The “Time To Two Step” Game Thread: No. 10 Rutgers vs. No. 7 Clemson

2021 NCAA Tournament First Round

No. 10 Rutgers (15-11) vs. No. 7 seed Clemson (16-7)

How To Watch, Listen, News & Notes

Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana

Fan Capacity: Bankers Life: 2,500 and 3,800 fans, 13-19% cap

Tip-off: Friday, March 19 at 9:20 p.m. ET

TV: TBS - Spero Dedes, Brandon Haywood and Lauren Shehadi

Radio: Live Listen - Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network - WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/Sirius 137/XM 207 - Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan; Westwood One - Kevin Kugler & Brian O’Connell; WRSU 88.7 FM - Chris Tsakonas & Jake Schmied

KenPom Rankings: Rutgers is 34, which is three spots worse since an 22 point loss against Illinois last Friday. Clemson is 42, which is three spots worse since a 3 point loss to Miami last Wednesday.

Efficiency Rankings: Rutgers - Offense 108.7 (74th) Defense 90.6 (17th); Clemson - Offense 107.1 (97th) Defense 90.6 (19th)

KenPom Prediction: Rutgers 63 Clemson 61. Rutgers is given a 54% chance to win.

OTB Guide to KenPom

Vegas Line: Rutgers -2

Series History: Clemson leads the all-time series 2-1 including a 76-58 victory on November 26, 2015 and a 78-69 in the 1999 NIT. Rutgers earned its first ever win in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge by beating Clemson on the road 69-64 on December 1, 2014.

Clemson SB Nation Site: Shakin The Southland

Key Contributors

Clemson - 6’9” senior Aamir Simms (13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 54.3% FG, 40.7% 3-pt FG; 82.5% FT); 6’2” sophomore Al-Amir Dawes (9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 42.4% FG, 38.7% 3-pt FG, 74.2% FT); 6’2” redshirt sophomore Nick Honor (8.4 points, 2.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.3 rebounds, 40.5% FG, 38.5% 3-pt FG, 73.9% FT); 6’8” junior Hunter Tyson (7.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 47.3% FG, 41.7% 3-pt FG, 77.1% FT); 6’4” senior Clyde Trapp (7.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 40.3% FG, 34.5% 3-pt FG, 58.3% FT); 6’4” sophomore Alex Hemenway (4.7 points, 1.3 rebounds, 42.2% FG, 39.0% 3-pt FG, 88.9% FT); 6’10” senior Jonathan Baehre (4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 39.8% FG, 27.6% 3-pt FG, 85.2% FT)

Rutgers - 6’6” junior Ron Harper Jr. (15.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 45.6% FG, 32.1% 3-pt FG, 73.2% FT); 6’2” senior Jacob Young (14.4 points, 3.5 assists, 1.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 46.9% FG, 36.0% 3-pt FG, 72.6% FT); 6’4” Geo Baker (10.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 40.3% FG, 30.6% 3-pt FG, 76.9% FT); 6’4” junior Montez Mathis (8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 39.0% FG, 29.0 % 3-pt FG, 56.3% FT); 6’10” redshirt junior Myles Johnson (8.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.1 steals, 63.8% FG, 43.1% FT); 6’6” sophomore Paul Mulcahy (5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 46.1% FG, 36.5% 3-pt FG, 67.5% FT); 6’7” junior Caleb McConnell (5.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 29.3% FG, 20.9% 3-pt FG%, 77.8% FT ); 6’11” Cliff Omoruyi (4.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 65.4% FG, 42.4% FT)

Game Preview

It’s finally here. Rutgers will take the floor in an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in 30 years tonight. It’s a game that should be a dogfight but one that is winnable. Clemson is a defensive minded team that loves to shoot threes. Rutgers has to play together, take care of the basketball and play defense they way they are capable of doing. It’s been a roller coaster of a season to get to this point, but we are finally here. Let’s hope this team can put together a complete performance and deliver the program’s first NCAA Tournament win in 38 years. Join us in the comment section during the action and follow us for live commentary on Twitter.