newjerseynewsroom.com

BY MATT SUGAM

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

After getting blown out by West Virginia at home, Rutgers bounced back by upsetting then No. 8 UConn before going on the road and dominating Pittsburgh. West Virginia defeated No. 9 Georgetown before going on the road and losing to UConn.

Now the Scarlet Knights head to Morgantown looking for redemption after being embarrassed on their home court.

Here are the quotes from both head coaches from the Big East teleconference on Thursday, previewing Saturday’s game.

Rutgers head coach Mike Rice

On the last game vs. West Virginia: “They punched us in the mouth and they punched us in the gut and they took the victory and they walked out of the RAC. They literally just abused and beat up a young-minded and weak team and that team can rear its ugly head at any point. Any time in the Big East, if we’re not mentally ready, if we’re not fully engaged in what we’re trying to do, embracing that toughness, so I think it’s an interesting game to play literally only three games removed to see how they respond. Coach [Bob] Huggins did a tremendous job of switching up his defenses, of doing some things that kept us off balance, so we have a lot to prepare for. They’re playing about as well as anybody in the Big East is right now.”

On playing West Virginia again just 10 days later: “It’s certainly fresh in our mind. When we show [tape of] six conventional three point plays and them pounding their chests and embarrassing our little boys at the RAC the other night, it’s probably a little fresh in our minds, but still going in against West Virginia, I don’t know if they’ve watched the game down in Morgantown. He’s [Huggins] got those guys playing with tremendous toughness, so yes, it’s probably good, but then again if we’re nervous and a little scared then it doesn’t work in our favor either.”

Players feelings while watching tape of the last game vs. West Virginia: “I think embarrassed more than anything and hopefully that turns in to anger and toughness because take your pick on their bigs destroying our bigs, so we got to go in there with a better, tougher mentality.”

On Dane Miller: “It’s an interesting process getting Dane mentally prepared for a game. He showed up three games in a row and we’re going to certainly need him against West Virginia because he took the night off the last West Virginia game”

West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins

On playing Rutgers twice in a 10 day period: “Rutgers has obviously played extremely well since they’ve played us and Mike’s [Rice] done a fantastic job and they compete so hard. They’re always a really hard game. I’ve got great respect for what Mike’s done.”

On if he's surprised his team won so handily there considering what Rutgers has done since: “I think that happens. We shot the ball very well, they didn’t shoot the ball very well. Sometimes that happens. It was kind of a game where it was really hard to get in to any kind of flow. I think 51 fouls and it seemed like there were so many stoppages of play that it was really hard to get in to any flow and fortunately for us by that time we had a sizable lead. They’re talented and Mike [Rice] really runs good stuff. They’re hard to guard and they do a great job of help defense.”

For more Rutgers basketball coverage follow Matt Sugam on Twitter @MattSugam and on Facebook.