BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: West Virginia @ Rutgers

January 31, 2007


West Virginia will continue their quest for their first conference road game this week with a two-game trek through the state of New Jersey. The road begins tonight with a date at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a thrilling double OT win over their in-state rivals Seton Hall over the weekend and will look to try and make it two in a row when the Mountaineers come to the RAC.

Here are the internet pregame stories and previews found this morning:

Rutgers-WVU Scouting Report (Courier News)
Win over Pirates a Shot in the Arm for Rutgers (Edison Sentinel)
WVU Begins Critical NJ Jaunt (Charleston Gazette)
Mountaineers Hope to Get Road Win Tonight at Rutgers (Register-Herlad)




Click below for our brief preview and prediction on this game and don't forget to leave your prediction in the comments section.

READ REST OF PREVIEW...CLICK "Read More" BELOW



West Virginia's ability to reload this season after losing JD Collins, Patrick Beilein, Mike Gansey, Joe Herber and Kevin Pittsnogle to graduation has kept the Mountaineers in contention in the Big East and alive for a bid to the NCAA Tournament come March. Many, including myself, believed that the only bubble the Mountaineers would be on would be that for the Big East Tournament, let alone the NCAA!

The next two weeks are going to be critical for the Mountaineers and their NCAA hopes. First, they must show they can win on the road. While the Big East schedule makers were not a big believer in the Mountaineers, they were dealt a very favorable schedule, but they have yet (0-3) to win on the road in the conference. Tonight they have a golden opportunity to end that streak when they travel to New Jersey to meet Rutgers. This weekend West Virginia will also meet Seton Hall at the Meadowlands before returning home next week for Pittsburgh and UCLA, where their SOS will finally get a bump up.

For Rutgers, it did not look very promising after the were dumped by South Florida by 22 points. However, they rebounded from that embarrasment to make a late rally and force overtime against Seton Hall and eventually prevailed in 2 OT. The Scarlet Knights are extremely offensively challeneged as shooting from the perimeter is a chore and they really lack any for of inside offensive as well. A definite combination to be in the conference cellar.

West Virginia will most certainly frustrate Rutgers with their patience on offense and their ability to trap in their 1-3-1 zone. Rutgers is going to have to make all the right decisions and the shots that present themselves for them from the perimeter. WVU will rely on the 3-ball and make their share, leaving Rutgers scrambling to keep up.

West Virginia is a 9-pt favorite and a 15-pt projected winner by Pomeroy. I see them winning this game, but it might be a little more of a contest than many think as WVU looks for their first win on the road since a November date with Duquesne.

NBE Blogger Prediction: West Virginia 65 Rutgers 57

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Seton Hall @ Rutgers

January 27, 2007


We will see what kind of bounce the Rutgers Scarlet Knights have after hitting rock-bottom Wednesday night when they were blown out by South Florida, 62-40. It was the same old formula for Rutgers as their poor shooting did them in.

Seton Hall showed they will not quit as they gave Marquette quite a run rallying from 20 pts down early in the 2nd half to cut the lead to six before running out of gas. The Pirates will play 94 feet and pressure Rutgers everywhere, and frankly, they are not a good match-up for the Scarlet Knights because you know Seton Hall is going to score points.

Being a rivalry game and knowing that Rutgers is looking like one of the worst conference teams in history, I think they will come out with a big effort against the Pirates. It has been a very disappointing season so far for the Scarlet Knights as there was some promise and excitement for the beginning of the Fred Hill era. However, their enemic offense continues to under-perform all expectations.

Seton Hall has been a pleasant surprise as Bobby Gonzalez has played right into the strength of his team with a perimeter orientated attack and style of play. The players have bought into it despite a lack of depth and they never quit. They have the makings of a very promising perimeter group with freshmen Eugene Harvey and Larry Davis, along with sophomore Paul Gause and junior Jamar Nutter, the Pirates will score points. The go undersized with Brian Laing playing the big forward spot and rotating John Garcia and Stan Gaines in the paint.

Seton Hall is the much better team right now. Rutgers will compete hard, but Seton Hall's backcourt should dominate their conterparts and come up with the win.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Seton Hall 74 Rutgers 68

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Rutgers @ South Florida

January 24, 2007


Tonight in the Sun Dome is the battle for the basement as South Florida welcomes Rutgers to the sunshine state. Rutgers and South Florida sport identical 1-5 conference records at the bottom of the conference, so something has to give tonight.

Here are the pregame stories and previews found on the internet:


Rutgers-USF Scouting Report (Courier News)
Philosophical Hill Slowly Getting Knights Attention (Courier News)
Rutgers in Need of Victory Tonight (Star-Ledger)
Bulls face Critical Home Stretch (Tampa Tribune)
USF-Rutgers (St. Pete Times)

Click below for our brief preview and prediction on this game and don't forget to leave your prediction in the comments section.

