Rutgers Basketball: 3 keys for Scarlet Knights to upset No. 15 Iowa

1. Against IU, the Hawkeyes were dismantled on the glass – while Rutgers previously enjoyed success in 2nd-chance points against Iowa

In Iowa’s most recent loss at Indiana, the Hoosiers maintained a dominant 44-36 edge in total rebounds.  What is particularly significant about that margin, however, is that the Hawkeyes outrebounded Indiana in defensive rebounds (30-29) – but the Hoosiers hauled down 15 offensive rebounds to Iowa’s six.  That means Indiana hauled down an offensive board on 33.3% of their missed attempts.

That translated into 11 second-chance points for Indiana, compared to just six for Iowa.  That is not nearly as noteworthy as the differential in points off turnovers (17-5), but it is worth mentioning that in the December meeting between Iowa and Rutgers, the margin in second-chance points (17-13) was greater than that in points off turnovers (13-12) – both in favor for Rutgers, too.

The Scarlet Knights have not relied much on second-chance points during their four-game winning streak – they were outscored in that category against Minnesota, Michigan State, and Northwestern, and maintained a one-point edge over Indiana – but finding any way to score against the most efficient offense in the nation in Iowa is vitally crucial.

That includes second-chance points, and the Scarlet Knights will have to keep the Hawkeyes off the glass in order to succeed.  With the exception of Michigan State, Rutgers has been outrebounded offensively in the three other games – and, most notably, they gave up a whopping 16 offensive rebounds to Minnesota.

Rutgers’ success in rebounding begins with Myles Johnson, who leads the team in overall caroms with 8.9 per game – as well as 3.23 offensive boards per game.  Against Iowa in January, Johnson hauled down a game-high five offensive rebounds en route to scoring 13 points – and is coming off a 12-rebound showing over Minnesota where he brought down six offensive boards.

In that January game, the Scarlet Knights hauled down 16 offensive boards – something that they will need to replicate again against the Hawkeyes.  Considering Iowa averages nearly 88 points per game, the Scarlet Knights will need to find every possible way to score against Iowa – and that begins on the offensive glass.