No. 15/14 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-3, 3-3)
vs.
(RV/RV) Ohio State Buckeyes (8-3, 2-3)
Saturday, January 9 | 12 p.m. (ET)
The RAC | Piscataway, N.J.
TV: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, play-by-play; Stephen Bardo, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/Sirius 108/ XM 195, Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Troy DeSavino and Raj Shah)
No. 15/14 Rutgers men's basketball returns home to The RAC on Saturday at noon to face Ohio State. The game will air on the Big Ten Network.
With the Buckeyes receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches poll, this game marks the seven straight game to open conference play for RU against a team to earn votes or a ranking in the national polls. With the next scheduled opponent being No. 8/10 Wisconsin, Rutgers' first eight conference games will include contests against five ranked foes.
RU's last game was a road loss at a talented No. 23 Michigan State squad on Tuesday night. In that contest, Rutgers' defense forced the Spartans into 18 turnovers, benefited from 13 steals. Both marks were the most for the Scarlet Knights in a Big Ten game with
Steve Pikiell at the helm of the program.
Ron Harper Jr. was named to the Midseason Top 25 Watch List for the John R. Wooden Award on Wednesday night. Harper Jr. currently averages 21.1 points per game (fourth in the Big Ten and 27th nationally) and is sixth in the conference at 52.6 percent shooting from the field. From long-range, he leads the Big Ten with 3.22 three-pointers per game and is second in the conference in three-point percentage at 46.8 percent.
Harper Jr.'s scoring has been supplemented by
Jacob Young, who averages 15.2 points per game. With Young ranking ninth in the league in scoring, the Scarlet Knights are one of just two squads to have two players in the top ten in the league in scoring. The duo have each scored in double-figures in nine consecutive games played. Young also leads the conference in steals (2.4 steals per game)
Geo Baker remains atop the league in assist-turnover ratio at 4.2. Rutgers has had 10 or fewer turnovers in six consecutive games.
The Scarlet Knights lead the Big Ten in steals (8.3) and rank third in the Big Ten in blocks (5.3).
The Buckeyes enter the matchup at 8-3 overall and 2-3 in the league. Since facing the Scarlet Knights on Dec. 23, they are 1-2, with a 1-point loss to Northwestern, win over Nebraska, and loss to Minnesota.
The Buckeyes are a balanced squad offensively, led by Duane Washington Jr. at 14.9 points per game. He is followed closely behind by E.J. Liddell at 13.9 pph. CJ Walker, a senior who leads the team in minutes played with 8.7 points and 4.2 assists per game, will miss the game with a hand injury.
OSU is seventh in the nation in turnovers (9.6). The team has also made the sixth most free throws in the nation.
Series Record: Ohio State leads 9-3
Last Meeting: No. 23/20 Ohio State 80, No. 11/12 Rutgers 68 (Dec. 23, 2020)
Saturday marks the 13th meeting in the all-time series and the second time that the two team will play over a 17 day span. The Scarlet Knights dropped an 80-68 contest to No. 23/20 Ohio State back on Dec. 23, as the team was unable to hold on to a double-digit lead. Rutgers' last win over the Buckeyes was on January 9, 2018, a victory over then 16th ranked OSU at The RAC. The Scarlet Knights also earned wins in the 2017 Big Ten Tournament (RU's first ever Big Ten Tournament victory) as well as a win in Madison Square Garden in 1978.
"We have to do a really good job on the back boards and matching their physicality. They are probably the most physical team in the league. We have to come ready and do a good job of matching that. Another tough challenge in this league - they just keep coming. You have to embrace that journey." -
Steve Pikiell
