, the former Rutgers star will be starting in the Super Bowl. Incredible.
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
This is the line outside of Jersey Mike’s Arena two hours before tip for tonight’s game against Penn State. Student tickets are first-come, first serve, and students don’t want to miss out on the Scarlet Knights:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Former Rutgers running back Isiah Pacheco, a rookie selected in the seventh round of the last draft, scores his first career Super Bowl touchdown:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
A beautiful moment for a family that’s been through so much:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
BREAKING: Rutgers is working extend men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell's contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told NJAM. The BOG scheduled a special virtual meeting for Thursday to “act on a contract amendment for basketball coach.”
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Brian Fonseca
8 months
Rutgers Basketball announces its 2023-24 schedule, Sopranos-style:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Mawot Mag hits the biggest three pointer of his Rutgers career to put the Scarlet Knights up 4 points with less than a minute to play:
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Brian Fonseca
8 months
Pat McAfee picks Rutgers to upset Michigan on College Gameday: "Schiano Man upset in the Big House: Rutgers!"
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
After upsetting No.1 Purdue, Rutgers is 16th on KenPom, its highest spot ever in the college basketball bible's adjusted efficiency rankings.
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
FINAL: Rutgers 65, No. 1 Purdue 64. For the second consecutive season, the Scarlet Knights upset the Boilermakers as the No. 1 team in the country:
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Brian Fonseca
3 years
Greg Schiano was fired up about the win.
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Cam Spencer. Onions.
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
These guys think Rutgers should be ranked tomorrow.
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Parker Stewart ties the game at 63, only for Ron Harper Jr. to hit a 3 on the other end to put Rutgers up 66-63 with 2 seconds left.
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Imagine showing this to a Rutgers basketball fan in 2016...
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@briannnnf
Brian Fonseca
1 year
A win in an overtime thriller. A commitment from a five-star forward. A special Sunday for Rutgers that shows how far the program has come under Steve Pikiell and how far it can still go:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
News — Caleb McConnell, the reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year, is coming back to Rutgers for one last season:
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Brian Fonseca
5 months
NEWS — Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai is returning next fall for his final season of eligibility:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Cliff Omoruyi is morphing into one of the premier big men in the Big Ten in front of your very eyes. Incredible performance from him so far tonight.
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Brian Fonseca
3 years
Greg Schiano lands the highest-ranked quarterback in program history, the crown jewel of a 2022 class currently ranked in the top 10 nationally.
@TodderickHunt
Todderick Hunt
3 years
BREAKING: Kentucky 4-star Gavin Wimsatt picks #Rutgers , becomes school's top-rated QB commit of all-time #B1G #RFootball
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Ron Harper Jr.’s first NBA Summer League bucket:
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Brian Fonseca
11 months
Eric LeGrand received a big surprise today, with a room at the JFK University Medical Center being named after him. The moment was thanks in large part to Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, who donated $250,000 to make it happen and was there for the unveiling:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Here’s the clip of Greg Schiano and Ryan Day jawing at each other:
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Brian Fonseca
3 years
Art Sitkowski was really fired up after Johnny Langan converted the third down and sealed the win.
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Brian Fonseca
4 months
The cover of Sports Illustrated on December 26, 2011.
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Ace Bailey makes his Rutgers commitment Instagram official:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
NEWS: Rutgers has landed its first commit of what could be a monster 2024 class. Dellquan Warren, a four-star point guard out of Pennsylvania, announced his pledge on Facebook (!) on Friday night. He is currently at Jersey Mike's Arena:
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
Rutgers knocks off a top-20 team, stays undefeated at home, keeps its second-place spot in the Big Ten and moves firmly into the AP top-25, NCAA Tournament bubble discussions without its best player. Biggest win of the Steve Pikiell era, arguably biggest win of the 21st century.
@KSargeantNJ
Keith Sargeant
4 years
Best start in 44 years! Rutgers rallies past Penn State for huge Big Ten win
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
FINAL: Rutgers 75, Nebraska 72. Geo Baker. For the win. Stones.
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Brian Fonseca
11 months
News — Four-star class of 2024 forward Bryce Dortch has committed to Rutgers. “They made it very clear what they wanted with me and I thought it was the right fit,” he told NJ Advance Media:
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Brian Fonseca
3 years
Johnny Langan is out here trucking Michigan linebackers. He got into the endzone on the next play. Rutgers 14, Michigan 0.
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Brian Fonseca
2 months
I've covered every Senior Day of the Steve Pikiell era. I don't think I've seen a player get as emotional as Cliff Omoruyi did today. Quite a moment.
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Andrew Mills
2 months
Tears stream down the cheeks of #rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi during senior day festivities before the Scarlet Knights close out the season against Ohio State.
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
“He’s coming!” The moment five-star forward Ace Bailey told Steve Pikiell he was committing to Rutgers and the celebration that ensued. (Via dwils114 on Instagram. H/T @ShawnB_247 for tracking this video down).
