Saturday, February 7
Piscataway, N.J.
12 PM
Rutgers University
vs
Nebraska
Photo by: Ben Solomon
Men’s Basketball Returns Home to Host No. 9/9 Nebraska Saturday
Feb 05 | Men's Basketball
Noon Game on BTN
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Following a two-game West Coast road trip, the Scarlet Knights have returned back home for the team's next two games. Rutgers will next up welcome a top-ten foe into Jersey Mike's Arena. On Saturday afternoon, the Scarlet Knights host No. 9 Nebraska, a noon game with a Big Ten Network broadcast with Jason Horowitz and Brian Butch on the call.
Kaden Powers had a career-high scoring output at UCLA, posting 18 points. Powers came out of the gate hot with all his points in the opening half. He made his first five field goals and seven of his first eight shots, including three-of-three from behind the arc, and 11 of the team's first 16 points. It was his third game with double-digit points this year, all against Big Ten foes (previously Michigan and Illinois). He averages 9.2 points per game across his last seven contests.
Rutgers is second in the Big Ten in bench points, with 30.74 points per game. RU's leading scorer comes in a bench role, with Tariq Francis leading the team at 16.5 points per game. Francis is also third in the Big Ten at 89.2 percent from the free throw line (99-of-111). That percentage would be sixth best in program history and second best in the Big Ten era. No Scarlet Knight has finished the year at 90% or better from the charity stripe since the 1995-96 season (Geoff Billet).
Rutgers has gone into overtime in three of the last four home games at Jersey Mike's Arena. The Scarlet Knights earned Big Ten wins in an extra session this season against Oregon (Jan. 5) and Northwestern (Jan. 11).
Nebraska is in the midst of a historic season, winning their first 20 games of the season. The Huskers, winners of the Crown postseason tournament last year, when NU finished 21-14, held the longest winning streak in the nation with the 20-0 mark before losing a pair of top-10 games to No. 3 Michigan (75-72) and No. 9 Illinois (78-69). The early season stretch saw the Huskers earn ranked wins over No. 9 Michigan State and No. 13 Illinois, in addition to top-50 KenPom wins over Wisconsin, Ohio State, Indiana, Washington and New Mexico.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg has started the program turnaround over the past three seasons. After going 24-67 in his first three seasons, Hoiberg has turned the program and has won 20 games in three straight seasons.
Nebraska averages 18.4 assists per game, 15th nationally, with an assist-turnover ratio of 2.04 that is third nationally. The Huskers commit just 9.0 turnovers per game, seventh best in the country, with a turnover margin of +4.0 that is best in the Big Ten. NU is also making 11.0 three pointers per game, best in the Big Ten.
Pryce Sandfort leads Nebraska in scoring at 17.2 points per game. The Iowa transfer who spent the past two seasons as a Hawkeye is a 46.5% shooter for his career, including 39.8 percent from behind the arc, leading the Big Ten with 3.5 three-pointers per game.
Sam Hoiberg has an assist/turnover ratio of 5.88, which leads the nation. Both Hoiberg (4.3 apg) and Jamarques Lawrence (3.7 apg) are top-15 in the Big Ten in assists. Rienk Mast also posts 14.1 points per game and 5.9 boards.
This will be the 21st matchup between Rutgers and Nebraska. Nebraska holds a 11-10 advantage in the series. RU has won four of the past five meetings since 2022 and five of the past seven. Last season, RU defeated Nebraska 85-82 on the road, with returner Dylan Grant posting 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
Rutgers has a midweek break this week. The Scarlet Knights remain at home and will next host Maryland on Sunday, February 15. That game is at noon with an FS1 TV broadcast.
| About Rutgers |
Kaden Powers had a career-high scoring output at UCLA, posting 18 points. Powers came out of the gate hot with all his points in the opening half. He made his first five field goals and seven of his first eight shots, including three-of-three from behind the arc, and 11 of the team's first 16 points. It was his third game with double-digit points this year, all against Big Ten foes (previously Michigan and Illinois). He averages 9.2 points per game across his last seven contests.
Rutgers is second in the Big Ten in bench points, with 30.74 points per game. RU's leading scorer comes in a bench role, with Tariq Francis leading the team at 16.5 points per game. Francis is also third in the Big Ten at 89.2 percent from the free throw line (99-of-111). That percentage would be sixth best in program history and second best in the Big Ten era. No Scarlet Knight has finished the year at 90% or better from the charity stripe since the 1995-96 season (Geoff Billet).
Rutgers has gone into overtime in three of the last four home games at Jersey Mike's Arena. The Scarlet Knights earned Big Ten wins in an extra session this season against Oregon (Jan. 5) and Northwestern (Jan. 11).
| About Nebraska |
Nebraska is in the midst of a historic season, winning their first 20 games of the season. The Huskers, winners of the Crown postseason tournament last year, when NU finished 21-14, held the longest winning streak in the nation with the 20-0 mark before losing a pair of top-10 games to No. 3 Michigan (75-72) and No. 9 Illinois (78-69). The early season stretch saw the Huskers earn ranked wins over No. 9 Michigan State and No. 13 Illinois, in addition to top-50 KenPom wins over Wisconsin, Ohio State, Indiana, Washington and New Mexico.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg has started the program turnaround over the past three seasons. After going 24-67 in his first three seasons, Hoiberg has turned the program and has won 20 games in three straight seasons.
Nebraska averages 18.4 assists per game, 15th nationally, with an assist-turnover ratio of 2.04 that is third nationally. The Huskers commit just 9.0 turnovers per game, seventh best in the country, with a turnover margin of +4.0 that is best in the Big Ten. NU is also making 11.0 three pointers per game, best in the Big Ten.
Pryce Sandfort leads Nebraska in scoring at 17.2 points per game. The Iowa transfer who spent the past two seasons as a Hawkeye is a 46.5% shooter for his career, including 39.8 percent from behind the arc, leading the Big Ten with 3.5 three-pointers per game.
Sam Hoiberg has an assist/turnover ratio of 5.88, which leads the nation. Both Hoiberg (4.3 apg) and Jamarques Lawrence (3.7 apg) are top-15 in the Big Ten in assists. Rienk Mast also posts 14.1 points per game and 5.9 boards.
| About the Series |
This will be the 21st matchup between Rutgers and Nebraska. Nebraska holds a 11-10 advantage in the series. RU has won four of the past five meetings since 2022 and five of the past seven. Last season, RU defeated Nebraska 85-82 on the road, with returner Dylan Grant posting 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
| With a Win |
- Sixth top-10 win under Steve Pikiell and first since defeating No. 9 Wisconsin on Feb. 10, 2024
- First ranked win of the season
- Wins in six of the past eight games against Nebraska
| Up Next |
Rutgers has a midweek break this week. The Scarlet Knights remain at home and will next host Maryland on Sunday, February 15. That game is at noon with an FS1 TV broadcast.
Players Mentioned
Men’s Basketball Post Game Press Conference - Michigan State
Wednesday, January 28
Men’s Basketball Post Game Press Conference - Indiana
Saturday, January 24
Steve Pikiell Podcast; OT Wins & the Upcoming Midwest Trip
Friday, January 16
Giving Back N.I.L.: Darren Buchanan Jr. Honored with the 2025 Stan Musial Scholarship Award
Wednesday, January 14
