WASHINGTON, DC — Northwestern wasn’t messing around.
A 31-0 run in the first half put Rutgers out of reach in a game that finished 83-61. With history seemingly on the horizon, avoiding a loss to last-place Rutgers will allow the Wildcats to breathe.
But they won’t.
There are bigger goals in mind.
Next up on the docket is No. 25 Maryland, one of two Big Ten programs Chris Collins has yet to beat in his four years as Northwestern’s head coach. And it’s also a program against which he holds a long history.
“I just respect their program so much,” Collins said after the game, referring to games against Maryland as “battles.