Washington, Rutgers contending for last berth in Big Ten tourney

Field Level Media|published: Tue 18th February, 19:31 2025

Feb 12, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Washington Huskies guard Mekhi Mason (0) shoots the ball as Ohio State Buckeyes guard Evan Mahaffey (12) defends during the first half at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Judging by their records, one wouldn't think the game between Rutgers and Washington on Wednesday night in Seattle has tournament implications.

But it does.

The visiting Scarlet Knights (12-14, 5-10 Big Ten) and the Huskies (13-12, 4-10) are battling for the 15th and final berth into the conference tournament next month in Indianapolis.

The Huskies are coming off a 75-73 victory Saturday at Penn State as Mekhi Mason scored 20 points, making a season-high six 3-pointers. DJ Davis and Franck Kepnang scored 14 apiece. Leading scorer Great Osobor (14.9 ppg), despite missing practice with flu-like symptoms, nearly had the first triple-double in school history with six points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

"All this does is make the next game bigger," said first-year Huskies coach Danny Sprinkle, whose team has won three of its last five following a six-game skid in which five of those defeats were to ranked teams.

"But this was our best win of the year," the coach said.

Rutgers has a pair of possible NBA lottery picks in freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper and opened the season in the Top 25, but little has gone right in Big Ten play.

Bailey (18.6 points per game) and Harper (18.5) combined for just 21 on Sunday at Oregon in a 75-57 loss -- the Scarlet Knights' third in a row.

"Obviously, we've got to play better on both ends of the floor," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. "Our offense didn't help our defense, and our defense didn't help our offense. We've got to share the ball better, too. ... I've got to get us playing better, that's for sure."

As for Bailey and Harper?

"They're just a little bit out of sync," Pikiell said. "Teams get real physical with Ace. With Dylan, they're in the gaps. I'm trying to explain to the guys they're just coming in the gaps (defensively), they're not even double-teaming. You've got to make the extra pass and they've got to make some of those opportunities. We got some decent looks (against Oregon) and didn't capitalize on them."

--Field Level Media