Rutgers Basketball Looks to Extend Winning Streak Against Minnesota

After profitable their final two video games, Rutgers basketball will look to make it three straight as they head out to Minnesota to tackle the Golden Gophers. After beginning the season 3-1 in Big Ten play with wins over No.19 Iowa and No.22 Indiana, Minnesota hit a wall in mid January and has gone 2-9 of their final 11 video games. Strangely sufficient, a type of wins was in opposition to Michigan State, which is taken into account the Fifteenth-best group within the nation presently, and considered one of their losses got here in opposition to Penn State, which presently sits on the backside of the Big Ten rankings.

One of the principle causes for this inconsistency is that Minnesota has been battered by accidents all season. The Gophers had six gamers out of their final recreation in opposition to Oregon, however have been nonetheless ready to pull off the win.

Guard Cade Tyson leads Minnesota in factors per recreation with 19.2. Forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson is second on the group in factors per recreation with 13.4 and leads the group in rebounds per recreation with 6.8, however he missed the final recreation due to a foot damage and is not assured to play on this recreation. In his absence, guard Isaac Asuma turns into the secondary scoring choice for Minnesota, as he’s averaging 10.9 factors per recreation, whereas Tyson turns into the main rebounder, averaging 5.5 per recreation.

As a group, the Gophers common 70.6 factors per recreation, 32.6 rebounds per recreation, and 17.3 assists per recreation whereas capturing 45.2 p.c from the sphere, 69.3 p.c from the road, and 33.3 p.c from three. Rutgers, as compared, averages 70.6 factors per recreation, 34.2 rebounds per recreation, and 11.3 assists per recreation whereas capturing 41.6 p.c from the sphere, 73.3 p.c from the road, and 32 p.c from three.

Both of those groups are very evenly matched on paper. Minnesota performs good, team-oriented basketball with a variety of passing; However, its depleted numbers are taking a toll on the group’s capabilities. On prime of that, they’re making the lengthy journey dwelling after a two-game west coast highway journey that concluded on Tuesday, which may take a toll on the group as properly. Both of those elements play into Rutgers’ favor, however they want to come out and play with the identical power and defensive aggressiveness they confirmed in opposition to Penn State in the event that they hope to steal a win in entrance of the hostile crowd. So much additionally will depend on who is on the market for Minnesota and if they’re going to get any reinforcements getting back from IR. ESPN’s matchup predictor offers the Gophers an 80.8 p.c probability to win.

Rutgers vs Minnesota will tip off at 12 pm EST inside Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The recreation shall be broadcast dwell on the Big Ten Network.