Game Day Essentials: Game #21 at Rutgers

Rutgers Info

Head Coach: Steve Pikiell
Location: Piscataway, NJ
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Scarlet Knights

Last time out: Lost to Maryland
Line: Rutgers by 1.5
Typical Rotation Depth: 7+

KenPom rank: 100

Other

• Nebraska's last conference win was vs Rutgers in 2021. Lat Mayen had a career day with 25 points.
• Last time vs Nebraska, Ron Harper led Rutgers to a season high 93 points

Player to watch: Ron Harper

Rutgers' leading scorer is a load at 6'6" 245. Harper is shooting over 43% from three thus far and is second on the team in rebounds. Nebraska had no answer for him in Piscataway.

Player to watch:  Geo Baker

Baker is playing the best basketball of his 5 year career at Rutgers, leading the team in assists.

Possible Rutgers Starters

0 Geo Baker G 6-4 185 Sr. Derry, N.H./Proctor Academy

4 Paul Mulcahy G 6-6 213 Jr. Bayonne, N.J./Gill St. Bernard’s

22 Caleb McConnell G 6-7 200 Sr. Jacksonville, Fla./SPIRE Academy (Ohio)
24 Ron Harper, Jr. G/F 6-6 245 Sr. Franklin Lakes, N.J./Don Bosco Prep

11 Cliff Omoruyi C 6-11 240 So. Benin City, Nigeria/Roselle Catholic

Probable Rotation

2 Jalen Miller G 6-2 200 Fr. Frederick, Md./Bishop Walsh
3 Mawot Mag F 6-7 216 So. Melbourne, Australia/Prolific Prep (Calif.)

5 Aundre Hyatt F 6-6 227 So. Bronx, N.Y./Miller School/LSU

45 Jaden Jones G/F 6-8 220 Fr. Dallas, Texas / DasCHE Spartans

21 Dean Reiber F 6-10 225 So. Greensboro, N.C./Northwest Guilford

The Rest of the Roster

Clifford Omoruyi has expanded into his role as starting center with Myles Johnson transferring, leading the team in rebounds and scoring in double digits. Paul Mulcahy is a secondary ball handler and can get hot from outside. McConnell has struggled on offense but the defensively talented forward will probably guard Bryce McGowens. LSU transfer Hyatt is on monster on the boards. Jalen Miller is the PG of the future.

Bench

1 Oskar Palmquist F 6-8 220 So. Kinna, Sweden/Marks Gymnasieskola (Sweden)
10 Andrew Fulin F 6-6 195 Jr. Demarest, N.J./Northern Valley Regional
25 Aiden Terry G 5-10 160 So. Mt. Washington, Ky./Aspire Academy/Bullitt Central
30 Logan Stephens G 6-2 197 Fr. Decatur, Ga./Woodward Academy
35 Ralph Gonzales-Agee F 6-8 245 GS Victorville, Calif./Silverado/San Jose State
55 Luke Nathan F/C 6-11 240 Sr. Randolph, N.J./Randolph

UNL Game Notes

Probable starters for Nebraska
1  Alonzo  Verge    G    6-3

2  Trey  McGowens    G    6-4

5  Bryce  McGowens    G    6-7

11  Lat Mayen    F    6-9

13  Derrick Walker    F    6-9

Rotation

0    C.J.  Wilcher    G    6-5

30  Keisei Tominaga    G    6-2

35    Eduardo Andre    F    6-11

10  Kobe Webster    G    6-0

Bench

23   Keon Edwards    G    6-7

3   Quaran McPherson    G    6-3

33    Oleg Kojenets    F    7-0
4    Jackson Cronin    G    6-1

12    Sam Hoiberg    G    6-0
15    Chris McGraw    G    6-0
21    Jace Piatkowski    G    6-3

Injured

14  Trevor Lakes    F    6-8

32  Wilhelm Breidenbach    F    6-10

The Skinny: 

Rutgers blew the doors off of Nebraska last time, getting Walker, Mayen, and Andre into foul trouble and then proceeded to get whatever they wanted offensively.  The Scarlett Knights are 14th in the conference at getting to the FT line, so the fouls were fluky. Rutgers' outside shooting unfortunately is for real as the Knights are shooting 40.7% from outside during conference play.

While Rutgers has shot well, it's been real inconsistent which has been their MO this entire season.  Nebraska needs to jump out on Rutgers and there is a decent chance it could happen. With Trey McGowens and Nebraska's improved outside shooting, you have to like their chances at home.

Prediction: Nebraska 72 - Rutgers 68