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Caught up with Ace Bailey last night. Here's what the highest-ranked commit in Rutgers basketball history about the moment he committed, why he chose the Scarlet Knights and his pitch to Dylan Harper -- join him and create another version of the Fab Five:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Five-star Rutgers commit Ace Bailey reacts to five-star target Dylan Harper’s announcement of the final five schools he’s considering:
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
Jerry Recco and Joe Boylan had an electric call for Geo Baker's game-winning three for Rutgers against Nebraska yesterday. Here's the full video, including footage from the crowd/post-game celebration:
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Brian Fonseca
3 months
Special guest at Steve Pikiell’s press conference:
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Brian Fonseca
3 years
After notching his first double-double of the season against Clemson, Caleb McConnell had the honor of slapping Rutgers into the next round of the NCAA Tournament on a big bracket at Bankers Life:
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Brian Fonseca
3 months
Isiah Pacheco is carrying a baby goat around at the Super Bowl parade:
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Penn State coach Micah Shrewsberry said Rutgers played "grown man basketball" while saying his team played "soft" and got their "ass kicked."
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Steve Pikiell speaks before the Selection Show: “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if they give us a chance, we are going to do some interesting things.”
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Brian Fonseca
11 months
Here's a look at Greg Schiano surprising Eric LeGrand and the moment the plaque reading "Eric LeGrand Spinal Cord Injury Patient Care Room" was unveiled:
@briannnnf
Brian Fonseca
11 months
Eric LeGrand received a big surprise today, with a room at the JFK University Medical Center being named after him. The moment was thanks in large part to Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, who donated $250,000 to make it happen and was there for the unveiling:
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Brian Fonseca
7 months
Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey don black Rutgers basketball uniforms, presumably for their official visit photoshoot. (via dylharppp on TikTok / ).
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
FINAL: Rutgers 59, Indiana 50. Rutgers is good at basketball. The Scarlet Knights have momentum. They just dominated a blue blood from almost start to finish. The RAC is alive. Rutgers is an NCAA Tournament caliber team. And Geo Baker is a baaaaaaaaaaad man.
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Here’s the moment after Pacheco got the call, when he walked back into the party and let out a scream he had in the back of his throat for hours on end: “Let’s go!”
@briannnnf
Brian Fonseca
2 years
I was at Isiah Pacheco's NFL Draft watch party in Vineland yesterday, a long afternoon filled with nerves for all. But for the former Rutgers running back, the call from Kansas City was well worth the wait:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
FINAL: Rutgers 70, No. Purdue 68. There is Pandemonium in Piscataway as No. 1 goes down.
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Brian Fonseca
7 months
This was not flagged for a false start. Ohio State converted a third down on the play. Greg Schiano appeared to be furious about it.
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Brian Fonseca
5 months
FINAL: Rutgers 31, Miami 24. The Scarlet Knights have exorcised their Miami demons, beating the ‘Canes for the first time in program history. They have clinched their first winning season in a decade. They have won the Pinstripe Bowl:
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
"Call the morgue!" Rutgers guard Geo Baker's dunk against Indiana went No. 2 on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays this morning :
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Brian Fonseca
6 months
Kyle Monangai is the last Scarlet Knight on the field. He signs posters and miniature footballs and gives high fives before disappearing into the tunnel. Will it be the last time he plays at SHI? Monangai has another year of eligibility and a big decision to make this offseason.
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Brian Fonseca
3 months
NEWS -- Dylan Harper is officially a Scarlet Knight. The five-star guard just announced that he signed with the program. More here:
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
Kirk Herbstreit on College Gameday this morning: "It’ll be good for (Michigan State head coach) Mel (Tucker) to get off to a 1-0 start with that Rutgers game.” Rutgers opens its season in East Lansing next Saturday.
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Brian Fonseca
9 months
Dylan Harper has arrived:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
Here’s the video of the Ola Maeland’s golaço that has Rutgers on the brink of a Big Ten title (plus his back-flip celly):
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Brian Fonseca
3 years
Steve Pikiell's youngest son Kevin gets some screen time with the smooth bow-and-arrow celly.
@BarstoolBigCat
Big Cat
3 years
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Brian Fonseca
5 months
Cigar in hand and wearing his Pinstripe Bowl champion shirt, Gavin Wimsatt celebrates in the Rutgers locker room:
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Brian Fonseca
25 days
The moment Max Melton heard his name announced:
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Brian Fonseca
25 days
Max Melton is headed to Arizona:
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Brian Fonseca
7 months
Rutgers players celebrate with AD Pat Hobbs, tossing him in the air:
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Brian Fonseca
5 years
Liberty is about to expel the entire basketball team for letting this score happen.
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
Patriots' Devin McCourty rocked a Rutgers shirt during his press conference today:
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Brian Fonseca
5 months
Two years ago today, Ron Harper Jr. hit the most iconic shot in Rutgers basketball history. Dylan Harper revealed this week that it was the only home game of his brother's entire college career (outside of games with no fans due to COVID) that he missed:
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Brian Fonseca
2 years
FINAL: Rutgers 70, No. Purdue 68. There is Pandemonium in Piscataway as No. 1 goes down.
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Brian Fonseca
1 year
Purdue coach Matt Painter on Rutgers: "They are obviously an NCAA Tournament team. And they could do some damage."
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Brian Fonseca
4 years
Ron Harper Jr. has lived under his father’s shadow his entire life, compared to the 5-time NBA champion at every turn, his name a blessing and a burden. The Rutgers star's mission? “Break that trend one day,” and make a name for himself:
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