Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-10, 7-9) at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (12-14, 5-11)
Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019 | 6:30 p.m. (ET)
The RAC (8,000) | Piscataway, N.J.
 
TV: BTN (Jason Horowitz, play-by-play & Bob Wenzel, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/Sirius 99/XM 195) (Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Jake Ostrove & Randy DeGregorio)

Series Record: Minnesota leads 8-2
Last Meeting: Minnesota 88, Rutgers 70 (Jan.12, 2019 at Williams Arena)

PROMOTIONS: Central Jersey Awareness Night. Greek Game. Diabetes Awareness Day presented by Novo Nordisk. Halftime Performance by Red Panda.

OPENING TIP: Rutgers plays its final game in the month of February and its 16th of 17 contests at the RAC this regular season, when it welcomes Minnesota on Sunday. In celebration of Black History Month, the Scarlet Knights will wear special edition adidas uniforms inspired by the creativity, passion and expression of the early 20th century's Harlem Renaissance.
 
Rutgers is coming off a 71-60 loss at No. 10/11 Michigan State on Wednesday, RU's 12th game this season against an opponent ranked or receiving votes. The Scarlet Knights held an 11-point lead early in the second half, but were unable to hold-off the Spartans. Geo Baker scored 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting and dished-out six assists in the Scarlet Knights' third road game over a span of four contests.

THE SERIES: Sunday signals the 11th meeting in the series dating back to 1983, with Minnesota holding an 8-2 advantage. Last month, then receiving votes Minnesota earned an 88-70 victory at Williams Arena. Rutgers out-rebounded and out-scored the Gophers in the paint, but could not overcome UM's success in transition and at the free throw line. Myles Johnson scored a career-high 13 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds for RU, which was without the services of leading scorer and rebounder Eugene Omoruyi. The Scarlet Knights claimed a 65-54 win over Minnesota at Madison Square Garden in the 2018 Big Ten Tournament and also defeated the Gophers 75-52 at the RAC in the 2016 regular season finale.

THE OPPONENT: Under sixth-year head coach Richard Pitino, Minnesota has received votes in the polls seven weeks this season, The Gophers have lost five of their past six games, with four of those defeats by 10 points or less. Four players boast double figure scoring averages for UM, including current Big Ten Player of the Week Jordan Murphy with a team-best 15.1. The senior forward leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally in rebounding (12.0). Murphy's 1,234 career rebounds rank second in Big Ten history. Center Daniel Oturu leads all Big Ten freshmen in rebounding (7.2), FG% (55.8) and blocks (1.5).UM is second in the Big Ten in offensive rebounds (12.27), behind Rutgers (13.08).

CONNECTIONS: RU graduate center Shaquille Doorson and junior guard Issa Thiam both attended Spain's Canarias Basketball Academy, which also produced UM redshirt senior Matz Stockman.

COACHING COMPARISON
 
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years): 234-207 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 42-51 (3rd)
Record vs. Minnesota (RU): 1-3
Record vs. Minnesota (overall): 1-3
 
Minnesota Head Coach Richard Pitino
Overall Record (years): 125-102 (7th)
Minnesota Record (years): 107-88 (6th)
Record vs. RU (Minnesota): 6-2
Record vs. RU (overall): 6-2

QUOTABLE

"Rutgers is really physical. They just bang it in there down low. They put their rebounders in position to when the shot goes up, they're near the basket. Obviously, Eugene Omoruyi being back helps their team. He had missed some time. He showed great fight to come back. Geo Baker is a good player, so they're playing with some great toughness. They're big and they're strong. It's going to be a football game, so our guys got to be ready."

- Minnesota Head Coach Richard Pitino

SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES

• Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers' strength of schedule ranks 15th nationally. RU has one ranked victory (No. 16 Ohio State), as well as two wins over opponents receiving votes (Miami, Nebraska).
• Rutgers ranks 19th nationally in offensive rebounds (13.08) and 27th 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 1.08 years of experience to rank 327th 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.

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