READ REST OF PREVIEW...CLICK "Read More" BELOW


Rutgers has found success on the road this year, winning at Cincinnati 54-42, but like most of their games, they struggle to put the ball in to the basket, shooting just 32% from the floor and 21% (16-76) from 3-pt range in their last four conference contests. The Scarlet Knights are led by JR Inman in scoring (11 PPG) and rebounding (7/game) and also get contributons consistently from Marquis Webb who is also one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Where they need more consistency from is sophomores Jaron Griffin and Anthony Farmer, neither shooting above 39% from the floor.

South Florida is led by Melvin Buckely, who scored 16 PPG and also has been getting solid play from Kentrell Gransberry who averaged 15 PPG and 10.6 rebounds. Gransberry and Jesus Verdejo have given the Bulls more offense since becoming eligible after the 1st semester, but injuries still handicap the Bulls who will be without forwards Aris Williams and Melvyn Richardson because of injuries. Chris Howard has given the Bulls solid play at point guard and balances the offense a little more. With Chris Capko available and Solomon Bozeman playing a combo-guard position, the Bulls are slowly building some backcourt depth. However, the injuries to Richardson and Williams, along with Zaronn Cann, continue to deplete the frontcourt.


The Bulls are the favorite tonight at -6.5 and Pomeroy predicts them as a 7-pt winner. They do have the talent to outscore the Scarlet Knights, but could be limited by their lack of depth. In any event, I think the Bulls pull this one out.

NBE Blogger Prediction: South Florida 63 Rutgers 58

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Rutgers @ Providence

January 20, 2007


For the first week of the conference season, the Providence College Friars were the story of the conference. However, a pair of road losses to Louisville and Seton Hall have sent PC tumbling back into the log jam that is the middle of the Big East conference.

I honestly must say, hope for Rutgers this season is not very bright. Rutgers did show some signs of life offensively against Georgetown on Wednesday, but it came when the came was well in hand for the Hoyas and after a putrid 1st half in which they scored 13 points!

A week ago, things were looking good for Providence as they were 2-0 in the conference and getting Sharaud Curry back from a suspension. However, with him in the line-up, they have dropped two straight including a heart-breaking loss at Seton Hall when they were unable to convert two scoring opportunities in the last few seconds, including an aopen attempt under the basket by Geoff McDermott as time expired in a one point loss.

Rutgers has not had much luck at all. Their shooting is horrible and their post offense is not much better. Providence shoudl have little trouble on their own court scoring against Rutgers and the Scarlet Knights will be hard-pressed to keep up.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Providence 82 Rutgers 64

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Georgetown @ Rutgers

January 17, 2007

It has not quite been the season the Georgetown Hoyas had expected to this point. The best news, however, is that the calendar still says mid-January and their is plenty of time for the Hoyas to get things together. Facing Rutgers could generally be considered an elixir for what ails you as the Scarlet Knights are facing a tough road with first year coach Fred Hill.

Here are the pregame stories and previews from the internet:

Rutgers/Georgetown Scouting Report (Courier News)
Rutgers Prepared for Hoyas Defense (Star-Ledger)
Hoyas Hit the Road (Wash Post)
Hoyas Can Draw from Loss to Pitt (Wash Times)



Click below for our brief preview and prediction on this game and don't forget to leave your prediction in the comments section.

READ REST OF PREVIEW...CLICK "Read More" BELOW


I will be kind and describe the Rutgers offense as anemic. Coming off a 37-pt outing, on their home court, the Scarlet Knights on the season are averaging 60 PPG and some nights they put up similar point numbers to what Quincy Douby would on his own last season as a team. When your struggling to score, the last thing you want to see is the Georgetown Hoyas come to your gym. The Hoyas allow just 55.6 pts a game and their deliberate style of play on the offensive ends only helps squeeze the life out of opponents even more.

There is relaly no good news in this match-up for Rutgers. Georgetown is going to be ready to go after dropping a pair of games against Villanova and Pittsburgh and John Thompson III will be challenging his players to get things back on track. They are an excellent rebounding team and will look to beat Rutgers inside and out. The Scarlet Knights will have to develop a collective shooting touch in a hurry to keep this game close.

Georgetown is a 12-pt favorite and a forecasted 16-pt winner by Pomeroy, they should have little problem in this one as long as they take care of the basketball.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Georgetown 69 Rutgers 51

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: DePaul @ Rutgers

January 13, 2007


DePaul hits the road on Saturday following a home loss on Wednesday night to Pittsburgh to face Rutgers, coming off a home loss at the hands of Syracuse on Wednesday as well. DePaul was not too happy with their performance on Wednesday and Wilson Chandler and Sammy Mejia will look to pick up their games a notch to try and get back to .500 in the conference.

Rutgers has had trouble scoring all season and once again they were poor from the field against the Orange on Wednesday. They will face and athletic and strong team in Depaul that will look to take them out of their offense once again. Rutgers will try to force turnovers and scrap to stay in the game, but Depaul just has too many offensive weapons for the Scarlet Knights.

NBE Blogger Prediction: DePaul 67 Rutgers 59

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Syracuse @ Rutgers

January 10, 2007

After dropping their conference opener against Pittsburgh, Syracuse hit the road and came up with an important road victory, winning at the Bradley Center over Marquette. Rutgers also dropped their opener, but went out and beat Cincinnati on the road and now open their home conference schedule by hosting the Orange.

