Illinois vs Rutgers: 2019-20 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Joey Loose
Illinois and Rutgers meet up in an important Big Ten rematch; can the Fighting Illini get back on track or will the Scarlet Knights keep rolling at home?
TV schedule: Saturday, February 15, 4:30 pm ET. BTN
Arena: Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey
Not too long ago, Illinois (16-8) was atop the Big Ten standings, something that was certainly unexpected when this season began. However, they’ve struggled their way to three straight losses, dropping games they could have won at home against Michigan State and Maryland. Now going on the road, does Brad Underwood’s team have what it takes to topple Rutgers again?
One impact to watch will be the condition of sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu (15.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg), who was injured in the final seconds against the Spartans. The Illini will need him to continue playing a major impact going forward, although his status for this game is unknown. Freshman center Kofi Cockburn (13.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg) has been one of the best young big men in the country while senior guard Andres Feliz (11.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and junior guard Trent Frazier (9.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg) have both made a great impact on the offensive end.
Befallen by their recent skid, Illinois is down to 28th in KenPom and 36th in the NET rankings. They are still a solid defensive team, but their weak nonconference schedule won’t do them any favors come March. With the talent on this roster, the Illini can certainly look like a second-weekend team again, but they’ll need Dosunmu to be at full strength down the stretch.
On the other side, Rutgers (17-8) is looking to put themselves firmly in a position to make their first NCAA Tournament in nearly three decades. Like Illinois, they’ve hit a bit of a skid, with their only win in their last four games being a large comeback win over lowly Northwestern. This level of success is unprecedented for Rutgers, but they need to keep winning to ensure they can make some noise in March.
This Scarlet Knights team is led by a balanced scoring attack, though the play of sophomore guard Ron Harper Jr. (11.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg) stands out in particular. Junior guard Geo Baker (10.0 ppg, 3.4 apg) put up 25 points in that win against Northwestern and is the team’s best ball distributor. Another name to watch is senior forward Akwasi Yeboah (10.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg), though there’s talent all over this roster.
Rutgers is currently sitting at 33rd in both KenPom and the NET rankings. This season they were ranked for the first time in decades, while they still sit 11th in defensive efficiency. The Scarlet Knights haven’t lost yet at home this season, but need to put forth a much better effort to keep that streak alive.
For the Fighting Illini, getting back on track is going to start on the defensive end. If they win the battle of the boards and can limit Rutgers’ spread attack, then they can be the first team to topple Rutgers at home. For the Scarlet Knights, they’re going to need to shoot the ball better while doing what they can to contain Cockburn down low. They also cannot risk another slow start like against Northwestern last weekend.
Bubble watch breakdown. dark. Next
This is a high stakes matchup of a pair of teams that desperately need to get back on track. Neither team is in danger of falling off the bubble at this point, but both teams will be playing with a sense of urgency. The bottom line is that the Illini have to find a way to win without Dosunmu in a place where no opposing team has won this season. Expect Rutgers to get revenge for their loss to Illinois back in January.