BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Connecticut @ Rutgers
February 21, 2007
Believe it or not, even this late in February, tonight's game with Rutgers might go a long way in deciding if Connecticut makes the Big East Tournament. With dates left against Louisville, Villanova and Georgetown, the Huskies can not afford to let this one slip away, even in a tough environment such as the RAC, which will be ready for UConn.
Rutgers is 3-10 in the Big East, so a loss tonight would end their hopes for a Big East Tournament bid as that would give Connecticut (5-7) and St. John's at least six wins each in conference play, making it impossible for the Scarlet Knights to match.
Here are some of the articles and pregame stories on tonight's game:
Rutgers Still Barely Alive for Tourney (Courier News)
Adrian Hill Confident Rutgers Can Pull it Off (Newark Star-Ledger)
Calhoun Getting No Sympathy (Danbury News Times)
UConn Men's Scouting Report (Norwich Bulletin)
Huskies Can Clinch Spot in Big East Tournament with Win at Rutgers (Norwich Bulletin)
Frustrations Mount for UConn's Calhoun (Bristol Press)
UConn's Defense Not the Problem (Connecticut Post)
Even Calhoun Can't Defend Huskies' Offense (Hartford Courant)
Rutgers and Connecticut met 18 days ago in Hartford and, playing without leading scorer and rebounder JR Inman, the Scarlet Knights took the Huskies to overtime, tying the game late in regulation at 47-all. Connecticut prevailed, outscoring Rutgers 14-3 in overtime and scoring all 14 points from the line in the extra five minute session, including the last 12 of the game.
The Huskies have won three of their last four in the conference, but are still just 1-5 away from Connecticut in conference play. Rutgers has not fared much better at home this season, just 2-4 at the RAC, but expect the cozy building to be ready to welcome the young Connecticut team in their own special way.
Jim Calhoun is still looking for offense from his team. Jerome Dyson has averaged nearly 21 PPG in their last three outings, taking the most steps towards becoming a go-to source of offense, however, he is shooting just 33% (19-57) in those three games. As a team, UConn shoots a conference-worst 37.6% in Big East games. They don't have to look too far up in the statistics to find Rutgers, however, who is 15th (out of the 16 teams) with a 38% shooting percentage in conference games. Maybe, by the time this game is done, a new building could be constructed on the Rutgers campus with all the bricks hoisted up between the two teams. In their first meeting, the teams combined to shoot 34-108 (31.5%) from the field...ouch!
Each team, in my opinion, should be better than that. Yes, Connecticut is young, but they have talent, but for whatever reason, that talent is not close to clicking offensively. Jim Calhoun has remarked often that nobody on his team does the little things to help others score. That is a trait most experienced teams learn, but Connecticut has yet to see improvement in thos little things.
Rutgers lost Quincy Douby from last year's team, but expectations for their three sophomores in JR Inman, Anthany Farmer and Jaron Griffin were high, along with senior Marquis Webb. Adding transfer Courtney Nelson, freshman Hamady N'Diaye and some complimentary pieces such as Adrian Hill, Ollie Bailey, etc should be enough for Rutgers to have wins over more than just Cincinnati (twice) and an OT win over Seton Hall, a pair of teams at the bottom of the conference like RU.
Tonight looks like another struggle to score points. I do think Connecticut is the better defensive and rebounding team. They have potential to score in transition when the opportunity is there and take advantage of their defense to turn that into offense better than Rutgers.
Connecticut is a 3.5-pt road favorite, and they should get it done tonight.
NBE Blogger Prediction: Connecticut 60 Rutgers 53
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Believe it or not, even this late in February, tonight's game with Rutgers might go a long way in deciding if Connecticut makes the Big East Tournament. With dates left against Louisville, Villanova and Georgetown, the Huskies can not afford to let this one slip away, even in a tough environment such as the RAC, which will be ready for UConn.
Rutgers is 3-10 in the Big East, so a loss tonight would end their hopes for a Big East Tournament bid as that would give Connecticut (5-7) and St. John's at least six wins each in conference play, making it impossible for the Scarlet Knights to match.
Here are some of the articles and pregame stories on tonight's game:
Rutgers Still Barely Alive for Tourney (Courier News)
Adrian Hill Confident Rutgers Can Pull it Off (Newark Star-Ledger)
Calhoun Getting No Sympathy (Danbury News Times)
UConn Men's Scouting Report (Norwich Bulletin)
Huskies Can Clinch Spot in Big East Tournament with Win at Rutgers (Norwich Bulletin)
Frustrations Mount for UConn's Calhoun (Bristol Press)
UConn's Defense Not the Problem (Connecticut Post)
Even Calhoun Can't Defend Huskies' Offense (Hartford Courant)
Rutgers and Connecticut met 18 days ago in Hartford and, playing without leading scorer and rebounder JR Inman, the Scarlet Knights took the Huskies to overtime, tying the game late in regulation at 47-all. Connecticut prevailed, outscoring Rutgers 14-3 in overtime and scoring all 14 points from the line in the extra five minute session, including the last 12 of the game.
The Huskies have won three of their last four in the conference, but are still just 1-5 away from Connecticut in conference play. Rutgers has not fared much better at home this season, just 2-4 at the RAC, but expect the cozy building to be ready to welcome the young Connecticut team in their own special way.
Jim Calhoun is still looking for offense from his team. Jerome Dyson has averaged nearly 21 PPG in their last three outings, taking the most steps towards becoming a go-to source of offense, however, he is shooting just 33% (19-57) in those three games. As a team, UConn shoots a conference-worst 37.6% in Big East games. They don't have to look too far up in the statistics to find Rutgers, however, who is 15th (out of the 16 teams) with a 38% shooting percentage in conference games. Maybe, by the time this game is done, a new building could be constructed on the Rutgers campus with all the bricks hoisted up between the two teams. In their first meeting, the teams combined to shoot 34-108 (31.5%) from the field...ouch!
Each team, in my opinion, should be better than that. Yes, Connecticut is young, but they have talent, but for whatever reason, that talent is not close to clicking offensively. Jim Calhoun has remarked often that nobody on his team does the little things to help others score. That is a trait most experienced teams learn, but Connecticut has yet to see improvement in thos little things.
Rutgers lost Quincy Douby from last year's team, but expectations for their three sophomores in JR Inman, Anthany Farmer and Jaron Griffin were high, along with senior Marquis Webb. Adding transfer Courtney Nelson, freshman Hamady N'Diaye and some complimentary pieces such as Adrian Hill, Ollie Bailey, etc should be enough for Rutgers to have wins over more than just Cincinnati (twice) and an OT win over Seton Hall, a pair of teams at the bottom of the conference like RU.
Tonight looks like another struggle to score points. I do think Connecticut is the better defensive and rebounding team. They have potential to score in transition when the opportunity is there and take advantage of their defense to turn that into offense better than Rutgers.
Connecticut is a 3.5-pt road favorite, and they should get it done tonight.
NBE Blogger Prediction: Connecticut 60 Rutgers 53
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posted by NBE Blogger @ 10:31 AM
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