Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball power rankings: Wisconsin and Nebraska make gains after start to league play

By Austin Walther

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 01: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates the 59-54 win over the Maryland Terrapins during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 01: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates the 59-54 win over the Maryland Terrapins during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 30: Geo Baker #0 of Rutgers Scarlet Knights attempts a shot as Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans defends during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 30: Geo Baker #0 of Rutgers Scarlet Knights attempts a shot as Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans defends during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

13. Rutgers Scarlet Knight (5-3)

Previous rank: 14

Rutgers is not in last place thanks to what they’re hoping is a program changing win. The Scarlet Knights lost to St. John’s way back in the Gavitt Games. That wasn’t bad. They then got matched up with Miami in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It seemed as though it was a bad draw for the Big Ten. Instead, there was a major upset and Rutgers pulled out a three-point victory on the road.

Eugene Omoruyi and Geo Baker have been wonderful for Rutgers through seven games. Baker has been a solid point guard. He dished six assists and scored 16 against the Hurricanes. Omoruyi dropped 11, but only hauled in four board as he is averaging over nine per game. Peter Kiss has been a pleasant surprise in his sophomore season as a third scorer. He’s averaging just under 10 per game and scored 12 in the upset win.

Obviously just because we call it a program changing win doesn’t mean that Rutgers is now going to win every single game. They did fall to Michigan State at home. But from the sounds of it, the place was going crazy. People in that area are getting more excited for Scarlet Knights basketball. It was an 11 point loss, but they did only trail by two at halftime.

The big three led the way in the game against the Spartans. The lack of a fourth scorer was evident, but that’s asking a lot out of a young team. Michigan State has three guys capable of dropping 20 on any given night. Rutgers isn’t quite there yet.

The same thing happened Monday night against Wisconsin. Rutgers actually held a lead for a bit in the second half, but someone other than Baker, Kiss and Omoruyi didn’t step up. The Miami win certainly lifts them out from the basement though. Baby steps when it comes to competing in the Big Ten. Especially when the league is so deep like it is this season.

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