Rutgers men struggling to finish games strongly
BY MIKE McDONALD
Staff Writer

PISCATAWAY — All is not well within the Rutgers University men’s basketball program.

The Scarlet Knights (8-13) are in the midst of a bad skid, one that has seen them lose six of their last seven games since Jan. 22.

None of those losses had head coach Gary Waters more frustrated than the 94-61 loss on Jan. 29 to Villanova.

“[That] was a rough game,” the coach said. “This is our house and we need to play well in front of our fans. This team just hasn’t been responding well down the stretch. We haven’t been capitalizing when we need to. We have been playing hard, but not executing.”

After the 94-61 debacle Waters was referring to, the team has lost to St. John’s, 53-52, on Wednesday, and to Georgetown, 61-56, on Saturday. If Waters thought the loss to Villanova was a tough pill to swallow, he must have choked after the St. John’s loss. Rutgers led nearly the entire game before everything seemed to unravel, and quickly, at the end of the game.

“We lead 90 percent of the game and lose in the last moments,” Waters said.

Rutgers again lost on Feb. 6 to Georgetown, 61-56, as they continued to play their opponent tough, but still end up on the losing end.

But the tides seemed like they were turning when Rutgers beat Seton Hall University Feb. 8 by a score of 62-61. It was an emotional (and controversial) win for the Scarlet Knights, and one that had most fans hopeful that the Rutgers squad may have been back on the right track.

However, Sunday’s 81-64 loss to Providence University proved to many that this Rutgers team needs a lot of improvement.

The coach said that the game came down to three possessions.

“Providence turned us over on three straight possessions,” he said. “They scored seven points off these turnovers. The three turnovers killed us.”

Despite his squad’s recent struggles, Waters still believes, with a little practice and some better luck, his team can turn things around.

“Our kids play hard, each and every game,” he said. “The kids fought back in this game. It is tough on everyone when you go through a stretch like we have. All we can do is work harder. The kids come in earlier and we practice longer. This is the way we will fight through this. I believe this team can make some noise come Big East Tournament time.”

Both the coach and his players alike hope to get back on the right track when the team plays at Boston College today and the University of Connecticut on Saturday.

These are not the types of teams you look forward to playing when you’re struggling. However, a win against either of these ranked teams could provide the Scarlet Knights with exactly the shot of confidence they so desperately need.