PISCATAWAY – The Rutgers Scarlet Knights’ (9-11) losing streak continues as the Indiana Hoosiers (13-7) put an end to theirs Friday night, winning 82-59. The Scarlet Knights have now lost three in a row.
“Obviously, disappointing how we played.”
Those were the first few words uttered by a frustrated Steve Pikiell postgame Friday. Seemingly dejected, the Rutgers headman was honest in his opening thoughts to the press.
“It started yesterday we had a terrible practice, worst one of the season and we came today against a team [Indiana] that shoots the ball at a high percentage. I thought we’ve been taking steps forward. We’ve been rebounding the ball, we’ve been harping on it. Today, huge step backwards and it’s on me to change it.”
Coming off a two game road trip from the midwest, the Scarlet Knights returned to New Jersey ahead of Sunday’s massive snowstorm. Just like the expected conditions, the Scarlet Knights’ play was cold.
Simply put, outside of junior guard Tariq Francis, the scoring output and shooting efficiency from Rutgers was not there. Off the bench, Francis, who has not started a game since Seton Hall on December 13, was fantastic. Shooting 43.5 percent from the field and scoring a game high 28 points, the NJIT transfer was the only headache for the visiting Hoosiers.
Prior to Friday’s contest, Francis was recognized for reaching 1,000 points in his career.
For Indiana, the game was an opportunity to overcome a daunting four game losing streak. In fairness to head coach Darian DeVries and his squad, their four losses came against some of the best teams in the nation. In their past four contests, Indiana has fallen to Nebraska, Michigan State, Iowa and Michigan.
While Francis was Rutgers’ best weapon, Indiana forward Tucker DeVries may have been the best player on the hardwood Friday. The former two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year was outstanding right from the gate. With a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double, as well as six assists, it was all-around a great performance for one of the Big Ten’s best.
“We gave him great confidence as the game went on and once you give a good shooter confidence, it’s a problem,” said Pikiell on DeVries, who shot 45 percent from the field.
DeVries wasn’t the only one who was bringing the heat on the cold January night. The Hoosiers’ leading scorer entering the contest, Lamar Wilkerson, provided a team-high 27 points. Junior guard Nick Dorn, who was 60 percent from three, gathered 23 points.
For Indiana, it was a much needed victory. With their university riding high off their first national championship in football, their historic men’s basketball program wanted to get back on track. In a competitive conference like the Big Ten, they could not drop this game by any means.
On the Rutgers’ side of things, the squad is now 2-7 in conference play. Outside the lack of scoring depth, the game on the glass was a deciding factor as well. Indiana outrebounded Rutgers 40-27 surprisingly considering Emmanuel Ogbole’s work on the boards this season.
To make it worse for the Scarlet Knights, this was the first time since 2018 that they fell to the Hoosiers at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
Things do not get easier for the Scarlet Knights as on Tuesday, they will host Tom Izzo and the no.10 team in the land in Michigan State. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on FS1.
