After an eight-day break, Rutgers basketball is set to return to action on Sunday, February 15th, as it is slated to take on Maryland at home. The Terrapins, who were behind the Scarlet Knights in the Big Ten standings for most of the season, have pulled ahead of the Knights after earning two back-to-back surprising wins over Iowa and Minnesota.
Maryland has had a hard fall from grace this season after last season, when they advanced all the way to the sweet 16 before being knocked out by eventual
national champion, Florida. This year, the first season under new head coach Buzz Williams, the Terrapins have been keeping Rutgers company at the bottom of the Big Ten standings, as they currently stand at 10-14 overall and 3-10 in Big Ten play. However, despite their struggles, they are coming into Jersey Mike’s Arena on a two-game winning streak after pulling off upsets against Minnesota and Iowa.
Guard David Coit leads the Terrapins’ active players in points per game as he is averaging 15.3 points per contest. Coit also leads the team in assists with 2.8 per game. Forward Solomon Washington leads Maryland in rebounds per game with 8.8, while adding just over 10 points per game as well.
Maryland has been without one of their best players, guard Pharrel Payne, for most of the season. Payne suffered a leg injury in December and will likely be unavailable for this matchup, despite not being branded as out for the season. He averaged 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds in the 10 games he suited up for Maryland.
As a team, the Terrrapins are averaging 72 points per game, 34.8 rebounds per game, and 10.2 assists per game while shooting 41.2 percent shooting from the floor, 72.4 percent from the line, and 32.2 percent from three. Rutgers, in comparison, is averaging 70.1 points per game, 34.4 rebounds per game, and 11.1 assists per game while shooting 41 percent from the floor, 72.4 percent from the line, and 32.2 percent from three.
Rutgers’ game against Maryland is the start of an easier section of the schedule for the Knights, as they only have to play one more team with a winning record for the rest of the season, and have home-and-home games scheduled with the Terrapins and Penn State, two of the worst teams in the conference. Although it might not mean anything in terms of postseason tournaments, the Knights have an opportunity to finish the season on a strong note and head into the off-season with some momentum.
Rutgers and Maryland will tip off inside Jersey Mike’s Arena on Sunday at noon. Live coverage will be available on FS1.
