Defense: C
Rutgers made it a point of getting the basketball down low in order to generate high percentage shots around the rim as the first 10 points Rutgers scored to begin the game came around the rim.
Due to Rutgers consistently feeding the basketball down low the Scarlet Knights finished the game 42 points in the paint. A majority of the Scarlet Knights field goals came in the paint as they finished 21-of-34 on their shots around the rim and overall shot 30-for-60 from the field.
Rutgers was able to either get the basketball down low to their frontcourt or their backcourt was able to have success by driving the basketball.
Ron Harper Jr. led Rutgers in scoring with 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting as he was also responsible for scoring the first 10 points in the second half. Geo Baker finished with 16 points on 6-for-14 shooting from the field and Montez Mathis finished with 12 points.
Although Rutgers was able to have success again in the paint as they also scored 42 points around the rim in the first meeting the Badgers did do a better job of limiting Rutgers second chances.
The Scarlet Knights, which scored 23 points off of second opportunities in the first meeting was limited to six points off of seven offensive rebounds. Potter who didn’t play in the first matchup not surprisingly helped on the boards as he did well of boxing out against Rutgers as he led the team with seven defensive rebounds and finished the game with nine. Rutgers finished the game with 32 rebounds compared to Wisconsin’s 30.