Saturday, December 22
Piscataway, N.J.
1 p.m.
Rutgers University
vs
Columbia
Men's Basketball Returns to The RAC to Host Columbia
Dec 19 | Men's Basketball
COLUMBIA LIONS (3-7, 0-0 Ivy League) at RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (5-5, 0-2 Big Ten)
Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018 | 1 p.m.
The RAC (8,000) | Piscataway, N.J.
TV: BTN Plus (Ralph Bednarczyk, play-by-play & Danny Breslauer, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 384) (Chris Carlin & Joe Boylan)
Series Record: Columbia leads 25-23
Last Meeting: Rutgers 60, Columbia 36 (Nov. 18, 2002 at the RAC)
OPENING TIP: Rutgers returns to The RAC to host Ivy League foe Columbia in RU's first home game in the month of December and just its second home contest in a 27-day span. The contest marks the first of four straight contests at the RAC after playing four of its last five on the road, including four games against opponents nationally-ranked or receiving votes.
The Scarlet Knights will be working to return to the win column following a hard-fought 72-66 setback at Seton Hall on Saturday in the Garden State Hardwood Classic. RU grabbed a season-high 52 rebounds, marking the eighth time in 10 games this season that Rutgers has grabbed more boards than its opponent. The Scarlet Knight rank second in the Big Ten in both rebounds per game (40.9) and offensive rebounds per game (14.0).
THE SERIES: Saturday marks the 49th meeting in the series that dates back to 1914, with Columbia holding a 25-23 edge. The Scarlet Knights have won eight straight and 15 out of the last 17 match-ups dating back to 1970. The teams played annually from 1946 to 1980, but have played just four times since. RU is 5-0 at the RAC in the series.
THE OPPONENT: Columbia enters the contest with a 3-7 record, but has won two of its past three match-ups. The Lions play back-to-back games at Big Ten schools, traveling to Northwestern following Saturday. CU is led in the scoring column by junior guard Mike Smith (15.9), who has not played in the Lions' last two contests. Sophomore guard Gabe Stefanini contributes 14.9 points-per-game. Columbia ranks 10th nationally in assists (18.7) and 20th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.51). The Lions also average 16.5 3-pointers per game, which is 16th best in the country, led by Stefanini, who is fourth in the nation at 54.3% from behind the arc.
CONNECTIONS: Rutgers play-by-play man Jerry Recco served as Columbia's radio voice from 2006 to 2017.
Steve Pikiell was 7-4 against Columbia while head coach at Stony Brook. Columbia Head Coach Jim Engles was 0-4 versus RU while the head coach at NJIT. Pikiell was 2-0 versus Engles-coached NJIT while at Stony Brook.
COACHING COMPARISON
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years): 225-198 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 35-42 (3rd)
Record vs. Columbia (RU): 0-0
Record vs. Columbia (overall): 7-4
Columbia Head Coach Jim Engles
Overall Record (years): 133-181 (11th)
Columbia Record (years): 22-42 (3rd)
Record vs. RU (Columbia): 0-0
Record vs. RU (overall): 0-4
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
• Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers is among the nation's youngest teams with 1.22 years of experience to rank 307th nationally out of 353 D-I programs.
• Rutgers ranks 20th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (14.0), 32nd in rebounds per game (50.9), 37th in scoring defense (63.6), 43rd in blocked shots (4.9) and 62nd in rebound margin (5.4). RU is among the top five in the Big Ten in seven stat categories, including second in offensive rebounds (14.0) and rebounding (40.9).
• Eighteen of Rutgers' 30 regular season games (60%) are against opponents currently ranked or receiving votes in the polls. Five Big Ten programs that have won NCAA titles will compete in Piscataway, including five-time champion Indiana.
• Eugene Omoruyi is tied for 18th nationally with five double-doubles.
• Eugene Omoruyi's 17 rebounds vs. BU marked the most for a Rutgers player since Adrian Hill grabbed 18 versus Notre Dame on March 3, 2007, a span of 12 seasons.
• Against Eastern Michigan, Rutgers allowed four points in the opening half to tie the NCAA Division I record for fewest points allowed in a half during the shot clock era (since 1985-86). The 36 points allowed also tied the school record, matching the defensive effort against Columbia (60-36) on Nov. 18, 2002 in the preseason NIT at the RAC.
• In the shot clock era, Rutgers has held an opponent under 40 points eight times. Steve Pikiell has been the head coach in four of those contests.
• Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers is among the nation's tallest teams with an average height of 79.0" to rank seventh among all D-I programs.
