C. Vivian Stringer

Rutgers women's basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer went on the offensive, calling on "everybody'' to step up their efforts to help Rutgers upgrade its basketball facilities.

(Nam Y. Huh | AP Photo)

PISCATAWAY — C. Vivian Stringer was already fired up as she walked off the Rutgers Athletic Center court Wednesday evening following her Rutgers women's basketball team's final full practice in preparation for Saturday's NCAA Tournament opening-round matchup with Seton Hall.

The Hall of Fame coach started her post-practice interview with a small group of reporters by offering comments critical of her team's seeding, blasting the NCAA Tournament selection committee for sending Rutgers to Connecticut to face its instate rival and perhaps meet its longtime nemesis on the Huskies' home floor.

She then was asked about the proposal presented by state Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex), who formally called on administrators from Rutgers and Seton Hall to work together to stage a doubleheader involving their men's and women's basketball programs on Wednesday afternoon.

"You know what I think would be great for Jersey basketball? Why don't we get a $50 million god darn arena? How's that?'' Stringer said. "That's what I think would be real great. Because you try recruiting to this. Have you gone to the other facilities? Come on, people. Let's get involved in the things we need to do.

"And I'll play everybody, anybody, whenever they get ready. I need a facility so that we can attract the same kinds of kids that everybody else does. I'm sitting up here and I walk into that facility at Ohio State — are you kidding me? It's the most incredible thing there is.

"We gotta do more than just talking. We gotta do something about this. NJIT, how much are they spending on a facility? Please.''

It marked the first comments from Stringer on the state of Rutgers' facilities issue since state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) in late February rebuked officials at the state university for not doing enough to support the men's basketball program while calling for an achievable plan to upgrade the 38-year old Rutgers Athletic Center and build a practice facility to accommodate the basketball teams.

If Lesniak sparked the fire on the topic of Rutgers facilities, Stringer turned it into a raging inferno during a 30-minute interview.

"Here's our problem: When our kids walk in other places, I'm embarrassed," Stringer said. "I walk into the University of Maryland and they've got a place where these kids can practice the dunk. When I came from the University of Iowa, the weights were women's weights because our shoulders aren't as broad as guys. Everything was tailored down. Everything was catered. You're thinking, 'That's pretty darn good,' because you know that people care and everybody wants to be cared for.''

Lesniak, who has talked of implementing a plan to upgrade the Rutgers Athletic Center and build a practice facility with both private contributions and public funds, has criticized Rutgers President Robert Barchi and athletic director Julie Hermann for being slow to address what he considers to be a glaring need to aid the basketball programs.

Hermann has yet to unveil a plan to replace the Rutgers Athletic Center or supplement the arena with a practice facility, but told NJ Advance Media last month: "Building a training center for our basketball teams is one of our highest priorities and has been since I arrived.''

Both teams play and practice at the building commonly called the RAC, which only recently received an interior facelift, thanks to a new scoreboard, gaudy ribbon boards and an improved sound system.

"When you have a program like the basketball program that's struggling ... (Duke coach) Mike Krzyzewski wouldn't be able to attract the best players coming out of New Jersey under those circumstances,'' Lesniak told NJ Advance Media last month. "There's no plan in place to make the basketball program Big Ten-ready.''

Stringer, whose Scarlet Knights haven't advanced past the NCAA Tournament second round since the 2008-09 season, indicated her program is struggling to take the next step because of the lack of a new facility.

"I'm seeing the real big picture,'' she said. "We need to bring the big-time people in here. We're not getting the same level quality of depth. We're not getting it. What I'm suggesting is there are a lot of things that are in play. But this is kind of a fixable thing. This is really fixable. We need to take advantage of the talent we have.

"There could a lot of reasons for us not getting back, but I promise you've got to have the quality of depth. And people might say, 'Just get them.' Just get them?' You know what's happening at other places?''

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Stringer stopped short of criticizing Hermann, saying of her boss: "Julie's busting her tail. She's working I know every time I turn around she's out somewhere trying to get a couple of dollars, trying to raise some funds. I don't even know where it's going or not going.''

Instead, Stringer said placed the blame on "everybody, period.''

"From the top down, it's everybody's fault,'' she said. "If we don't recognize it then something's wrong. OK, fine. I'll get fired. I don't give a rip.

