Photo by: Ben Solomon
Men's Basketball Faces Michigan in Big Ten Tournament
Mar 10 | Men's Basketball
No. 8 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (20-11, 11-9) vs. No. 9 Michigan Wolverines (19-12, 10-10)
Thursday, March 12, 2020 | 12 p.m. (ET)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse (17,923) | Indianapolis, Ind.
TV: BTN (Brian Anderson, play-by-play; Shon Morris, analyst; Andy Katz, reporter)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/Sirius 84/ XM 372; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe and Jake Ostrove)
Series Record: Michigan leads 13-0
Last Meeting: Michigan 60, Rutgers 52 (February 19, 2020)
OPENING TIP: Receiving votes in both polls, No. 8 seeded Rutgers heads to Indianapolis to meet No. 9 Michigan in a Big Ten Tournament second round match-up. The winner advances to play No. 1 seed Wisconsin. Picked 12th in the preseason media poll, the Scarlet Knights tied for fifth in the standings to earn their first opening round bye in a conference tournament in 25 years, since the 1995 Atlantic 10 Championship. RU enters the tournament ranked sixth nationally in defensive efficiency (90.6) and eighth nationally in FG% defense (38.3).
Rutgers captured its first 20-win regular season in 37 years, since 1982-83, and first 20-win season overall since 2003-04. Despite being the nation's only team with its last seven games all in Quadrant 1, RU earned its most conference victories (11) in 29 years, since 1990-91 (14-4; A-10), while also posting its first winning league record in 29 years.
The Scarlet Knights finished the regular season as NCAA National Team of the Week after wins over No. 9 Maryland and at Purdue in OT. The win over the Terps was RU's fourth over a ranked opponent, all by double digits. Rutgers suffered just one Big Ten loss by double-digits, tied for the fewest in the league with Michigan St.
Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. earned Third Team and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference honors, respectively. An honorable mention selection in 2018-19, Baker is the first RU player elected to a first, second or third team since Rutgers entered the Big Ten in 2014-15.
THE OPPONENT: Also receiving votes in both polls, Michigan has been ranked for nine weeks, peaking at No. 4. Rated 16th by Ken Pom, UM won eight of its final 12 games, with the losses to top-25 teams in the metric. Michigan ranks 14th nationally in assist/turnover ratio (1.37) and turnovers (10.7). Second Team All-Big Ten selection Zavier Simpson leads the nation with 236 assists, and shares the team lead in scoring (12.9) with Honorable Mention All-Big Ten pick Isaiah Livers.
THE SERIES: Thursday marks the 14th meeting dating back to 1933, with UM winning the prior 13, including a pair of significant post-season meetings. No. 9 UM defeated No. 4 RU, 86-70, in the 1976 NCAA Final Four to provide the Scarlet Knights their first loss of the season after 31 victories. Michigan also downed Rutgers 62-55 in the 2004 NIT Final at Madison Square Garden. In the first meeting this season, Rutgers out-rebounded Michigan 51-37, its most boards in a Big Ten regulation game, but dropped a 69-63 decision on Big Ten Super Saturday at MSG. In the second meeting, RU grabbed 10 more offensive rebounds and took 16 more shots than Michigan, but couldn't overcome its second half shooting, in a 60-52 loss at the RAC, its lone home loss this season. UM is one of two teams (Michigan State) that ranked has yet to defeat since joining the league.
HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
Overall Record (years): 256-221 (15th)
Rutgers Record (years): 64-65 (4th)
Record vs. Michigan (RU/overall): 0-6
Big Ten Tournament Record: 3-3
RATED RUTGERS
Haslametrics: 23
Andy Katz Power 36: 25
Ken Pomeroy: 27
Jeff Sagarin: 29
ESPN BPI: 31
Massey: 31
NCAA NET: 32
Rothstein 45: 33
Through 3/8/20 games
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
Thursday, March 12, 2020 | 12 p.m. (ET)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse (17,923) | Indianapolis, Ind.
