Home debut for Scott '87, men's hoops

"Welcome to the jungle, watch it bring you to your knees."

That message from Axl Rose is one that men's basketball hopes to send Rutgers (2-2) as Princeton (3-2) finally gets its first home game of the year tonight, at 7:30 in Jadwin Gym in a contest that will be broadcast nationally on CSTV (WPRB 103.3 FM).

Princeton is coming off a narrow 56-53 defeat of Holy Cross and will be playing yet again without two of its starters, sophomore forward Luke Owings and senior forward Andre Logan. Rutgers, an NIT finalist last year, is on a two-game skid. Both losses came at home, the most recent to nationally ranked Wisconsin. Rutgers had beaten Charlotte and St. Mary's before that stretch.

The Scarlet Knights have won five consecutive games in the series against the Tigers and will be looking to add a record sixth in a row.

The game will likely be decided by the Tiger defense. Rutgers is averaging over 70 points per game, but Princeton opponents this year are averaging just over 50. If the match-up zone that the Tigers have been using all season can shut down the Rutgers backcourt, and Princeton can run its offense well, the Orange and Black will come out on top.

Most of Rutgers' success come from the backcourt, as guards Ricky Shields and Quincy Douby have led the team in scoring. Douby is the leading scorer in the Big East, averaging 20 points per game and shooting 48 percent from outside the three-point line. Surprisingly, that percentage is higher than what he shoots from inside the line.

Shields, who as the only starting senior provides leadership on the floor, has averaged almost 17 points, and is a team-leading 11-for-13 from the foul line. Despite this focus on sharpshooting, the Scarlet Knights' opponents have a better shooting percentage in both three-pointers and regular field goals so far this season.

"They've been very perimeter dominant," head coach Joe Scott '87 said. "But their focus might change as they come here after losing two at home. We just have to make sure that we're good at the things we do."

Having relied on their guards for offense so far, the Scarlet Knight post players could prove to be a weakness against Princeton. Rutgers will likely start freshman Ollie Bailey and sophomore Byron Joynes.

Bailey has played well so far in his first season, averaging 13.5 points per game, but his inexperience combined with the six-foot, nine-inch Joynes' lack of production so far — only two points per game and less than four rebounds per game despite starting all four games — could hurt them against the Tigers' veteran frontcourt.

Similar to Rutgers, Princeton this season has played its fair share of perimeter ball, attempting the majority of its field goals from beyond the arc. Despite this, what has really distinguished the Tigers' play this year has been a balanced offense — four players have led the team in scoring — and a strong defense — Princeton is third in the NCAA in both opponent scoring and opponent field goal percentage.

On the offensive side, junior guard Scott Greenman is coming off a career-high 17 points against Holy Cross. Between Greenman and the deadly shooting of senior guard Will Venable (20-36 in field goals on the season) the Tiger backcourt can be counted on to be a reliable scoring presence.

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In the paint, senior forward Judson Wallace should dominate the younger and smaller Rutgers players. Wallace had seven rebounds against Holy Cross, and he and senior center Mike Stephens should also be in control of the boards tonight.

Win or lose, this game is a homecoming of sorts for Scott, a former player and assistant coach at Old Nassau, as well as a New Jersey native. This will be his first time coaching from the Princeton sideline in Jadwin since being hired over the offseason following a successful four-year stint as head coach of Air Force.

"Good crowds and a good student section always help, and we'll just have to do our part on the court," Scott said. "One of my goals this year, and part of trying to build a successful program, is to be undefeated at home."