Tigers, Scarlet Knights Renew New Jersey Rivalry Wednesday Night in Jadwin

Dec. 6, 2004

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Joe Scott is both a native of the Jersey Shore and a Princeton graduate, so it's more than likely that the Tigers' annual meeting with Rutgers means more to him than just about any game on the schedule.

No matter who the Tigers were playing Wednesday night, it would certainly mean a lot for Scott, who returns to Jadwin Gym for the first time as Princeton's head coach when the Tigers and Scarlet Knights meet for the 111th time on the hardwood (7:36 p.m., CSTV, WHWH-AM 1350, GoPrincetonTigers.com). The Tigers have played their first five games away from home, and will play their next four away from Jadwin Gym after Wednesday night.

Princeton (3-2) will be looking to end a five-game losing streak to Rutgers (2-2), the longest streak by either team in the series since powerful Scarlet Knight teams won five straight from 1973-76. Scott himself has an impressive 8-3 record against Rutgers as both a Princeton player (3-1) and an assistant coach (5-2).

The Tigers have gotten it done with defense in the early going, a trend that will have to continue with Rutgers' sharpshooters Quincy Douby and Ricky Shields in the building Wednesday night. Douby and Shields have combined to make 23 of 55 three-point shots in the Scarlet Knights' first four games.

Princeton hasn't played since last Wednesday, when the Tigers earned their second road win of the season with a 56-53 victory at Holy Cross. Rutgers played on Saturday night, falling to nationally-ranked Wisconsin 70-62.

Princeton leads the all-time series 71-39, including 42-14 at home and 11-6 in Jadwin Gym, but Rutgers has won the last three meetings at Jadwin, including a 76-70 win two seasons ago.

NOTE OF THE DAY

Getting Defensive Princeton ranks third nationally in both field-goal percentage defense (37.0%) and scoring defense (51.8 ppg) as of Tuesday's NCAA rankings.

EIGHT MORE THINGS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT

Home at Last Princeton plays at home for the first time this season Wednesday against Rutgers. The Tigers will then play four more games away from home before their next home game Dec. 31.

More Defensiveness Princeton's opponents have scored just 175 points (35 per game) from the field through five games this season. Tiger opponents have more free throws (84) than field goals (78).

Three-Mendous 51% of Princeton's field-goal attempts this season (105 of 204) have come from three-point range.

Thanks for the Help Princeton has assists on 67% of its baskets this season (58 of 87), including 21 of its 29 baskets (72%) in its last two games.

Young Blood Princeton started two freshmen last Wednesday at Holy Cross for the first time since the final game of the 2000-01 season. Noah Savage and Matt Sargeant will likely start against Rutgers today.

Balancing Act Four different players have led Princeton in scoring in the Tigers' first five games. Luke Owings had 21 vs. Bucknell, Will Venable had 17 vs. Syracuse and Wyoming. Noah Savage had 13 vs. Lafayette and Scott Greenman had 17 at Holy Cross.

Just Two Away Princeton now needs just two victories to become the 14th program in NCAA Division I with 1,500 victories.

60-60 Proposition Princeton has won its last 18 games when it scores 60 or more points, though two of Princeton's three victories this year have come when the Tigers have scored fewer than 60.

PRINCETON-RUTGERS--the rivalry

Knight Games Princeton and Rutgers are meeting for the 111th time today. The Scarlet Knights are Princeton's most frequent non-Ivy opponent, and the teams met for the first time in 1917.

Knight Games 2 Rutgers has won five straight games against Princeton. The streak is the longest by either team in the series since the Scarlet Knights won five straight against the Tigers from 1973-76.

Knight Games 3 Princeton has a 71-39 all-time record against Rutgers, including a 42-14 record against the Scarlet Knights at home and a 11-6 mark against the Knights at Jadwin Gym.

Knight Games 4 Joe Scott has an 8-3 record against Rutgers as either an assistant coach or player at Princeton. The Tigers were 5-2 in his eight years as an assistant and 3-1 in his four years as a player.

Knight Games 5 Two of the last four non neutral-site games between Princeton and Rutgers have been decided by two points, and the other two were decided by six points and eight points.

TEAM NOTES & ANECDOTES

Injury Report Luke Owings has a stress fracture in his left foot and will likely be sidelined for two to three weeks. Owings started Princeton's first four games and is averaging 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Injury Report 2 Andre Logan, a starter last year, had his third knee surgery Nov. 5 and has missed Princeton's first five games. Logan may return as early as Princeton's game at Temple Dec. 20.

The Iron Nine Princeton has played nine players this season, and eight of them are averaging at least 15 minutes per game.

