Pikiell Battles Cancer, Stays Involved | College Basketball News

Rutgers men’s basketball coach Steve Pikiell revealed he was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year but has already had successful surgery and is on a solid treatment plan. He plans to stay involved with the team as much as possible while undergoing treatment, trusting assistant coach Brandin Knight and the staff to keep things running smoothly. Pikiell, who’s led Rutgers since 2016 and guided them to two NCAA tournaments, remains determined to return to the sidelines. If he can’t be courtside for the 2026-27 season, Knight — who’s risen from assistant to associate head coach — is ready to step in as interim coach. Athletic director Keli Zinn praised Pikiell’s grit and thanked Knight for his leadership as everyone waits for his eventual return. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/db96cf445c185343