Rutgers (6-19, 0-12)
All time: 3-0 (last: Illinois 110, Rutgers 101 3OT in Piscataway)
Tip-off: 8 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network
If you don’t think the February 3rd meeting between these two teams in New Jersey was a classic basketball game, you’re wrong. Sure, both teams are terrible. Yeah, the basketball on the floor reflected that. But they went 3 overtimes, and THAT shot from Corey Sanders was beyond ridiculous. Complain about how Illinois should have put the game away or whatever you’d like, but don’t deny it was a fun game at the end.
Now that I’ve made that case, don’t expect anything like that tonight. Sanders, who scored 39 against the Illini last time, is suspended for violating team rules. So, the Scarlet Knights will be without about 40% of their offense from the last game and counting more heavily on the other 4 guys who scored–that’s right, Rutgers had just 5 players actually score points against Illinois.
For this game, the Illini also have Michael Finke healthy and Kendrick Nunn healthier than he was last time around (both suffered contusions 3 days prior to the previous game). What I’m saying is, if Illinois doesn’t win by double digits you should turn off the TV, burn your Illini gear, and mail the ashes to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Sure, Illinois has had some “gimme” games that have been way too close (Chicago State, UIC), but there are high school teams out there who would love to get a shot at Rutgers and could likely beat them, especially without Sanders.
Predicted starting lineups
Rutgers: Bishop Daniels, guard; Mike Williams, guard; Omari Grier, guard; Jonathan Laurent, forward; Greg Lewis, center
Illinois: Khalid Lewis, guard; Jalen Coleman-Lands, guard; Kendrick Nunn, guard; Malcolm Hill, guard; Maverick Morgan, center
Gut feeling
Malcolm Hill, point guard, was an experiment that didn’t look great against Northwestern, particularly because he scored his fewest points of the season, 8 (the first time he was not in double figures all year). The guard play of the Wildcats, however, is exceptional. The guard play of Rutgers, on the other hand, is not, particularly when Sanders is removed from the equation. I think Hill will thrive tonight, and it could be the kind of confidence boost he needs to keep performing at a high level from the point.