MBB Meets 8/7 Virginia in Barclays Classic Final
Nov 29 | Men's Basketball
| Game Six: Rutgers vs. No. 8/7 Virginia (Barclays Classic) | |
| Date | Saturday, November 29, 2014 |
| Time | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| Location | Brooklyn. N.Y. | Barclays Center |
| Tickets | Click To Purchase |
| Video | NBC Sports Network Terry Gannon, Ben Howland |
| Radio | Rutgers IMG Radio Network - WOR (710) and WCTC (1450AM) Danny Breslauer & Dick Lloyd Rutgers Student Radio - WRSU (88.7 FM) |
| Game Notes | Rutgers |
| Statistics | Rutgers | Virginia |
| Social Media | @RutgersMBB  | Facebook/RutgersMBB  |
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - After a 68-65 win over previously unbeaten Vanderbilt on Friday, Rutgers (3-2) meets undefeated Virginia (6-0) Saturday at 9:30 p.m. in the 2014 Barclays Center Classic Presented by Continental Tire Championship game. The Cavaliers are ranked No. 8 in the AP Top 25 and No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Scarlet Knights will be working to win their first in-season tournament since capturing the 1980 Jersey Classic, when they defeated St. Peter's, 56-51, in the title game. RU can capture its first tournament in the Big Apple since winning the 1978 ECAC Holiday Festival, when the team defeated Ohio State 97-96 in triple overtime in the championship.
RU's last victory over a ranked opponent was a 67-62 win over No. 24 Pittsburgh on Jan. 5, 2013, while the last victory over a ranked foe away from the RAC was a 77-64 win at No. 13 Pitt on Jan. 26, 2008. The last time Rutgers defeated a top 10 team was a 67-60 home win over No. 8 UConn on Jan. 7, 2011, while the last win over a top 10 team away from the RAC was a 57-54 victory over No. 8 UCLA at the Meadowlands on Dec. 3, 1981.
The contests in Brooklyn mark RU's first games away from the RAC this season and the program's first contests on the Barclays Center hardwood. The Scarlet Knights, in the midst of playing five games in nine days, play seven contests over a span of 15 days to begin their inaugural campaign in the Big Ten Conference.
Saturday evening's game will be televised live on the NBC Sports Network, with Terry Gannon calling the action and Ben Howland and Dalen Cuff providing the analysis. On the radio, the contest will be broadcast live on the Rutgers IMG Sports Network, WOR 710 AM in New York & WCTC 1450 AM in New Brunswick. Danny Breslauer will serve as play-by-play announcer and Dick Lloyd will provide commentary. WRSU (88.7 FM) will also broadcast the games.
Saturday evening's game will mark the fourth meeting between Rutgers and Virginia on the collegiate hardwood dating back to 1986, with the Cavaliers holding a 3-0 advantage, including 1-0 on a neutral court. On Dec. 29, 1986, UVA defeated RU 74-56 at the ECAC Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden.
Seniors Myles Mack and Kadeem Jack both played a full 40 minutes to help RU down Vanderbilt in the semifinal. Mack had 21 points, eight assists and five steals, while Jack added 20 points and a game-high eight rebounds. The veteran duo was joined in double figures by freshman guard Mike Williams and sophomore forward Junior Etou, who contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. Mack's five thefts contributed to 14 Commodore turnovers. The Scarlet Knights, conversely, committed eight miscues, which resulted in a 14-6 advantage in points-off-turnovers. RU also out-rebounded its SEC foe 38-32, with the Scarlet Knights grabbing 18 offensive boards. As a result, Rutgers benefitted 24-7 in second chance points.
Mack leads the Big Ten and is third nationally in steals (3.8), while placing second in the Conference in minutes played (36.12). Etou is second in the league in rebounding (8.4).
Virginia, under the leadership of sixth-year head coach Tony Bennett, defeated La Salle 64-56 on Friday night. The Cavaliers rank second nationally in scoring defense (46.5) and fourth nationally in both field goal percentage defense (30.9) and rebounding margin (15.5). Picked fourth in the ACC preseason poll, UVA junior guard Malcolm Brogdon is a preseason All-ACC choice and one of 50 players on the Wooden Award Watch List. He ranks 25th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.5) and is one of three Cavaliers to average double figures in scoring.
