Rutgers vs Ohio State: 2024-25 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Ohio State Buckeyes will both be looking for their first Big Ten victory this season when they meet on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday, December 7th, 12:00 pm ET. FS1
Location: Schottenstein Center in Columbus, OH
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Ohio State Buckeyes both promise to be jockeying for an NCAA Tournament berth all season long. First, they need to find a way through the Big Ten.
On Saturday, both teams will hunt for their first conference win of the campaign. Rutgers hasn't had the opportunity to take a Big Ten game yet, while Ohio State was destroyed by Maryland in their lone league game so far.
Wednesday's loss was an ugly one for the Buckeyes in College Park, who were creamed by 24 points and trailed by 33 heading into the locker room after the first half. Three-point shots weren't falling and turnovers were aplenty for Jake Diebler's team.
The Buckeyes seemed stuck in neutral the second things tipped off at Maryland. They struggled to slow the Terrapins down from three and trailed 25-8 less than 10 minutes into the game. They missed their first 10 three-point shots and turned the ball over 12 times in the first half alone.
Absences are starting to pile up for Ohio State. Ques Glover and Colin White have been dealing with injuries. Aaron Bradshaw hasn't been with the team while he's being investigated for an alleged domestic dispute.
The Scarlet Knights, meanwhile, are in a weird spot. On the one hand, they've lost three of their last four games, including an embarrassing road loss to Kennesaw State. On the other hand, it seems Rutgers might be starting to figure it out.
All of Rutgers' games at the Players Era Festival were competitive. That arguably meant playing down to competition in the win over Notre Dame. But they also kept things tight against Alabama, one of the top teams in the country, and a Sweet Sixteen caliber Texas A&M squad.
With all of the hype surrounding Ace Bailey, it was easy for some to forget just how heralded Dylan Harper was entering his freshman season. That's not a concern anymore. Harper has been one of the country's best players and arguably the best freshman, Cooper Flagg included.
He put up generational performances at the Players Era, dropping 36 points on Notre Dame and 37 points on Alabama. He's averaging 23.8 points, 4.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds, living up to his brother's big-game reputation in Piscataway.
Which is not to say Bailey has been a shlub. Since missing the beginning of the season, the freshman has been rounding into form, scoring at least 20 points in each of the last two games. He's scored in double-figures in every contest he's played, averaging 18.8 points per game.
Rutgers hasn't neared its expected peak yet, but showed plenty during the trip to Las Vegas. There should be enough positive momentum (and a healthy dose of rest) to overcome Ohio State, even on the road.
Prediction: Rutgers 79, Ohio State 74