2019 BIG TEN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (14-16, 7-13) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-15, 6-14)
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 | 6:30 p.m. (ET)
United Center (23,500) | Chicago, Ill.
 
TV: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, play-by-play, Shon Morris, analyst & Mike Hall, sideline)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/Sirius 84/Sirius 372) (Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Jake Ostrove & Justin Sontupe)
 
Series Record: Nebraska leads 7-4
Last Meeting: Rutgers 76, Nebraska 69 (Jan. 21, 2019 at the RAC)
 
OPENING TIP: Projected to finish 14th in the preseason, Rutgers tied for 10th in the league standings and is the No. 12 seed in the Big Ten Conference Tournament. The Scarlet Knights will meet No. 13 Nebraska in an opening-round tip-off at the United Center on Wednesday. The winner will advance to play fifth-seeded Maryland in a second round match-up on Thursday.
 
Rutgers' seven league victories is its most in conference play in 13 years, since also winning seven in Big East competition in 2005-06. In its seven Big Ten victories, the RU bench has outscored opponent by an average of 10.5 points. Rutgers has averaged 21.5 bench points in league wins, while holding foes to 11.0. RU has two Quadrant 1 and six Quadrant 2 victories. Eight wins from the top two Quadrants is more or equal than 12 teams ranked or receiving votes in this week's AP poll.
 
Per the Ken Pomeroy ratings, Rutgers is the most improved Power 5 Conference men's basketball program, improving 71 spots since the season's initial ranking on Nov. 6.
 
Head coach Steve Pikiell has a 17-12 record in conference tournament action over the last 13 seasons, including a 3-2 mark at RU. Rutgers advanced to the Big Ten Conference quarterfinals at MSG last year via wins over Minnesota and five-time national champion Indiana. It marked the first time RU won two conference tournament games since 1998. RU is 2-0 in opening round action under Pikiell, including a 66-57 win over Ohio State in 2017 in Washington, D.C. 
 
THE OPPONENT: Nebraska overcame a 16-point second-half deficit, and trailed 74-65 with 50 seconds remaining, before earning a 93-91 overtime win over Iowa in its regular season finale. Senior guards James Palmer Jr. and Glynn Watson Jr. lead the Husker charge. A third-team All-Big Ten pick by both the coaches and media, Palmer averages a team-high 19.1 points and 3.1 assists-per-game, while Watson produces 13.0 points and 2.9 assists-per-contest. With a schedule ranked fifth nationally in difficulty per Ken Pom, Nebraska ranks seventh nationally in fewest turnovers (9.8). The Huskers were nationally-ranked for seven weeks this season.
 
THE SERIES: Wednesday will be the 12th meeting between RU and Nebraska dating back to 1999. The Scarlet Knights have two wins over the Huskers as Big Ten foes, including a 65-64 victory on Jan. 21, 2017. Earlier this season, Rutgers claimed a 76-69 win behind 20 points from Montez Mathis and a double-double from Myles Johnson. Rutgers and Nebraska previously played in the First Round of the Big Ten Tournament in 2016, with the Huskers claiming an 89-72 win.
 
HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
Overall Record (years): 236-209 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 44-53 (3rd)
Record vs. Nebraska (RU): 2-3
Record vs. Nebraska (overall): 2-3
Big Ten Tournament (RU): 3-2
Conference Tournament (overall): 17-12
 
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES

• Per KenPom, Rutgers' strength of schedule ranks 18th nationally. RU has victories over No. 16 Ohio State and No. 22 Iowa, as well as two wins over foes receiving votes (Miami, Nebraska).
• Per KenPom, Rutgers is among the nation's youngest teams with 1.06 years of experience to rank 331st nationally out of 353 D-I programs. RU is also one of the nation's tallest teams with an average height of 78.8" to rank sixth in D-I.
• Rutgers experienced five sell-outs this season, its most since 2004-05 (7). Average attendance improved 31.1% from last year. RU ranked 65th nationally in percent of capacity (78%) out of 353 D-I programs after placing 232nd in 2017-18 (59.49%).
• Rutgers ranks 21st nationally in offensive rebounds (12.77) and 25th in total rebounds (39.13). RU leads the Big Ten in offensive boards, and is third in total rebounds. The wins at Penn State, Northwestern and No. 22/21 Iowa signal the first time RU has won three league road games since also winning three in Big East play in 2005-06.
• The wins at Penn State, Northwestern and No. 22/21 Iowa signal the first time RU has won three league road games since also winning three in Big East play in 2005-06.
• Eight men's basketball student-athletes, 53% of the roster, posted GPAs of 3.0 or above in the fall semester. Five Scarlet Knights are expected to be named to the Winter Academic All-Big Ten Team.
• 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.
• 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).

QUOTABLE

"Our new season begins with Nebraska. That's a team that has good talent. They have really good players. They will be ready to play, so we have to play good basketball. I liked our season. We made some good strides. I'm excited about the tournament. I think the league is the best from top to bottom in any of my three years here so it's a big challenge. You have to press the re-set button. The tournament is so different. Its 40 minutes or your uniforms are being handed it. We've show signs of good and some of where we still have to go. Now is the time to put it all together. You have to be well prepared and we intend to be that. We have a young group, many of whom haven't been in the tournament and we have to get them ready to play in that environment. I'm excited about that young core. They are going to have exciting futures. But you always lean on your veterans, they are the ones that understand the urgency of a tournament setting. It's a whole new season. We have to play with that tremendous urgency and be ready to fight through obstacles."

- Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell 

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