The remaining gauntlet

(photo courtesy of 247sports)

Rutgers Remaining Opponents

Rutgers only has six regular season games left on the schedule before they play in the Big Ten Conference Tournament. Each game is extremely important and vital to helping Rutgers continue to build its resume and its case for an at-large bid in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Below are the remaining opponents on the schedule for Rutgers with each team's net ranking in parenthesis and which quadrant they are in.

• February 16 - vs Illinois (#13, Q1)
• February 20 - at Purdue (#9, Q1)
• February 23 - at Michigan (#36, Q1)
• February 26 - vs Wisconsin (#23, Q1)
• March 2 - at Indiana (#41, Q1)
• March 6 - vs Penn State (#93, Q3)

Each one of Rutgers' remaining opponents are going to be extremely difficult to beat, but it can be done. Many doubted Rutgers entering the February slate after Rutgers lost a heartbreaker to Northwestern 79-78, which dropped Rutgers to 12-9 overall and 6-5 in the conference. Since the loss to Northwestern, Rutgers has reeled off three impressive victories over #19 Michigan State, #18 Ohio State, and #15 Wisconsin, all which are Q1 wins. Rutgers has improved its NET ranking drastically and has notched three more Quad 1 wins to improve its Quad 1 record to 6-3. Rutgers was selected by ESPN as the National Team of the Week; Andy Katz proclaimed Rutgers as his Team of the Week; and Geo Baker was named Co-Big Ten Player of the Week.

So what was the turning point of the Rutgers season that fueled three impressive victories in a row?

That question can be answered by Rutgers' unrelenting fight in the second half against Northwestern. Rutgers was down by at least 24 points in the second half, but somehow, Rutgers was able to claw their way back into the game and force overtime. Coach Steve Pikiell decided to change things up defensively and offensively in the second half, and his adjustments were a thing of beauty. Paul Mulcahy scored a career high 31 points and had 7 assists, while Cliff Omoruyi scored 22 points and had 6 rebounds. Despite the loss, Rutgers learned more about themselves and what they needed to do to win games and play better defensively when the gauntlet approached.

After winning against three ranked opponents in a row, Rutgers finds itself on the cusp of possibly earning an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. Right now, Rutgers remains on the bubble but they can improve their tournament resume by winning three more games in its next six. 

Rutgers best opportunity to win three more games are probably at home but do not count this Rutgers team out on the road despite their 3-7 road record. Rutgers recently visited the Kohl Center, a place Rutgers has struggled mightily since joining the Big Ten, and went pound-for-pound with Wisconsin in a stunning 73-65 victory.

Rutgers has owned the State of Indiana lately. Rutgers is 7-0 against Indiana and Purdue combined in the last two seasons. Last time Rutgers played Purdue at Mackey Arena was in the 2019-2020 season, where Rutgers came away with a crucial 71-68 overtime win. Rutgers beat Indiana three times in the 2020-2021 season, including a 74-70 win at Assembly Hall. Rutgers edged previously #1 ranked Purdue this season at the RAC 70-68. Purdue and Indiana will be frothing at their mouths hungry for revenge and will be looking to end Rutgers' winning streak in the state of Indiana. 

If Rutgers can win its three remaining home games against Illinois, Wisconsin, and Penn State and snag a road victory against either Indiana, Purdue, or Michigan, Rutgers should be a lock for the NCAA Tournament. Whether they earn a decent seed would be the question that remains. They are likely looking at an 11 or 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament.