Seton Hall: 2019-2020 Big East Season Preview
With a record of 8-4 while battling injuries and lofty expectations, the Seton Hall Pirates may still be primed to salvage early season accolades heading into their Big East Conference season.
The Pirates open conference play on the road against DePaul (12-1) on Monday, December 30 (8:30 ET, FS1). If you haven't watched Seton Hall basketball during their non-conference schedule, here's what you missed:
1. A number one Big East ranking in the preseason coaches poll.
2. An epic individual performance by Myles Powell in a home loss to Michigan State.
3. A 19-point second half lead in the Bahamas that resulted in a loss to now #6 Oregon.
4. A Myles Powell concussion during a loss to Rutgers.
5. A gritty home win without Powell and Sandro Mamukelashvili over #7 Maryland.
1. WE (ARE/WERE?) NUMBER ONE
The emergence of Butler (12-1) and Villanova (9-2, who defeated #1 Kansas last week) is going to make winning the Big East a very difficult task for the Pirates. Also, eight of the ten conference teams have overall records of 10-3 or better, giving the league depth that is arguably unmatched in college hoops.
The unavailability of Powell (concussion - whose status for the Big East opener at DePaul is unknown), and Mamukelashvili (fractured wrist - who is believed to be sidelined for at least another month), will likely mean the Pirates will be treading water until they are at full strength. However, if this team gets back to full strength by March, the preseason chatter of a Sweet 16 run is well within reach.
2. TRENTON MAKES, POWELL TAKES
Powell, the program's first-ever preseason All-America, sprained his ankle in the team's second game of the season against Stony Brook. Coach Kevin Willard predicted a "prolonged absence”, but five days later, Powell had an individual game for the ages. Despite the 76-73 home loss to then-#3 Michigan State, Powell had 37 points (12-27 FGs, 6-14 3FGS) and six rebounds in front of 14,051 fans at Prudential Center.
3. TROUBLE ON PARADISE ISLAND
The Pirates drew then-#11 Oregon in day one of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis. Despite owning a 19-point lead with about 16:00 minutes left in the second half, the Ducks rallied, took their first lead with 18 seconds left and defeated SHU, 71-69. The Pirates bounced back by defeating Southern Miss and Iowa State in consecutive days, but the opportunity of going home with a statement win was squandered.
4. INSULT AND INJURY
After leaving Ames with a road loss to Iowa State (yes, they randomly played the Cyclones twice in a row in the non-conference schedule) and a broken wrist for Mamukelashvili, the Pirates came out slow against in-state rival Rutgers and were blown away 68-48 in Piscataway. Powell was not off to an effective start, and upon further evaluation at the end of the first half, he did not return to the game. SHU's leading scorer was diagnosed with a concussion and has not played since December 14.
5. NO "I" IN TEAM
If we learned anything on December 19, it's that this 2019-2020 team is a resilient bunch who played at their best when their backs were against the proverbial wall. Sitting at 6-4 with their two leading scorers out against then-#7 Maryland, the Pirates put out a defensive effort that may have salvaged the program's hopes for postseason glory. The Terps shot just 26.9% from the field as Seton Hall grinded out a 52-48 win in front of 13,313 at The Rock.
With most of the previous scoring production sidelined, it's easy to forget how good this team still is on the defensive side of the ball. With centers Romaro Gill and Ike Obiagu providing length (six blocks apiece against UMD) and Anthony Nelson's emergence as a starting point guard option for the rest of the season (freeing up Quincy McKnight, who is a top defender and a better offensive player when he doesn't have to play PG), the Pirates may be more comfortable in their roles when Powell and Mamukelashvili return.
The road to Seton Hall's Big East success begins with how well they match up with skilled DePaul big man Paul Reed (15.5 ppg, 10.9 rpg) and rising point guard Charlie Moore (16.5 ppg, 6.7 apg) Monday night in Chicago. The Blue Demons may be a better team at the moment, but like last season's win over Kentucky at Madison Square Garden, the Pirates have shown the capability to elevate their play when people count them out.
