Game 11: Rutgers (ESPN2)

For the first time all season we get two days off in between games and we need it as we head north to Piscataway, NJ to take on #5/6 Rutgers in the Jimmy V Classic. For some reason Rutgers continues to play in this game instead of giving other teams a chance to host it. Rutgers will be the fifth ranked team we have played in 11 games and third top-10 team. Last year, I don't think we played 5 ranked teams all season.

Rutgers is the media darling after being "mocked" by Don Imus last year after losing in the national championship game. Ironically, tomorrow is Don Imus' first day on the air and it would be fitting that his last and first days on the air centered around Rutgers losses. Vivian Stringer made a big deal about this issue in the spring, but now she wants to be known as the team that lost in the Championship. She is also insane as last week told a reporter that the NCAA was out to get her.

Aside from Don Imus Vivian Stringer also hates scoring, whether it be by her team or the opponents. Thus far this year they have scored only 57.6 points per game, while allowing 47.6 ppg. They haven't scored more than 67 all year and haven't allowed more than 60 (and that was because of free throws with no time left on the clock essentially). The last time they scored more than 80 in regulation was 88 last year against Florida. The last time they allowed more than 70 was against Connecticut last February. Opponents shoot 30.4 % and 24.1% from three. They will guard us from the time we walk off the bus.

They are led by sophomore Epiphany Prince, who is more famous for scoring over 100 in a high school game. Prince is a slasher and will occasionally shoot the three. Their dazzling backcourt is seniors Matee Ajavon and Essence Carson. Both are similiar players bu Ajavon may attack the paint more and more of a ballhawk on defense. Chances are she guards Kristi. Carson, which one paper calls their stopper, is coming off hip and groin injuries so whoever is being guarded by her (i'm assuming Coleman or Toliver) needs to make quick sudden movements to check out her range of motion. The key to the team is Kia Vaughn. She is their lone starting post player and if she can control the paint, the guards can play tough defense. Vaughn sometimes decides when she wants to play, but she tends to come alive in the big battles. We must attack Vaughn from the tip and get her out of the game. She can be foul prone. Rutgers' fourth starter is Heather Zurich, who is more of a wing player and will likely be matched up against Harper or Langhorne. She will shoot from outside, but is the team's fifth and final option. This is another match up we must exploit.

To win this game, we must take care of the ball. Rutgers wants to slow this game down to a snail's pace. I don't mind if we try to speed up the tempo, but we can't force passes that aren't there. Second, we must keep Rutgers' guards off the glass. Prince and Carson like to help Vaughn on the glass so we need to box them out on misses. Lastly, Vaughn likes to pretend she is loafing on plays and then dart to the paint for an easy bucket.

If we get to 70, I think we will win this game. Then we get ready for 3 games in 5 days.