Coming Off Record Win, Pirates Look to Sweep Marquette
SETON HALL GAME INFO (12-3, 2-1) / Opponent: Marquette Golden Eagles (10-5, 1-2) / Date: Wednesday, January 11 / Time: 7:00 ET / Location: BMO Harris Bradley Center / TV: FS1
Led by Desi Rodriguez's game-high 25 points, Seton Hall cruised to an 87-56 win over DePaul on Saturday afternoon in Newark. Rodriguez became the first Pirate since Brian Laing (2007) to make at least ten consecutive field goal attempts in a game and was named Big East Player of the Week. The 31-point rout ties Seton Hall's all-time largest margin of victory in a Big East regular season conference game.
Up next for SHU is the road leg of their home and away series with Marquette. Led by Angel Delgado's 18 points and 12 rebounds, the Pirates squeaked by the Golden Eagles 69-66 on New Year's Day.
Here are three keys to a Pirates regular season sweep over Steve Wojciechowski's squad:
1. Contest every Katin Reinhardt shot (but not at the expense of giving Markus Howard and Sam Hauser open looks): Reinhardt was red-hot from downtown in the first half on January 1, connecting on five relatively open looks from three. Coach Willard emphasized the importance of running out at Marquette's shooters in his post-game remarks, so I expect The Hall to adjust accordingly. Howard connected on five threes and Hauser added three in a loss to Villanova on Saturday, so look for the Pirates to be aggressive on practically all of Marquette's guards and force dribble penetration.
2. Let Angel Delgado be Angel Delgado: Delgado has registered a double-double in nine consecutive games and is averaging 14.9 points per game and a conference-best 11.7 rebounds per game on the season. The junior has had success against MU center Luke Fischer in the past and I expect that trend to continue on Wednesday night. Delgado is a rare difference-maker who is on his way to becoming one of the best players in program history.
3. Make a free throw: I know I harp on this all the time, but Seton Hall's free throw shooting (61.1%) isn't getting any better. As of games played through January 9, the Pirates are 342nd in Division 1 basketball in free throw percentage. 342nd. For those of you wondering, there are 347 programs in Division 1 basketball. SHU is winning despite this, but no one wants to witness the day where free throws singlehandedly cost this team a critical game.
Quick hitter:
Seton Hall, 27th in the 25-team AP Poll, could crack it next Monday if it sweeps 2 road games, at Marquette and Providence, I think. #shbb
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) January 9, 2017
Agreed.
