OPENING TIP: Rutgers works for its second straight Big Ten road win when it travels to Bloomington for a match-up on Sunday with Indiana. The Scarlet Knights can ensure a top-10 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and a first round bye with a victory. The last time RU earned an opening round bye in a conference tournament was the 1995 Atlantic Championship. Rutgers also has the opportunity to win eight league contests for the first time since 2001-02 (8-8, Big East) and capture four conference road victories for the first time since 1990-91 (six, A-10).
 
On Wednesday, the Scarlet Knights reduced a 20-point deficit to one, but were unable to convert with possession in the closing seconds in a 66-65 loss to Penn State in front of the program's fifth sold-out crowd of the season. Eugene Omoruyi scored 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting and Myles Johnson had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Rutgers' seven league victories is its most in conference play in 13 years, since also winning seven in Big East play in 2005-06. Via the wins over No. 16 Ohio State and at No. 22 Iowa, the Scarlet Knights have victories over two ranked league opponents for the first time since 2007-08, when RU downed No. 18 Villanova and No. 13 Pittsburgh consecutively in Big East play.
 
THE OPPONENT: Indiana celebrates its Senior Day on the heels of a 92-74 victory at Illinois on Thursday night. The Hoosiers have won three straight, including victories over No. 6/8 Michigan State (63-62) and No. 19/18 Wisconsin (75-73, 2OT). IU ranks 56th in the NET rankings courtesy of six Quadrant 1 wins. The Hoosiers are ranked 43rd per KenPom, marking RU's sixth straight top-50 opponent. Indiana's schedule is ranked sixth nationally in difficulty by KenPom. Romeo Langford leads the Hoosiers and is sixth in the Big Ten in scoring (16.9). Juwan Morgan paces the team in rebounding (8.4) and blocks (1.62), to rank fifth and seventh, respectively, among the league leaders. Morgan is one of four seniors to be recognized pre-game.
 
THE SERIES: Sunday is the ninth meeting between RU and IU dating back to 1980. Rutgers has won the last two match-ups in the series, overcoming a double-digit deficit in both contests. On Jan. 30 at the RAC, Rutgers overcame a 10-point deficit in a 66-58 win, earning its third straight Big Ten win behind 16 points from Geo Baker and a double-double from Eugene Omoruyi (14 points and 10 rebounds), while limiting the Hoosiers to 35% shooting. Last season, Rutgers overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat the Hoosiers 76-69 at Madison Square Garden in the second round of the 2018 Big Ten Tournament. The Scarlet Knights are 0-2 at Assembly Hall.
 
COACHING COMPARISON
 
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years): 236-208 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years): 44-52 (3rd)
Record vs. Indiana (RU): 2-2
Record vs. Indiana (overall): 2-4
 
Indiana Head Coach Archie Miller
Overall Record (years): 171-92 (8th)
Indiana Record (years): 32-29 (2nd)
Record vs. RU (Indiana): 1-2
Record vs. RU (Overall): 1-2 
 
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES

• Per KenPom.com, Rutgers' strength of schedule ranks 18th nationally. RU has two ranked victories (No. 16 Ohio State & No. 22 Iowa) and two wins over foes receiving votes (Miami, Nebraska).
• Rutgers ranks 21st nationally in offensive rebounds (12.83) and 24th in total rebounds (39.21). RU leads the Big Ten in offensive boards, and is third in total rebounds.
• Per KenPom, Rutgers is among the nation's youngest teams with 1.07 years of experience to rank 329th 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Rutgers experienced five sell-outs this season, its most since 2004-05 (7). Average attendance this season improved 31.1% from last year.
• 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). The 36 points allowed also tied the school record, matching the defensive effort against Columbia (60-36) on Nov. 18, 2002.

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