BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Rutgers @ Connecticut

February 3, 2007



Connecticut returns how as the try and stop the downward spiral of their season. There were many questions on the young Huskies even as they raced out to an 11-0 start with easy home win after easy home win. However, they have dropped eight of their last 10 games, including five in a row and are now in the dangerous position of 13th in the conference. As we all know, only 12 teams head to Madison Square Garden for the Big East Conference Tournament in March.

Rutgers has had their share of struggles this season and it was just a week ago that they stopped their own five game losing streak with a come-from-behind 2 OT win over rival Seton Hall last weekend. Their brief two-game homestand ended with a loss on Wednesday as they scored a season-high 83 points, but it was not enough as they fell to West Virginia.

It is very strange seeing Connecticut involved in a key game at this stage for qualifying for the Big East Tournament. This is a must-win game for the Huskies because they have Syracuse twice, along with Villanova, Georgetown and Louisville among their last seven conference games as well as an out of conference trip to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech. They desperately need to find some momentum and consistency in a hurry.

Rutgers will definitely be without one starter as JR Inman will miss the game as he attends the funeral of his grandmother. Adrian Hill injured his left knee in practice yesterday in what he calls a mild sprain. The 5th year senior has given the Scarlet Knights a big lift against a couple of the softest interior teams (Seton Hall and West Virginia) over the last two games with a combined 33 pts and 27 rebounds in the two contests. They will need him inside against UConn's Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet, especially without Inman who leads RU on the season in scoring and rebounding.

Honestly, without Inman I do not give the Scarlet Knights much of a chance. I think Marquis Webb will do a good job defensively on the inexperienced UConn backcourt, but the Huskies will be too deep and too strong inside. Neither team will shoot the ball very well, but UConn's lenght and athletic defense at the wings, led by Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson and Marcus Johnson, along with the superior quickness of guards Doug Wiggins and AJ Price will cause the RU offense tremendous problems. Without Inman to help bail them out, this will be a very tough game for Rutgers.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Connecticut 69 Rutgers 53