The Big Ten opener for Rutgers on Friday night will be a steep task and a match-up that Big Ten Network wrestling analyst Shane Sparksbelieves is a barometer for the Scarlet Knights.
No. 14 Rutgers comes into Friday night at 8-1 and will face a much-improved team in No. 21 Indiana (3-0). It is the Big Ten opener for both programs.
Rutgers comes in with momentum, following last weekend where they beat then No. 19 UPenn (receiving votes) and Rider. The Scarlet Knights have won their five.
They have some common opposition this season. In mid-November, Indiana beat Rider 27-15 and then in December, they won at Princeton 18-15.
Rutgers beat Princeton (24-9) in early December at Jersey Mike’s Arena. They easily dispatched Rider (31-5) over the weekend.
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Sparks, a veteran reporter and a fan-favorite on the Big Ten Network, believes that if Rutgers is going to achieve their lofty ambitions, then this is a pivotal meeting on Friday night at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
“Indiana. is a team that Rutgers has to beat -I mean, if you want to be where they want to be, this is one you have to win no question,” Sparks told Rutgers Wire on Thursday.
“I mean, Indiana is improved – that’s a team that Rutgers should beat them.”
If Rutgers wants to take that next step and be an upper-echelon Big Ten program that is top10 nationally, then taking care of business against a very good Indiana on Friday and at Purdue on Sunday is paramount.
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Smith highlighted Indiana’s No. 12 Donnell Washington as someone to watch on Friday night.
“If Turley and Washington wrestle, it is a key match,” Sparks said.