Meet the Opponent: Rutgers Enters Indiana Game With Strong Defense, Struggling Offense
Rutgers has not been a favorable opponent for Indiana in recent years.
The Hoosiers are just 2-8 against the Scarlet Knights dating back to the 2017-18 season, and they snapped a six-game losing streak last season. Indiana has lost its last four games in Piscataway, N.J., while scoring just 54.8 points per game and losing by an average of 10.8 points.
Fortunately for Indiana, Rutgers has tied its worst start of the Pikiell era through 14 games, going 8-6 overall. The Scarlet Knights are the only Big Ten team without a conference win, most recently losing 86-77 to a 9-6 Iowa team.
Indiana is coming off its best win of the season, 71-65 over Ohio State. But winning on the road in the Big Ten, especially at Jersey Mike's Arena, is always a challenge. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Here's a full breakdown of Rutgers.
Key returners
(2023-24 stats)
- F Aundre Hyatt: 11.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 35.1 3-pt FG%
- C Clifford Omoruyi: 10.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.4 bpg
- F Mawot Mag: 10.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 31.6 3-pt FG%
- G Derek Simpson: 9.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 30.0 3-pt FG%
- F Antwone Woolfolk: 4.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 59.5 FG%
- F Oskar Palmquist: 3.1 ppg, 1.6 ppg, 27.8 3-pt FG%
Key departures
(2022-23 stats)
- G Cam Spencer: 13.2 ppg, 43.4 3-pt FG%
- G Caleb McConnell, 9.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.5 spg
- G Paul Mulcahy: 8.3 ppg, 4.9 apg, 37.0 3-pt FG%
Key newcomers
(2023-24 stats)
- G Noah Fernandes (UMass transfer): 8.3 ppg, 2.1 apg, 27.3 3-pt FG%
- G Gavin Griffiths (No. 44 freshman): 7.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 25.9 3-pt FG%
- G Jamichael Davis (No. 244 freshman): 5.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 28.6 3-pt FG%
- G Austin Williams (FIU transfer): 5.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 40.0 3-pt FG%
Schedule (8-6, 0-3 in Big Ten)
- L, 68-61 vs. Princeton (neutral site in New Jersey)
- W, 69-45 vs. Boston
- W, 66-57 vs. Bryant
- W, 71-60 vs. Georgetown
- W, 85-63 vs. Howard
- W, 71-40 vs. St. Peter's
- L, 76-58 vs. Illinois
- L, 76-57 at Wake Forest
- L, 70-63 at Seton Hall
- W, 83-61 vs. Long Island
- L, 70-60 vs. Mississippi State (neutral site in New Jersey)
- W, 59-58 vs. Stonehill College
- L, 76-72 at Ohio State
- L, 86-77 at Iowa
Mike Woodson's history against Rutgers
- W, 66-60 vs. No. 24 Rutgers on Feb. 7, 2023
- L, 63-48 at Rutgers on Dec. 3, 2022
- L, 66-63 vs. Rutgers on March 2, 2022
Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Derek Simpson (0) dribbles as Georgetown Hoyas guard Jayden Epps (10) defends during the second half at Jersey Mike's Arena.
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Strengths
Rutgers has one of the top centers in the Big Ten, 6-foot-11 Clifford Omoruyi. The senior has started 86 games in his career and was one of four bigs to make the preseason All-Big Ten team. His scoring and rebounding numbers are down a tick from last season, likely because opponents can focus more of their attention on him with other top scorers gone from last year. But Omoruyi ranks third in the nation at 3.4 blocks per game, and he's a tenacious rebounder who can be trouble for an Indiana front court that was outrebounded by Ohio State 49-27 on Saturday. He's one of the top defensive centers Indiana has faced this year, along with UConn's Donovan Clingan. Led by Omoruyi's 2.9 per game, Rutgers ranks 59th in offensive rebounding. Malik Reneau, Kel'el Ware and company have to be ready for his physicality.
Omoruyi anchors a Rutgers defense that ranks 12th in the nation in efficiency, which has become a staple under coach Steve Pikiell. The Scarlet Knights will constantly pressure Indiana's perimeter ball-handlers and be physical with any Hoosier who enters the paint. Opponents shoot just 42.9% on 2-pointers against Rutgers, the ninth-lowest figure in the country. Indiana snapped a six-game losing streak to Rutgers last season. In that span, the Hoosiers averaged 57.3 points per game.
Weaknesses
Rutgers' stingy defense is offset by an offense that has really struggled this season, scoring just 68.5 points per game, 315th in the country. By every measure, the Scarlet Knights are a dreadful shooting team. They shoot 29.1% from three, which ranks 323rd in the nation; 45.3% on 2-point attempts, ranking 321st; and just 66.6% at the free throw line, 310th overall. Leading scorer Aundre Hyatt shoots 35.1% from 3-point range, but the following six most frequent 3-point shooters are all shooting 31.6% or lower.
Rutgers has not adjusted well to the loss of veteran guards Cam Spencer, Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy. Pikiell hoped for a breakout sophomore year from Derek Simpson, but he's shooting just 35% from the field. Transfer guard Noah Fernandes, a career 38.6% 3-point shooter at UMass, was supposed to help, but he's shot a career-low 27.3% with the Scarlet Knights. Freshman Gavin Griffiths is the highest-ranked recruit to ever play for Rutgers, but he's shooting just 25.9% from three after earning a reputation as a strong shooter in high school.
Season outlook
At 8-6 overall and 0-3 in Big Ten play, Rutgers has an uphill battle to make its third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four seasons under Pikiell. The Scarlet Knights are the only Big Ten team without a conference win after starting the year with road losses at Iowa and Ohio State and a home loss to Illinois. This was always expected to be a rebuilding year for Rutgers, which was picked 10th in the preseason poll. There is promise for future seasons, with the nation's No. 2 and No. 3 recruits in 2024, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, joining the team next season.
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- INDIANA-OHIO STATE GAME STORY: Coming back off an foot injury, Indiana guard Xavier Johnson bounced back from an ''awful'' game, scoring 18 points with zero turnovers in a 71-65 win over Ohio State. CLICK HERE
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- WHAT WOODSON SAID: Here's the full transcript and video of everything coach Mike Woodson said after Indiana's 71-65 victory over Ohio State on Saturday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. CLICK HERE
