Big Ten bottom-feeders look to finish strong in Sunday’s regular-season finale as the Rutgers Scarlet Knights host the Penn State Nittany Lions inside Jersey Mike’s Arena.
Penn State (12–18, 3–16 Big Ten) has lost four of its last five games, punctuated by a 32-point blowout against Ohio State on Wednesday. Rutgers (12–18, 5–14 Big Ten) has dropped three of its last five but nearly staged a stunning comeback at No. 8 Michigan State on Thursday.
The programs first met on February 18 at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center, where Rutgers cruised to an 85–72 rout.
Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. ET. Rutgers enters as a 5.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, and the game total is set at 150.5 points.
Penn State vs. Rutgers Preview
Penn State Nittany Lions Preview
Next season can’t come soon enough for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions currently hold the worst record in the Big Ten and sit 137th in KenPom’s national rankings. They’ve dropped four of their last five games — all by double digits — most recently suffering a 94–62 thumping from Ohio State on their home hardwood.
Penn State is not devoid of talent, particularly in its backcourt. Junior guard Freddie Dilione V catalyzes the program’s top-100 offense with 14 points per game. Meanwhile, freshman guard Kayden Mingo adds 13.7 points, along with a team-high 4.3 assists and a Big Ten-leading 2.1 steals. Cincinnati transfer Josh Reed, who averages 11.4 points per contest, erupted for 22 points in the first meeting with Rutgers.
The crux of the problem is their porous defense. Among 365 qualifying Division I programs, the Nittany Lions rank 323rd in points allowed and sit second-to-last in both opponent field-goal percentage (50.2%) and three-point accuracy (39.3%). They also rank 362nd nationally in rebounding, grabbing a meager 29 boards per contest.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Preview
With head coach Steve Pikiell confirmed to remain at the helm, Rutgers will aim to build on its current momentum heading into the offseason.
The Scarlet Knights sit 14th in the Big Ten and 132nd in KenPom’s national college basketball ratings, but they recently notched a road win over Maryland and nearly pulled off an epic comeback at No. 8 Michigan State. Trailing by 19 points late in the second half, they cut the deficit to a single possession in the final seconds.
But for a team that ranks outside the nation’s top 100 on both ends of the floor, ending on a high note is easier said than done. Worse, Rutgers ranks 334th nationally in field-goal percentage, posting a disastrous 41.7% mark. Among the Big Ten, they sit 15th in both scoring and points allowed, as well as 16th in opponent field-goal percentage.
If the Scarlet Knights hope to gloss over the cracks, they’ll need a big performance from offensive engine Tariq Francis. The NJIT transfer leads the way with 16.9 points per game, and he tallied a team-high 22 points and seven assists in the first meeting with Penn State. Sophomore forward Dylan Grant, adding 10.2 points per contest, chipped in 15 points and five boards in the double-digit victory.
Penn State vs. Rutgers Pick, Best Bet
For Rutgers, Sunday’s regular-season finale presents a best-case scenario. The Scarlet Knights struggled to find a foothold in the Big Ten, but they sure looked sharp at Penn State earlier this season. Now, they have a chance to finish strong with another win over the Nittany Lions on their home court.
Last time out, Rutgers’s misfiring offense evoked shades of Illinois or Purdue against Penn State’s porous defense. With the home crowd behind them, the Scarlet Knights are poised to comfortably cover the 5.5-point spread against the Nittany Lions for the second time this season.
