The “Late Night At The RAC” Game Thread: Northwestern At Rutgers

How To Watch & Listen

Northwestern (13-4; 2-2) At Rutgers (11-6; 0-4)

Where: The RAC

Tip-off: Thursday, January 12th at 9:00 p.m. ET

TV: ESPNU - Kevin Brown and Dalen Cuff

Radio: WCTC 1450 AM & WOR 710 AM - Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan; WRSU 88.7 FM; Sirius 135; XM 195

KenPom Rankings: Rutgers #134; Northwestern #40

KenPom Prediction: Northwestern 68 Rutgers 64 ; Rutgers is given a 34% chance to win.

Series History: Northwestern leads the all-time series 6-1, with Rutgers lone win coming in the 2003-2004 season. The Wildcats have won both meetings since the Scarlet Knights entered the Big Ten.

I’ll be honest, this is a huge game. With a road contest upcoming against what will be an Indiana team out for blood after a 1-3 start to conference play, tonight is a great opportunity to break through with a win. Northwestern is a good team, but they are beatable. Rutgers has played hard throughout the current five game losing streak, but I worry about their morale long term. A win tonight would go a long way towards building confidence and believing they can make some noise in the Big Ten this season.

Let’s hope for a raucous crowd at the RAC and one that has plenty to cheer about. Rutgers has gotten some pretty good individual performances in recent games from several players, but hopefully tonight they get them at the same time. Another thing I’ll say is sooner or later, there will be a game where freshman Issa Thiam breaks out and hit 3 or 4 shots from behind the arc. It’s going to happen, perhaps tonight.

After the close call on the road in Sunday’s loss to Iowa, it will be interesting to see how this team responds. It’s a late tip, but hopefully a game worth attending or watching to it’s conclusion on a school/work night. Follow us during the game while we live tweet here and join us in the comment section to talk shop as well. Let’s go RU!

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