Rutgers can gain a single bye in the Big Ten tournament and enter Chicago on a positive note if it defeats last-place Penn State on Sunday afternoon in Piscataway, N.J.
Actually, the seeding could be decided before the Scarlet Knights (12-18, 5-14 Big Ten) take the court. A Northwestern loss to Minnesota on Saturday night would ensure Rutgers is seeded 14th, the last seed that gets to avoid playing in the Big Ten’s new Tuesday opening round.
That’s because Rutgers owns the head-to-head tiebreaker against everyone below it — not only Northwestern, but also Oregon and Maryland. The Scarlet Knights only fall to the 15th seed with a loss and a Northwestern win.
Rutgers has gone 3-3 since a seven-game losing streak from Jan. 17-Feb. 7, and for the second time this season it played Michigan State close before falling 91-87 on the road Thursday.
“We had no quit. We kept fighting, and hopefully we take that into Sunday,” coach Steve Pikiell said in a postgame radio interview.
Pikiell’s hot seat was recently cooled down — for now — when first-year Rutgers athletic director Keli Zinn told multiple media outlets that he would return for an 11th season in charge in 2026-27.
Pikiell hopes to have back two important guards. Tariq Francis leads Rutgers at 16.9 points per game and racked up 25 points and five assists at Michigan State. Freshman Lino Mark went for 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting and had four assists in his second career start.
“Lino gives us a different gear, he’s really playing at a high level, and Tariq’s floor game has improved,” Pikiell said.
Things are gloomier in Happy Valley, where Mike Rhoades is facing questions about his future as Penn State (12-18, 3-16) has posted worse conference records year over year in his first three seasons.
Ohio State steamrolled Penn State 94-62 this week, hitting 16 of 23 3-point tries on the Nittany Lions. Rhoades told reporters he didn’t believe it was his last home game.
“No, I got four years left of my contract,” Rhoades said. “I’m going to coach. I’m going to coach my butt off. Go as hard as I can. Wake up tomorrow, work hard. Work harder than I ever have and just keep going and keep coaching.”
Ivan Juric and Freddie Dilione V had 15 points apiece in the loss. Dilione (team-leading 14.0 ppg) and Kayden Mingo (13.7 ppg, team-high 4.3 assists per game) power Penn State on offense.
–Field Level Media
