For This Rivalry to Shine Nationally, Rutgers and Seton Hall Need to Be Good

The rivalry between Seton Hall and Rutgers is not appealing to the rest of the Big East fanbase, but in New Jersey, it is.

Whenever both programs play each other, there are always different chapters of this state rivalry.

There has been taunting by both programs. Brawls take place by both teams. Coaches took shots at each other over the years. Both try to outrecruit each other in New Jersey.

Pride brings out the best of both programs. The principals used this rivalry for their own self-interest. Coaches need it to maintain their job security, and player want to showcase their talent to NBA scouts.

Rutgers head coach Mike Rice and Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard experienced this rivalry for the first time this season. Their team played each other twice, and both teams received a win apiece.

They met again yesterday afternoon in the Big East tournament, and this time, it was more than bragging rights. It was about getting an opportunity to beat St. John's in the next round this afternoon. They want to finish their season on a strong note and get ready for next season.

This contest featured lot of suspense as one would expect.  It was about physical play and timely shooting.

Rutgers started the first half well, but Jeremy Hazell spearheaded an 8-0 run to get Seton Hall back in the game with his shooting. Seton Half ended the first half with an 18-8 run to take a 32-26 lead at halftime.

The Hall continued to hit shots to start the second half, and they took a comfortable lead. Rutgers couldn't find a go-to guy to score throughout the game until the final minutes of second half.

Jonathan Mitchell was hot at the right time for Rutgers. He found his shooting touch by draining in some shots and scoring layups to put them in the game.

With both teams trading leads in the final minutes, Rutgers shot some free throws to put them in a position to win the game in the end.

It appeared Rutgers had this win until Hazell hit a 3-pointer to send this game into overtime.

With the game being great down the stretch, it was fitting this game was going to overtime. Both programs exhausted themselves in pulling all the stops to win that game.

This was about will when it came to overtime. That's where Rice's intense style paid off for Rutgers. He always pushes them with physical practice. He wants his guys to toughen up and go at it at all times.

Rutgers was the well-conditioned team in overtime, and it showed. They wore out Seton Hall by pushing them to turn the ball over, and they were able to score points from it. They wanted it more. They were not going to be denied. That's why they survived and advanced.

A team takes on an identity of the coach, and Rutgers serves as an example. Rice is known to be intense, and it rubbed off on the team this year. They go at it, and they always come out prepared in their game.

Rice needed this more than Willard. He needs to get some Big East Tournament wins for this program to make progress. Close losses doesn't make the program better. If he can get today's victory against St. John's, then he has something going for his program next year and beyond.

Plus, he has to show his team's fanbase that he can beat Seton Hall. Too many Rutgers coaches could never beat their state rival, and it cost them their jobs.

It's always good to see both teams play well no matter their record, but for this rivalry to be special, both teams have to be great at the same time. That also means playing against each other for the Big East tournament title and in March Madness.

The games get better if both teams play for something significant other than bragging rights.

If both programs are good at the same time, it would give the state exposure and it would increase their ability of keeping kids in Jersey rather than go to another Big East program.

It would be nice to see both teams start beating up on St. John's, Syracuse, Connecticut, Georgetown, Villanova and West Virginia. It's no fun watching them beat up on each other and losing to other Big East teams. It makes this rivalry worthless and uninteresting. People outside of the country would laugh at New Jersey for getting worked up on both bad programs playing each other.

It's time for both programs to start improving. With no more NBA team in New Jersey after next year, the spotlight will be on both Jersey programs. The folks in New Jersey want something to watch when football season is over, so the onus is on Rutgers and Seton Hall to do something.

This game by both teams stood out everything that should make the Garden State proud, but it should be about more than just playing a regular season game.