The Battle of New Jersey

Rutgers had a chance to make a statement to the Big East conference this weekend against Connecticut. Despite an 18-point loss, the Scarlet Knights (14-13, 4-10) have a lot to play for in the last two weeks of the season.

RU is not only still in the running for some form of postseason play, but there is still the task of fighting for conference tournament seeding. But above all, there are two meetings with its hated rival from South Orange-- the Seton Hall Pirates.

With the first of two games on Tuesday in Newark (the return trip to the RAC will be played March 4), it's always fun to think back to some great moments in this series-- one that is not as publicized due to a lack of success in the New Jersey basketball programs.

Rutgers trails by seven in a series that will "celebrate" its 56th and 57th meetings this month. Here are my Top 3 memories from the last decade of RU-SHU hoops.

3. Feb. 23, 2002-- 66-60 RU-- This game was coined the "Seton Brawl." It was Senior Night for Rashod Kent, one of the most beloved players in the history of Scarlet Knights hoops. After a short-lived NFL career (yes, football), Kent had a rough run-in with the law and served some time in prison for drug-related crimes. But, on this night, he was his unbelieveable, undersized center self. RU guard Jerome Coleman was on fire from deep and when his Paul Robeson High School teammate Mike Sherrod was thrown into Section 118 by SHU's Marcus Toney-El, all heck broke loose on the floor. Watching Gary Waters and Louis Orr try to break that fight up was comical.

2. Feb. 8, 2005-- 62-61 RU in OT-- I feel like every game in this rivalry gets a nickname. The Hall fans deemed this one "The Les Jones Affair." Jones was a well-known Big East ref and he may have cost college basketball one of the best multiple-overtime games in the last decade. But, when Quincy Douby rose for a jumper with time expiring in overtime, Donald Copeland got a bit too close. There was no contact, but Douby got the call (he was a sophomore at the time and was one year away from leading the conference in scoring). He calmly hit the second of two free throws to send the RAC into a frenzy.

1. March 9, 2008-- 64-61 RU-- Rutgers was on a nine-game losing streak heading into this one and had nothing to play for except the rivalry on the last day of the regular season. The Scarlet Knights hadn't won since beating Villanova and Pittsburgh in back-to-back games over five weeks prior. Down by as many as 17 points, it looked as if RU's first game on Seton Hall's new home court ("The Rock") would go about as well as every game at Continental Airlines Arena. After Jamar Nutter tied the game with five seconds left, JR Inman hit a running three-pointer as time expired in one of the best basketball endings you can script. Yes, it ended RU's season at 11-20, but it destroyed Seton Hall's hopes of a NIT bid.

I can guarantee one thing. Two meetings in 10 days between Rutgers and Seton Hall will create a bit of tension on the New Jersey college basketball scene.

And by the way, coaches Freddie Hill and Bobby Gonzalez hate each other-- a lot.

Enjoy.