Category: Big East

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Seton Hall Must Ride Seniors Through Tough Times

Baseline Perspective | Desi Rodriguez
Desi Rodriguez of Seton Hall (Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

In the biggest game of the season for Seton Hall, Desi Rodriguez couldn’t buy a bucket. The senior forward missed his first five shots from the field, he also committed two turnovers. 

The timing simply couldn’t be worse. 

Seton Hall’s season, full of promise, was spiraling out of control. They’re in a fight to stay afloat in what’s become a logjam in the middle of the Big East standings. A loss this past Sunday in Newark to DePaul, the last place team in the conference, would be a body blow for the Pirates and their postseason hopes for March.  

But with the pressure on and a sense of urgency inside the Prudential Center, there was Rodriguez and his fellow seniors struggling from the opening tip.  

With a little over seven minutes left in the first half, Rodriguez found his shot. He drained a three-pointer to break a 23-23 tie. He hit two more from downtown which keyed a 10-3 run from Seton Hall.  

Rodriguez found his shot just in time, he finished with a career-high 33 points. When Angel Delgado, the walking double-double, wasn’t pulling down rebounds he was diving on the floor for loose balls. It wasn’t pretty by any means but the Pirates escaped with a hard-fought 82-77 victory over DePaul. 

[irp posts=”565″ name=”Seton Hall Keeps Tournament Hopes Alive With Win Against DePaul”]

These are tough times for Seton Hall and they needed badly to beat DePaul. The win over the Blue Demons snapped a four-game losing streak which raised red flags all over the place. With the Big East tournament quickly approaching, these are desperate times for the Pirates.  

Head coach Kevin Willard’s senior core group of Delgado, Rodriguez, Khadeen Carrington, and Ismael Sanogo have struggled with bouts of inconsistency. It would’ve been easy to understand Willard shaking things up. 

But instead of playing his younger players more against DePaul, Willard doubled down on playing his seniors. When Rodriguez missed his first five shots, it looked like it wasn’t going to be his night. Instead of sitting him down, Willard let him work through it. The move paid off.  

The logic is simple, Willard knows this group has been through this before. What made Seton Hall an early favorite to make noise in March is their experience. This team is battle-tested and familiar with adversity visiting around this time of the season.  

Seton Hall’s win over DePaul, gritty as it was, did little to remove any of the current concerns surrounding them. Their final four games left on the schedule will set the tone for their last postseason run together. It won’t be easy.  

These are tough times for the Pirates, but history has shown they’ll rise to the occasion for one last ride.  

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Seton Hall Keeps Tournament Hopes Alive With Win Against DePaul

Baseline Perspective | Desi Rodriguez
Seton Hall forward Desi Rodriguez earlier this year.
(Image credit: AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Seton Hall won a tight game against Big East foes DePaul, 82-77 Sunday afternoon in Newark. The win pushed the Pirates to a .500 record in the conference and gave them an 18-9 overall record.  

Desi Rodriguez scored a career-high 33 points and Angel Delgado added 16 points with 19 rebounds for Seton Hall. 

The game was close in the first half until Rodriguez sparked a 10-0 run. The senior hit two three pointers in the run which helped the Pirates take a 31-23 advantage. The lead grew to 12 before DePaul went on a 10-0 run of their own to cut the lead to 38-36 at halftime. 

Delgado kept Seton Hall afloat in the first half with another double-double. The senior scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Delgado’s play energized the Pirates at a time where they struggled to get it going.  

Seton Hall barely shot over 30 percent from the field in the first half. But Delgado’s relentless hustle, diving for loose balls and extra effort on the boards helped give his team life. 

In the second half, Rodriguez caught fire by shooting 9 for 11 from the field and making all five of his free-throw attempts. Delgado kept his production up by grabbing eight rebounds and scoring six more points. 

As Seton Hall kept scoring so did DePaul, keeping the game within reach with the lead being no bigger than eight points. Marin Maric kept the Blue Demons in the game. The center shot eight of nine from the field and knocked down two three-pointers. 

In the final minute of the game Seton Hall looked poised to close the game with a win, but DePaul kept fighting and the Pirates found themselves in a tight game. Eli Cain made two free throws for the Blue Demons to cut the lead down to 77-71.  

Seton Hall freshman guard Jordan Walker missed two free throws, which kept the Pirates’ lead at 77-73.  DePaul’s Max Strus hit a huge three to trim the lead down to 79-77. Walker was at the line again, but this time made one out of two free throws. Cain’s missed layup led to Rodriguez closing out the game with two made free throws. 

After the game, Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard described the importance of Delgado’s leadership and why the team feeds off his energy. 

“He’s our emotional leader, Willard said. “He always has been, since day one when he stepped on campus.” 

Willard also confirmed Degado’s improved play and his feeling better after having knee problems. 

“The fact that he feels really good right now, he got back into playing basketball and playing the way he always plays.” 

What’s Next?

