The “Gut Check” Game Thread: Rutgers At Penn State

How To Watch & Listen

Rutgers (12-11; 1-9) At Penn State (12-11; 4-6)

Where: Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania

Tip-off: Saturday, February 4th at 1:00 p.m. ET

TV: ESPNU - Clay Matvick and Sean Harrington

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

KenPom Rankings: Rutgers #145; Penn State #92

KenPom Prediction: Penn State 70 Rutgers 62; Rutgers is given a 23% chance of winning

Series History: Penn State leads the series 40-30 all-time, including the past two meetings.

1st Meeting Game Recap: Penn State 60 Rutgers 47

Injury Updates on Jonathan Laurent and Nigel Johnson

Laurent has missed the past two games and Nigel didn’t play the entire second half of the Iowa game. Pikiell gave an update, indicating both players were due in for treatment today.

“They are day to day. John has a sprained ankle and hopefully we will have him back soon. Nigel, I don’t know, a bruise, I guess is what they’re calling it. I don’t know what that means.”

Game Preview

If you read our game preview, then you know how coach Pikiell has challenged this team to respond in a big way in this game. Coming off two respectable performances against the two teams tied for first place in the Big Ten, Maryland and Wisconsin, losing by a combined 19 points, Rutgers followed up with their worst performance of the season in a 20 point loss to Iowa this past Tuesday at the RAC. The game wasn’t nearly as close as the score made it seem and they were embarrassed at home.

Pikiell openly questioned the toughness and maturity of this team and today’s game will tell us a lot about their will and character. Their first meeting against Penn State produced the second most disappointing result of the season, in my opinion. So redemption is for the taking in multiple ways today. Let’s hope this team can respond in a positive way and pick up the first road win in Big Ten play in program history. That would be the perfect way to wipe away Tuesday’s bitter loss, against Penn State, no less.

We will be live tweeting during the game here and join us in the comment section as well. Let’s go RU!