Game 26: Rutgers (ESPN2)

Two days after a great victory the Terps are back on their home court looking to avenge last year's defeat at Rutgers. The game is part of ESPN2's February Frenzy, which is ESPN's way of showing how their tournament coverage will work. If you can't make the game, and why wouldn't you be there, ESPN will show the game. If you are outside Maryland, chances are you will catch snippets of the game on the wraparound coverage.

On a side note, FSU's win last night essentially eliminates UNC and Duke from the ACC title hunt unless FSU goes into a tailspin. FSU's toughest remaining game is Virginia, which is at home. If they lose that and we win out we win the ACC title. Duke doesn't have the tiebreaker and UNC has three conference losses.

Back to the game, Rutgers enters the game with a win over DIII Farmingdale minus Coach Stringer, who was at jury duty. Rutgers is having a down year as the Scarlet Knights are struggling to incorporate freshmen after the departure of Matee Ajavon and Essence Carson to the WNBA. As usual Rutgers relies on their defense to frustrate opponents as their offense is pretty much a bore. In their last seven games against DI opponents, they have scored over 60 once. They will press, trap, grab and do whatever they can to frustrate teams.

Record: 14-9
Common Opponents: Pittsburgh (L, 61-53)
PPG/OPP: 61.7/53.7
FG%/OPP:.422/.364
3FG%/OPP:.319/.297
RPG/OPP: 36.5/31.3
TOs/OPP: 16.0/17.2
Steals/OPP: 9.0/6.5

The Starters
- Epiphany Prince - Leads the team in points, steals, assists, shot attempts. Will shoot the 3, will take it to the hole. Shoots 43% from the floor and 31% from three. also 83% from the free throw line. She must be shut down.
- Brittany Ray - another guard who will take it inside and outside. Not as inclined as Prince to go to the hoop as she has only shot 50 foul shots all year. Shoots 38% from the floor, 37% from behind the arc and 80% from the line. Second on the team in steals, third in rebounding.
- Khadijah Rushdan - another guard like Brittany Ray. Shoots 39% from the floor, 39% from 3 (only taken 31 all year) and 65% from the line. third on the team in steals. Averages only 5.7 ppg. Can be a scoring factor if left alone.
- Heather Zurich - guard/forward. Primarily a jump shooter and not one of the better defensive players. Doesn't rebound much.
- Rashidat Junaid - Inserted in the starting line up to light a fire under Kia Vaughn who has struggled all year. Stays in the paint and hasn't taken a 3 all season. not a strong rebounder. Second on the team in blocks. Shies away from contact with only 28 fouls in 20 games.

The Bench
- Kia Vaughn. All-American candidate to start the year who now comes off the bench because of the way she has struggled all year. Somedays she shows up to play, somedays she doesn't. Lately, she has been showing up to play. Stays in the paint. Terrible free throw shooter. Leads the team in rebounding as she muscles her way for the ball. Leads the team in blocked shots. Must not let her push us around.
- Myia McCurdy - back up forward who won't shoot the 3. Helps on traps. Rarely gets into foul trouble.
- April Sykes, Brooklyn Pope, Nikki Speed, Chelsea Lee. the Freshman guards and forwards who really haven't really found their rolls on the team. Speed and Sykes can shoot the 3 and handle the ball. Pope can block shots. None of them play more than 15 minutes a game and score less than four points a game.

Keys to the Game
1. Don't let Rutgers dictate the tempo. A year ago, we were battling illness and Rutgers slowed the game down and we got frustrated. Like against UVA, we need to grab the ball and run. Rutgers can't keep up with us offensively.
2. Handle the press and the physical nature. Like I said, Rutgers plays streetball and knows it can get in your head. KT will be grabbed and hand checked every time she touches the ball. She needs to be smart and let let it affect her. Same goes with the newcomers in the paint.
3. Rebound. Dee and Kizer have to be on the glass and not give up so many second chance points.
4. Control Prince. Prince is the star of the team. Keep her under wraps and the offensive will struggle even more.
5. Attack Vaughn. When Vaughn enters, Dee and Kizer need to attack her and get her out of the game.


Should be a fun game. Rutgers may keep it close for a while, but our offense should wear them down.