Here are links to a couple of the pregame stories and previews from the internet:

At Home at Rutgers (Syracuse Post-Standard on RU coach Fred Hill)
Rutgers/Syracuse Scouting Report (Courier News)



Click below for our brief preview and prediction on this game and don't forget to leave your prediction in the comments section.

READ REST OF PREVIEW...CLICK "Read More" BELOW





The oddsmakers have made Rutgers a 6.5-pt underdog and the Pomeroy Computer has Syracyse as a 13-pt winner over the Scarlet Knights. Syracuse has been a team that has had their troubles playing in the RAC in the past. However, even Jackson St and Kansas St have been successful coming out with wins on the Rutgers home court this season, I do not expect it to be any different for the Orange.

Syracuse might not be very deep right now with injuries to Arinze Onuaku, Matt Gorman and the transfer of Mike Jones. Eric Devendorf has played better of late and has regained starting minutes, although not the privilige of starting, yet. Paul Harris is still trying to find his niche, but each game he instills a burst of enery for the Orange with his effort on defense and on the boards, learning to allow his offensive opportunities to come to him will dictate his playing time in the future.

It is a homecoming of sorts for Terrence Roberts and Darryl Watkins, a pair of New Jersey natives who left the Garden State for the Orange. Last year it was a rare Roberts' 3-pter at the Dome to thwart a Rutgers upset bid, led mostly by Quincy Douby. Without Douby, Rutgers has had a lot of trouble scoring. Anthony Farmer and Josh Wright are match-up at point guard and each team needs to come out on top in that battle whcih could dictate the game. Marquis Webb will have the assignment of stopping Devendorf when he is in the game, Webb is probably the best in the conference, but the Scarlet Knights will need the senior to provide a scoring lift as well. Webb is close a close friend of Watkins.

Syracuse has a tendency to play down to their opponent and if they do that again tonight, they could be in a very tough spot if the RAC crowd gets energized and begins the pull the Scarlet Knight energy level up. Will Rutgers have an answer for the scoring of Demetris Nichols? On this night, I think he is the difference and the Orange put it away in the last 10 minutes because they can score, and Rutgers can't.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Syracuse 71 Rutgers 60

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Rutgers @ Seton Hall

January 3, 2006


The Big East season tips off for Rutgers and Seton Hall with the two in-state rivals meeting at the Continental Airlines Arena in the Meadowlands. It is the Big East debut for both head coaches as Fred Hill leads his Scarlet Knights against Bobby Gonzalez and the Pirates. Both coaches have long been known in Big East circles for their ability to recruit in NYC and NJ, now they will square off on the court and see who can guide their team to a win.

Here are the game stories from newspaper sources around the internet:

Rutgers-SHU Scouting Report (Courier News)
Rutgers Forward Perseveres Through Pain (NorthJersey.com)


This is an interesting game as two teams with opposite styles converge to meet at the Meadowlands. Seton Hall wants to push tempo and get the game played at a helter-skelter style and pace, while Rutgers would love to see a game trapped in the 50's, with the first team to 60 the winner. The problem with the Scarlet Knight's, can they score 60?

Seton Hall is led by freshman guard Eugene Harvey, who uses his supreme quickness with the basketball to make things happen for the Pirates. Harvey averages 16 PPG and 5.3 assists a game and combines with Brian Laing (16 PPG and a team high 7.3 rebounds a game) and Jamar Nutter (13 PPG, but shooting just 32% form the floor) to give the Pirates three strong scoring options on the floor. All three prefer the game to be wide open and with Stan Gaines and Grant Billmeier the other starters, the half court offense is not a strength of SHU. The Pirates will go small with Paul Gause and Larry Davis, bith guards, getting most of the time off the bench, where they both provide instant offense and the ability to ball-hawk.

Rutgers meanwhile has alot of trouble scoring the basketball. Averaging just 61 PPG and shooting a touch higher than 40%, the Scarlet Knights are going to have to work at slowing the game. With Marquis Webb, possibly the conference's best perimter defender, they will need to cut of Harvey's dribble penetration and force this game to be a battle of the backboards. Seton Hall has no size underneath and very little presence on the boards while JR Inman, Adrian Hill, Hamady N'Diaye and Ollie Bailey should be able to do some damage inside. Seton Hall loves to force turnovers by being aggressive after the ball and Rutgers will need to handle the ball much better than they have thus far this year. They have some capable perimeter players in Webb, Anthony Farmer and Courtney Nelson, but they have not played to their abilities offensively this season. I doubt they suddently find it tonight.

The oddsmakers have made Seton Hall the overwhelming favorite by 9 points and Pomeroy sees an easy Pirate win (by 17). I think they game stays relatively close, but when it gets down to the end, the Pirate pressure ices the game when Rutgers has to try to hurry up.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Seton Hall 73 Rutgers 62

What's your prediction?

Read more!