Rutgers Opens BIG EAST Play at Villanova Sunday Afternoon
Dec 31 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers (9-3) opens its BIG EAST schedule on Sunday when it travels to Philadelphia's Main Line to meet Villanova (11-1) in a 1 p.m. tip-off at the 6,500-seat Pavilion. The Wildcats are ranked No. 8 in both the AP and coaches polls. The Scarlet Knights have never defeated a top 10-ranked opponent on its home floor. RU downed No. 10 Cincinnati on a neutral court, 89-70, on Feb. 19, 1977. Rutgers last win over a nationally-ranked team on the road was a 77-64 win at No. 13 Pittsburgh on Jan. 26, 2008. RU is 2-13 all-time in BIG EAST openers since joining the conference in 1995-96.
The game will be televised live nationally on ESPNU with Beth Mowins calling the action and Mike Kelley offering the analysis. On the radio, the contest will be broadcast live on the Rutgers Radio Network, WOR 710 AM in New York and WCTC 1450 AM in New Brunswick. Chris Carlin will serve as play-by-play announcer and Dick Lloyd will provide commentary. WRSU (88.7) will also broadcast the game.
Sunday afternoon's contest marks the 34th meeting between Rutgers and Villanova on the hardwood dating back to 1932, with the Wildcats holding a 25-8 advantage in victories. The Scarlet Knights are 2-10 on VU's home floor and 4-13 in BIG EAST regular season play versus the Wildcats. Last season, No. 4-ranked Villanova downed Rutgers, 94-68, at the RAC. Dane Miller (Rochester, N.Y.) shot 10-of-19 to score a career-high 26 points in loss, as the Wildcats shot 50 percent. The last RU victory at 'Nova was a 71-68 win at the Pavilion in 2004. Juel Wiggin dished-out 10 assists in that game, tying for the third most in a BIG EAST contest. Rutgers has defeated VU once before when it was nationally ranked, downing the No. 18 Wildcats 80-68 at the RAC on Jan. 23, 2008.
Rutgers is coming off a 78-55 loss to North Carolina Tuesday evening at Madison Square Garden. Senior forward Jonathan Mitchell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) scored a game-high 20 points, but it was not enough as North Carolina shot 11-of-23 from behind the arc to secure the win. The Scarlet Knights committed a season-high 16 turnovers to enable the Tar Heels to establish a 23-11 advantage in points off turnovers.
Rutgers ranks third in the BIG EAST in scoring defense, allowing just 59.8 points-per-game. Individually, senior point guard James Beatty (Wilmington, N.C.) ranks third in the league in steals (2.0).
Villanova defeated No. 25 Temple 78-74 at the Pavilion Thursday night in a game that featured nine ties and seven lead changes. It marked VU's sixth straight win. Senior Corey Stokes scored 24 points and sophomore Maalik Wayns added 21 points to pace the Wildcats. VU, which is a perfect 7-0 at home this season, leads the BIG EAST in free throw percentage (.770) and field goal percentage defense (.370). GAME NOTES
