Sports Shorts

Rutgers guard Corey Chandler was recently named to the 2007-08 Big East Conference Men's Basketball All- Rookie Team. Chandler averaged 11.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, while leading the Scarlet Knights and finishing fifth in the league with an average of 1.82 steals per contest.

Chandler, whose 51 steals marked the most for a freshman in Rutgers men's basketball history, averaged 25.2 minutes in 28 games (12 starts). In Big East contests, he averaged a team-best 10.5 points, while also grabbing 4.6 rebounds, which was tops among conference freshman guards. The local product scored in double figures 18 times and led the Scarlet Knights in scoring on 10 occasions. Chandler exceeded 20 points twice, posting a season-high 25 at Big 12-member Nebraska before registering 23 points versus No. 1-ranked North Carolina at the RAC. His performance versus the Tar Heels earned him inclusion on the Big East Weekly Honor Roll.

A preseason honorable mention freshman All-America selection by College- Hoops.net, Chandler opened his Scarlet career in style. He scored 16 points on seven-of-nine shooting versus Tennessee Tech, the most points scored by an RU rookie in a season opener since 1993. The East Side High School graduate scored in double figures in nine of the first 11 contests, before being sidelined for three games with a right foot injury. In the process, Chandler became the first RU freshman to score in double-figures in his first four games since Earl Johnson accomplished the feat in 1996- 97.

Chandler also closed out his rookie campaign in definitive fashion, scoring 11 second half points to help Rutgers to a dramatic 64-61 win at rival Seton Hall Sunday afternoon. He scored seven consecutive points and had two assists during a 19-5 RU run to open the second half. The Scarlet Knights overcame a 17- point first half deficit to end 2007-08 on a positive note.

Chandler is the ninth Scarlet Knight to be named to the Big East All-Rookie Team since Rutgers joined the Conference in 1995-96.

The Rutgers women's basketball team will hold its Annual Awards Banquet on Sunday, April 13, at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick. The event will begin at 2 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner at 3:00 p.m.

The Scarlet Knights will honor the squad with the annual awards, voted on by the team. In addition, two former Scarlet Knights will be heralded with their induction into the Rutgers Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Former standouts Tasha Pointer and Shawnetta Stewart, who helped lead the Scarlet Knights to the 2000 Final Four, will be enshrined at this year's annual event. The duo were recognized at halftime of the Temple game on Dec. 30.

The Banquet will begin with a reception at the Hyatt Regency (2 Albany Street, New Brunswick), followed by dinner at 3 p.m. For more information, call the Rutgers women's basketball office at (732) 445-4251. Reservation forms are due by April 1 with a check or money order for $45.00 per adult or $20.00 per child 12 or under.