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Rutgers loses key player, routed by Illinois to fall to last place in Big Ten

Whether he said it publicly or not before the season, one of Steve Pikiell's goals in his second campaign as Rutgers men's basketball coach was to lift the Scarlet Knights out of last place in the Big Ten standings.

Through the first half of the Big Ten schedule, Rutgers appeared to be on its way toward achieving that feat after last-place showings in each of its first three seasons in the conference thanks to wins over Wisconsin and Iowa.

Now, with 3 1/2 weeks left in the regular season, the Scarlet Knights appear destined for the basement once again.