Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Ron Harper Jr. Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Mar 04 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY – Rutgers G/F Ron Harper Jr. has been named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week after scoring a career-high 27 points in the Scarlet Knights' 86-72 victory at No. 22/21 Iowa on Saturday. The 14-point margin of victory was RU's greatest on the road against a ranked foe since in program history.
Harper was 9-of-13 from the field, 4-of-7 behind the arc, and 5-of-5 at the free throw line versus the Hawkeyes to register his ninth game in double digits and seventh against a Big Ten opponent. His scoring output was the second-highest for an RU freshman in a regulation Big Ten game, following Corey Sanders' 28 points at Nebraska on Feb. 2, 2016.
Per Ken Pomeroy, Rutgers is the nation's most improved Power 5 Conference men's program, improving 80 spots since the season's initial rating on Nov. 6. Rutgers is among the nation's youngest teams with 1.07 years of experience to rank 328th nationally out of 353 D-I programs, while competing against the nation's 17th most-difficult schedule per Pomeroy.
Harper Jr. is the first Rutgers player to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Geo Baker received the accolade on Dec. 18, 2017.
Rutgers (14-14, 7-11) works for its eighth Big Ten win and to improve to 5-5 at home in conference play when it welcomes Penn State Wednesday for Senior Night at 7 p.m. Graduate student Shaquille Doorson will be honored in a pre-game ceremony. The team co-captain has shot 58.6% for his career, while playing in 118 career contests (32 starts), logging 1,446 minutes, grabbing 327 rebounds and issuing 75 blocks.
The Scarlet Knights' seven league victories is their most in conference play in 13 years, since also winning seven in Big East play in 2005-06.
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.
Harper was 9-of-13 from the field, 4-of-7 behind the arc, and 5-of-5 at the free throw line versus the Hawkeyes to register his ninth game in double digits and seventh against a Big Ten opponent. His scoring output was the second-highest for an RU freshman in a regulation Big Ten game, following Corey Sanders' 28 points at Nebraska on Feb. 2, 2016.
Per Ken Pomeroy, Rutgers is the nation's most improved Power 5 Conference men's program, improving 80 spots since the season's initial rating on Nov. 6. Rutgers is among the nation's youngest teams with 1.07 years of experience to rank 328th nationally out of 353 D-I programs, while competing against the nation's 17th most-difficult schedule per Pomeroy.
Harper Jr. is the first Rutgers player to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Geo Baker received the accolade on Dec. 18, 2017.
Rutgers (14-14, 7-11) works for its eighth Big Ten win and to improve to 5-5 at home in conference play when it welcomes Penn State Wednesday for Senior Night at 7 p.m. Graduate student Shaquille Doorson will be honored in a pre-game ceremony. The team co-captain has shot 58.6% for his career, while playing in 118 career contests (32 starts), logging 1,446 minutes, grabbing 327 rebounds and issuing 75 blocks.
The Scarlet Knights' seven league victories is their most in conference play in 13 years, since also winning seven in Big East play in 2005-06.
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.
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