Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Men's Basketball Travels to No. 10/11 Michigan State
Feb 18 | Men's Basketball
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (12-13, 5-10) at No. 10/11 Michigan State (21-5, 12-3)
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019 | 6:30 p.m. (ET)
Breslin Center (15,000) | East Lansing, Mich.
TV: BTN (Kevin Kugler, play-by-play & Jon Crispin, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 387) (Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Jake Ostrove & Sam Marsdale)
Series Record: Michigan State leads 7-0
Last Meeting: No. 9/8 Michigan State 78, Rutgers 67 (Nov. 30, 2018 at the RAC)
OPENING TIP: Rutgers works to earn its highest-ranked road win in program history when it meets No. 10/11 Michigan State at the Breslin Center, the Scarlet Knights third away game over four contests. RU seeks 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 opponents in a season was 2007-08, with consecutive Big East defeats of No. 18 Villanova and No. 13 Pittsburgh. The win over the Panthers marked the program's highest-ranked foe defeated in a true road game.
RU returns to the floor after a hard-fought, 71-69, loss to No. 21/17 Iowa at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights were poised to earn the victory, but the Hawkeyes made a desperation three-pointer with 0.2 seconds on the clock to escape the sold-out RAC with the win. Eugene Omoruyi had his seventh double-double and Ron Harper Jr. scored a career-high 16 points for Rutgers, which limited UI to more than 10 points below its Big Ten-leading scoring average.
THE SERIES: Wednesday's contest signals the eighth meeting between the Scarlet Knights and Spartans dating back to 1970, with MSU holding a 7-0 advantage. Rutgers has drawn home-and-home match-ups with Michigan State in consecutive seasons. On Nov. 30, the Spartans defeated RU 78-67 at the RAC. Despite holding MSU 10 points below its average and committing a season-low seven turnovers, Rutgers was out-scored 38-24 in the paint by the visitors, who also had a 16-5 advantage in second chance points. In the last meeting at the Breslin Center, RU pushed the No. 4 Spartans into overtime and established a 40-36 rebounding margin in a 76-72 loss. Rutgers is 0-3 on MSU's home floor.
THE OPPONENT: Under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State has been ranked as high as No. 2 this season and is tied for first in the Big Ten standings. The Spartans lead the conference in FG% (48.9), FG% defense (37.1), rebounding (41.81), blocks (5.8), assists (19.7), scoring margin (14.8) and assist/turnover ratio (1.5). MSU leads the nation in assists, is second in blocks, fifth in rebounds and 10th in scoring margin. The Spartans have won three straight, including a 62-44 home win over Ohio State on Sunday. Cassius Winston leads MSU in scoring (18.5) and is fourth nationally in assists (7.4).
COACHING COMPARISON
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years): 234-206 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 42-50 (3rd)
Record vs. Michigan State (RU): 0-4
Record vs. Michigan State (overall): 0-4
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
Overall Record (years): 595-230 (24th)
Michigan State Record (years): 595-230 (24th)
Record vs. RU (MSU): 7-0
Record vs. RU (overall): 7-0
QUOTABLE
"I love the enthusiasm around our program. Our guys keep getting better. There are some exciting opportunities coming up with some huge games in front of us. We're on to the next challenge. Michigan State is the best team in the league. They've got really good players and a Hall of Fame coach. They'll be ready and well coached. They play really good at home. It's unfortunate for them that they have some injuries, but they have some very talented players ready to step in off the bench as well."
- Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
"The problem for me with Rutgers is they're the fourth biggest team in the country. The number one tallest lineup in the Big Ten. They've got ten guys that are playing 13 or 14 minutes or more. One thing they have is great depth. They're going to just keep throwing people at us. I have a lot of respect for the job Steve Pikiell has done with them. This team is so much better. Guys that were averaging one or two points are now averaging six or seven and five. Everybody has gotten a little bit better. Two guys that were starting last year that were playing a lot are playing the least amount of minutes. That means they've got better players around them. Eugene Omoruyi is an elite level player. He can do a lot of different things. He can score it, he can shoot it, he can penetrate, he can guard. He plays with incredible energy. I think he is one of the guys that could play a lot. Their point guard is very good. He's given us trouble. They have great size. Guards are 6'5, 6'4… 6'6 at times. Our last three matchups have been decided by 11 points or less. I'm sure this game is going to be no different. We're going to have to learn how to play in close games and maybe that will help prepare us for down the stretch."
- Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
Follow Rutgers men's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMBB), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersMBB) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersMBB) for additional news and updates.
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019 | 6:30 p.m. (ET)
Breslin Center (15,000) | East Lansing, Mich.