One More For 500 Princeton has made at least one three-point shot in all 499 of its games since the rule came into effect for the 1986-87 season. The Tigers, along with Vanderbilt and UNLV, are the only schools to have made at least one three-pointer in every one of their games in that time..

More From Three Of the eight Princeton players averaging double digits in minutes this year, only one (Matt Sargeant) does not have at least two three-pointers.

Coach Speak Joe Scott returned to Princeton in April after four years as head coach at Air Force. Scott was the Mountain West Conference "Coach of the Year" last season after leading the Falcons to their first NCAA tournament in 42 years.

We're Honored Princeton has two returning first-team All-Ivy players (Judson Wallace, Will Venable) for the first time since the 1996-97 season, when Steve Goodrich and Sydney Johnson returned.

Election Year Princeton was among 46 teams receiving at least one vote in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll that was released in late October.

Exit Polls The Tigers were chosen to win the Ivy League for the second straight year in a preseason media poll. Princeton was chosen first on 14 of 16 ballots in the poll.

Senior Moments Princeton has five seniors this season (Berger, Logan, Stephens, Venable, Wallace), its largest senior class since the 1997-98 season, when the Tigers finished 27-2.

Just Like This Year Princeton finished third nationally in scoring defense and 14th nationally in team field-goal percentage last season.

Conference Call Princeton finished its 2003-04 conference season with at least a .500 record for the 51st straight year, a current streak more than twice as long as any other team in NCAA Division I (Syracuse has the second-longest streak).

TV Stars Princeton will appear on ESPN2 against Temple Dec. 20 and ESPN at Duke Jan. 5. The Tigers also have two nationally-televised games on CSTV--against Rutgers Dec. 8 and Penn March 8.

On Schedule Princeton has played a team that eventually reached the Final Four in each of the last four seasons (Duke in 2001, Maryland in 2002, Texas in 2003 and Duke in 2004).

PLAYER NOTES & ANECDOTES

Minute Man Will Venable has played all but 18 of 210 minutes this season for Princeton. He missed 13 of those 18 minutes either due to foul trouble or fouling out.

Lights Out In his last 20 games dating back to last year, Will Venable is shooting 91-for-153 (60%) from the field.

National Pastime Will Venable also helped the Princeton baseball team to the NCAA tournament in 2004, hitting .344 in 96 at-bats after the conclusion of basketball season.

Double Trouble Judson Wallace has scored in double figures in 23 of Princeton's 33 games over the last two years.

Back on Track After scoring just four points against Bucknell Nov. 11, Judson Wallace is averaging 12 points per game in Princeton's last four games.

Milestone Year? Judson Wallace needs 199 points to reach the 1,000-point mark for his career.

Point Man Scott Greenman scored a career-high 17 points at Holy Cross last Wednesday. Greenman tied a career high with four three-point shots in that game.

Taking Care of It Scott Greenman has just 31 turnovers in 33 games the last two seasons. Greenman has a team-high 13 assists and just five turnovers in five games this year.

From Way Downtown Scott Greenman led the Tigers with 42 three-point shots last season. Greenman has at least two three-pointers in 17 of Princeton's last 33 games over the last two years.

Notes on Noah Noah Savage has shot 8 for 18 from the field and scored 30 points in his last three games after shooting 0 for 3 from the field and scoring two points in his first two games.

Home Games Noah Savage is a Princeton resident who played basketball at The Hun School, just a mile or so down U.S. Route 206 from the Princeton campus.

21-Point Salute Luke Owings scored 21 points in his first career start, Princeton's 61-48 season-opening win against Bucknell Nov. 11.

Smart Guy Luke Owings was the valedictorian of his high school class at Washington, D.C.'s, Gonzaga College Prep, the same high school attended by former Princeton coach John Thompson.

Battling Through Mike Stephens injured his left shoulder in practice three weeks ago but has still played in Princeton's last three games. Stephens was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field at Holy Cross.

Steppin' Out 6-10 center Mike Stephens has made eight of his 18 three-point attempts over the last two years, including four of seven attempts this season.

Start Me Up Freshman guard Matt Sargeant earned his first career start at Holy Cross due to Luke Owings' injury and played a season-high 26 minutes, recording two steals.

Time Chart Guard Max Schafer has played more minutes than any Princeton reserve this season, averaging 20 minutes per game through five games.

Was Back on Court Andre Logan played in 26 of 28 games last year after missing 40 of the previous 43 Princeton games due to knee injuries

Logan's Run Andre Logan is in his fifth year of eligibility. He was awarded a fifth year after missing all but three games in 2002-03 due to injury.

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