No. 12 Illinois (18-6; 11-3) at Rutgers (15-9; 9-5)
How To Watch, Listen, News & Notes
Where: Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey (Capacity 8,000)
(Vaccination policy for indoor events here)
Tip-off: Wednesday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: BTN - Brandon Gaudin and Jess Settles
Stream: FOX Sports Live
Radio: Live Listen - Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network - WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM, XM 383 - Jerry Recco and Austin Johnson; WRSU 88.7 FM
NET Rankings: Rutgers No. 81; Illinois No. 13 (Quad 1 opponent)
KenPom Rankings: Rutgers - No. 75, nine spots better following a 73-65 victory over No. 36 Wisconsin. Illinois - No. 15, the same spot before a 73-66 win over No. 60 Northwestern on Sunday.
Efficiency Rankings: Rutgers - Offense 105.7 (113th) Defense 95.4 (53rd); Illinois - Offense 113.6 (23rd) Defense 92.2 (23rd)
KenPom Prediction: Illinois 68 Rutgers 64; Rutgers is given a 36% chance to win.
Vegas Line: Illinois -4.5
Series History: Illinois leads the all-time series 10-3 including an 86-51 win over Rutgers on December 3 this season. They’ve won two in a row in the series, but have lost the previous two seasons when visiting the RAC.
A special edition of Ralph's Corner for YOU, the fans to get you set for Wednesday night's BLACKOUT vs. Illinois.
— Rutgers Basketball (@RutgersMBB) February 15, 2022
Concession stand sales at Jersey Mike’s Arena will return to full service! Proof of vaccination or negative COVID PCR test as well as face masks are still required. pic.twitter.com/v6CuhwAmBr
Key Contributors
Illinois: 7’0” junior Kofi Cockburn - 21.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 60.7% FG; 6’1” graduate senior Alfonso Plummer - 15.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 40.7% 3-pt FG; 6’2” senior Trent Frazier - 12.5 points, 4.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 33.8% 3-pt FG; 6’6” graduate senior Jacob Grandison - 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 40.7% 3-pt FG; 6’1” sophomore Andre Curbelo - 9.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists; 6’10” sophomore Coleman Hawkins - 5.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 26.2% 3-pt FG; 6’3” senior Da’Monte Williams - 4.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 33.3% 3-pt FG; 6’7” freshman RJ Melendez - 3.6 points, 1.8 rebounds; 6’10” junior Omar Payne - 2.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, 62.1% FG; 6’8” redshirt sophomore Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk - 2.0 points, 2.5 rebounds
Rutgers: 6’6” senior Ron Harper Jr. - 15.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 41.1% 3-pt FG; 6’4” redshirt senior Geo Baker - 12.5 points, 4.1 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 34.2% 3-pt FG; 6’11” sophomore Cliff Omoruyi - 11.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 block, 61.3% FG; 6’6” junior Paul Mulcahy - 8.9 points, 5.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 33.9% 3-pt FG; 6’7” senior Caleb McConnell - 6.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 2.2 assists, 27.5% 3-pt FG; 6’6” sophomore Aundre Hyatt - 4.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 25.6% 3-pt FG; 6’8” freshman Jaden Jones - 3.6 points, 1.2 rebounds; 6’7” sophomore Mawot Mag - 3.3 points, 2.2 rebounds; 6’10 sophomore Dean Reiber - 2.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, 54.3% FG; 6’8” senior Ralph Gonzales-Agee - 2.2 points, 1.1 rebounds, 52.2% FG; 6’8” sophomore Oskar Palmquist - 1.5 points, 5-11 3-pt FG; 6’2” freshman Jalen Miller - 0.9 points
Here we go. Another huge opportunity to earn an all-important Quad 1 victory while winning a program record fourth straight game against a ranked foe. A win also would amazingly push Rutgers one game behind Illinois at the top of the Big Ten standings. It’s a blackout game and the RAC will be rocking.
If the Scarlet Knights can play together and stay focused for 40 minutes, they can win this game. It’s going to be a massive challenge, but who is willing to bet against this team right now?
Join us in the comment section during the game!
The latest edition of 188' Feet features @Geo_Baker_1 to get you ready for tonight's game vs. Illinois
— Rutgers Basketball (@RutgersMBB) February 16, 2022
Prior to tipoff, Geo will receive a game ball for his 1,500 career points scored as a Scarlet Knight.
: https://t.co/8NUp7yTfXE#GardenStatement ️⚔️⚔️ pic.twitter.com/JYJbG8oF64