Keys to the Game: Rutgers vs #12 Illinois (February 16, 2022)

(photo courtesy of The Daily Illini)

#12 Illinois (18-6; 11-3) at Rutgers (15-9; 9-5)

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights face one of their most difficult challenges of the season in #12 Illinois on Wednesday, February 16 (7 PM ET, BTN); however, Rutgers is riding a hot three-game winning streak after knocking off #19 Michigan State, #18 Ohio State, and #15 Wisconsin. Rutgers should have a lot of momentum going into this game. Rutgers has been the talk of the nation after its recent string of upset victories. Rutgers received 10 votes for the Associated Press Top 25 rankings and Geo Baker earned co-Big Ten Player of the Week. Once left for dead, Rutgers has resurrected its season and they find themselves square on the bubble for the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Rutgers is currently #81 in the NET rankings, #78 in the KenPom rankings, and #62 in the Sagarin ratings. These two teams met early in the season, and Rutgers was blown out in Champaign by a score of 86-51.

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Defend the perimeter - Caleb McConnell has been extraordinary on defense the entire season. He has been the primary defender assigned to defend each team's best player. He has done a remarkable job and he is going to have to continue his incredible defense along the perimeter. Rutgers cannot allow Illinois to get hot beyond the arc. When Alfonso Williams, Jacob Grandison, and Trent Frazier begin heating up from deep, Illinois can be unstoppable. Rutgers' defenders will be have to be locked in and force bad shots or not allow Illinois to get good looks.
2. No easy baskets for Kofi Cockburn - Cliff Omoruyi and Dean Reiber are going up against one of the best centers in the Big Ten. Cockburn is a dominant player down low and he is one of Illinois' primary scorers. Where Rutgers lacks in size down low, Omoruyi and Reiber are going to have to hold their own and do everything they can to make Cockburn's life miserable. Force Cockburn to take bad shots and do not allow Illinois to easily feed the ball to him.
3. Rebound! Rebound! Rebound! - Rutgers was dominated on the boards by Illinois last time they met in December. If Rutgers is going to have any chance in winning this game, they have to rebound defensively and limit Illinois' second chance opportunities. On the flip side of the coin, Rutgers is going to have to try and convert second chance opportunities on the glass.
4. Drive the lane, draw fouls - Rutgers has done a great job in the last three games in driving the lane and pounding the rock down low. They have been able to score baskets and draw fouls. Rutgers is shooting well from the free-throw line this season, and in their last three games, Rutgers is averaging about 77% from the line. If Rutgers can get some of Illinois' key players in foul trouble, they could win this game.
5. The RAC needs to rock! - Rutgers' needs to keep its crowd engaged from the tip. No slow starts, and Rutgers has to stay locked in for 40 minutes. If they are able to do this, the RAC will certainly be raucous and loud the entire game making it difficult for Illinois. Just ask Ohio State after they were unable to even hear the shot clock buzzer when they visited the RAC last week.