Scarlet Knights search for revenge for reduction in Columbus

Rutgers receives its hugely-expected 2nd crack at Ohio State on Saturday.

The No. 15 Scarlet Knights host the Buckeyes at the Rutgers Athletic Heart in their 2nd matchup in considerably less than 3 months, the first of which finished in a decline that left Rutgers with a bitter flavor in its mouth. The Scarlet Knights led by as substantially as 16 just before slipping by 12, a 28-position swing in excess of the game’s closing 15 minutes.

The two main factors in the meltdown were junior heart Myles Johnson fouling out and senior guard Jacob Youthful leaving the match soon after a scary fall in a just one-minute span. In excess of the remaining seven minutes and 29 seconds just after Younger bought hurt, the Buckeyes outscored Rutgers 25-9.

“We experienced some definitely superior moments in that activity,” Pikiell explained. “The way the recreation was named and Jacob Youthful obtaining hurt, it experienced a good deal of road blocks in that match. The last four minutes did not enjoy out the way we needed it to, but yet again, Ohio State is excellent. Which is what these video games arrive down to occasionally, also, a perform below or a defensive halt. We didn’t get them when we wanted to and they did. You discover from it.”

Right here are five issues to check out for in the rematch:

Will things get chippy?

Rutgers reacted strongly to its defeat at Worth Metropolis Arena, with some frustrations with the officiating, specifically from Johnson, boiling above to Twitter. Pikiell claimed he spoke to Johnson at size about his tweets, which had been rapidly deleted.

“We talked a whole lot about it and moved on,” Pikiell explained. “It is not indicative of who he is. He experienced a lousy second and pressed deliver. They’re youthful and psychological. We shift forward. He’s a fantastic kid, he does all the ideal points, but it is an psychological activity way too and when you push that button, you greater not be psychological.”

Just after the contest, numerous Scarlet Knights famous they’d meet up with the Buckeyes once more in 17 days. That time has handed and the sport is in this article will those emotion boil more than on to the court in Saturday’s rematch?

Rebounding is massive in more methods than 1

In purchase for the Scarlet Knights to rebound from their current skid (they lost 3 of their final 4 game titles), they’ll need to rebound considerably better towards the Buckeyes.

Rutgers’ numbers on the glass by way of 10 video games are not quite it ranks 136th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage and 174th in defensive rebounding proportion, the latter getting a 106 location fall from previous period. The Scarlet Knights were being outrebounded by 20 in its most recent match from Michigan Point out and in opposition to the Buckeyes in Columbus. Aside from Johnson, who is an elite offensive rebounder (16th nationally in offensive rebounding share), the problem is workforce-broad.

The absence of starting center Cliff Omoruyi, who missed the past four games with a knee injury, hurts but that is no excuse for a method designed with rebounding as one of its main pillars.

“We acquired to do a superior career, we have to get a lot more fellas concerned, it can’t just be Myles,” Pikiell reported. “We just have to make a concerted exertion and do a greater career. Our guards have to dig some out, far too. It is a staff issue and they’re mindful of it. Hopefully it is not a continuing concern, but it has been in some online games so it is something you think about.”

Harm bug benefits Rutgers this time

Rutgers caught a break as senior guard Geo Baker is anticipated to participate in in spite of turning his ankle late in Tuesday’s reduction to Michigan Point out, meaning the Scarlet Knights ought to be near to total energy.

The Buckeyes enter Piscataway wounded as starting up stage guard CJ Walker is out with a thumb injuries, a big loss for a crew that lacks depth at the placement. With Walker dealing with the ball, Ohio Point out experienced the 12th least expensive turnover proportion in the region. Without the need of him, it can be an area Rutgers can exploit days immediately after forcing Michigan State to dedicate 18 turnovers.

Backup large circumstance altered up

When questioned to reflect on the previous assembly with the Buckeyes, Pikiell designed positive to mention they’ve modified above the past 3 months.

The same can be claimed for the Scarlet Knights.

The most significant change is the emergence of freshman ahead Dean Reiber, who went from playing two minutes in Columbus to taking part in 10 minutes towards No. 10 Iowa. He’ll most likely be the very first big off the bench to spell Johnson as a substitute of junior Mamadou Doucoure, who struggled in his 21 minutes of motion the 1st time close to versus Ohio State.

Can Rutgers continue to keep the RAC a fortress?

There is no shame in losing at residence in opposition to a top rated-10 staff with the nation’s very best offense, and ending the period with a household report equivalent to very last season’s amazing 18-1 clip was in no way practical, but the Scarlet Knights really should stay clear of generating a routine of getting rid of at the RAC. A loss to the Buckeyes would mark Rutgers’ first household losing streak given that February of 2018, when it dropped again-to-back online games at the RAC to Michigan and Iowa.

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Brian Fonseca may perhaps be arrived at at [email protected].

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