When the NCAA Tournament brackets were released, both players’ eyes lit up.

Then came the cell phone calls and texts.

“See you soon,’’ both Cliff Omoruyi and Mawot Mag said to each other of a potential Sweet 16 date at the Prudential Center for the two former Rutgers players who transferred out of Jersey before last season.

“We chatted and said, ‘See you in the Sweet 16,’ ’’ Omoruyi said Wednesday. “I was excited when I saw the brackets, but I knew we had to win to get here.’’