BIG EAST Holds Men's Basketball Media Day
Oct 25 | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK, NY - Rutgers men's basketball coach Fred Hill, along with senior guard/forward Marquis Webb and sophomore forward JR Inman, were the Scarlet Knights' representatives at the annual BIG EAST Conference Men's Basketball Media Day today at Madison Square Garden.
The league unveiled its annual preseason poll at the Media Day, which was selected by the conference's head coaches. Pittsburgh was narrowly picked to win the BIG EAST with 219 total points, followed by Georgetown with 212. Rutgers was selected to finish 14th in the poll.
"The league is just such a phenomenal league," said Hill, now in his first-year as head coach of the Scarlet Knights. "In this league on any given night, anybody can truly beat anybody. It's going to be consistency (that separates teams). Can you win on a consistent basis? If you ever get into one of those lulls, when you lose two or three games in row, that's what's devastating in a conference like the BIG EAST. Because, if you do that, you're really fighting an uphill battle to climb back up to the top."
The Scarlet Knights will look to Webb, recognized as one of the top defenders in the BIG EAST, as well as Inman and guard Anthony Farmer, both selected to the conference's All-Rookie team last year, as they begin the 2006-07 season with an exhibition match-up against Caldwell College on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m., at the RAC. The regular season will tip-off on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m., when Rutgers hosts Big 12 foe Kansas State.
Rutgers basketball fans can get an early look at both the men's and women's teams when at the annual FanFest on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Louis Brown Athletic Center (RAC). Admission to the event is free and doors open at 1:45 p.m.
Everyone in attendance will receive a copy of the 2006-07 Rutgers men's and women's basketball posters (while supplies last). Fans will also have a chance to meet and get autographs from the members of the 2006-07 men's and women's basketball programs.
The event will also feature the Rutgers Kids' Zone, equipped with music, inflatable rides/games, temporary tattoos and much more. In addition, there will be performances by the RU cheer and dance teams, as well as the Scarlet Knight Pep Band.
