(RV/RV) Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-6, 4-6) at (RV/RV) Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-6, 6-6)
Thursday, February 4 | 9 p.m.
The RAC | Piscataway, N.J.
TV: FS1 (Gus Johnson, play-by-play; Jim Jackson, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/ XM 372 (Jerry Recco and Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Raj Shah and Chris Tsakonas)
Rutgers men's basketball brings a three-game winning streak into a Thursday night meeting with Minnesota at The RAC (9 p.m., FS1). The Scarlet Knights won at Indiana, defeated Michigan State at home, then won another road contest at Northwestern in the current streak.
Defense has been the key to the Scarlet Knights' recent effort, and on Sunday night the squad frustrated the Wildcats into 21 turnovers as RU never trailed in a 64-56 victory. Rutgers has forced 20+ turnovers in consecutive games (21 versus Michigan State, 20 versus Northwestern, a season-high for both teams). That marks the first time since 2011 that RU has had consecutive games forcing at least 20 turnovers. RU has allowed 93 total points in the last two conference games combined. That is the fewest RU has given up in consecutive league outings since 1982. Rutgers' defensive efficiency last week was the best in the nation.
Ron Harper Jr. was named as one of 20 candidates on the Late Season Watch List for the Wooden Award on Monday. Harper Jr. leads the team at 17.3 points per game and is second with 6.2 rebounds per game.
Rutgers has used strong starts to the game as a key in establishing themselves in the past three victories. A look at the past three games:
- 15-8 lead at Indiana (after 6:41)
- 15-0 lead vs. Michigan State (after 4:58)
- 31-11 lead at Northwestern (after 11:10)
RU has gotten off to combined 67-32 leads in the opening 10 minutes of the last three games.
The Scarlet Knights have four Quad 1 wins on the year, with victories over Illinois (5), Purdue (28), at Maryland (39) and at Indiana (48). The game against Minnesota (50) marks Rutgers' 10th league game (out of 13) coming against teams ranked in the top-50 of the NET rankings.
A victory over Minnesota would represent:
- Rutgers' fourth straight win over a Big Ten conference foe. That would be the first time since joining the Big Ten that Rutgers won four straight conference games. The last time that Rutgers won four straight league games was in 2003-04, when RU defeated St. John's, Villanova, Notre Dame and Miami in BIG EAST play.
- Rutgers' fifth victory over Minnesota, the most wins over any Big Ten team since joining the Big Ten.
- A win would give Rutgers victories in four of the past five meetings with the Gophers.
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Steve Pikiell is going for his 75th win as head coach at Rutgers.
Minnesota enters the game at 11-6 overall and 4-6 in the Big Ten. The Gophers opened the season with a 10-2 record and rose as high as No. 16 in the nation before a current stretch (lost four of five). The team has four ranked wins this season. The Gophers take the most three-pointers in the league and have the most blocks, while getting to the free throw line to make the third most free throws in the nation. Liam Robbins leads the Big Ten in blocks (2.82) and is 10th in rebounding (6.9) while Marcus Carr is second in the Big Ten in assists (5.2) and fourth in scoring (20.0).
Series Record: Minnesota leads 8-4
Last Meeting: Rutgers 64, Minnesota 56 (Jan. 19, 2020)
Thursday marks the 13th meeting in the all-time series dating back to 1973, with Minnesota holding an 8-4 advantage. Rutgers has won three of the past four games and four of the past seven meetings with the Gophers.
"Our defense has been really connected. We're doing a good job surrounding the basketball. Minnesota is an awesome program with one of the elite guards in Marcus Carr and elite big men in Liam Robbins. They're a unique challenge, our guys have to be ready to defend without fouling." - Head Coach Steve Pikiell
