Keys to the Game: Rutgers at Indiana (March 2, 2022)

 

(photo courtesy of Inside the Hall)

Rutgers (16-12; 10-8) at Indiana (18-10; 9-9)

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are currently mired in a three-game losing streak, and have to travel to Bloomington to take on the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall tonight (7 PM ET, BTN). Both teams will be fighting for positioning in the Big Ten Conference standings, and most importantly a chance to stay in the conversation for an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. The game tonight is "Do or Die" for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. There is now no margin for error, and Rutgers must win to keep its tournament hopes alive. Rutgers is currently #81 in the NET Ranking and a win against the Hoosiers would bolster their ranking for two reasons: 1.) Indiana is a Q1 opponent 2.) Rutgers would pick up a win on the road. Rutgers fans know this season has not been pretty by all means. It has been an absolute roller coaster ride with many highs and lows but none of that matters right now. What matters most is beating Indiana. 

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Rebound! Rebound! Rebound! - Rutgers has to get in the trenches and fight for every rebound tonight. Indiana is a good rebounding team, but so is Rutgers. On paper Rutgers is rebounding 39 boards per game while the Hoosiers are rebounding at least 40.2 boards per game. The numbers are even but tonight, Rutgers will want to make sure they have more rebounds than Indiana...by a lot. If Rutgers can outrebound Indiana tonight, then they will have limited Indiana's second chance opportunities.
2. Unleash Caleb McConnell - Caleb McConnell is one of ten 2022 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists. Tonight, he will have the assignment of guarding Xavier Johnson. Xavier Johnson has been a fantastic addition to Indiana, and he has given Indiana a big lift offensively in their few games. Caleb McConnell is going to have to limit any opportunities Xavier Johnson may have. Caleb McConnell has to force Johnson to take bad shots, make bad passes, and stick to him like glue.
3. Control the paint - Indiana is not a great team offensively but Trayce Jackson-Davis is one of the best in the Big Ten. He is averaging 17.1 ppg and has been solid around the glass and in the paint all season long. Cliff Omoruyi is going to have his hands full with one of the Big Ten's best. Omoruyi is going to have to play very stout and tough defense, but also expect Pikiell to have double team pressure on Jackson-Davis down low at times throughout the game. If Rutgers can play well defensively in the paint and clog the passing lanes, Jackson-Davis will have a very difficult time scoring. On the flip side, Rutgers must feed the ball to Omoruyi down low. Not every single play to Omoruyi has to be an incredible dunk and alley oop, but Rutgers just has to be smart with the ball down low and set him up for a good shot or layup at the net.
4. Geo Baker and RHJ must lead from the front - Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr are the faces and leaders of Rutgers basketball, and tonight they must step up and rise to the occasion. With your season on the line, both players must play solid basketball. They have to make smart passes, take good shots, and drive to the hoop. Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr are at their best when they can drive the lanes and potentially score or draw fouls. Baker and Harper Jr must scale back on taking bad shots and allow Indiana to go on a run. All too often, we have seen Baker and Harper Jr force shots and other teams are able to capitalize and go on runs. 
5. Paul Mulcahy must stay out of foul trouble - Paul Mulcahy must absolutely stay out of foul trouble. He has to stay mentally focused, and play tough, clean physical basketball. In the last three games, Paul Mulcahy has been finding himself in foul trouble in the first half and it kills Rutgers. Mulcahy also has to be much smarter on the offensive end and not commit illegal screens. He has committed a slew of offensive fouls in the last three games. He is one of the Scarlet Knights' best ball handlers and they are going to need every minute out of Mulcahy tonight.