With sidekick Dylan Harper sidelined, fellow freshman Ace Bailey scored sufficient issues for the 2 of them in Rutgers’ most up-to-date recreation.
Now Harper is anticipated again from sickness to staff with co-star Bailey when Rutgers battles Wisconsin on Monday evening in a Large Ten conflict at Piscataway, N.J.
Bailey matched the college report of 39 issues for a Rutgers freshman when the Scarlet Knights (8-6, 1-2 Large Ten) misplaced 84-74 to host Indiana on Thursday evening. Corey Sanders additionally had 39 issues in a 110-101 triple-overtime loss in opposition to Illinois on Feb. 3, 2016.
Bailey made 16 of 29 field-goal makes an attempt and knocked down 4 3-pointers. He additionally accumulated 8 rebounds and 4 blocked pictures in a scintillating efficiency.
“My teammates put me in positions and relied on me to make the pictures that I make,” Bailey mentioned. “All due to my teammates for rebounding, pushing the opening, surroundings excellent displays, spacing the ground and concerned about me to get to paintings.”
Rutgers trainer Steve Pikiell mentioned the absence of Harper resulted in the heavy emphasis of depending on Bailey.
“You might be all the time looking to get it to Ace,” Pikiell mentioned. “He has a sizzling hand and used to be able to play.”
Bailey raised his scoring moderate to 19.9 issues in step with recreation. Harper has a team-leading 22.8 moderate and boasts outings of 37 issues in opposition to Alabama and 36 in opposition to Notre Dame.
Pikell insisted that Harper will likely be at the court docket in opposition to the Badgers.
Rutgers is 7-0 at house this season because the Badgers (11-3, 1-2) arrive on the lookout for their fourth consecutive victory.
Wisconsin is coming off a stellar 116-85 house win over Iowa on Friday. The purpose general used to be probably the most the Badgers have scored in a Large Ten contest.
Wisconsin additionally set a Large Ten report with 21 3-pointers. John Blackwell tired a career-best six of them whilst posting a career-high 32 issues.
“I were given a sizzling hand early,” Blackwell mentioned. “They discovered me and we performed the proper basketball. We had been hitting pictures, and when you are feeling it, you simply stay taking pictures.”
Badgers trainer Greg Gard used to be proud of Blackwell’s aggressiveness.
“He is turning into increasingly more pleased with the ball in his fingers,” Gard mentioned. “Within the closing 3 video games he is were given 15 assists, two turnovers, so he is seeing issues sooner, sooner, previous. He is getting extra at ease in that function.”
Blackwell is 2nd at the Badgers with a fifteen.4 scoring moderate. John Tonje has a team-best 18.6 moderate.
The groups cut up two conferences closing season. Rutgers posted a 78-56 house victory on Feb. 10 and the Badgers notched a 78-66 win on March 7.
–Box Stage Media
