Rutgers @ Michigan preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 5, 2019 ) Michigan 77, Rutgers 65

No. 25 Rutgers looks to stay on track for its first NCAA Tournament berth in 28 years when it faces Michigan as part of the Big Ten’s Super Saturday series at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights have won back-to-back games against Nebraska (75-72) and Purdue (70-63) to move into a tie for second place in the conference standings, and they hope to stay in the title hunt by knocking off the Wolverines for the first time in program history, following 10 straight losses in the rivalry.

“We haven’t beaten Michigan and they’ve beaten us pretty handily too,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell told reporters. “We’ll have to be prepared and they’ll be excited about the venue so hopefully we’ll play well.” Michigan ended a four-game losing streak with a 79-68 takedown of Nebraska on Tuesday. The Wolverines were missing two key starters after Zavier Simpson was suspended for violating team policies and Isaiah Livers re-aggravated a groin injury, which kept him out of the lineup for six games, but they grinded out their first road win of the season. “It was a huge win for us as we came in shorthanded without two of our best players,” Michigan coach Juwan Howard told reporters. “It was a total team effort and I’m proud of all our guys.”

TIME: 4:30 p.m. ET. TV: Big Ten Network

ABOUT RUTGERS (16-5, 7-3 Big Ten): Caleb McConnell went a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line, including eight straight down the stretch, en route to 16 points and seven rebounds in the win against Purdue. Akwasi Yeboah, Ron Harper Jr. and Geo Baker all scored 10 points while Montez Mathis finished with nine to help the Scarlet Knights improve to 15-0 at home, which is the best record in the nation. ”These guys are young so they like playing in front of their peers and season ticket holders,” Pikiell told reporters. “They’ve been coming, they’re loud and the students have been great.”

ABOUT MICHIGAN (12-8, 3-6): Eli Brooks filled in admirably at point guard with Simpson suspended as he scored a game-high 20 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists in the win against Nebraska. Franz Wagner added 18 points and nine rebounds while Brandon Johns Jr. finished with a career-high 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field against the Cornhuskers. Simpson, who leads the nation in assists per game (8.3), saw his streak of consecutive games played end at 135 due to the suspension, but will likely be reinstated for Saturday while Livers is considered day-to-day.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Michigan has won the last five meetings with Rutgers by an average margin of 10.4 points.

2. The Scarlet Knights can surpass their conference win total from last season with another victory.

3. The Wolverines are 3-0 in neutral site games this season.

PREDICTION: Rutgers 74, Michigan 73