Rutgers men’s basketball set to host Minnesota
The Rutgers men’s basketball team is set to face off against Minnesota on Wednesday. The Scarlet Knights (14-7, 6-4) will welcome the Golden Gophers (7-13, 1-9) at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
Rutgers is looking to get back in the win column after a 93-82 away loss to Iowa on Sunday. The Knights are heavy favorites against Minnesota, especially since the Golden Gophers have been on a five-game losing streak and have only one Big Ten win this season.
Minnesota’s last game was against Northwestern, where the team lost by a 20-point margin. The Golden Gophers have suffered five double-digit Big Ten losses this season.
Minnesota has struggled on the offensive side of the ball all season. The Golden Gophers are scoring 62.2 points per game (PPG) on average, which ranks last in the Big Ten. On defense, Minnesota is slightly better. The Golden Gophers allow their opponents to score 67.7 PPG on average which puts them at the 10th lowest in the Big Ten.
Though Rutgers is having a winning season, there is room for improvement. The Knights have struggled with consistency, so this game could be a chance for players like senior guard Cam Spencer to return to form. Spencer is still second on the team in scoring and is shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the arc but has struggled with shooting during the last three games.
Senior guard Paul Mulcahy will also have to continue his good performance on Wednesday. Mulcahy is the conductor of the offense and notched a double-double last game.
Several Rutgers players scored double-digit points last game, but the team still managed to fall short against the Hawkeyes (13-8, 5-5) who scored 93 points. These are the most points the Knights have allowed an opposing team to score all season.
A win would keep Rutgers in a position to receive a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament. Being at home on Wednesday is a huge advantage for the Knights because Rutgers has a 12-2 record at home this season. A win could give the Knights some momentum for their game on Saturday against Michigan State at Madison Square Garden.
The last time these teams faced off, Minnesota narrowly defeated Rutgers. Prior to that loss though, the Knights had beaten the Golden Gophers four straight times. Rutgers will also look to tie up the all-time series as Minnesota leads the series with a 7-6 record.
The game will tip off at 8:30 p.m., and the contest will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
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