Indiana resumes Big Ten Conference play as they host Rutgers. The Hoosiers are 2-10 against the Scarlett Knights, losing their last matchup. Read more for a full Indiana vs Rutgers prediction and preview.
In conference play, both teams are 1-1. Indiana defeated Minnesota and lost to Nebraska. Rutgers beat Penn State and fell to Ohio State.
Game Information:
Teams: Indiana (10-3, 1-1) and Rutgers (8-5, 1-1)
Tip-Off: 8:30 p.m. EST
Watch: Peacock
Listen: 105.1 FM in Bloomington, 93.1 FM in Indianapolis.
Latest on Indiana basketball:
Indiana basketball is coming off a 77-68 win against the Winthrop Eagles. The Hoosiers pulled away in the final three minutes with an 8-0 run to finish the game. However, the game was not a breeze for Indiana. They suffered greatly from their shots outside the arc. They shot 1-20 (5%) 3-pointers, an exceptionally underwhelming performance.
On a positive note, senior center Langdon Hatton stepped onto the court against Winthrop and helped carry the Hoosiers to victory. Senior center Oumar Ballo wasn’t in uniform on Sunday. Head coach Mike Woodson didn’t share the official reason for Ballo’s absence with the press. Hatton performed excellently in Ballo’s place as he scored 7 points, brought down 11 rebounds, and had 3 blocks in his 26 minutes of play. His court presence proves the depth of Indiana’s bench.
Also noteworthy was redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice. With Ballo on the bench, Rice was given more lane space as Indiana played with a one big formation. He shot 7-10 FGs and had 3 assists and 3 steals in his 32 minutes of playing time.
The Hoosiers need to focus on their strengths to compete against Rutgers. The pattern of dismal 3-point performances can’t be fixed in a few days, so it seems that Indiana might want to reduce their shots outside the arc and look for other scoring opportunities.
Latest on Rutgers basketball:
The Scarlett Knights travel to Bloomington after their 91-64 home win against Colombia. This was their first time back on the court since their holiday break. Their convincing win ended with Rutgers shooting 36-76 (47.4%) FGs and 11-34 (32.4%) 3-pointers. Columbia’s defense was no match for the tricks up Rutger’s sleeve.
It was a great night for the underclassmen. Freshman Dylan Harper made history for the school, getting their first triple-double since their last in 1983. He had 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists. Freshman guard/forward Ace Bailey contributed 17 points and many highlight dunks that brought the energy.
The game prior, Rutgers suffered a painful 83-82 loss against Princeton. The Scarlett Knights came out on top after Princeton scored a basket in the final five seconds. Rutgers missed the final shot, which would have given them the victory.