Pitino, Van Treese Preview Saturday's Game against Rutgers
February 05, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2010
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino and freshman forward Stephan Van Treese met with members of the media on Friday at the Yum! Center to preview Saturday's game against Rutgers. The Cards and Scarlet Knights will tip off at 4:04 p.m. ET at Freedom Hall and by the BIG EAST Network/WHAS-TV in Louisville.
U of L remains at home for its second straight in Freedom Hall and only the fourth home game remaining this season. The Cards' 1975 Final Four team will be honored at halftime of the game as part of their 35th anniversary reunion. Louisville claimed its second victory in three games with an 82-69 win over Connecticut on Monday. U of L has won 19 of its last 21 games during the month of February dating back to the 2006-07 season.
Rutgers (11-11, 2-8 BIG EAST) had lost nine straight before beating Notre Dame 74-73 on Jan. 30 as all five starters scored in double figures. The Scarlet Knights made it two in a row with an 84-72 victory over St. John's on Feb. 2 while shooting 56.4 percent from the field.
Senior center Hamady Ndiaye leads the BIG EAST and is third nationally in blocked shots (4.9 blocks per game, 9.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg), a big reason the Scarlet Knights are fifth as a team nationally in blocks (7.5 per game). Sophomore guard Mike Rosario, who has scored in double figures in 47 of his 54 career games, is Rutgers' scoring leader (16.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 51-149 3FG). Rutgers is No. 114 in the ratings percentage index (RPI) and No. 134 in the Sagarin Ratings through games of Feb. 4.
Louisville has won seven of its eight previous meetings with Rutgers, including the last three. The Cards defeated Rutgers 78-59 on the road a year ago (1/21/09).
GAME FACTS - Louisville (14-8, 5-4) vs. Rutgers (11-11, 2-8)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 6
Time: 4:04 p.m. ET
Site: Crum Court / Freedom Hall (18,865), Louisville, Ky. (UofL 681-140 all-time in Freedom Hall)
TV: BIG EAST Network (WHAS-TV, Ch. 11 in Louisville) will televise the game with John Celestand (play-by-play) and Eamon McAnaney (analyst)
Radio: WKRD (790 AM, 101.7 FM) with Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (analyst)
SIRIUS: SIRIUS Satellite Radio Ch. 122 (XM Ch. 203)
Series History: U of L leads 7-1 all-time (3-0 in Louisville, 2-1 in Piscataway, 2-0 neutral)
Last Meeting: U of L 78, Rutgers 59 (Jan. 21, 2009 in East Brunswick, N.J.)
National Ranking: Neither team is ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll and Associated Press Poll this week.
Officials: Ed Corbett, Bill McCarthy, Tim Clougherty
Next U of L Game: Feb. 11 at St. John's, 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN or ESPN2)
