Column: Nuse Sense

Knights all right as PU rivals

By: Bob Nuse
   There was no sellout crowd at Jadwin Gym on Wednesday.
   The two teams playing weren’t nationally ranked. In fact, at the moment neither is even on the radar screen for a national ranking — at least not yet.
   But the matchup between Princeton and Rutgers is one that needs to be played. It’s a reminder of what college basketball was like before every conference became a mega-conference and every game was on television.
   Two schools 20 miles apart. Playing because, well, they’re 20 miles apart and they should play each other. It’s a special game. Even if some of the players involved don’t see any difference between it being Princeton-Rutgers, Princeton-Wyoming, or Rutgers-Charlotte.
   "To me they’re all special," Princeton coach Joe Scott said. "But Rutgers and Princeton is a great rivalry. You don’t see rivalries like this much anymore. It’s all conference game and the same teams on television. And when teams do play each other, it’s always on a neutral site now."
   Princeton and Rutgers don’t play each other at a neutral site. One year in Princeton, the next year in Piscataway. There have been some great matchups over the years. In 1976, Rutgers went undefeated in the regular season and reached the Final Four. The Scarlet Knights biggest scare along the way was a 54-53 win over the Tigers.
   "Obviously, these two schools value this rivalry and I hope we continue to value it," Scott said. "It’s two teams that have proud histories and it’s important to play each other each year on the each other’s court. I hope we can keep doing it."
   It’s ironic that Princeton and Rutgers will still play each other every year, yet the Scarlet Knights won’t face every team in their own league each season in the expanded 16-team Big East beginning next year.
   This is a game that still reminds us of the way college basketball was when every game seemed special. When a Saturday afternoon didn’t mean 14 different games to choose from, all seemingly involving the same teams.
   This is two teams with vastly different styles. Two programs that have enjoyed their share of success. And two teams that give us at least one December college basketball game worth watching.
   "One of the biggest problems is that nobody wants to play on the road anymore," Scott said. "But if you’re going to be a good team, you have to go on the road and beat somebody on their home court. That’s important. That’s good for basketball and there should be more rivalries like this that are good for college basketball."
   Wednesday night’s game was good for college basketball. Even if it didn’t get the sellout crowd it deserved at Jadwin Gym. And it’s a game that will hopefully be good for college basketball for years to come.