QUOTABLE
"We're looking for more consistency. We're getting better every day. Guys are getting better and learning more on what to do and how to battle through obstacles. We've shown signs of being really good and we'll continue to evolve."
Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018 | 1 p.m.
The RAC (8,000) | Piscataway, N.J.
TV: BTN Plus (Ralph Bednarczyk, play-by-play & Danny Breslauer, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 384) (Chris Carlin & Joe Boylan)
Series Record: Columbia leads 25-23
Last Meeting: Rutgers 60, Columbia 36 (Nov. 18, 2002 at the RAC)
OPENING TIP: Rutgers returns to The RAC to host Ivy League foe Columbia in RU's first home game in the month of December and just its second home contest in a 27-day span. The contest marks the first of four straight contests at the RAC after playing four of its last five on the road, including four games against opponents nationally-ranked or receiving votes.
The Scarlet Knights will be working to return to the win column following a hard-fought 72-66 setback at Seton Hall on Saturday in the Garden State Hardwood Classic. RU grabbed a season-high 52 rebounds, marking the eighth time in 10 games this season that Rutgers has grabbed more boards than its opponent. The Scarlet Knight rank second in the Big Ten in both rebounds per game (40.9) and offensive rebounds per game (14.0).
THE SERIES: Saturday marks the 49th meeting in the series that dates back to 1914, with Columbia holding a 25-23 edge. The Scarlet Knights have won eight straight and 15 out of the last 17 match-ups dating back to 1970. The teams played annually from 1946 to 1980, but have played just four times since. RU is 5-0 at the RAC in the series.
THE OPPONENT: Columbia enters the contest with a 3-7 record, but has won two of its past three match-ups. The Lions play back-to-back games at Big Ten schools, traveling to Northwestern following Saturday. CU is led in the scoring column by junior guard Mike Smith (15.9), who has not played in the Lions' last two contests. Sophomore guard Gabe Stefanini contributes 14.9 points-per-game. Columbia ranks 10th nationally in assists (18.7) and 20th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.51). The Lions also average 16.5 3-pointers per game, which is 16th best in the country, led by Stefanini, who is fourth in the nation at 54.3% from behind the arc.
CONNECTIONS: Rutgers play-by-play man Jerry Recco served as Columbia's radio voice from 2006 to 2017.
Steve Pikiell was 7-4 against Columbia while head coach at Stony Brook. Columbia Head Coach Jim Engles was 0-4 versus RU while the head coach at NJIT. Pikiell was 2-0 versus Engles-coached NJIT while at Stony Brook.
COACHING COMPARISON
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years): 225-198 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 35-42 (3rd)
Record vs. Columbia (RU): 0-0
Record vs. Columbia (overall): 7-4
Columbia Head Coach Jim Engles
Overall Record (years): 133-181 (11th)
Columbia Record (years): 22-42 (3rd)
Record vs. RU (Columbia): 0-0
Record vs. RU (overall): 0-4
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
• Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers is among the nation's youngest teams with 1.22 years of experience to rank 307th nationally out of 353 D-I programs.
• Rutgers ranks 20th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (14.0), 32nd in rebounds per game (50.9), 37th in scoring defense (63.6), 43rd in blocked shots (4.9) and 62nd in rebound margin (5.4). RU is among the top five in the Big Ten in seven stat categories, including second in offensive rebounds (14.0) and rebounding (40.9).
• Eighteen of Rutgers' 30 regular season games (60%) are against opponents currently ranked or receiving votes in the polls. Five Big Ten programs that have won NCAA titles will compete in Piscataway, including five-time champion Indiana.
• Eugene Omoruyi is tied for 18th nationally with five double-doubles.
• Eugene Omoruyi's 17 rebounds vs. BU marked the most for a Rutgers player since Adrian Hill grabbed 18 versus Notre Dame on March 3, 2007, a span of 12 seasons.
• Against Eastern Michigan, Rutgers allowed four points in the opening half to tie the NCAA Division I record for fewest points allowed in a half during the shot clock era (since 1985-86). The 36 points allowed also tied the school record, matching the defensive effort against Columbia (60-36) on Nov. 18, 2002 in the preseason NIT at the RAC.
• In the shot clock era, Rutgers has held an opponent under 40 points eight times. Steve Pikiell has been the head coach in four of those contests.
• Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers is among the nation's tallest teams with an average height of 79.0" to rank seventh among all D-I programs.
QUOTABLE
"We're looking for more consistency. We're getting better every day. Guys are getting better and learning more on what to do and how to battle through obstacles. We've shown signs of being really good and we'll continue to evolve."
Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Players Mentioned
F
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