"I'm just trying to tell you that we've all got responsibility. I have a responsibility to produce a good product. We all have a responsibility to get better. ... We've got to do better. As coaches, that's all you can do. But they can make this much easier for all of us.''

Asked whether she favors the idea of a new arena or an enhanced RAC supplemented by a practice facility, Stringer indicated her preference for the former.

"You know what, I think I would rather have an arena. Practice here,'' she said. "I would love to have a facility where a recruit comes in like, 'Wow.' When I walk into the Tennessee place and I see a waterfall in the dog darn pool table and I see granite. Are you kidding me? Come on. But I'm not looking for all that. I'm just saying. We have to do better than that.

"It's about the men being able to recruit. We have so much talent here in New Jersey and here in New York. I'll say it: It puts everybody at a disadvantage. But our fans deserve better.''

As for the talk that Rutgers can't afford a new facility as its heavily subsidized athletics department struggles financially, Stringer said: "I think those who would sit back and say, 'What do they want? Oh, they want $20 million? They want $50 million? And now they better win.' Come on now. There's a lot of facilities around the country that are very nice and they're not winning like that. But I'm saying, 'It won't hurt.'

"Aside from that, I'm not just saying it for myself. I think the athletes deserve better. But also the fans deserve to come and sit in something nice. They really do. Instead of painting these doggone doors because that's all the money we've got. Or painting the doggone cement. No, I'm tired of it. Because I want to win championships.

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"You don't even see the banners for the Olympians we've had. We've had three. You don't see anything for Cappie Pondexter, do you? Who else has something like that? We don't even have a place to display it. I'm saying that we've had some special people. We should be proud to display it.

"We could recoup the money. Can we get a bond or something? Can somebody come up with something creative? Can we just get a facility? It's unfair. We can do some special things. How many people go to Rutgers University? Think about that. And we have more Fortune 500, more wealth in this state. Why can't we demand that?

"It doesn't cost that much compared to everything else that we have. And it can get a return. Because wouldn't you be happy to know this place was going to be packed and we could beat Ohio State and Michigan? Everybody feels the same way. All of us feel the same way.''

Sitting back in her chair, Stringer explained her reasoning for voicing her displeasure at her surroundings.

"It's just been building up for so long. How can you continue to recruit on your name?'' she said. "I am not a genius. I am nothing. If I don't get the athletes, guess what. And people might say, 'Oh, well, this is a great academic school.' Well, guess what. We're in the Big Ten, people. It's apples to apples. When I was at Cheney State, no, we were a small 2,000-student-body population. So it was apples to oranges.

"But now we've got to step up into the big-time. Because whether it's the Tennessees of the worlds or the Kentuckys of the world, the Auburns, the Ohio States, the Michigans, when I see our kids walking into that going, 'Wow.' How does that make me feel? How? How? I mean, come on. Do something for us, too.

"I wish more people could say it. I said it before so I suspect that people will have a whole lot to say. 'Well, just be happy with what you've got. You're not happy.' No, that's not it. I want to win championships. (New facilities) are not it by itself. But it doggone sure helps when you're talking about a 17-year old kid. It helps. So doesn't everybody realize that?''

Stringer pointed to the improvements being made throughout the university, crediting Rutgers' administration "by getting the medical school.''

"We need to continue to do that,'' she said. "Our school, our reputation, people that have graduated recognize the respect that Rutgers has. Unfortunately, many people tie the success of athletic teams to the success of the university. Which is not fair.

"It doesn't take that much. We can get it done. But we need some help. ... This situation needs to change. Period. We'll take a facility first and then Seton Hall can have the next one.''

Reached by phone after Stringer's comments were reported, Codey said: "I just hope she concentrates on what's ahead and what's important and that's the next game on Saturday.''

Related coverage:

*Rutgers and Julie Hermann have surrendered on fixing the men's basketball program | Politi

State lawmaker criticizes Rutgers administration for not supporting men's basketball program

*Rutgers basketball finally has a powerful ally to make it a priority | Politi

*10 college basketball practice facilities that will blow Rutgers fans away

*State Sen. Lesniak to Rutgers Pres. Robert Barchi: Act like you're in the Big Ten



*Rutgers President Barchi to state Sen. Lesniak: Look at 'actual cost' for basketball upgrades

*State Sen. Raymond Lesniak to Rutgers President Robert Barchi: 'Let's work together'

*State Sen. Raymond Lesniak: Rutgers basketball future has 'never been this bright'



Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.