NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (7-12, 2-6) AT 24/25 RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (14-5, 5-3)
Saturday, January 25, 2020 | 2 p.m. (ET)
The RAC (8,000) | Piscataway, N.J.

TV: BTN (Lisa Byington, play-by-play; Shon Morris, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 372; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Troy DeSavino and Corey Jason)
 
Series Record: Nebraska leads 8-5
Last Meeting: Rutgers 79, Nebraska 62 (Jan. 3, 2020)
 
OPENING TIP: No. 24/25 Rutgers returns to a sold-out RAC on Saturday to host Nebraska at 2 p.m. Off to their best home start in program history, the Scarlet Knights are tied for the nation's best home record (13-0) with New Mexico, and would claim the top spot with a win over the Huskers. RU has sold-out seven games thus far, its most at the RAC in a season since 2004-05 (7).
 
Ranked fifth nationally in momentum per Haslametrics, RU plays 10 of its final 12 regular season games (83%) against opponents ranked or receiving votes. The Scarlet Knights' remaining schedule ranks 10th in difficulty per ESPN's BPI.
 
Ron Harper Jr. scored a career-high 29 points as RU dropped a hard-fought 85-80 decision at No. 19 Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday. The Hawkeyes were 17-of-21 at the free throw line in the second half to hold off the Scarlet Knights, who overcame a 10-point second half deficit to take a late lead. Rutgers' 80 points and 17 assists were its most in Big Ten play this season. Akwasi Yeboah had 17 points and enters the weekend five points shy of reaching 1500 for his career.

The game is Health Care Day presented by RWJBarnabas Health. 
 
THE OPPONENT: Under first-year head coach Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska has earned victories over Iowa and Purdue this season and is 12th nationally in fouls (14.3) and 16th in turnovers (11.1). The Huskers average 72.3 points-per-game, which matches NU's highest average since 1996-97. At least four players have scored in double figures in 14 games for Nebraska, including five players in double digits three times. Four Huskers average double figures in conference games. Cam Mack leads the team in scoring (13.0), while ranking 11th nationally in assists (6.8).
 
THE SERIES: Saturday signals the 14th meeting in the series dating back to 1999, with the Huskers holding an 8-5 advantage. Rutgers is 3-1 at home. Since joining the Big Ten, the Scarlet Knights have three wins in the series, tying for their most against any league foe. Saturday marks the second meeting this season. On Jan. 3, the Scarlet Knights earned a 17-point victory, as double-doubles from Myles Johnson and Ron Harper Jr. led RU to its largest margin of victory in a Big Ten road game. Caleb McConnell shot 8-of-8 to score a game-high 20 points.
 
RATED RUTGERS
Haslametrics:  12
RPI:  17
NCAA NET:  19
Jeff Goodman Top 25: 20
Andy Katz Power 36:  22
Ken Pomeroy:  22
Seth Davis Top 25:  23
Associated Press Top 25:  24
USA Today Coaches Top 25:  25
CBS Sports Top 25 and 1:  25
Rothstein 45:  27
Jeff Sagarin: 27
ESPN BPI: 35
Through 1/23/20 games
 
HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
Overall Record (years):  250-215 (15th)
Rutgers Record (years):  58-59 (4th)
Record vs. Nebraska (RU):  3-4
Record vs. Nebraska (overall):  3-4
 
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES

• Off to its best home start (13-0) in program history, Rutgers has a +18.2 scoring margin, a +11.5 rebounding advantage and has limited visitors to .351 shooting at the RAC.
• Rutgers is ninth nationally in FG% defense (37.2), 11th in scoring defense (60.1), 17th in rebounding (40.89) and in rebound margin (+7.7), 29th in scoring margin (+11.4) and 39th in blocks (4.6).
• Myles Johnson is 6th nationally in FG% (.684) and 19th nationally in offensive rebound percentage (15.7).
• Akwasi Yeboah ranks 47th among active NCAA players in career points (1,495) and 53rd in rebounds (649).
• Rutgers is a young squad, ranking 245th in experience per Pomeroy.
• Rutgers is undefeated when scoring 15 or more fast break points (8-0).
• Rutgers' 12-3 start was its best through 15 games since the 1975-76 undefeated regular season.
• From Dec. 11 to Jan. Jan. 19, RU held opponents to 65 points or fewer in nine straight games (eight victories) for the first time since 1949-50.
• Rutgers last began league play with a 3-1 record as a member of the Atlantic 10 in 1994-95 (4-1).
• RU's 20-point win over No. 22 Seton Hall on Dec. 14 was its largest margin of victory over a ranked foe in program history.
• RU has claimed multiple ranked victories in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 2001-02 and 2002-03 campaigns.
• After five sell-outs in 2018-19, its most since 2004-05 (7), Rutgers welcomed 8,329 fans vs. Seton Hall, its largest crowd in 18 seasons. RU has sold-out seven games this season, including four-straight for the first time since 2000.
• Rutgers was 4-0 against pro club teams during a tour of Spain in August. RU outscored its opponents 387-284 and had five players average double figures.

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