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First Look at Illinois Basketball's Game 15 Opponent: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The Illini will look to continue their winning streak at home against an average-at-best Rutgers squad
Pranav Hegde|
Jan 2, 2026; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Tariq Francis (0) celebrates with forward Bryce Dortch (4) after a basket against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Jan 2, 2026; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Tariq Francis (0) celebrates with forward Bryce Dortch (4) after a basket against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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Illinois Fighting IlliniRutgers Scarlet Knights

Coming off a businesslike road win at Penn State, Illinois (11-3, 2-1 Big Ten) is set to return to the State Farm Center in Champaign on Thursday (7:30 p.m. CT, FS1) with momentum firmly on its side. The Illini have climbed to No. 16 in the AP poll and now settle into the middle portion of Big Ten play, where consistency matters just as much as upside. This matchup represents Illinois’ fourth conference game of the season and, on paper, one that should reinforce the upward trajectory rather than disrupt it.

Rutgers (8-7, 1-3 Big Ten) enters as one of the league’s more limited squads, particularly on the offensive end, and this is the type of game Illinois must handle cleanly at home if it wants to stay in the Big Ten title conversation. There are tougher tests looming on the schedule, which makes this contest less about drama and more about discipline. For a ranked team with March ambitions, protecting home court against teams in the lower tier of the league is not optional – it’s expected.

Rutgers at a glance

Under Steve Pikiell, now in his 10th season on the sidelines, Rutgers continues to search for relevance like it’s hidden under a couch cushion. The Scarlet Knights were supposed to take a step forward last season after landing two of the top freshmen in the country in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper (both since departed to the NBA), yet they still managed to miss the NCAA Tournament. If that wasn’t concerning enough, this season has followed a similar script – minus the benefit of optimism.

Rutgers has dropped nearly every game it has played against a team with a legitimate heartbeat, though it did manage to steal an overtime win against Oregon in its most recent outing. That result stands out more as a brief interruption than a true shift in trajectory. The low point still came earlier with a home loss to Central Connecticut, a result that tends to set the tone rather than quietly disappear into the non-conference portion of the schedule.

Outside of that Oregon game, Big Ten play has offered little relief. The Scarlet Knights have struggled to score, struggled to defend and, most impressively, struggled to look competitive for long stretches. Even when games start close, they often feel decided by halftime, which is rarely a sign of a program trending in a healthy direction.

The Scarlet Knights on the court

Key players

Rutgers leans heavily on just two players: sophomore forward Dylan Grant and junior guard Tariq Francis, the only Scarlet Knights averaging double-figures scoring.

Grant is the main option, a bigger forward capable of scoring at all three levels. A large chunk of his production came in non-conference play, including big outings against Lehigh (28 points) and American (22), and he has cooled off against stiffer competition. Even so, he remains Rutgers’ primary threat and the name opponents circle first.

Francis brings energy and confidence in the backcourt. He’s a shifty guard with a smooth jumper who isn’t afraid to shoot from anywhere inside halfcourt. Beyond Grant and Francis, the supporting cast is thin, and when those two are slowed, points become hard to come by.

Offense

Rutgers keeps things fairly simple here – almost to a fault. The Scarlet Knights don’t run a deep menu of sets, instead leaning heavily on high ball screens and asking their guards to get downhill and make something happen. The issue is that this roster doesn’t feature a Dylan Harper–type creator who can manufacture offense at will when a play breaks down.

Once the initial pick-and-roll action is defended, the offense often stalls. There’s little secondary movement and minimal off-ball action, and possessions quickly turn into spacing out and hoping someone wins a one-on-one matchup. Against teams with comparable talent – or any defensive structure at all – that approach has fallen flat. When the first option is taken away, Rutgers has struggled to find consistent answers, a trend that has shown up repeatedly against quality opponents.

Defense

On the other end, the Scarlet Knights stick mostly to a straightforward man-to-man scheme with very little switching. They rotate, compete and generally play hard, but effort can only cover so much. A lack of high-end talent shows up quickly, especially against teams that can stretch the floor or play through the paint.

The biggest issue is the absence of a true rim protector. Without anyone consistently deterring shots at the basket, Rutgers struggles to control the paint, which makes its defense vulnerable once opponents get downhill. That weakness forces help rotations, opens up kick-outs, and allows opposing inside-out offense to function smoothly. Overall, it’s a unit that fights but doesn’t intimidate, and one that can be worn down by disciplined ball movement and consistent pressure.

Illinois vs. Rutgers matchup

This sets up as another favorable scenario for the Illini, especially with the game happening in Champaign. Rutgers hasn’t shown much resistance against competent competition all season, and it’s difficult to imagine that changing on the road in a hostile Big Ten environment. Games like this are about handling business, not letting an overmatched opponent hang around longer than necessary.

It also feels like an ideal get-right opportunity for Tomislav Ivisic. After a brief lull, the matchup lines up well for him to reassert himself in the paint, both as a scorer and a facilitator. As the conference schedule begins to stiffen, this is the kind of game in which Illinois can regain rhythm, build confidence and remind everyone why it’s climbing the rankings.

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Pranav Hegde
PRANAV HEGDE

Primarily covers Illinois football, basketball and golf, with an emphasis on news, analysis and features. Hegde, an electrical engineering student at Illinois with an affinity for sports writing, has been writing for On SI since April 2025. He can be followed and reached on Instagram @pranavhegde__.

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