Game 21: Michigan at Rutgers Preview

Michigan faces Rutgers on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m., FOX) in a nationally televised showcase game at Jersey Mikes Arena.

The Scarlet Knights have the most intriguing freshman duo in the country, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, but they haven’t entirely lived up to expectations as a team. Harper has been in and out of the lineup with injuries and illness. He didn’t play on Wednesday night at Northwestern with his foot in a boot and is day-to-day.

Bailey has scored at a prolific rate — 37 points on Wednesday and KenPom MVPs in four of the last five games — but doesn’t have much of a supporting cast. Rutgers sits at 11-10 (4-6 Big Ten) with a few signature moments but a near-impossible route to making the NCAA Tournament due to early hiccups and losses.

It’s a road game in what has traditionally been one of the most challenging places to play in the conference, but against a Rutgers team that does not resemble a traditional Steve Pikiell outfit.