Rutgers Scarlet Knights Ready to Face Ohio State in Big Ten Opener
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – After a week off following their trip to Las Vegas for the Players Era Festival, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights are set to face the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus for their Big Ten Conference opener on Saturday at noon. The game will air on FS1, featuring commentators Connor Onion and Stephen Bardo.
The Scarlet Knights have a 5-3 record, including a thrilling overtime win against Notre Dame and narrow defeats to top-ranked opponents, No. 9 Alabama and No. 20 Texas A&M. Freshman standout Dylan Harper continues to impress, averaging 23.8 points per game—ranking fourth nationally and leading the Big Ten. He has scored at least 14 points in every game, with six contests exceeding 20 points, showcasing his potential as one of Rutgers’ best scorers since Quincy Douby’s 2005-06 season.
Accompanying Harper is Ace Bailey, averaging 18.8 points per game, placing him sixth in the Big Ten, and Jeremiah Williams, who adds 13.3 points per game. As a team, Rutgers is averaging 81.4 points per game and shooting 45.8% from the field, a marked improvement compared to last season’s performance.
Ohio State, entering the game with a 5-3 record, recently lost to Maryland in their Big Ten opener. The Buckeyes are notable for their strong three-point shooting, ranking sixth nationally. Junior Bruce Thornton leads the team in assists and scoring, while freshman John Mobley Jr. excels from beyond the arc.
Historically, Rutgers trails Ohio State 5-13 in their head-to-head matchups, although they have showed promise recently, winning two of the past five meetings. The Scarlet Knights will look to capture a vital conference win before returning home for two games in the following week.
Source
Photo credit scarletknights.com