DePaul vs. Rutgers Game Preview

WeAreDePaul.com Senior Writer
Posted Jan 25, 2012


The Blue Demons go out on the road to the Jersey Shore on Wednesday night to face the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers in a Big East conference showdown.

Key Information

DePaul Blue Demons vs. Rutgers – Wednesday, January 25th, 6:00 p.m. Central – The RAC, Piscataway, New Jersey

Television – Big East Network – WCUU – The U Too in Chicago

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Game Preview

DePaul(10-9, 1-6) will once again hit the road for a Big East affair as they travel to Piscataway, New Jersey on Wednesday night for a matchup with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (11-9, 3-4).

DePaul will be looking to break a five-game losing streak. The Demons are coming off a 75-59 loss at home to South Florida on Sunday. Rutgers has dropped two out their last three and are coming off a tight 52-50 defeat at Georgetown.

Rutgers is one of the grittiest, determined teams in the Big East and while their record is so-so, they will always hustle and play hard. Head coach Mike Rice stresses defense, as the Scarlet Knights allow just 63.2 points per game (sixth in the Big East) on .399 percent shooting.

While Rutgers plays solid defense, they don’t offer a lot of firepower on offense.

The Scarlet Knights average 67.2 points per game (14th in the Big East) on .438 shooting (10th). Rutgers is a lot like South Florida in that rely on defense and contributions from a collection of players.

Five different players score more than seven points a game, led by freshman Eli Carter’s 13.7 PPG. Carter is a good athlete who can create his own offense. Rutgers also gets contributions from Gil Biruta (9.8 PPG and 5.2 RPG) and Dane Miller (7 PPG and a team high 6.1 RPG). Myles Mack and Jerome Seagears (one-time DePaul recruits) chip in as well with 9.8 PPG and 7.5 PPG, respectively.

One aspect of the game DePaul needs to take advantage of is to make sure their press gets underneath the skin of the young Rutgers’ guards. Seagears, Mack and Carter all freshmen, and DePaul has to expose their inexperience and get easy buckets to gain some confidence.

DePaul will once again only go as far as Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young take them. Young in particular has to step up after not making a field goal in the USF game. One good thing to remember is Young was shutout in the Syracuse game and had one of his best efforts in his next game when DePaul beat Pittsburgh.

Beggars can’t be choosers and if DePaul can escape the RAC with a win, they can consider themselves fortunate.

Rutgers Roster

# Name Pos. Class Ht. Wt.

55 BIRUTA, GILVYDAS F So. 6-8 245

2 CARROLL, AUSTIN G So. 6-4 205

5 CARTER, ELI G FU. 6-2 190

3 GRAHAM, TYREE G SU. 6-1 190

22 JACK, KADEEM F R-FU. 6-9 218

21 JOHNSON, AUSTIN F JU. 6-8 255

33 JUDGE, WALLY F JU. 6-9 245

24 KONE, MALICK G/F FU. 6-5 200

44 KUHN, MIKE G SU. 6-1 190

35 LEWIS, GREG F FU. 6-9 225

4 MACK, MYLES G FU. 5-9 165

11 MILLER, DANE G/F JU. 6-6 215

10 POOLE, MIKE G/F So. 6-5 195

15 RANDALL, DERRICK F/C FU. 6-8 235

23 RIGOGLIOSO, CHARLIE G R-SU. 6-2 190

1 SEAGEARS, JEROME G FU. 6-1 170



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