3 Things to Watch for in SHU's Home Openers
SETON HALL GAME INFO (0-0) / Opponent: Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (0-0) / Date: Friday, November 11 / Time: 7:00 ET / Location: Walsh Gymnasium / TV: FSN (YES Network)
Opponent: Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (0-0) / Date: Sunday, November 13 / Time: 2:00 ET / Location: Prudential Center / TV: FS1
College basketball season has arrived and the Pirates are in action twice this weekend as they take on two Northeast Conference opponents; defending NEC Tournament Champion FDU on Friday, and CCSU on Sunday. Here are three things to look for out of Seton Hall over the next three days:
1. How well will the Pirates defend right away?
It's easy to come out with defensive intensity the first minute after you've raised a Big East Championship banner in front of a sold out on-campus crowd, but how rusty will Seton Hall be on the defensive end? This is the first game of the season for SHU, who opted against having an "open" exhibition game to start the year.
One Pirate who will be put to the test right away is Ismael Sanogo, who is coming off a preseason knee injury, but is expected to play. If he is not fully recovered from his sprained MCL, he may need help defending NEC Tournament MVP Earl Potts (14.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg last season). The 6'6 junior will force Sanogo out on the perimeter, as he hit 66 three pointers in a 2015-16 season that ended with an NCAA Tournament appearance for the Knights.
2. How well will the Pirates share the ball?
A new season means a new man handling the point. Khadeen Carrington is essentially the new Isaiah Whitehead. Carrington would never have been mistaken for Jason Kidd in year's past (2.5 apg last year, 1.8 apg his freshman year), but this is the next step in his progression to becoming an elite Big East college basketball player. Madison Jones will provide some minutes at the point as well. It will be interesting to see if Jones shows he's the type of player than can log crucial minutes during conference play, or if he's a stopgap option until Jevon Thomas becomes eligible on December 23. As has been the case with the Pirates over the past two seasons, an unselfish basketball team is the best basketball team.
3. Will Seton Hall play inspired basketball on Sunday?
Friday night is easy to get up for, because it is the first game and will have a great on-campus atmosphere. However, on Sunday afternoon, there will be a whole different vibe. I can't imagine people will be coming out in droves to see the Pirates play a Central Connecticut team that didn't even qualify for their own conference tournament last year (although it is former UConn star and NBA veteran Donyell Marshall's D1 road head coaching debut for the Blue Devils).
SHU must stay focused, take care of business and not overlook Sunday in anticipation of their trip to Iowa City on November 17 when they play Iowa in the Gavitt Tipoff Games. It's going to be a long non-conference season in terms of travel and quality of opponents, so they must take care of business at home.
Link to Seton Hall Team Preview: http://piratetribune.sportsblog.com/posts/28860163/2016-17-big-east-preview---3-seton-hall.html
