How Wisconsin basketball matches up with Rutgers

Here is how the Badgers match up with Rutgers

You won’t find two Big Ten teams hungrier for a win than Rutgers and No. 9 Wisconsin. Although they have to put it behind them as quick as possible, the Badgers won’t soon forget about the 77-54 beatdown handed to them by Michigan on Tuesday in Ann Arbor. This Friday’s matchup at Rutgers represents the chance to bounce back with a statement win.

For the Scarlet Knights, a promising start to the season has headed south. Last year, Steve Pikiell and crew shocked the Big Ten by turning the RAC into a house of horrors for opponents. This campaign, they came in with expectations, and after a 7-1 overall start have dropped three Big Ten games in a row. That type of losing streak will happen to most of the conference given the quality and depth of the league, but Rutgers has to turn it around sooner rather than later.

Friday night at the RAC features many of the same key contributors from a year ago when these two teams split the season series, with each school winning in their home gym. Led by one of the most underrated scorers in the conference in Ron Harper Jr., the Scarlet Knights have multiple offensive creators.

Harper Jr. has elevated his game in 2020-2021, averaging a career-best 20.1 points per game (up from 12.1 a year ago) and delivering from all three levels. He is one of the most efficient high-volume scorers in college basketball, shooting over 51% from the field and nearly 46% from three. After starting the year on a tear, the junior missed the December 29 Purdue game with an ankle injury. Sine then, has struggled throughout the past three games, all of which have been Rutgers losses.

When Harper Jr. has scored 18 or more points this season, Rutgers is 5-1. When he hasn’t reached that plateau, they are just 1-3. Aleem Ford checked him for large portions of last year’s meetings, but the son of NBA legend Ron Harper is a 6-foot-6 combo guard who could see anyone from Davison to Wahl in terms of Badger defenders.

The Geo Baker/D’Mitrik Trice battle is one to watch on Friday night. After the beginning of Baker’s season was derailed by an ankle sprain causing him to miss the first three games, he has worked his way back through the last eight. It’s been a struggle for the senior in the early going, as he has been unable to find his stroke. Shooting just 36% from the field and right around 22% from three so far, Rutgers needs more from Baker on the offensive end. Expect the two senior guards to be matched up for most of the night in a battle that Trice has to win for Wisconsin.

Rutgers’ frontcourt is led by 6-foot-11 junior Myles Johnson, who is as athletic as they come in the Big Ten conference. A tenacious rebounder who leads the Scarlet Knights with over 8 boards per game, Johnson will present a serious length and size issue for Micah Potter and Nate Reuvers to handle down low. He is the type of player who can change games without his scoring, as he shifts the energy of everyone around him with blocks, offensive rebounds, and anchoring defense. Wisconsin needs to control Johnson in the pick-and-roll, which is an area where Potter has struggled against high-flying bigs.

Senior guard Jacob Young is another key offensive creator for the Scarlet Knights, taking the secondary scorer role after Harper Jr. considering Baker’s early struggles. The younger brother of former Oregon star and NBA player Joe Young, Jacob has the bag to break down defenders and score on his own. The next step for Young will be creating for others and elevating those around him on the offensive end, but he can get buckets in a hurry. Likely matching up with Brad Davison or Trice, the senior will have his hands full against Wisconsin.

Don’t expect the Badgers to stay big for very long with a Rutgers starting lineup that only has one player (Johnson) over 6-foot-6. In addition to Young, Baker, Harper Jr., and Johnson, junior guard Montez Mathis rounds out the usual starters. Originally known for his defense and energy, Mathis has really improved on the offensive end this year while averaging a career-high 13.5 points per game. For the first time in his Rutgers career, his shooting has been something defenses need to respect.

The Scarlet Knight’s x-factor off the bench is Caleb McConnell, who has had an incredible journey to even be on the floor tomorrow. He originally announced he would take a medical redshirt due to a number of serious injuries, including a broken foot that he had played through unknowingly and slipped discs in his back. After rehabbing, McConnell rethought his decision and changed his mind in mid-December. He made his season debut on January 2 vs Iowa, and is coming off of his biggest performance of the year with 12 points vs Ohio State this past Saturday. When healthy, he is a 6-foot-7 lanky scorer with NBA-type physical potential.

Expect the Badgers to go small and stay small (meaning only one of Reuvers/Potter on the floor) and try and win this game at the defensive end. If Harper and Baker stay quiet enough thanks to the defense of Ford, Davison, and Trice, and the Badgers are able to keep Johnson off the offensive glass, there is no reason they can’t give Rutgers fits at that end. Both teams need a win, and we will see who wants it more on Friday night.