RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (11-11, 4-8) AT ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI (8-15, 4-8)
SATURDAY, FEB. 9, 2019 | 4 P.M.
STATE FARM CENTER (15,500) | CHAMPAIGN, IL

TV: BTN (Corey Provus, 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 (Stephen Nelson & Troy DeSavino)

Series Record: Illinois leads 6-1
Last Meeting: Illinois 75, Rutgers 62 (Feb. 25, 2018 at the RAC)

OPENING TIP: Tied for 10th in the Big Ten standings, Rutgers and Illinois meet on Saturday at the State Farm Center. The match-up is the first of three road games over four contests for the Scarlet Knights, who are working to earn two conference road wins for the first time in a season since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15.

Rutgers is focused on a return to the win column after a 77-65 loss to No. 7 Michigan Tuesday night at a sold-out RAC. Eugene Omoruyi scored 21 points and RU out-rebounded UM by a 36-34 margin, but the Wolverines shot 47.8% (11-of-23) from behind the arc. Freshman Montez Mathis added 12 points and a career-high five assists, while Geo Baker grabbed a career-best eight rebounds. Rutgers shot 75% (12-of-16) at the free throw line, tying its second best performance at the charity stripe this season.

THE SERIES: Saturday marks the 8th meeting between Rutgers and Illinois dating back to 2005, with the Illini holding a 6-1 advantage. The squads played just once prior to Rutgers joining the Big Ten, a 77-57 win for No. 15 Illinois at the South Padre Island Invitational. Rutgers' series victory was a 62-59 decision at the RAC in Steve Pikiell's first season at the helm on March 4, 2017. In that contest, Deshawn Freeman hit a three-pointer with 7.6 second remaining to erase a 10-point second half deficit. RU is 0-3 on the Illini's home floor.

THE OPPONENT: Under second-year head coach Brad Underwood, Illinois is fresh from a 79-74 home victory over No. 9 Michigan State Tuesday night. The Illini forced 24 Spartan turnovers to benefit 28-6 in points-off-turnovers. UI has won three of its past four games, including a pair top 15 wins, over MSU and No. 13 Maryland. Illinois' strength of schedule ranks 2nd nationally per KenPom. The Illini lead the Big Ten in turnovers forced (17.09) and steals-per-game (8.0), while ranking 17th and 36th nationally, respectively, in those categories. Sophomore guard Trent Frazier leads UI in scoring (14.6) and ranks second in the Big Ten in steals (1.68).

CONNECTIONS: RU junior forward Shaq Carter and UI junior guard Andres Feliz played against each other in junior college while competing for nationally-ranked programs in Florida. RU freshman guard Montez Mathis and UI freshman forward Anthony Higgs competed against each other scholastically and were both Baltimore Sun All-Metro selections. RU junior guard/forward Issa Thiam and UI freshman center Samba Kane both hail from Dakar, Senegal.

COACHING COMPARISON

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years):  233-204 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 41-48 (3rd)
Record vs. Illinois (RU): 1-2
Record vs. Illinois (overall): 1-3
 
Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood
Overall Record (years): 129-57 (6th)
Illinois Record (years): 20-30 (2nd)
Record vs. RU (Illinois):  2-0
Record vs. RU (overall): 2-0
 
QUOTABLE

"Illinois plays a unique style, very different then anyone else in this league. We'll have to really take care of the basketball against them. And we did a great job of that the other night with just nine turnovers (against Michigan). Illinois is playing really good basketball. They beat a ranked Maryland team and then a big win over Michigan State. They're playing with great energy and they are really in a groove right now. They are playing good basketball at the right time, so they pose many challenges for us, especially going out there to play them on their home court. That's a tough place to play."

- Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell

"Getting ready to face a much improved and very good Rutgers team this Saturday. They're one of the top rebounding teams in the Big Ten. Geo Baker, Eugene Omoruyi are having phenomenal years. The addition of Shaq Carter has given them a tremendous presence inside. This is a very balanced and tough team. They have a physicality that mucks the game up a little bit. There's a reason they are winning games. And that's because they are well coached and a good basketball team."

- Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood

SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES

• Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers' strength of schedule ranks 18th 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 23rd nationally in offensive rebounds (13.14) and 30th in total rebounds (39.36). RU leads the Big Ten in offensive boards, and is third in total rebounds.
• Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers is among the nation's youngest teams with 1.11 years of experience to rank 324th 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.
• The sell-outs versus No. 8 Michigan State (Nov. 30), Maryland (Jan. 5) and No. 7 Michigan (Feb. 5) signaled the first time in 14 seasons that Rutgers had three or more home sell-outs this early in its calendar schedule.
• Rutgers has experienced ticket growth each season under head coach 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 three remaining home games online or by calling 866-445-GORU (4678). Additional information can obtained by visiting RutgersGameday.com.

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