Game 28: Rutgers, The State University Of New Jersey
March 2, 9:00 pm (EST), Verizon Center
Tickets Available? Yes
TV: ESPNU
GU Radio: WTEM-980
RU Radio: WOR-710
About The Scarlet Knights:
Location: New Brunswick, NJ
Enrollment: 43,386
Conference: Big East
2011-12 Record: 14-18
Record vs. Georgetown: 16-28
Last Five Games:
2009-10: at GU 88, RU 63
2009-10: at RU 71, GU 68
2010-11: GU 74, at RU 65
2011-12: at GU 52, RU 50
2012-13: GU 69, at RU 63
 

What apparently will be Rutgers' final Big East visit to Verizon Center carries none of the nostalgia of a week ago in Syracuse, or a week to come versus the Orangemen, but as the Scarlet Knights proved a month ago, it is more than capable of giving the Georgetown Hoyas a fight.

Rutgers played one of its best games of the season on Feb. 9, holding a lead over Georgetown into the final two minutes before Otto Porter led the Hoyas to a hard fought 69-63 win. Five of Rutgers' last six losses have come by single digits, often late in the game. But with the loss of leading scorer Eli Carter to a leg injury two weeks ago, Rutgers needs someone to step up in a big way. The Scarlet Knights have dropped three straight and arrive in Washington with the poorest road conference record of any GU opponent, having lost 11 of 12 to the Hoyas as members of the Big East.

For Rutgers to earn the big upset, it may look back to some key moments from last months's game with the Hoyas.

UConn took a page from the playbook employed by Rutgers in its Feb. 9 game with the Hoyas, forcing the action inside and taking full advantage of the three point line. Eight Rutgers threes kept the game close all afternoon and despite holding RU to 30 percent shooting in the second half, Georgetown wasn't clear of the Knights until the final moments of the game. With Carter's injury, however, Rutgers must rely on its backcourt for exceptional play in his absence.

Point guard Myles Mack has taken the scoring leadership from Carter, and his three point shooting proved vital in Rutgers' attack last month. Mack scored 28 and 24 in games with DePaul and Villanova, and figures to be its lead scoring option all evening, even with guard Jerome Seagears, who ranks among the league leaders in three point shooting (45% in conference play) but has not taken more than four attempts in any of the last six games. Seagears has been in foul trouble in each of the last three games and coach Mike Rice can't afford a fourth.

Rutgers got by with a smaller lineup against the Hoyas on Feb. 9 when Nate Lubick was saddled with early foul trouble, and will again rely on a frontcourt lineup of 6-5 Mike Poole (4.4 ppg), 6-8 Austin Johnson (5.3) and 6-9 Wally Judge (6.8). Following a 15 point, 10 rebound effort against Providence, 6-9 Kadeem Jack figures to get plenty of time off the bench, along with reserve Dane Miller (7.0 ppg). Rutgers is averaging just over 60 points a game in Big East play, however, and Carter's 13 points must be matched by the RU front line if Georgetown is successful in closing down Mack and Seagears.

Georgetown's interior defense struggled in the first half versus Connecticut, largely for the first time since the Rutgers game. While the defense picked up the intensity, it let UConn make comebacks at the end of each half. This game should offer Georgetown better opportunity to control defensive tempo in key stretches given Rutgers' points per possession (1.03). Georgeotwn must improve its control of the rebound lanes, something it was largely unable to do in giving up as many offensive rebounds as it did to UConn.

Some additional keys to the game:

• Rested & Ready: Rutgers enters the game following a one week break.
• Hopkins In The Middle:
Mikael Hopkins has quietly picked up his game at both ends of the court Staying out of foul trouble gives Georgetown a huge edge inside with Hopkins' passing ability.
• Markel Starks:
Another opportunity for a big game, owing to his height advantage on the 5-9 Mack.
• Free Throw Shooting: Myles Mack is shooting 91% from the free throw line, the rest of the team just 65 percent. The Scarlet Knights were a +4 from the line in last month's game as result.
• Clear The Bench?: if the Hoyas can get out to a big lead, this could be the last substantive appearance from the GU reserves this season. The rotation does not look to go beyond eight for the rest of the season.