Indiana vs Rutgers Big Ten Tournament | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

Indiana is the No. 10 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and Rutgers the No. 7 when the schools meet in Indianapolis on Thursday. The Scarlet Knights might be in the NCAA Tournament regardless, but the Hoosiers definitely need to win this tournament to get in. Indiana is +5000 to win the Big Ten Tournament on the NCAAB odds and Rutgers isn’t listed because of New Jersey rules.

How to Bet Indiana vs. Rutgers NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

• When: Thursday, 6:30 PM ET
• Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
• TV: Big Ten Network
• Stream: BTN+
• Radio: Tunein.com
• Opening NCAAB Lines: TBA

Last Meeting

Rutgers won both meetings during the regular season, with the most recent being 74-63 on Feb. 24 in New Jersey. Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. had 20 points apiece to help Rutgers rally from a 15-point deficit. Baker, who shot 7 of 13 from the field, set a program record with six made 3-pointers in a Big Ten conference game and had a season-high 10 assists. Baker hit four of the Scarlet Knights’ seven 3s in a 25-6 run over a 7-plus minutes span that made it 33-29 with 55 seconds left in the first half, and Rutgers led the rest of the way.

Why Bet on Indiana? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

Could this be the final game as Indiana head coach for Archie Miller? If the Hoosiers (12-14) lose, quite possibly it will be with the team a huge disappointment. Many believe Miller’s contract buyout of $10 million is the most significant impediment to firing him.

Miller was in high demand after a tremendous run at Dayton. Indiana hired him and there was great optimism about his prospects. Things have been average. He was 16-15 in his first season, then 19-16, then 20-12 last season and 12-13 this year.

IU closed the regular season with a fifth straight loss, 67-58 at No. 23 Purdue on Saturday – the Hoosiers’ ninth straight loss in the series. Offensive struggles continue. IU has scored 57, 58 and 58 points in its last three games. Guard Aljami Durham led Indiana’s four double-figure scorers with 14 points. Guard Rob Phinisee had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Trayce Jackson-Davis added 12 points to go along with five boards, two assists and two steals.

Each of Indiana’s losses this season have come to a team that was ranked at some point during the 2020-21 season.

Jackson-Davis was named third-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten. He is the first Hoosier to be named All-American and first team All-Big Ten since Yogi Ferrell was honored in 2016.  He is the 46th player in IU history to be named an All-American.

Jackson-Davis is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring (19.1), second in rebounding (9.0), fifth in field goal percentage (51.5) and blocked shots (1.4) and is third in minutes played (34.2).  In league games only, he finished third in scoring (18.4), second in rebounding (9.2), fourth in field goal percentage (50.6) and minutes played blocked shots (1.4) and is third in minutes played (34.2). He also is third in the nation in free throws made (147) and first in attempts (222).  He also has had 10 double-doubles this season.

Why Bet on Rutgers? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

Rutgers (14-10) might be a bit on the NCAA bubble so it could use a win here. The Scarlet Knights closed with an important 77-70 OT win at Minnesota on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights were led by Jacob Young with 23 points, his 20th game this season scoring in double-figures and most ever points in a Big Ten game. It was his second time this season scoring at least 20 points.

In overtime, RU started off with a 6-0 run, capped by a Caleb McConnell dunk. Young helped push the Scarlet Knights over the finish line for the victory. It was Rutgers’ 10th conference win of the season. That marks double-digit conference wins for RU for the second straight season, the first time for RU with consecutive seasons with double-digit conference wins since 1989-90 and 1990-91. RU finished .500 or better in conference play in two consecutive seasons for the first time since 1989-90 and 1990-91.

Rutgers earned its fourth road win of the season. The Scarlet Knights previously won at Maryland, Indiana and Northwestern. That marked the Scarlet Knights’ most ever road wins since joining the Big Ten. The last time that RU won four road league games in a season was in 1990-91 when the team went 6-3 on the road in Atlantic 10 play. It marks just the third time in the past 15 seasons that RU won four road games overall.

Rutgers earned an opening-round bye in the conference tournament for the second straight season. Prior to last season, RU had not earned an opening round bye since the 1995 Atlantic 10 Championship. Rutgers has won 21 Big Ten games over the past two seasons after winning 16 combined in its first five years as a league member.

Ron Harper Jr. was named third-team All-Big Ten after leading the Scarlet Knights in scoring and tying for 10th in the conference at 15.3 points per game.

Expert NBA Prediction

Rutgers 71, Indiana 68

 

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