Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Picks and Predictions March 9th 2025

Plenty at Stake as Minnesota Squares Off vs. Rutgers

Minnesota and Rutgers will close out the regular season on Sunday in Piscataway, N.J., with Big Ten Tournament positioning on the line.

Both teams have had surprising seasons for different reasons, but they enter the finale tied in the conference standings at 7-12, making this matchup a potential decider for the No. 11 seed in the tournament.

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Big Ten Tournament Implications

The Scarlet Knights (14-16, 7-12 Big Ten) and Golden Gophers (15-15, 7-12 Big Ten) are part of a five-way tie in the standings.

• Winner likely secures the No. 11 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
• Loser could drop as far as No. 15, depending on other results.

For Minnesota, a win would mark a strong turnaround from a rough start to the season, while Rutgers looks to regain defensive form heading into postseason play.

Minnesota’s Unexpected Resurgence

Minnesota has already outperformed preseason expectations, making a remarkable turnaround after starting Big Ten play 0-6.

Head coach Ben Johnson is proud of his team’s resilience and believes the Gophers have silenced doubters.

“There’s a lot of people that did not think that (Minnesota would be) in the Big Ten tournament. Period,” Johnson said.

“If I would’ve told people we had a chance to win eight games, they would’ve laughed at me and called me crazy, right? I want our guys to take a ton of pride in that. To start off 0-6, with it stacked against you, and then to have people in the preseason have you picked last and to be that resilient, to keep fighting—that’s a character trait.”

Minnesota’s Recent Form

The Gophers have lost three of their last four, including a 74-67 home loss to No. 12 Wisconsin on Wednesday.

Brennan Rigsby has stepped up offensively, leading the team in scoring in back-to-back games, including 18 points against Wisconsin.

However, Minnesota will need a better defensive effort against Rutgers, particularly in the frontcourt battle between Dawson Garcia and Rutgers’ young stars.

Rutgers Searching for Defensive Identity

Rutgers has struggled defensively this season, a stark contrast to past teams that were known for their gritty, physical play.

The Scarlet Knights have lost back-to-back games, including a heartbreaking 84-82 buzzer-beater loss at then-No. 15 Michigan and a 100-71 blowout at No. 18 Purdue.

Associate head coach Brandin Knight was frustrated after Rutgers allowed Purdue to make 18-of-36 3-pointers.

“It’s tough, especially because it’s been a staple for us,” Knight said. “But we have to figure it out. We still have games left to play. The biggest thing is you’ve got to figure it out quickly. But for us, it is disappointing when we don’t get stops.”

Key Matchup: Dawson Garcia vs. Rutgers’ Frontcourt

Minnesota’s Dawson Garcia (19.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG) has been one of the most productive big men in the Big Ten.

He’ll be matched up against Rutgers’ talented freshmen frontcourt duo:

• Ace Bailey (18.0 PPG)
• Lathan Sommerville (7.9 PPG)

With Rutgers struggling to defend inside, Garcia will likely be the Gophers’ go-to scorer in a game with high stakes.

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What’s at Stake?

Both teams have secured a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, but seeding is on the line:

• Winner likely gets the No. 11 seed
• Loser could drop as far as No. 15, facing a tougher tournament path

With Minnesota looking to cap its turnaround season on a high note and Rutgers trying to regain its defensive edge, expect a high-intensity battle with postseason implications in Piscataway.