Seton Hall will look to get a win streak going against Providence Wednesday night at the Dunkin Donuts Center. 

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Three Takeaways From Seton Hall’s Win Over VCU

Baseline Perspective | Seton Hall
Seton Hall senior guard Khadeen Carrington (Image Credit: The Associated Press)

Seton Hall continued their strong start to the season with statement win over VCU. The opening game of the 2017 Never Forget Tribute Classic was a forgettable one for VCU. On a snowy Saturday, here are my three takeaways from press row at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey: Continue reading “Three Takeaways From Seton Hall’s Win Over VCU”

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Seton Hall Rolling Towards Conference Play

Baseline Perspective | Angel Delgado
Seton Hall senior Angel Delgado (Image Credit: Twitter: @SHUTickets)

No one has to remind Seton Hall about the lofty expectations surrounding this team. Since the start of the season, all the Pirates have done is go about their business of winning ballgames and taking names.  

The Big East conference schedule is four games away for Seton Hall, but they look like they’re ready to start now.   Continue reading “Seton Hall Rolling Towards Conference Play”

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St. John’s Must Improve On The Boards To Fulfill Tourney Dreams

Baseline Perspective | St. John'sSt John’s has the talent in their backcourt to compete for a spot in the postseason. But it’s going to take more than strong guard play to make headway in the Big East.  

Chris Mullin is in his third season as head coach, it’s been a slow climb for the Red Storm but there’s plenty of reason for hope. 

With sophomores Shamorie Ponds and Marcus LoVett, St. John’s has one of the conference’s more exciting backcourts.  

College basketball game, much like in the NBA, has evolved into more of an emphasis on the guards and perimeter-oriented players. But this doesn’t take away from the importance of being able to rebound.  This is where the Red Storm may struggle. 

In their season opener on Friday night, the Red Storm came away with a 77-61 win over New Orleans.  

LoVett and Ponds played well, as expected. St. John’s was also outrebounded, 42-27, but found a way to still win.  

St. John’s Will Need Marvin Clark III

Against a team like New Orleans, no disrespect to them, Mullin’s team was able to rely on the talent of their guards. But that won’t always be the case as the season progresses.  

If St. John’s is going to take the next step in their growth, they’ll need an improved effort on the glass. There’s size upfront with 6-11 Tariq Owens and 6-7 forward Kassoum Yawke. The knock on 6-7 Bashir Ahmed is he remains erratic and needs to find more consistency in his game.  

The arrival of Marvin Clark III could be key to this team’s rebounding issues. He’s 6-7 but sat out last season after transferring from Michigan State. Clark III brings Big 10 experience with him, that’s going to be valuable this season for Mullin.  

LoVett and Ponds will supply the offensive firepower for St. John’s, but they can’t do it all alone. Mullin is doing a good job at getting this team to take on his identity. They’re tough, play defense, and they’re scrappy.  

This could be the breakthrough season St. John’s has been waiting for, if they find a way to improve on the boards. 

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Senior-Heavy Seton Hall Ready For The Main Course

Baseline Perspective | Seton Hall
Angel Delgado of Seton Hall (No. 31) – Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Can anyone blame Seton Hall for feeling their time has come? 

The Pirates are ranked 23rd in the nation, the feeling around campus is they’re a team ready to contend for a spot in the Final Four.  

They’re loaded with the right mix of old and young on its roster. Seton Hall’s senior class has come of age together. They came in together and have endured their fair share of growing pains while learning how to win together as a unit.  

Seton Hall Has Their Own Big Three

Angel Delgado, Desi Rodriguez, and Khadeen Carrington are more than just talented basketball players. The trio came in together and have endured their fair share of growing pains. They’re now experienced veterans ready to finish their collegiate careers on the highest of notes.  

On a cold Friday night in Newark, the triple-threat provided the spark Seton Hall needed to power past Fairleigh Dickinson with a 90-68 win in their season-opener. 

After the game, Pirates head coach Kevin Willard pointed towards the strength of this year’s team.  

“When you have as many seniors as we have, you have a lot of confidence in them,” Willard said. We’re like an aged steak.” 

Delgado is a walking double-double, this is nothing new to fans of Seton Hall. He had 10 points and 10 rebounds against FDU, he’s been the heart and soul of the Pirates with his enthusiasm and effort.  

You put Delgado with the offense of Rodriguez and Carrington and Seton Hall gives headaches for opponents trying to matchup against them.  

Willard, along the way, has been great at surrounding his core group with a strong supporting cast. Freshman Myles Cale played a strong game with 12 points off the bench. 

[irp posts=”384″ name=”Offense Remains The Question For Fordham”]

Expectations for Seton Hall this season are high, as they should be. It can’t go unnoticed they’re the only Division I team with three 1,000-point scorers in Rodriguez, Delgado, and Carrington. 

After three years of growing together through blood, sweat, and even tears – this team’s ready for their spot at the big table with the nation’s top contenders. 

 It’s time to serve the main course, the Pirates are ready to eat.