Chris Russo talks Big Ten expansion, impact on Rutgers in live Bar A radio show
LAKE COMO - Rutgers University basketball coach Steve Pikiell said Friday he is impressed with new Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti's role in the league expanding by two more schools - Washington and Oregon - beginning with the 2024-25 school year.
"He's awesome," Pikiell said Friday during an appearance with Chris "Mad Dog'' Russo on Russo's Sirus XM show "Mad Dog Unleashed'' from Bar Anticipation. "He's just very confident with the way he talks. He's going to add value to the league. The league is terrific already. He must feel these two teams bring tremendous value.''
The addition of Washington and Oregon, which have both been long-time members of the Pacific 12 Conference, coupled with the University of Southern California and UCLA joining next season will give the Big Ten 18 schools.
"I think the travel agencies are excited,'' Pikiell joked to Russo.
Big Ten's push west impact on Rutgers
Rutgers' non-football teams could face challenges with cross-country trips but Pikiell said there has been talk of having the teams making a single trip to Los Angeles to play their USC and UCLA games every other season.
There's a good chance the situation would be the same with Washington and Oregon, he said.
"It's so new and so early, and there's been so much speculation, I don't really know what's going on in the league,'' Pikiell said. "I do know football is important in all of this.''
How the Big Ten's expansion west will affect all of Rutgers' athletic programs remains to be seen. It will certainly make the conference much tougher in all sports especially football.
"All the dominoes are falling with that sport. That's what I think anyway,'' Pikiell said.
In praise of Greg Schiano
Pikiell said Greg Schiano, who is in the fourth season of his second tenure as the Scarlet Knights' head football coach, has his team on the right path.
"We've got a great football coach, and this year he'll show people the work that he's done and the recruiting that he's done," Pikiell said. "He's had a chance now to build this program. Rutgers football is in great shape.''
The appearance at Bar A was Russo's first since 2007, when he was partners with Mike Francesa on WFAN's then popular afternoon show "Mike and The Mad Dog.'' Russo and Francesa hosted a show at Bar A every summer for many years before Russo left for SiriusXM in the summer of 2008.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Chris Russo, Rutgers' Steve Pikiell talk Big 10 expansion at Bar A
