NO. 21/17 IOWA HAWKEYES (19-5, 8-5) AT RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (12-12, 5-9)
SATURDAY, FEB. 16, 2019 | 6 P.M.
THE RAC (8,000) | PISCATAWAY, N.J.
 
TV: FS1 (Brian Custer, play-by-play & Jim Spanarkel, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/Sirius 99/XM 202) (Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe & Jake Ostrove)
 
Series Record: Iowa leads 5-1
Last Meeting: Rutgers 80, Iowa 64 (Jan. 17, 2018 at the RAC)
 
PROMOTIONS: Rutgers will celebrate Military Appreciation Night and the first 500 fans will receive a complimentary camouflage cap. "Mutts Gone Nuts" will perform at halftime.
 
OPENING TIP: Rutgers welcomes No. 17/21 Iowa on Saturday to battle the Hawkeyes before the fourth sold out crowd at the RAC this season. After capacity crowds watched the Scarlet Knights battle No. 8 Michigan State on Nov. 30, Maryland on Jan. 5, and No. 7 Michigan on Feb. 5, it signals the first time in 14 years (2004-05, seven) that Rutgers has experienced four or more home sell-outs in a season.
Rutgers will be working for its second win over a ranked Big Ten foe, while attempting to earn its sixth conference victory. The half dozen league wins would double RU's best regular season victory total (3; 2016-17, 2017-18) since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15. The last time the Scarlet Knights earned wins over two ranked league foes in a season was 2007-08, with consecutive defeats of No. 18 Villanova and No. 13 Pittsburgh in Big East play.
 
THE SERIES: Saturday marks the seventh meeting between Rutgers and Iowa dating back to 1989, with the Hawkeyes holding a 5-1 advantage. In the most recent meeting, RU captured an 80-64 victory at the RAC last season. The Scarlet Knights shot 53.7 percent and had four players score at least 14 points, including Geo Baker (17) and Issa Thiam (16). The 16-point margin of victory is RU's largest in a Big Ten game under head coach Steve Pikiell. Rutgers is 1-2 at home versus the Hawkeyes.
 
THE OPPONENT: Iowa has won eight of its last ten games, including three of its past four on the road. The Hawkeyes have been nationally ranked for the last 14 weeks and currently lead the Big Ten in scoring offense (81.6) and free throw percentage (75.2). The Hawkeyes are second in the league in field goal percentage (47.4) and assists (16.3). Junior forward Tyler Cook leads the squad and is seventh in the Big Ten with 16.5 points-per game. Freshman guard Joe Wiesamp shoots 45.3 percent from behind the arc, which ranks second in the conference, and is followed closely by teammate Isaiah Moss at 45.2 percent.
 
COACHING COMPARISON
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years): 234-205 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 42-49 (3rd)
Record vs. Iowa (RU): 1-2
Record vs. Iowa (overall): 1-3
 
Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffery
Overall Record (years): 421-302 (23rd season)
Iowa Record (years): 170-125 (9th season)
Record vs. RU (Iowa): 4-1
Record vs. RU (overall): 4-1
 
QUOTABLES

"Iowa is a unique team with how good they are offensively. They shoot the three really well. They are a great free throw shooting team and they get to the line the most in the league. They are deep offensively, a very skilled basketball team. They have so many ways that they can beat you on that end. We have to play great basketball in order to beat a top-20 team that's elite offensively. There were some good things that came from that Northwestern win. It was good to get contributions from everybody, we have a deep bench and we use that to our advantage. Hopefully there is some carryover to the Iowa game."

• Head Coach Steve Pikiell

"We want to continue to keep getting better. We can't really make any mistakes on the defensive end against Iowa. And I think we're ready for that challenge. It's going to be exciting. It's sold-out, it's going to be a great atmosphere, so it's going to be fun."

• Sophomore guard Geo Baker

"Rutgers is impressive because Steve Pikiell has had a chance to build it. They always had some good players, but now they just have more of them. They have depth, and the ability to overcome one guy having an off night.  They have a good guard (Geo Baker) and a good front court guy (Eugene Omoruyi) to go along with some good, young athletic guys that can play in transition, play fast, and defend."

- Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery

SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES

• Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers' strength of schedule ranks 18th nationally. RU has one ranked victory (No. 16 Ohio State), as well as two wins over opponents receiving votes (Miami, Nebraska).
• Rutgers ranks 24th nationally in offensive rebounds (13.09) and 26th in total rebounds (39.52). RU leads the Big Ten in offensive boards, and is third in total rebounds.
• Per KenPom analysis, Rutgers is among the nation's youngest teams with 1.09 years of experience to rank 326th nationally out of 353 D-I programs. RU is also one of the nation's tallest teams with an average height of 78.9" to rank sixth in D-I.
• With the consecutive wins over Nebraska, Penn State and Indiana, it marked the first time RU had won three straight regular season conference games since winning four in 2003-04 (Big East).
• The wins at Penn State and Northwestern signaled the first time RU has won multiple league road games in a season since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15.
• Rutgers has scored 90 or more points three times this season, marking the first time in 13 years (four, 2005-06) that RU has accomplished the feat.
• Rutgers has overcome double-digit deficits in four victories this season, including two (Nebraska, Indiana) Big Ten wins.
• Rutgers has experienced ticket growth each season under Steve Pikiell. Season ticket sales have increased 7% over 2017-18 and average attendance through 14 games has improved 38% from last year.
• Against Eastern Michigan, Rutgers allowed four points in the opening half to tie the NCAA D-I record for fewest points allowed in a half in the shot clock era (since '85-86). The 36 points allowed also tied the school record, matching the defensive effort against Columbia (60-36) on Nov. 18, 2002.
• 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.

Fans can secure single game tickets for the final two home games online or by calling 866-445-GORU (4678). Additional information can obtained by visiting RutgersGameday.com.

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