No. 14/13 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-1, 2-1) vs.
(rv) Purdue Boilermakers (7-3, 2-1)
Tuesday, December 29 | 7 p.m. (ET)
The RAC | Piscataway, N.J.
TV: FS1 (Lisa Byington, play-by-play; Stephen Bardo, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/Sirius 132/ XM 194, Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Chris Tsakonas and Dylan Allen)
No. 14/13 Rutgers men's basketball returns home on Tuesday night to host the Purdue Boilermakers. The game will air at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.
The Scarlet Knights enter the matchup at 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten following an 80-68 setback at No. 23/20 Ohio State last Wednesday. Despite a team-high 20 points from
Ron Harper Jr., the shorthanded RU squad was unable to overcome foul trouble and the closing stretch from the Buckeyes.
Harper Jr.'s performance was not atypical as the junior wing has transformed himself into an All-American candidate with his play early in the season. The Don Bosco Prep product has scored at least 15 points in every game this season and posted 20 points in five of the seven game. He averaged 23.4 points per game (fourth in the Big Ten and seventh nationally) and is shooting 50 percent from three-point distance (second in the Big Ten). He has improved across the board, and currently boasts career-best marks in most statistical categories. His shooting has drastically improved this season, going from 45.2 percent from the field last season to 56.4 percent this season, and improving last's seasons 34.9 percent mark from distance to 50.0 this season. Along with his sharp shooting, he has still played unselfishly, averaging a career best 2.1 assists per game.
Alongside him has been steady production from guards
Montez Mathis and
Jacob Young, who have each scored in double-digits in six of the seven games this season. Young leads the Big Ten in steals (2.43 spg) and is second in the league in assists (5.6 apg). In the paint,
Myles Johnson is second in the conference with 2.43 blocks per game, while pacing the team with 8.6 rebounds.
As a team in Big Ten play, the Scarlet Knights have excelled in shooting from distance and taking care of the ball. The Scarlet Knights averaged nine three-pointers per game in league play, having made at least 8 in each game, with the 10 triples against OSU the team's most since December of 2019. The team also averages just 8.6 turnovers per game, a margin of +2.3 in conference games.
The game against Ohio State marked the second contest over a stretch where five out of six opponents are ranked. Rutgers' remaining strength of schedule is ranked as the 12th toughest in the nation as they navigate the Big Ten Conference slate. Nine Big Ten teams (including Rutgers) were ranked in Monday's AP Poll.
Purdue enters the game at 7-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, following a 73-70 victory over Maryland on Christmas Day. The team has won four of its last five, including a Crossroad Classic victory over Notre Dame and home win over No. 20 Ohio State to open conference play. They are recieving votes in the Coaches Poll.
A balanced squad sees five players enter the game between 9.9 and 13.4 points per game. Trevion Williams paces the team in both scoring (13.4 ppg) and rebounding (9.5 rpg). He is second in the conference in rebounding. Sasha Stefanovic leads the Big Ten in three-point percentage (50.9), just slightly edging
Ron Harper Jr. The team is buoyed by two freshmen in Mason Gillis and Zach Edey that have been recognized by the conference with weekly awards this season.
Series Record: Purdue leads 12-3
Last Meeting:
Rutgers 71, Purdue 68 (March 7, 2020 at Mackey Arena)
Tuesday night marks the 16th meeting in the series, with Purdue holding a 12-3 advantage in a series that dates back to 1953. Last season, RU swept the season series. First was a 70-63 RU win at the RAC on Jan. 28. The second matchup was one of the Scarlet Knights' highlights of the season, a thrilling 71-68 overtime victory at Mackey Arena to conclude the regular season. That win ensured the team's first 20-win regular season since 1982-83. The road win was the
enduring moment of the season, a statement win to the team's NCAA tournament resume that would turn out to be the final time the team played a game that season. RU's prior victory over the Boilers was an 81-73 decision at MSG on Dec. 4, 1975 during the Scarlet Knights' 31-0 start en route to the Final Four.
A victory over Purdue on Tuesday would represent:
- The second straight season RU started conference play 3-1. Prior to last season, the last 3-1 start to league play for Rutgers was 1994-95.
- Three straight wins over the Boilermakers, the first time since joining the Big Ten RU would have defeated a league foe three consecutive times.
