How To Watch
Who: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Record: 10-15, 3-11 Big Ten
When: Wednesday, February 18th, 6:00 p.m. EST
Where: Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA
Kenpom Ranking (PSU): 153 (126)
TV: BTN
Radio: Penn State Sports Network
Vegas Line: Penn State -3.5
Over/Under: 149.5
What To Watch For
- Will Penn State take advantage?
- To be blunt, this may be the team’s last chance at a conference victory. They do travel to Piscataway to end the regular season, but sandwiched in between are the Cornhuskers, Hawkeyes, and Buckeyes. When they play to their potential, Kayden Mingo, Freddie Dilione, Josh Reed, and Ivan Juric are more than capable of carrying the squad. The problem being, it is rare that all four of these players are healthy and playing to their potential in the same game.
- Shutting down at least two of Tariq Francis, Dylan Grant, and Emmanuel Ogbole is a must
- The Scarlet Knights’ best players are guard and Pittsburgh native Tariq Francis, who leads the team in scoring and assists, forward Dylan Grant, the only other double-figure scorer, and 6’10” Nigerian center Emmanuel Ogbole, the team’s leader in rebounding and blocked shots. I am more than confident in Dilione’s ability to slow down Francis, but it’ll be up to Reed and Juric to contain Grant and Ogbole.
- Can the Nittany Lions win another conference game?
- Yep, this remains the same goal. Penn State went 1-1 on their West Coast swing, defeating Washington but falling by double digits to Oregon. Now that the Blue and White is favored and back at home, can they close the deal?
Prediction
Sorry, I don’t care if it’s a jinx. Penn State gets it done.
Penn State 76, Rutgers 72