Rutgers will need to find some better shot-making when it resumes Big Ten play by battling Ohio State on Friday in Piscataway, N.J.
Despite shooting 29.8% from the field, Rutgers (7-6, 0-2 Big Ten) beat Delaware State 65-50 Monday. The Scarlet Knights collected a season-high 52 rebounds in the victory, including 21 offensive rebounds that led to a 27-7 advantage in second-chance points.
“It’s about rebounding, quite honestly,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. “We’ve been preaching it, we’ve been talking about it and we’ve been sending them text messages about it. It’s always about that. I think they got the message. It’s gotta stay loud and clear because obviously we play in a great league so we have to rebound the basketball.”
Rutgers ranks last among Big Ten teams in scoring (68.7) and field goal percentage (40.3%). Ohio State (9-3, 1-1 Big Ten) has been much better at the offensive end. The Buckeyes are No. 4 in the Big Ten in both scoring (86.3) and field goal percentage (50.9%).
Ohio State guard Bruce Thorton is averaging 21.0 points per game, which is tied for 17th nationally. He’s shooting 58.4% from the field and 44.1% from 3-point territory, but Ohio State is 13th in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (33.7%).
“This is a team that has the ability to shoot really well from 3,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “We’ve seen it for significant stretches. We just have to continue shooting the right ones and we’ll break through.”
John Mobley Jr. (14.3 ppg), Devin Royal (14.0) and Christoph Tilly (13.3) are also scoring in double figures for the Buckeyes.
Forward Dyland Grant (14.4) and guard Tariq Francis (13.6) lead Rutgers in scoring. Grant has scored in double figures in 11 of his 13 games. Francis has reached double figures eight times.
Rutgers is 6-2 at home.
“Heading into the new year here and feel better about where we are today than a week or so ago,” Pikiell said.
