Rutgers men’s basketball looking to get back on track against Ohio State in Big Ten opener
The Rutgers men's basketball team will continue its lengthy stretch away from home Saturday at noon in its Big Ten season opener against Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights (5-3, 0-0) have seen stellar performances from their stars but will look to get contributions all around against the Buckeyes (5-3, 0-1).
Freshman guard Dylan Harper earned his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor Monday after his historic week in Las Vegas, averaging 30.3 points per game in three appearances. Harper's average of 23.8 points per game is fourth in the nation the most in the Big Ten.
Along with Harper, fellow freshman forward Ace Bailey stood out in Sin City with his best performance coming against Texas A&M, scoring a team-leading 24 points. Rutgers saw Harper, Bailey and senior guard Jeremiah Williams combine for 62 of the team's 77 points, and just 11 points coming off the bench, eight of which from freshman center Lathan Sommerville.
The Harper and Bailey show on the Banks is expected to continue but if the Knights want to succeed in Big Ten play, they will need other players to step up, like sophomore guard Jamichael Davis and junior guard Jordan Derkack.
Ohio State averages 82.5 points per game, the seventh-most in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes are shooting a conference-high 42.4 percent from beyond the arc directly compatible with their Big Ten leading 44.8 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Rutgers must be prepared to guard the perimeter, something it has struggled with, if it wants to walk out of Columbus, Ohio, victorious.
Ohio State is led by returning guard Bruce Thornton, who comes into the contest as the Buckeyes' leading scorer, averaging 15.5 points per game. What Thornton lacks in size he makes up for in efficiency and effort, playing hard on both ends of the court and offering a balanced attack for Ohio State.
With Thornton leading the pack, the Buckeyes offer one of the most dangerous threats in basketball: depth and fluidity. Ohio State boasts five players with double digit scoring averages, an oddity in today's college basketball, so the Knights must counter with a balanced attack of their own, something Rutgers has not excelled in this season.
Expect a high-scoring affair, something the Knights have gotten familiar with this season, and a silent but deadly balanced attack from the Buckeyes with contributions coming from all around.
This matchup against Ohio State remains a key examination of the offseason acquisitions and what is to come for Rutgers because, in basketball, you are only as good as your weakest competitor. While the freshman duo may be entertaining and effective, this matchup will remain in the hands of the unproven and the unknown.
Saturday's game will tip off at noon and will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 and 88.7 WRSU-FM. It is the Knights' last game of a five-game road trip away from Jersey Mike's Arena on Livingston campus.
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