At 5-0, the Rutgers men’s basketball team continues to climb in the national rankings.

It’s a top 25 matchup this weekend as 19th-ranked Rutgers gets ready to play 13th-ranked Illinois.

“A really good Illinois team. Some people had them picked as a preseason No. 1. Really good players, obviously. They are 23rd in the nation in points per game, which is an unbelievable stat. They rebound as good as anybody,” says head coach Steve Pikiell.

Coming off a 14-point win at Maryland earlier this week to open league play, the Scarlet Knights will face their toughest test of the season with Illinois.

“This isn’t a game where one thing is going to be good enough. You’re going to have to do five things well and that’s why they are considered one of the best teams in the country,” Pikiell says.

But Rutgers is on a roll. They have beaten every team they have played so far by double digits. And the team is also seeing continued success off the court when it comes to COVID testing.

“I’m nervous every day. We test every day. I mean these kids have been great. We’re one of the only programs in the country that’s navigated COVID without any pauses or delays. So, we’ve done a really good job,” Pikiell says.

Rutgers and Illinois tip off Sunday at 1 p.m.