Hostile arenas nothing new to Rutgers

Iowa State will have to get past a Hall of Fame coach and one of college basketball's most talented teams to reach its first Sweet Sixteen since 2001.

The home crowd at Wells Fargo Arena Saturday gave a big boost to the seventh-seeded Cyclones (21-12) in its first-round NCAA Tournament victory over Georgia Tech. More fired-up fans and probably a near-perfect effort on the floor is needed for tonight's 8:30 p.m. match-up with No. 2 seeded Rutgers.

The seventh-ranked Scarlet Knights improved to 25-6 with their dominating 85-42 win over No. 15 Robert Morris on Saturday.

Rutgers shot 54.8 percent from the floor and had four players score in double figures. Robert Morris hit just 12 of 60 shots (20 percent) and were overmatched in every way.

"It was the best we've played in a long time," Rutgers Coach Vivian Stringer said. "It looked like we had a great feel for each other. We've been focusing on a lot of things since we were ousted in the Big East Tournament. It was nice to see."

Stringer, the former University of Iowa coach from 1983-95, could see this match-up coming last week when the pairings were revealed.

Over 9,000 fans showed up for ISU's opening-round game. More figure to show up tonight, though hostile crowds are hardly new to Rutgers, who has lost just one this season to an unranked opponents.

"We've played at Tennessee, we've played at Connecticut, we've played at Duke," said Scarlet Knights guard Epiphanny Prince. "Those right there were ways to prepare us for games like we have coming up."

And in five of the last six trips to the NCAAs, Rutgers has either played an opponent on its home floor or in the state where the school is located.

On its way to last season's national championship game the Scarlet Knights had to beat Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., and faced top-ranked Duke in Greensboro, N.C.

"I know the fans will be cheering for Iowa State and that's OK. I would expect them to," Stringer said. "I'd rather play in a full arena. I don't think the fans will boo, they will be cheering for Iowa State."

The Cyclones are going to have a hard time dealing with Rutgers' athleticism and depth.

Opponents score just 49.6 points a game, one of the lowest averages in the nation, and shoot just 34.6 percent per game. ISU relies on its 3-point shooting to win ballgames.

It's something Scarlet Knight players recognized while watching ISU's game against the Yellow Jackets.

"I caught that they like to go inside-out," Prince said. "Their guards set up their posts cause they can hit the outside shot."

Stringer is one of the most accomplished coaches of all time with a record of 802-266 over 37 seasons. She is the only coach, man or woman, to take three different programs to the Final Four.

She's been to two with the Scarlet Knights.

ISU is up against an opponent unlike one it has faced all season.

"It beats the alternative of going home," Coach Bill Fennelly said. "We are glad we get the challenge."

The Cyclones will need another big game from freshman Kelsey Bolte.

Bolte hit five 3-pointers and scored 19 points against Georgia Tech.

She's said she's got plenty left in tank for tonight.

"Oh yeah, I'm real excited to play," Bolte said. "We'll all be ready to go."

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