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. 

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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.  

 

 

 

Offense Remains The Question For Fordham

Baseline Perspective | Fordham
Fordham junior guard Joseph Chartouny (Image Credit: Fordham EDU)

If there’s anything to take from watching Fordham lose their season opener to Miami (Oh) it’s they’re still a team in search of consistent offense.  

The defense is still a strength for this team. Third-year head coach Jeff Neubauer does a good job with making sure the Rams play hard on every play.  

But the problem area for Fordham this year came up late in Friday night’s loss to Miami (Oh). When the defense struggles to get stops, where will the offense come from on this team? 

Fordham had a 54-48 lead with 2:20 left in the game, that’s the time when you’re supposed to put your opponent away. Instead, while the Red Hawks were coming alive on offense, the Rams missed their last three shots.  

Miami (Oh) went on a 7-0 run to escape Rose Hill with a 55-54 win over the Rams. It’s a frustrating beginning to a new season for Neubauer. 

In the offseason, the Rams lost graduate transfers Christian Sengfelder (Boise St.) and Antwoine Anderson (UConn). They played key offensive roles for Fordham during their time there.  

Junior guard Joeseph Chartouny is back for Fordham, they’re going to need his scoring just as much as his leadership. 

Chartouny was aggressive in looking to get to the basket against Miami (Oh). He’s an excellent defender, but Neubauer will need more from him and Will Tavares to keep the Rams in ballgames.  

Neubauer has brought a sense of stability to which was missing before he arrived on campus. He’s no-nonsense when it comes to teaching the fundamentals to his players. But he’s also aware this is still very much a process with getting the program out of the lower tier of the conference. 

In order to take that next step, Fordham has to get more from their offense. That’ll be their challenge this season.