The “Make A Garden Statement” Game Thread: No. 25 Rutgers vs. Michigan

No. 25 Rutgers (16-5; 7-3) vs. Michigan (12-8; 3-6)

How To Watch, Listen, News & Notes

Where: Madison Square Garden (19,812) in New York City

Tip-off: Saturday, February 1 at 4:30 p.m. ET.

TV: BTN - Kevin Kugler and Andy Katz

Stream: Fox Sports App

Radio: Live Listen - Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 195/Sirius 206; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan; WRSU 88.7 FM - Troy DeSavino and Jake Ostrove

KenPom Rankings: Rutgers 25th: Michigan 27th; Rutgers moved up 1 spot since Tuesday’s win over Purdue. Michigan moved up 3 spots after Tuesday’s win over Nebraska.

Efficiency Rankings: Rutgers - Offense 107.5 (76th) Defense 89.6 (9th); Michigan - Offense 111.9 (28th) Defense 94.3 (52nd)

KenPom Prediction: Rutgers 68 Michigan 67. Rutgers is given a 51% chance to win.

OTB Guide to KenPom

Vegas Line: Michigan -1.5

Series History: Michigan leads the all-time series 11-0, including last season’s 77-65 victory at the RAC. The Wolverines also have beaten RU in the 1976 Final Four and 2004 NIT Final.

SB Nation’s Michigan Site: Maize N Brew

Podcast with Jerry Carino

Grapple at the Garden Preview

Key Contributors

Michigan - 7’1” senior Jon Teske (13.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.2 steals, 53.0% FG); 6’7” junior Isaiah Livers (13.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 50.0% 3-pt); 6’0” senior Zavier Simpson (12.8 points, 8.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds); 6’1” junior Eli Brooks (11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steal, 38.3% 3-pt FG); 6’8” freshman Franz Wagner (10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds1.3 steals); 6’0” sophomore David DeJulius (7.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 36.2% 3-pt FG); 6’8” sophomore Brandon Johns Jr. (5.7 points, 4.3 rebounds); 6’11” sophomore Colin Castleton (3.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 53.3% FG)

Italics - questionable

Rutgers - 6’6” sophomore Ron Harper Jr. (12.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals); 6’4” junior Geo Baker (10.1 points, 3.6 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals); 6’6” senior Akwasi Yeboah (9.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 37.5% 3-pt FG); 6’10” sophomore Myles Johnson (9.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 68.0% FG); 6’2” junior Jacob Young (8.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists); 6’7” sophomore Caleb McConnell (8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steal, 35.0% 3-pt FG); 6’4” sophomore Montez Mathis (7.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals); ; 6’9” senior Shaq Carter (3.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 57.1% FG); 6’6” freshman Paul Mulcahy (3.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 56.6% FG)

No reason to downplay it, this is a huge game for Rutgers. It’s an opportunity to pick up a neutral court Quad I win, stay no worse than one game out of first place in the Big Ten, as well as guarantee the program’s first winning season in 14 years. To do all this at Madison Square Garden on center stage for the conference in what should be a spirited turnout for Rutgers fans would make it that much sweeter. It won’t be easy and Michigan comes into the game a few days after its first road win of the season. They are very talented and have the potential to shoot the lights out. As usual, defense, rebounding and scoring balance are keys for Rutgers. It should be a fun one.

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