Rutgers and Creighton Face Off in College Basketball Crown Showdown

Scarlet Knights and Blue Jays battle for championship trophy and NIL cash prize

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:08pm

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Rutgers men's basketball team, despite falling to UCLA in the Big Ten tournament, has accepted an invitation to compete in the College Basketball Crown tournament run by Fox Sports. The Scarlet Knights will take on Creighton in the semifinal matchup, with both teams looking to capture the trophy and lucrative NIL cash prize. Creighton has had an up-and-down season, dealing with key injuries, while Rutgers has seen its young players develop and transfers make an impact.

Why it matters

This unexpected postseason tournament provides Rutgers and Creighton a chance to compete for a championship and additional NIL compensation for their players, which could have significant implications for recruiting and roster retention moving forward.

The details

Rutgers, led by head coach Steve Pikiell, has been playing better of late, going 3-2 in their last five games. The Scarlet Knights' freshmen have made substantial progress, and several transfers have solidified their cases to remain on the team. Creighton, on the other hand, has had an inconsistent season, pulling off a big win over UConn but also suffering losses to lower-ranked teams. The Blue Jays will be without three key players due to injuries, including forward Jackson McAndrew and forward Josh Townley-Thomas, who are out for the season.

  • The Rutgers vs. Creighton matchup will tip off on April 2, 2026 at 10:30 pm inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
  • Creighton head coach Greg McDermott plans to retire at the end of this season after 16 years with the team.

The players

Steve Pikiell

The head coach of the Rutgers men's basketball team, who did not seem concerned about any potential negative impacts of accepting the invitation to the College Basketball Crown tournament.

Josh Dix

The leading scorer for Creighton, averaging 13 points per game.

Jasen Green

The leading rebounder for Creighton, averaging 6.1 rebounds per game.

Nick Graves

The leading assist man for Creighton, averaging 4.3 assists per game.

Greg McDermott

The head coach of the Creighton men's basketball team, who plans to retire at the end of the season after 16 years with the program.

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What they’re saying

“While we still have yet to know the lasting impacts of that decision, and how it might affect Rutgers' capabilities in the transfer portal, head coach Steve Pikiell did not seem concerned about that, stating that he still has a phone in Vegas and can do what he needs to do from there.”

— Steve Pikiell, Head Coach, Rutgers Men's Basketball

What’s next

The winner of the Rutgers vs. Creighton matchup will advance to the championship game of the College Basketball Crown tournament.

The takeaway

This unexpected postseason tournament provides Rutgers and Creighton a unique opportunity to compete for a championship and additional NIL compensation for their players, which could have significant recruiting and roster retention implications moving forward, especially for a Creighton program that is transitioning with the impending retirement of longtime head coach Greg McDermott.