Rutgers Scarlet Knights (13-14, 6-11) at 22/21 Iowa Hawkeyes (21-7, 10-7)
Saturday, March 2, 2019 | 5 p.m. (ET)
Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,056) | Iowa City, Iowa
TV: BTN (Kevin Kugler, play-by-play & Stephen Bardo, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM//XM 390) (Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Randy DeGregorio & Raj Shah)
Series Record: Iowa leads 6-1
Last Meeting: No. 21/17 Iowa 71, Rutgers 69 (Feb. 16, 2019 at the RAC)
OPENING TIP: Rutgers seeks its second win over a ranked Big Ten foe, seventh conference victory, and third league road win when it travels to No. 22/21 Iowa on the Hawkeyes' senior day. 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.
Rutgers has one quadrant 1 and six quadrant 2 victories this season. The seven wins from the top two quadrants is equal or better than six teams currently ranked or receiving votes in the AP poll. Per Ken Pomeroy ratings, the Scarlet Knights are the most improved Power 5 Conference men's basketball program, improving 69 positions since the initial season rating on Nov. 6.
Montez Mathis scored 18 points and
Geo Baker deposited a clutch three-pointer with under a minute remaining to propel RU to a 68-64 home defeat of Minnesota on Sunday. The Scarlet Knights overcame a nine point second half deficit to earn their sixth conference victory, doubling their previous best total (3; 2016-17, 2017-18) since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15.
THE SERIES: Saturday marks the second match-up between the foes in 14 days. On Feb. 16, Rutgers was poised to earn the comeback victory over the No. 21/17 Hawkeyes, but Iowa made a desperation 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds remaining to escape a sold-out RAC with a 71-69 win.
Eugene Omoruyi had his seventh double-double,
Ron Harper Jr. scored a career-high 16 points, and RU limited UI to more than 10 points below its Big Ten-leading scoring average. RU earned an 80-64 home victory over Iowa last season in the series that dates back to 1989.
THE OPPONENT: Iowa is 14-3 at home, with all three losses to ranked conference foes. UI has won five of its past seven games, most recently falling 90-70 at Ohio State on Tuesday. The Hawkeyes have been nationally ranked for the last 15 weeks, peaking at No. 14. Iowa boasts the second best scoring offense in the Big Ten, buoyed by the top free throw mark in the league (75.2), having made a nation's-best 525 free throws. Tyler Cook is eighth in the Big Ten in scoring (15.8), while also leading Iowa in rebounding (8.1). Jordan Bohannon averages 13.0 points and is second in the Big Ten in FT% (86.7).
COACHING COMPARISON
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years): 235-207 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 43-51 (3rd)
Record vs. Iowa (RU): 1-3
Record vs. Iowa (overall): 1-4
Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffery
Overall Record (years): 423-304 (23rd season)
Iowa Record (years): 172-127 (9th season)
Record vs. RU (Iowa): 5-1
Record vs. RU (overall): 5-1
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 (12.81) and 31st in total rebounds (39.00). 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 16 games has improved 28.8% 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.
QUOTABLE
"I'm excited about our development and how our guys have improved. And there's still better days ahead for our young players. Our guys come to practice every day with a great mindset. We're heading to a real tough venue, with Senior Night in Iowa against a really good, ranked Iowa team. We'll try and make some adjustments from the first time we played them. These challenges are exciting, but we have to go in there with the right mindset. It's a whole different challenge that we are up against when we go on the road. We have to play great basketball on both ends of the floor to be able to have success."
Fans can secure tickets for Rutgers' regular season home finale versus Penn State (March 6) online or by calling 866-445-GORU (4678). Additional information can be obtained by visiting RutgersGameday.com.
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