Overview
- Rutgers men head to Champaign on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network) after an 88-85 overtime win over Oregon fueled by a plus-10 turnover margin and frequent trips to the line.
- Tariq Francis, coming off 30 points vs. Oregon, has averaged about 25 over his past four games to emerge as the Scarlet Knights’ primary scorer.
- Illinois counters with balanced offense led by freshman Keaton Wagler (15.4 ppg) and shot-blocking from 7-2 Zvonimir Ivisic, who ranks among national leaders in block rate.
- Rutgers women host No. 8 Maryland on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Plus), with the Terps owning a 16-1 record against Rutgers since joining the Big Ten and an 8-0 mark in Piscataway.
- Maryland will be without former Rutgers guard Kaylene Smikle after season-ending surgery, while Rutgers leans on Nene Ndiaye (15.3 ppg, 41% from three) and rim protector Imani Lester.