Rutgers Hosts Defending National Champion UConn Saturday Evening
Jan 05 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers (8-7, 0-2) will be seeking a return to the win column when it welcomes No. 8 and defending national champion Connecticut (12-2, 2-1) to the RAC on Saturday (Jan. 7) evening for an 8 p.m. tip-off. The last two top 10 teams to arrive at the truncated pyramid have suffered dramatic defeats. Last season, No. 9 Villanova fell victim to a four-point play with 0.8 seconds on the clock in a 77-76 loss. On Dec. 29 of this season, Rutgers defeated No. 10 Florida 85-83 in double overtime.
The Scarlet Knights have never defeated a defending national champion, falling short in 11 prior opportunities. The last time the Scarlet Knights squared off against a defending national champion was at North Carolina on Dec. 28, 2009, dropping an 81-67 decision to the Tar Heels.
The game will be televised live in the New York metro market on SNY and via the web at ESPN3.com with Bob Picozzi calling the action, Mark Adams providing the analysis and with Quint Kessenich as courtside reporter. 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 FM) will also broadcast the game.
Saturday evening's contest marks the 48th meeting between the Scarlet Knights and Huskies dating back to 1952, with UConn holding 34-13 advantage in victories. Rutgers is 9-15 all-time at home and 1-17 in BIG EAST regular season play versus the Huskies, who have won 10 straight in the series. The last Rutgers win was a 61-53 triumph over No. 17-ranked UConn at the RAC on Jan. 30, 2002. Last season, RU suffered a 67-53 defeat at the XL center in Hartford. Mike Poole (Rosedale, N.Y.) had his only career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Rutgers is coming off a disappointing 85-64 loss to West Virginia this past Wednesday night. Freshman guard Eli Carter (Paterson, N.J.) , the reigning BIG EAST Rookie of the Week, scored 19 points, but it was not enough as the Mountaineers shot 56.8 percent (25-44). RU scored the initial 10 points of the second half to spark the home crowd, but was unable to circumvent a 25 point (51-26) halftime deficit. The Scarlet Knights twice reduced the deficit to 15 points in the early stages of the second half, but would get no closer.
Connecticut, under the direction of 26th-year head coach Jim Calhoun, suffered a 75-63 loss at Seton Hall Tuesday night. The Huskies were limited to 35.1 percent (20-57) shooting. Jeremy Lamb, who ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring (18.9), shot seven-of-14 to post 19 points. Fellow sophomore Shabazz Napier is third in the league in assists (6.43) and fourth in steals (2.0). UConn has been ranked as highly as No. 4 in both polls, in the preseason poll and the initial two weeks of this season.
