Photo by: Ben Solomon
Men's Basketball Welcomes No. 7 Michigan to Sold-Out RAC on Tuesday
Feb 03 | Men's Basketball
7/7 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (20-2, 9-2) AT RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (11-10, 4-7)
TUESDAY, FEB. 5, 2019 | 8 P.M.
THE RAC (8,000) | PISCATAWAY, NJ
TV: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, play-by-play & Shon Morris, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 388) (Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe & Sam Marsdale)
Series Record: Michigan leads 10-0
Last Meeting: 23/24 Michigan 62, Rutgers 47 (Jan. 21, 2018 at the Crisler Center)
OPENING TIP: In ninth in the Big Ten standings, Rutgers welcomes first place and No. 7-ranked Michigan to a sold-out RAC Tuesday for an 8 p.m. tip-off on Black History Month Night. The Scarlet Knights will be working to win three consecutive conference home games and improve to 4-3 at the RAC in league play. RU has the opportunity to capture its second ranked victory and earn multiple wins over ranked foes in the same season since 2011-12.
The Scarlet Knights will wear alternate "Harlem Renaissance Collection" uniforms by adidas to celebrate Black History Month. After the sell-outs versus No. 8 Michigan State and Maryland, it signals the first time in 14 seasons that Rutgers has experienced three or more home sell-outs this early in its calendar schedule.
Eugene Omoruyi posted 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and both Caleb McConnell (14) and Shaquille Doorson (9) tied career scoring bests, but Rutgers was unable to account for 13 Buckeye three-pointers in a 76-62 loss at Ohio State on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights out-rebounded OSU, which has been ranked for eight weeks this season, by a 36-25 margin in the hard-fought defeat which snapped RU's three-game conference win streak. Courtesy of its work on the glass, Rutgers out-scored OSU 32-20 in the paint and 16-8 in second chance points.
THE SERIES: Tuesday marks the 11th meeting between Rutgers and Michigan dating back to 1933, with UM winning the prior 10, including two at the RAC, and a pair of significant post-season meetings. No. 9 UM defeated No. 4 RU, 86-70, in the 1976 NCAA Final Four to provide the Scarlet Knights their first loss of the season after 31 victories. Michigan also downed Rutgers 62-55 in the 2004 NIT Final at Madison Square Garden. In the last meeting, Rutgers led early and drew even on the boards (33-33), but could not overcome its 33.3% shooting in a 62-47 loss to the No. 23/24 Wolverines last season in Ann Arbor.
THE OPPONENT: Michigan has been ranked in every poll this season and as high as No. 2 for four straight weeks. UM began 2018-19 with its best start in program history (17-0), signaling the best start for a Big Ten program since Ohio State in 2010-11 (24-0). The Wolverines lead the Big Ten and rank second nationally in both scoring defense (57.0) and turnovers-per-game (9.5). Forward Ignas Brezdeikis has earned four Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, while junior guard Zavier Simpson leads the league and is 10th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.45). Michigan is one of four (Maryland, Michigan State, Purdue) league opponents Rutgers has yet to defeat since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15.
CONNECTION: RU junior forward Eugene Omoruyi and UM freshman forward Ignas Brezdeikis both attended Orangeville Prep in Ontario, Canada, which also produced current NBA players Jamal Murray and Thon Maker.
COACHING COMPARISON
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years): 233-203 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 41-47 (3rd)
Record vs. Michigan (RU): 0-2
Record vs. Michigan (overall): 0-2
Michigan Head Coach John Beilein
Overall Record (years): 744–420 (37th)
Michigan Record (years): 268–145 (12th)
Record vs. RU (Michigan): 5-0
Record vs. RU (Overall): 9-2
QUOTABLE
"I have a lot of respect for Coach Beilein. Michigan plays the right way. They can win a game on either end of the floor. They don't turn it over. And they do it every year, no matter who they lose. That consistency is the sign of a great program. It's going to be a great opportunity for us in front of a packed RAC. I love the RAC. I think it's an awesome home court. We're a young team, so our young guys need that extra juice that the RAC gives them. We need it to be loud and a real tough place to play. When the place is jumping, it's a harder place to play. The RAC can give us that extra juice."
- Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
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.
TUESDAY, FEB. 5, 2019 | 8 P.M.