TV: BTN (Brian Anderson, play-by-play; Shon Morris, analyst; Andy Katz, reporter)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/Sirius 84/ XM 372; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe and Jake Ostrove)
Series Record: Michigan leads 13-0
Last Meeting: Michigan 60, Rutgers 52 (February 19, 2020)
OPENING TIP: Receiving votes in both polls, No. 8 seeded Rutgers heads to Indianapolis to meet No. 9 Michigan in a Big Ten Tournament second round match-up. The winner advances to play No. 1 seed Wisconsin. Picked 12th in the preseason media poll, the Scarlet Knights tied for fifth in the standings to earn their first opening round bye in a conference tournament in 25 years, since the 1995 Atlantic 10 Championship. RU enters the tournament ranked sixth nationally in defensive efficiency (90.6) and eighth nationally in FG% defense (38.3).
Rutgers captured its first 20-win regular season in 37 years, since 1982-83, and first 20-win season overall since 2003-04. Despite being the nation's only team with its last seven games all in Quadrant 1, RU earned its most conference victories (11) in 29 years, since 1990-91 (14-4; A-10), while also posting its first winning league record in 29 years.
The Scarlet Knights finished the regular season as NCAA National Team of the Week after wins over No. 9 Maryland and at Purdue in OT. The win over the Terps was RU's fourth over a ranked opponent, all by double digits. Rutgers suffered just one Big Ten loss by double-digits, tied for the fewest in the league with Michigan St.
Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. earned Third Team and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference honors, respectively. An honorable mention selection in 2018-19, Baker is the first RU player elected to a first, second or third team since Rutgers entered the Big Ten in 2014-15.
THE OPPONENT: Also receiving votes in both polls, Michigan has been ranked for nine weeks, peaking at No. 4. Rated 16th by Ken Pom, UM won eight of its final 12 games, with the losses to top-25 teams in the metric. Michigan ranks 14th nationally in assist/turnover ratio (1.37) and turnovers (10.7). Second Team All-Big Ten selection Zavier Simpson leads the nation with 236 assists, and shares the team lead in scoring (12.9) with Honorable Mention All-Big Ten pick Isaiah Livers.
THE SERIES: Thursday marks the 14th meeting dating back to 1933, with UM winning the prior 13, including a pair of significant post-season meetings. No. 9 UM defeated No. 4 RU, 86-70, in the 1976 NCAA Final Four to provide the Scarlet Knights their first loss of the season after 31 victories. Michigan also downed Rutgers 62-55 in the 2004 NIT Final at Madison Square Garden. In the first meeting this season, Rutgers out-rebounded Michigan 51-37, its most boards in a Big Ten regulation game, but dropped a 69-63 decision on Big Ten Super Saturday at MSG. In the second meeting, RU grabbed 10 more offensive rebounds and took 16 more shots than Michigan, but couldn't overcome its second half shooting, in a 60-52 loss at the RAC, its lone home loss this season. UM is one of two teams (Michigan State) that ranked has yet to defeat since joining the league.
HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
Overall Record (years): 256-221 (15th)
Rutgers Record (years): 64-65 (4th)
Record vs. Michigan (RU/overall): 0-6
Big Ten Tournament Record: 3-3
RATED RUTGERS
Haslametrics: 23
Andy Katz Power 36: 25
Ken Pomeroy: 27
Jeff Sagarin: 29
ESPN BPI: 31
Massey: 31
NCAA NET: 32
Rothstein 45: 33
Through 3/8/20 games
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
- RU joined the rankings for the first time in 41 years, since the final 1978-79 AP Poll (No. 18). The Scarlet Knight were No. 24/25 & No. 25/25 in the Jan. 20 & 27 polls, respectively. RU has been ranked or receiving votes for seven weeks this season.
- Rutgers secured the most home regular season wins in the nation (18) and set a program record for home wins in a season.
- RU has ensured its first winning season in 14 years, since 2005-06 (19-14).
- Rutgers is young, ranking 239th in experience per Pomeroy. One scholarship player is competing in his third season at RU.
- RU earned home-and-home series sweeps over both Purdue and Nebraska after never achieving a series sweep in Big Ten play prior to this season.
- Rutgers has its largest comeback victory in 24 years, overcoming an 18-point deficit to defeat Northwestern at the RAC.
- Rutgers sold-out a record 10 games at the RAC, including the final nine of the regular season. RU welcomed 8,329 fans vs. Seton Hall, its largest crowd in 18 seasons.
- Akwasi Yeboah is one of just 16 active players with 1,600 points and 700 rebounds.
- Myles Johnson ranks 16th nationally and second in conference-only games in offensive rebound percentage (15.0). He leads the Big Ten in FG% (60.2) ranks fourth in offensive rebounds (3.3).
- 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.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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