With two-third’s of the season complete, Rutgers now prepares for their most important game of the 2017 campaign. They are tied with Maryland in the Big Ten East with a 2-3 record in conference play. With Indiana at 0-5, it's very likely that the winner of this weekend’s game will finish in 5th place in the division. For Rutgers, after back to back last place finishes, accomplishing that feat would be verifiable proof that progress has occurred in head coach Chris Ash's second season.
Three conference wins would also equal the best season for Rutgers in Big Ten play, matching its 2014 debut.