TV: BTN (Kevin Kugler, play-by-play & Jon Crispin, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 387) (Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Jake Ostrove & Sam Marsdale)
Series Record: Michigan State leads 7-0
Last Meeting: No. 9/8 Michigan State 78, Rutgers 67 (Nov. 30, 2018 at the RAC)
OPENING TIP: Rutgers works to earn its highest-ranked road win in program history when it meets No. 10/11 Michigan State at the Breslin Center, the Scarlet Knights third away game over four contests. RU seeks 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 opponents in a season was 2007-08, with consecutive Big East defeats of No. 18 Villanova and No. 13 Pittsburgh. The win over the Panthers marked the program's highest-ranked foe defeated in a true road game.
RU returns to the floor after a hard-fought, 71-69, loss to No. 21/17 Iowa at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights were poised to earn the victory, but the Hawkeyes made a desperation three-pointer with 0.2 seconds on the clock to escape the sold-out RAC with the win. Eugene Omoruyi had his seventh double-double and Ron Harper Jr. scored a career-high 16 points for Rutgers, which limited UI to more than 10 points below its Big Ten-leading scoring average.
THE SERIES: Wednesday's contest signals the eighth meeting between the Scarlet Knights and Spartans dating back to 1970, with MSU holding a 7-0 advantage. Rutgers has drawn home-and-home match-ups with Michigan State in consecutive seasons. On Nov. 30, the Spartans defeated RU 78-67 at the RAC. Despite holding MSU 10 points below its average and committing a season-low seven turnovers, Rutgers was out-scored 38-24 in the paint by the visitors, who also had a 16-5 advantage in second chance points. In the last meeting at the Breslin Center, RU pushed the No. 4 Spartans into overtime and established a 40-36 rebounding margin in a 76-72 loss. Rutgers is 0-3 on MSU's home floor.
THE OPPONENT: Under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State has been ranked as high as No. 2 this season and is tied for first in the Big Ten standings. The Spartans lead the conference in FG% (48.9), FG% defense (37.1), rebounding (41.81), blocks (5.8), assists (19.7), scoring margin (14.8) and assist/turnover ratio (1.5). MSU leads the nation in assists, is second in blocks, fifth in rebounds and 10th in scoring margin. The Spartans have won three straight, including a 62-44 home win over Ohio State on Sunday. Cassius Winston leads MSU in scoring (18.5) and is fourth nationally in assists (7.4).
COACHING COMPARISON
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years): 234-206 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 42-50 (3rd)
Record vs. Michigan State (RU): 0-4
Record vs. Michigan State (overall): 0-4
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
Overall Record (years): 595-230 (24th)
Michigan State Record (years): 595-230 (24th)
Record vs. RU (MSU): 7-0
Record vs. RU (overall): 7-0
QUOTABLE
"I love the enthusiasm around our program. Our guys keep getting better. There are some exciting opportunities coming up with some huge games in front of us. We're on to the next challenge. Michigan State is the best team in the league. They've got really good players and a Hall of Fame coach. They'll be ready and well coached. They play really good at home. It's unfortunate for them that they have some injuries, but they have some very talented players ready to step in off the bench as well."
- Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
"The problem for me with Rutgers is they're the fourth biggest team in the country. The number one tallest lineup in the Big Ten. They've got ten guys that are playing 13 or 14 minutes or more. One thing they have is great depth. They're going to just keep throwing people at us. I have a lot of respect for the job Steve Pikiell has done with them. This team is so much better. Guys that were averaging one or two points are now averaging six or seven and five. Everybody has gotten a little bit better. Two guys that were starting last year that were playing a lot are playing the least amount of minutes. That means they've got better players around them. Eugene Omoruyi is an elite level player. He can do a lot of different things. He can score it, he can shoot it, he can penetrate, he can guard. He plays with incredible energy. I think he is one of the guys that could play a lot. Their point guard is very good. He's given us trouble. They have great size. Guards are 6'5, 6'4… 6'6 at times. Our last three matchups have been decided by 11 points or less. I'm sure this game is going to be no different. We're going to have to learn how to play in close games and maybe that will help prepare us for down the stretch."
- Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
- Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers' strength of schedule ranks 19th nationally. RU has one ranked victory (No. 16 Ohio State), as well as two wins over opponents receiving votes (Miami, Nebraska).
- Rutgers ranks 20th nationally in offensive rebounds (13.08) 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 324th 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).
- 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.
- 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 experienced ticket growth each season under Steve Pikiell. Season ticket sales have increased 7% over 2017-18 and average attendance through 15 games has improved 38.4% 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.
Follow Rutgers men's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMBB), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersMBB) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersMBB) for additional news and updates.
Players Mentioned
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