THE RAC (8,000) | PISCATAWAY, NJ
TV: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, play-by-play & Shon Morris, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 388) (Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe & Sam Marsdale)
Series Record: Michigan leads 10-0
Last Meeting: 23/24 Michigan 62, Rutgers 47 (Jan. 21, 2018 at the Crisler Center)
OPENING TIP: In ninth in the Big Ten standings, Rutgers welcomes first place and No. 7-ranked Michigan to a sold-out RAC Tuesday for an 8 p.m. tip-off on Black History Month Night. The Scarlet Knights will be working to win three consecutive conference home games and improve to 4-3 at the RAC in league play. RU has the opportunity to capture its second ranked victory and earn multiple wins over ranked foes in the same season since 2011-12.
The Scarlet Knights will wear alternate "Harlem Renaissance Collection" uniforms by adidas to celebrate Black History Month. After the sell-outs versus No. 8 Michigan State and Maryland, it signals the first time in 14 seasons that Rutgers has experienced three or more home sell-outs this early in its calendar schedule.
Eugene Omoruyi posted 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and both Caleb McConnell (14) and Shaquille Doorson (9) tied career scoring bests, but Rutgers was unable to account for 13 Buckeye three-pointers in a 76-62 loss at Ohio State on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights out-rebounded OSU, which has been ranked for eight weeks this season, by a 36-25 margin in the hard-fought defeat which snapped RU's three-game conference win streak. Courtesy of its work on the glass, Rutgers out-scored OSU 32-20 in the paint and 16-8 in second chance points.
THE SERIES: Tuesday marks the 11th meeting between Rutgers and Michigan dating back to 1933, with UM winning the prior 10, including two at the RAC, and a pair of significant post-season meetings. No. 9 UM defeated No. 4 RU, 86-70, in the 1976 NCAA Final Four to provide the Scarlet Knights their first loss of the season after 31 victories. Michigan also downed Rutgers 62-55 in the 2004 NIT Final at Madison Square Garden. In the last meeting, Rutgers led early and drew even on the boards (33-33), but could not overcome its 33.3% shooting in a 62-47 loss to the No. 23/24 Wolverines last season in Ann Arbor.
THE OPPONENT: Michigan has been ranked in every poll this season and as high as No. 2 for four straight weeks. UM began 2018-19 with its best start in program history (17-0), signaling the best start for a Big Ten program since Ohio State in 2010-11 (24-0). The Wolverines lead the Big Ten and rank second nationally in both scoring defense (57.0) and turnovers-per-game (9.5). Forward Ignas Brezdeikis has earned four Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, while junior guard Zavier Simpson leads the league and is 10th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.45). Michigan is one of four (Maryland, Michigan State, Purdue) league opponents Rutgers has yet to defeat since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15.
CONNECTION: RU junior forward Eugene Omoruyi and UM freshman forward Ignas Brezdeikis both attended Orangeville Prep in Ontario, Canada, which also produced current NBA players Jamal Murray and Thon Maker.
COACHING COMPARISON
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years): 233-203 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 41-47 (3rd)
Record vs. Michigan (RU): 0-2
Record vs. Michigan (overall): 0-2
Michigan Head Coach John Beilein
Overall Record (years): 744–420 (37th)
Michigan Record (years): 268–145 (12th)
Record vs. RU (Michigan): 5-0
Record vs. RU (Overall): 9-2
QUOTABLE
"I have a lot of respect for Coach Beilein. Michigan plays the right way. They can win a game on either end of the floor. They don't turn it over. And they do it every year, no matter who they lose. That consistency is the sign of a great program. It's going to be a great opportunity for us in front of a packed RAC. I love the RAC. I think it's an awesome home court. We're a young team, so our young guys need that extra juice that the RAC gives them. We need it to be loud and a real tough place to play. When the place is jumping, it's a harder place to play. The RAC can give us that extra juice."
- Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
- Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers' strength of schedule ranks 21st nationally. The Scarlet Knights have 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 (13.33) and 28th in total rebounds (39.52). RU leads the Big Ten in offensive boards, and is second in total rebounds.
- Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers is among the nation's youngest teams with 1.11 years of experience to rank 325th nationally out of 353 Division 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 overcome double-digit deficits to earn victories four times this season, including two (Nebraska, Indiana) Big Ten wins.
- Rutgers has experienced ticket growth each season under the leadership of head coach Steve Pikiell. Season ticket sales have increased 7% over 2017-18 and average attendance through 13 games has improved 35% from last year.
- 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 D-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 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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