Wildcats Return Home to Face Rutgers Sunday

1/29/2021 2:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

NORTHWESTERN MEN'S BASKETBALL: GAMEDAY INFORMATION
DATE	Opponent	TIME	LOCATION	Television	Live Stats
Sunday, January 31	Rutgers	6:30 pm CT	Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, Ill.	Big Ten Network	Live Stats
Radio: ESPN 1000 Social: Twitter: @NUMensbball \| Instagram: @numensbball VIRTUAL PRESS BOX \| DIGITAL PROGRAM

EVANSTON, Ill. - After a two-game road trip, Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena Sunday to face off with Rutgers.

Despite their Big Ten status, the Scarlet Knights have only traveled to Evanston four times with the 'Cats winning three of those games. Northwestern leads the all-time series between the programs 10-4, including a five-game win streak upon Rutgers' entry to the conference in 2014.

The Wildcats and Scarlet Knights battled into overtime when they met last February, a game where Boo Buie put up 19 points and Miller Kopp added 16 of his own. The Buie-Kopp tandem combined for nine made three-pointers in that showdown.

Tip-off is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT with live coverage on Big Ten Network and ESPN 1000.

Storylines

The Wildcats knocked down 11 three-pointers on 42.3% shooting from deep the last time they were on the court. Northwestern also drained 11 three-point shots in its last game with Rutgers and is averaging 8.6 three-pointers per game against the Scarlet Knights since they joined the Big Ten, including the Feb. 2016 game where the Wildcats connected on 17 shots from beyond the arc.
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Young is from Stewartsville, NJ, 40 miles from Rutgers' campus in Piscataway. Young has collected 70 rebounds this season, the second most among the Wildcats.
Northwestern has turned the ball over fewer times than any other Big Ten team this season. The 'Cats 10.1 turnovers per game is the tenth lowest rate in the country and third lowest in the conference. They also have the second-best assist turnover ratio in the Big Ten at 1.65.
Rutgers enters Sunday's game coming off a victory over Michigan State who Northwestern defeated earlier this season. The 'Cats beat the then fourth-ranked Spartans 79-65 in Dec. for their first top-five win since 1979.
Northwestern has the second hardest strength of schedule in the country according to KenPom's adjusted efficiency margin. Rutgers is ranked 28th in KenPom's overall rating, making Sunday's matchup Northwestern's eighth in the last nine against a top-30 KenPom team.