Saturday, January 17
Madison, Wisc.
2 PM
Rutgers University
at
Wisconsin
Men’s Basketball Starts Road Trip at Wisconsin
Jan 14 | Men's Basketball
2 PM Contest on Saturday
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – It is back to the rugged road of the Big Ten for Rutgers men's basketball. After earning two home wins at Jersey Mike's Arena this past week, the Scarlet Knights are set to embark on a two-game road trip to the frozen Midwest as they will depart for Wisconsin next in a Saturday afternoon contest. Fans can watch on Big Ten Network at 2 pm with Lisa Byington and Shon Morris on the call.
The Scarlet Knights get a midweek break this week after playing three games across six days. Despite falling on the road at No. 16 Illinois in the mid-game, RU earned two home wins, both requiring extra time to settle them, defeating Oregon and Northwestern in overtime.
Rutgers battled back from deficits in each game and grinded their way back for wins in both contests. RU trailed 42-33 against Oregon and 23-11 early against Northwestern, yet battled back to win both games. Against the Ducks, Rutgers shot 30-of-34 at the free throw line, and were 19-of-27 at the charity stripe against the Wolverines.
Darren Buchanan Jr. had his first double-double of the season against Oregon with 14 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. He had the game-sealing block, with a rejection on the final possession of overtime to preserve the win. Darren Buchanan Jr. has made 18-of-36 from the field in the past six games (50%).
After posting 30 points in each of the two wins, Tariq Francis now has three 30-plus scoring games this season, all off the bench. Across the past six games, Francis is averaged 22.67 points per game on 43-of-91 shooting (47.2%). On the season, Francis leads the team at 15.3 points per game, shooting six percentage points higher from the field this year than either of his two previous collegiate seasons at NJIT.
Francis is at 87.5% from the free throw line this season. Only eight other players in RU history have shot 87.5% or better from the charity stripe for the season, and only three of them since in the past 30 seasons (Myles Mack twice, Cam Spencer).
The Badgers are receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches Poll. Following the game against Wisconsin, RU heads to No. 23 Iowa and then hosts Indiana (receiving votes) and No. 12/12 Michigan State, before heading on the road to face USC, as the next five opponents and six of the next seven are ranked or receiving votes in this week's poll. Rutgers next seven games are against teams in the top-50 of KenPom, including six top-40 teams and four top-30 teams.
Wisconsin enters the matchup at 12-5 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten. On Tuesday night, Wisconsin trailed at Minnesota's Barn by 11 in the second half, but answered with a 19-4 run and made 10 three-pointers after halftime. John Blackwell posted 27 points, his seventh 20-point outing of the season, and he swished the buzzer beater for the win.
The Badgers had one of the signature wins of the college basketball season thus far last weekend by traveling to then-No. 2 Michigan and earning a 91-88 win at the Crisler Center. Nick Boyd had 26 points, John Blackwell had 22, and the UW offense shot 50 percent from the field. True freshman from Lithuania Aleksas Bieliauskas made five three-pointers, and UW hit 15 triples overall. Blackwell was named the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week Presented by Jersey Mikes while Boyd earned Co-Big Ten Player of the Week honors following the win.
Wisconsin is 1 of 5 schools to participate in 25 of last 27 NCAA tournaments, joining Kansas, Duke, Michigan State and Gonzaga. The Badgers have adjusted their offensive style from the traditional "Swing Offense" under former Hall of Fame head coach Bo Ryan, and have utilized international influence for a more up-tempo and efficient offensive style. After ranking 337th nationally in tempo in 2022-23, UW is now 61st nationally in tempo, going from 65.3 points per game in 22-23, increasing each season, and are on pace to average of 80 points per game for the second consecutive season.
Wisconsin is second in the Big Ten in three-point attempts per game (30.9) and second in the league in three-pointers made per game (10.5, 25th nationally).
Nick Boyd, a former Final Four guard at FAU, then via San Diego State, leads the team at 19.2 points per game, shooting 47.8 percent from the field with 58 assists. John Blackwell, who was all-Freshman and All-Big Ten in his first two years in the league, is just behind him at 18.6 points per game. Nolan Winter averages 14.1 points per game and has a team-high 8.9 rebounds, placing him fourth in the league on the boards while third in field goal percentage (58.9%).
Rutgers has gotten contributions from transfers Andrew Rohde (Virginia/St. Thomas), Braeden Carrington (Tulsa/Minnesota – 21 points on seven triples at Minnesota Tuesday) and Austin Rapp (Portland – 9.4 ppg, has missed last three games)
Rutgers has played Wisconsin 16 times all-time, with Wisconsin holding a 10-6 advantage. The teams matched up three times prior to RU joining the Big Ten (1949, 2003, 2004), all Wisconsin wins. Since becoming conference foes, UW has a slight 7-6 edge.
Last season, there was just one game, with Wisconsin winning 75-63. John Blackwell had 21 points for UW. The last RU win over Wisconsin came in a 22-point home victory over then-No. 9 Wisconsin two seasons ago. The teams are 3-3 across the last six meetings.
