:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68609727/1290276252.0.jpg)
No. 10 Iowa (8-2; 2-1) No. 14 Rutgers (7-1; 3-1)
How To Watch, Listen, News & Notes
Where: The RAC in Piscataway, New Jersey
Tip-off: Saturday, January 2 at 2:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2 - Jason Benetti and Dan Dakich
Stream: ESPN WATCH
Radio: Live Listen - Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network - WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/Sirius 83/ XM 83, Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan; Westwood One - Ryan Radtke & Austin Croshere; WRSU 88.7 FM - Raj Shah and Ronnie Wielenta
KenPom Rankings: Rutgers is 19, which is one spot worse since a 5 point win over Purdue; Iowa is 5, which is where they were before a 15 point win over Northwestern.
Efficiency Rankings: Rutgers - Offense 111.8 (17th) Defense 91.5 (24th); Iowa - Offense 121.8 (1st) Defense 96.7 (96th)
KenPom Prediction: Iowa 80 Rutgers 79; Rutgers is given a 46% chance to win.
Vegas Line: Iowa -3.5
Series History: Iowa leads the all-time series 7-2, winning last season’s lone meeting 85-80 in Iowa City with both teams ranked. The previous season was a series split that featured a pair of thrilling games.
Iowa SB Nation Site: Black Heart Gold Pants
Key Contributors
Iowa - 6’11” senior Luka Garza (27.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.2 assists, 61.1% FG, 48.6% 3-pt FG); 6’6” junior Joe Wieskamp (15.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals, 42.2% 3-pt FG); 6’3” redshirt sophomore CJ Fredrick (11.3 points, 2.7 assists, 1.2 rebounds, 52.9% FG; 55.0% 3-pt FG); 6’1” redshirt senior Jordan Bohannon (8.6 points, 4.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 32.9% 3-pt FG); 6’11” redshirt sophomore Jack Nunge (7.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists); 6’9” redshirt freshman Patrick McCaffery (6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists); 6’8” freshman Keegan Murray (5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.0 block, 55.3% FG, 43.8% 3-pt FG); 6’0” sophomore Joe Toussaint (5.1 points, 3.0 assists, 1.0 rebound); 6’5” redshirt junior Connor McCaffery (3.3 points, 4.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds)
Rutgers - 6’6” junior Ron Harper Jr. (23.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 56.4% FG, 50% 3-pt FG); 6’4” junior Montez Mathis (15.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steal; 39.4% 3-pt FG); 6’2” senior Jacob Young (15.5 points, 5.4 assists, 2.4 steals, 2.0 rebounds, 40.0% 3-pt FG); 6’4” Geo Baker (9.6 points, 2.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.0 steal); 6’10” redshirt junior Myles Johnson (7.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1.3 assists, 58.1% FG); 6’6” sophomore Paul Mulcahy (6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 50.0% FG, 38.5% 3-pt FG); 6’11” Cliff Omoruyi (5.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.0 block, 72.2% FG); 6’7” Mawot Mag (3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 50.0% FG)
As we published previously, the big news for Rutgers is that both Ron Harper Jr. and Caleb McConnell, who hasn’t played this season, are both suiting up and available to play in this game. How healthy Harper Jr. is and how many minutes both he and McConnell can play remain to be seen, but it’s a huge boost for Rutgers heading into its biggest game of the season.
Cliff Omoruyi remains out so the heavy task of slowing down Luka Garza is firmly on the shoulders of Myles Johnson. Also fun fact as Bo Boroski, who officiated the Ohio State game in which Johnson fouled out, will be on the call today.
Join us in the comment section during the game.
Today’s game vs. Iowa is a unique situation where a win catapults Rutgers as a lead contender to win Big Ten & possible top ten team in the next poll. A loss, especially if short handed, doesn’t take anything away from what they’ve done & can still do. Playing with house money.
— Aaron Breitman (@aaron_breitman) January 2, 2021