Rutgers Basketball Stuns Top-Ranked Rival: Scarlet Knights’ Last-Second Upset Ignites Big Ten Title Buzz

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Rutgers Scarlet Knights men’s basketball team returns to Jersey Mike’s Arena Sunday desperate to correct course after an 81-55 drubbing at No. 16 Illinois that dropped Steve Pikiell’s squad to 8-8 overall and 1-4 in Big Ten play. The loss was Rutgers’ fourth straight against AP-ranked opponents, all by at least 20 points, and magnified offensive woes that have plagued the Scarlet Knights since conference play began. Shooting Slump Stalls Scarlet Knights • Rutgers misfired on 12 straight shots during a decisive 20-0 Illini run late in the first half and finished the night at just 21 percent before halftime. • For the season, the Knights are 13th in the Big Ten in field-goal percentage (42.1) and last in three-point accuracy (28.7). • Freshman scoring leader Tariq Francis, averaging 17.9 ppg, was held to six points on 3-of-10 shooting in Champaign, snapping his four-game 25-plus streak. Rebounding and Rim Protection Concerns Illinois outrebounded Rutgers 42-29 and grabbed 12 offensive boards, exposing a front-court still adjusting after the December knee injury to veteran center Cliff Omoruyi. Since Omoruyi’s exit, Rutgers owns a –5.3 rebounding margin and has allowed opponents to shoot 55 percent at the rim. Matchup to Watch: Northwestern at Rutgers Sunday’s opponent, Northwestern (8-7, 0-4), rides its own five-game slide, setting up a pivotal clash for two programs scrambling to stay relevant in the Big Ten race. The Wildcats lean on senior guard Boo Buie’s 18.4 ppg and a slow-tempo offense that ranks 348th nationally in pace, forcing opponents into half-court execution. Rutgers swept last season’s series and is 6-1 at home this year, but the Knights must rediscover their trademark defense — they have surrendered 1.15 points per possession in league games, up from 0.93 in non-conference play. Keys for a Scarlet Knights Reboot 1. Jump-start Early Offense: Rutgers has trailed by double digits before the under-12 timeout in four of its five Big Ten games, fueling opponent momentum and silencing the normally raucous home crowd. 2. Paint Touches for Kaden Powers: The 6-8 freshman posted a team-high 12 points at Illinois and is shooting 58 percent inside the arc. Establishing Powers early could loosen perimeter pressure. 3. Win the Glass: Rutgers is 7-1 when it owns a positive rebounding margin, but 1-7 when it does not. Northwestern ranks 302nd nationally in offensive-rebound rate — an opportunity the Knights must exploit. 4. Bench Boost: Jamichael Davis and Denis Badalau were scoreless Thursday. Pikiell said postgame, “We’ve got to play better and we’ve got no time here,” underscoring the need for secondary production. Big Picture and Postseason Outlook At 1-4, Rutgers sits 14th in the 18-team Big Ten, but the upcoming schedule offers hope: four of the next five opponents have losing league records. A 3-2 stretch would nudge the Scarlet Knights above .500 and revive faint NCAA Tournament hopes. The margin for error, however, is gone; BartTorvik currently projects Rutgers as the Big Ten’s third team out. Sunday’s tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. With fan frustration rising and a critical homestand on deck, Rutgers basketball faces a defining week that could determine whether March matters in Piscataway.