The trip continues with a jaunt to Iowa, ranked No. 23 in the Coaches Poll and 22nd by KenPom currently. The game against the Hawkeyes (who are 12-4, 2-3 in Big Ten play) comes at 8:30 PM Tuesday on BTN.
| About Rutgers |
The Scarlet Knights get a midweek break this week after playing three games across six days. Despite falling on the road at No. 16 Illinois in the mid-game, RU earned two home wins, both requiring extra time to settle them, defeating Oregon and Northwestern in overtime.
Rutgers battled back from deficits in each game and grinded their way back for wins in both contests. RU trailed 42-33 against Oregon and 23-11 early against Northwestern, yet battled back to win both games. Against the Ducks, Rutgers shot 30-of-34 at the free throw line, and were 19-of-27 at the charity stripe against the Wolverines.
Darren Buchanan Jr. had his first double-double of the season against Oregon with 14 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. He had the game-sealing block, with a rejection on the final possession of overtime to preserve the win. Darren Buchanan Jr. has made 18-of-36 from the field in the past six games (50%).
After posting 30 points in each of the two wins, Tariq Francis now has three 30-plus scoring games this season, all off the bench. Across the past six games, Francis is averaged 22.67 points per game on 43-of-91 shooting (47.2%). On the season, Francis leads the team at 15.3 points per game, shooting six percentage points higher from the field this year than either of his two previous collegiate seasons at NJIT.
Francis is at 87.5% from the free throw line this season. Only eight other players in RU history have shot 87.5% or better from the charity stripe for the season, and only three of them since in the past 30 seasons (Myles Mack twice, Cam Spencer).
| Upcoming Stretch |
The Badgers are receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches Poll. Following the game against Wisconsin, RU heads to No. 23 Iowa and then hosts Indiana (receiving votes) and No. 12/12 Michigan State, before heading on the road to face USC, as the next five opponents and six of the next seven are ranked or receiving votes in this week's poll. Rutgers next seven games are against teams in the top-50 of KenPom, including six top-40 teams and four top-30 teams.
| About the Badgers |
Wisconsin enters the matchup at 12-5 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten. On Tuesday night, Wisconsin trailed at Minnesota's Barn by 11 in the second half, but answered with a 19-4 run and made 10 three-pointers after halftime. John Blackwell posted 27 points, his seventh 20-point outing of the season, and he swished the buzzer beater for the win.
The Badgers had one of the signature wins of the college basketball season thus far last weekend by traveling to then-No. 2 Michigan and earning a 91-88 win at the Crisler Center. Nick Boyd had 26 points, John Blackwell had 22, and the UW offense shot 50 percent from the field. True freshman from Lithuania Aleksas Bieliauskas made five three-pointers, and UW hit 15 triples overall. Blackwell was named the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week Presented by Jersey Mikes while Boyd earned Co-Big Ten Player of the Week honors following the win.
Wisconsin is 1 of 5 schools to participate in 25 of last 27 NCAA tournaments, joining Kansas, Duke, Michigan State and Gonzaga. The Badgers have adjusted their offensive style from the traditional "Swing Offense" under former Hall of Fame head coach Bo Ryan, and have utilized international influence for a more up-tempo and efficient offensive style. After ranking 337th nationally in tempo in 2022-23, UW is now 61st nationally in tempo, going from 65.3 points per game in 22-23, increasing each season, and are on pace to average of 80 points per game for the second consecutive season.
Wisconsin is second in the Big Ten in three-point attempts per game (30.9) and second in the league in three-pointers made per game (10.5, 25th nationally).
Nick Boyd, a former Final Four guard at FAU, then via San Diego State, leads the team at 19.2 points per game, shooting 47.8 percent from the field with 58 assists. John Blackwell, who was all-Freshman and All-Big Ten in his first two years in the league, is just behind him at 18.6 points per game. Nolan Winter averages 14.1 points per game and has a team-high 8.9 rebounds, placing him fourth in the league on the boards while third in field goal percentage (58.9%).
Rutgers has gotten contributions from transfers Andrew Rohde (Virginia/St. Thomas), Braeden Carrington (Tulsa/Minnesota – 21 points on seven triples at Minnesota Tuesday) and Austin Rapp (Portland – 9.4 ppg, has missed last three games)
| About the Series |
Rutgers has played Wisconsin 16 times all-time, with Wisconsin holding a 10-6 advantage. The teams matched up three times prior to RU joining the Big Ten (1949, 2003, 2004), all Wisconsin wins. Since becoming conference foes, UW has a slight 7-6 edge.
Last season, there was just one game, with Wisconsin winning 75-63. John Blackwell had 21 points for UW. The last RU win over Wisconsin came in a 22-point home victory over then-No. 9 Wisconsin two seasons ago. The teams are 3-3 across the last six meetings.
| Up Next |
The trip continues with a jaunt to Iowa, ranked No. 23 in the Coaches Poll and 22nd by KenPom currently. The game against the Hawkeyes (who are 12-4, 2-3 in Big Ten play) comes at 8:30 PM Tuesday on BTN.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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