Penn State Rutgers basketball preview

Penn State heads to the RAC on Tuesday looking for a 2-0 conference start against a Rutgers team looking to end a three-game losing streak.

Scout the opposition

Rutgers has been floundering a bit lately, but don’t be completely fooled. The Scarlet Knights have had an uphill battle recently. They are 5-4 but have lost three games in a row, including last Saturday night’s loss in the conference opener at Ohio State. The other two losses were narrow losses in Las Vegas to ranked Alabama and Texas A&M. Out in Vegas, the Scarlet Knights beat Notre Dame in overtime.

The big story in Piscataway is the influx of two highly desirable freshmen. Both Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper (Ron’s son) were five-star recruits who chose Rutgers over more blue-blooded programs. The two have also been producing from the beginning. Harper leads the Knights in scoring with an average of 23.3 points per game, while Bailey leads the team in rebounding (6.0 per game) and is second in scoring (17.1).

What you should pay attention to

Pressure breaks pipes

Penn State’s depth and defensive intensity wore down Purdue last week as the Lions picked up a win at home. Now, how can Mike Rhoades’ team pressure the Knights’ young players, albeit talented ones, to make mistakes in a critical early conference game? Rutgers won’t be afraid to go up and down the court with Penn State, but here’s hoping Penn State’s more experienced squad can continue to apply pressure to earn victories.

Finding that balance

Another big advantage for Penn State was the ability to use different players each night. Against Purdue, five Nittany Lions scored in double figures, followed by Ace Baldwin’s 17 points. The ability to distribute shot attempts – and have multiple players score from the perimeter – is key against a coach who has been known for his defensive prowess in the past.

Looking for 2-0

Penn State has a chance to do something it hasn’t done since the 2007-08 season: start 2-0 in conference play. The Lions are starting to make some noise nationally, although they aren’t appearing in too many mock rounds yet. This is a chance to assert yourself before committing to a softer semester break schedule.

forecast

We were a little distracted in this area with so much football news. But even with a weak early schedule, this Penn State team is showing some of its potential. I think they will live up to it and deserve the little surprise away from home.

Penn State 82, Rutgers 75