MidKnight Madness Returns to RU on Homecoming Weekend

By Rutgers Athletics
Posted Saturday, September 27, 2008

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (September 26, 2008) – The Rutgers men’s basketball team will host MidKnight Madness at the College Avenue Gymnasium (a.k.a. the Barn) in New Brunswick on Friday evening, October 17, as part of homecoming weekend. The event will run from 10:00 p.m. to approximately 11:00 p.m., with doors set to open at 9:30 p.m. The women’s squad will host an event for fans on Sunday, Oct. 19 at the Louis Brown Athletic Center. Doors open at 12:00 noon.

Fans will have their first opportunity to view head coach Fred Hill’s 2008-09 Scarlet Knights. The team returns seven players with starting experience among eight letterwinners. RU also welcomes the highest-rated recruiting class in school history into the fold. Ranked 19th nationally by Scout.com, the group is comprised of four nationally-rated prospects.

Admission to the event is free. A DJ, the Rutgers Pep Band, cheerleaders, and mascot will be on hand to celebrate the beginning of another exciting season. Students will have a chance to participate in drills with the players and win prizes. The first 500 people in attendance will receive a free MidKnight Madness t-shirt.

Head coach C. Vivian Stringer returns three starters and seven letterwinners from a squad that advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament a season ago. In addition, Rutgers welcomes the third-rated recruiting class to the floor in 2008-09.

An open practice will be conducted by the women’s team and an autograph session with the 13 players will follow at the RAC.

Sandwiched between the two hoops events is a BIG EAST football match-up. The Scarlet Knights host Connecticut for homecoming at Rutgers Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18. Kick-off time is yet to be determined.