Keys to a Seton Hall Win in Round 1
SETON HALL GAME INFO (21-11, 10-8) / Opponent: Arkansas Razorbacks (25-9, 12-6) / Date: Friday, March 17 / Time: 1:30 ET / Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC / TV: TNT
The Seton Hall Pirates look to win their first NCAA Tournament game since 2004 when they face Arkansas on Friday afternoon. Here are SHU's keys to a Round of 64 victory:
1. Play your game offensively: Arkansas likes to play at a fast pace (80.0 points per game) and that could benefit the Pirates. Though Seton Hall doesn't have much depth in the backcourt, Madison Jones and Khadeen Carrington are capable of handling the Razorbacks pressure. Desi Rodriguez is most effective in transition and Myles Powell can benefit by spotting up along the three point line when the point guards break pressure.
2. Establish Angel Delgado down low from the get-go: The Big East's best center is a double-double machine but may be meeting his stiffest competition all year in Moses Kingsley. Kingsley was the SEC Preseason Player of the Year, and though his numbers were down a bit from last year (11.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg this year; 15.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg last year), the 6'10 senior is still an NBA prospect. A big game from Delgado on Friday could mean added exposure for him at the next level.
3. Learn from last year: Don't get me wrong, winning the Big East Tournament in 2016 was a great achievement for the program, but an NCAA Tournament victory in any round is a more significant win for any school. The loss to Villanova in the conference tournament semifinals last Friday was tough to swallow, but I think of it simply as a dress rehearsal. If they learn from their sold out Madison Square Garden defeat (as Villanova did in '16) and come out hungry against the Razorbacks from the start, a perennial college basketball titan awaits them over the weekend...
