The “Storm The Castle” Game Thread: Rutgers at Ohio State

Rutgers (17-7; 8-5) at Ohio State (15-8; 5-7)

How To Watch, Listen, News & Notes

Where: Value City Arena (18,809) in Columbus, Ohio

Tip-off: Wednesday, February 12 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

TV: BTN - Kevin Kugler and Shon Morris

Stream: Fox Sports App

Radio: Live Listen - Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 83/Sirius 83; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan; WRSU 88.7 FM

KenPom Rankings: Rutgers 33rd: Ohio State 12th; Rutgers moved back five spots since the win over Northwestern. Ohio State fell one spot after its loss to Wisconsin.

Efficiency Rankings: Rutgers - Offense 106.6 (92nd) Defense 89.5 (10th); Ohio State - Offense 112.6 (23rd) Defense 91.3 (17th)

KenPom Prediction: Ohio State 67 Rutgers 61. RU is given a 29% chance to win.

OTB Guide to KenPom

Vegas Line: Ohio’s State -5.5

Series History: Ohio State leads the all-time series 7-3 and they split last season’s home and home series.

SB Nation’s Ohio State Site: Land Grant Holy Land

Key Contributors

Ohio State - 6’9 junior Kaleb Wesson (14.0 points, 9.6 points, 2.1 assists, 1.1 blocks, 39.7 3-pt FG%); 6’3” sophomore Duane Washington Jr. (10.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 39.4 3-pt FG%); 6’6” senior Andre Wesson (8.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 46.7 3-pt FG%); 6’1” junior C.J. Walker (7.6 points, 3.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 35.6 3-pt FG%); 6’8” junior Kyle Young (7.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 61.2 FG%); 6’6” freshman E.J. Liddell (6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds); 6’3” sophomore Luther Muhammad (6.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists); 6’5” sophomore Kyle Ahrens (3.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, 40.9 3-pt FG%)

Rutgers - 6’6” sophomore Ron Harper Jr. (11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists); 6’6” senior Akwasi Yeboah (10.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 38.8 3-pt FG%); 6’4” junior Geo Baker (10.0 points, 3.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals); 6’10” sophomore Myles Johnson (8.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 63.2 FG%); 6’2” junior Jacob Young (8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists); 6’7” sophomore Caleb McConnell (8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists); 6’4” sophomore Montez Mathis (7.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals); 6’9” senior Shaq Carter (3.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 58.7% FG); 6’6” freshman Paul Mulcahy (3.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 53.1% FG)

Game Preview

Tonight is a huge opportunity for Rutgers to secure an elusive road win in conference play. Ohio State may be behind the Scarlet Knights in the Big Ten standings, but the Buckeyes are a top 15 team in the KenPom and NET rankings. It would be a major boost for their own NCAA Tournament resume. They’ve taken three ranked teams to the wire on the road in league action but have fallen short each time. Is tonight the game they finally breakthrough? Let’s hope so!

Join us in the comment section before the game and follow us on Twitter at OTB_SBNation for live commentary.