Rutgers women's basketball faces 1st Big Ten test against Wisconsin
The Rutgers women's basketball team is set to travel to Madison, Wisconsin, for its first Big Ten matchup against Wisconsin on Sunday. The Scarlet Knights (5-3, 0-0) are coming off the Battle on the Banks tournament, splitting their two games, losing 59-57 to Marquette and winning 77-60 against Georgia Southern.
Freshman guard Kiyomi McMiller broke out with stellar performances in the tournament, tallying a combined 44 points on approximately 48 percent shooting in the two games. McMiller is living up to fans' expectations, taking full control of the offense when she is on the floor and scoring from seemingly any angle.
Despite a winning record, some aspects of Rutgers' game are cause for concern going forward. The first is getting to the free throw line more consistently, which the Knights did in their opening few games. In losses this season, Rutgers has attempted approximately 10 free throws per game while reaching the line 121 times in its five victories so far.
The Knights are a physical team and are at their best when players like senior guard and forward Destiny Adams, and graduate student center Chyna Cornwell are effective from the low post. With a slew of perimeter shooters on the roster, a consistent paint presence can open up many opportunities for Rutgers' offense.
The Badgers (7-2, 0-0) are off to a hot start at home this season, looking to remain unbeaten at the Kohl Center. The last time these two teams faced off, Wisconsin got the better of the Knights, winning 61-43. Overall, Rutgers has had the upper hand in the series, winning 10 of 16 games all-time.
One player that the Knights are all too familiar with is Serah Williams, who went off for a double-double with 17 points and 18 rebounds the last time the two teams met. Williams is averaging 17.3 points per game and 12 rebounds per game.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Williams will match up with either Cornwell or Adams in the paint and pose a real threat down low. Rutgers will have to look for new avenues to score and figure out a defensive game plan to stop Williams.
The Badgers can score efficiently, averaging 70.2 points per game on approximately 46 percent shooting from the field. The Knights have been in a few shootout games this season and have been on the wrong end of them. Rutgers will have to limit Wisconsin's offensive efficiency to come away with a win.
After facing off with the Badgers, the Knights have just three games left before starting a gauntlet of Big Ten opponents. As if conference play is not hard enough, Rutgers has to face off against seven ranked opponents in its first eight games to start the Big Ten slate.
The Knights are a skilled team, but there is a lot of talent around the conference this year, which will pose challenges for the team. With five wins on the new campaign, Rutgers is three wins away from matching the team total just a year ago.
With the addition of transfer players, new freshman talent and seasoned veterans, the Knights have the pieces to compete in the new-look conference, but it is a matter of putting it all together going forward. Each game has seen flashes of improvement in certain aspects for Rutgers but, the team has yet to find a way to combine these aspects consistently.
Sunday's tip-off is set for 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
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