PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers University men's basketball team will play Providence, Seton Hall and Syracuse twice as part of an 18-game BIG EAST Conference schedule in 2008-09, the league announced Wednesday afternoon. The 2008-09 season marks the second straight time since the league expanded to 16 members that each team will play 18 conference games with a format featuring 12 opponents once and three teams twice.
Rutgers will play nine home games and nine away contests in the BIG EAST in 2008-09. DePaul, Louisville, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Providence, Seton Hall, USF, Syracuse and West Virginia all visit the Louis Brown Athletic Center this winter. The Scarlet Knights' Conference road opponents are Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Syracuse and Villanova.
Rutgers 2008-09 BIG EAST Conference Opponents
Home Away
DePaul Cincinnati
Louisville Connecticut
Marquette Georgetown
Pittsburgh Notre Dame
Providence Providence
Seton Hall St. John's
USF Seton Hall
Syracuse Syracuse
West Virginia Villanova
Rutgers, under the leadership of third-year head coach Fred Hill, returns nine letterwinners from last year's squad while also welcoming its highly-touted recruiting class. RU's incoming scholastic class, comprised of four nationally-rated prospects, is rated 19th nationally by Scout, 30th by Rivals and tied for 22nd by Hoop Scoop. Last season, Hill led his young team to back-to-back wins over nationally-ranked foes (#18 Villanova, #13 Pittsburgh). The team boasted a sophomore ranked among the nation's top shot blockers (center Hamady Ndiaye), a National Freshman of the Week (guard Mike Coburn) and a BIG EAST All-Rookie honoree (guard Corey Chandler).
Dates and times for RU's BIG EAST games, as well as the Scarlet Knights' entire 2008-09 schedule, will be announced at a later date.
