The mecca of basketball might be Madison Square Garden, but the Garden State is the capital of the local college basketball landscape this year.

For the first time ever, Seton Hall (10) and Rutgers (24) were ranked in the same Associated Press poll on Monday. For Rutgers, it is its first national ranking since March 13, 1979. For Seton Hall, the top-10 ranking is its highest since it was No. 8 on Dec. 19, 2000.

The last time the two rivals both went to the NCAA Tournament in the same year it was 1991. It was also the last time Rutgers went dancing.

Both are coming off big weeks. Seton Hall (14-4, 6-0 Big East) upset then-No. 5 Butler and rallied past St. John’s on the road, extending its winning streak to eight games and moving 1.5 games ahead of second-place Villanova. Four of those victories are away from home. Rutgers (14-4, 5-2 Big Ten) improved to a perfect 12-0 at home, topping Indiana and Minnesota in impressive fashion to remain tied for second in the Big Ten with Illinois.

There were high expectations this year for Seton Hall, which is coming off four consecutive NCAA Tournament bids and returned preseason All-American Myles Powell. The Pirates were picked to win the Big East by the league’s coaches. Rutgers, meanwhile, hasn’t had a winning season in 14 years and was picked 12th in the Big Ten under coach Steve Pikiell.

 “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made as a program and I’m really happy for the guys on our roster,” Pikiell said in a statement released by the school. “The ranking is a testament to the hard work and sacrifices our guys have put forth this year. We are enjoying this journey and we are excited to face the many challenges that lie ahead in the best conference in the country. Go RU!” Rutgers manhandled Seton Hall, 68-48, on Dec. 14 at the RAC. But Powell suffered a concussion early in that game and power forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (fractured wrist) was out. The Pirates haven’t lost