Men's Basketball Seeks Fourth Straight Win; Hosts DePaul Tuesday
1/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SETON HALL Game Notes - DePaul 1/10/12 (.pdf)
DE PAUL (10-5, 1-2) at
#24 SETON HALL (14-2, 3-1)
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Prudential Center - Newark, N.J.
7:00 p.m. ET
SETON HALL STATUS
Seton Hall won for the 11th time in its last 12 games with a 66-57 victory at Providence on Saturday. Sophomore Fuquan Edwin scored a career-high 24 points to go with nine rebounds and five steals. The Pirates' recent play has propelled them into the Top-25 for the first time since the 2000-01 season. Herb Pope, a BIG EAST Player of the Year candidate, is among the league leaders in scoring and rebounding and has nine double-doubles this year. Theodore just joined Seton Hall's 1,000-Point Club.
DE PAUL STATUS
DePaul enters Tuesday's matchup with Seton Hall with a record of 10-5, 1-2, having dropped two of their three games. Most recently, the Blue Demons fell, 87-71, at Villanova on Sunday. DePaul was predicted to finish last in the 16-team BIG EAST in the preseason poll. The Blue Demons return four starters from a team that went 7-24 and placed 16th in the BIG EAST last year. Sophomores Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young are averaging above 17 ppg.
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www.SHUpirates.com
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SETON HALL - DE PAUL SERIES
Seton Hall and DePaul will meet for only the 10th time in history on Tuesday. The Pirates own a 7-2 all-time series lead and have won four straight and five of the last six meetings. Last season, Seton Hall defeated the Blue Demons, 78-67, in Rosemont. In four all-time games, the Pirates have never lost to DePaul at home. This is the first of two games with DePaul this year. The Pirates will head to Rosemont in the regular season finale on March 3.
LAST NINE GAMES (SHU, 7-2)
Date, Score, Location
Jan. 12, 2011, SETON HALL 78, DePaul 67, Rosemont, Ill.
Feb. 14, 2010, SETON HALL 79, DePaul 71, Newark, N.J.
Feb. 10, 2009, SETON HALL 72, DePaul 49, Rosemont, Ill.
Feb. 23, 2008, SETON HALL 73, DePaul 71, Newark, N.J.
Feb. 25, 2006, DePaul 67, SETON HALL 64, Rosemont, Ill.
Dec. 27, 2003, SETON HALL 76, DePaul 62, East Rutherford, N.J.
Dec. 28, 2002, DePaul 52, SETON HALL 41, Rosemont, Ill.
Dec. 29, 1988, SETON HALL 83, DePaul 60, New Orleans, La.
Feb. 25, 1942, SETON HALL 36, DePaul 33, South Orange, N.J.
PIRATES DOWN PROVIDENCE, 66-57
Seton Hall won for the 11th time in their last 12 games with a 66-57 victory at Providence on Jan. 7. The victory is Seton Hall's third straight and improves them to 14-2 overall and 3-1 in the BIG EAST. Sophomore Fuquan Edwin scored a career-high 24 points, while Herb Pope notched his ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Jordan Theodore had 14 points, nine assists and six steals.
PIRATES RANKED
For the first time since Jan. 30, 2001, the Seton Hall men's basketball team is ranked in the Associated Press (AP) Poll. With 205 votes, the Pirates are ranked #24, just ahead of fellow BIG EAST member Marquette. Seton Hall had received votes in the polls two prior weeks.
BEASTS ON THE BOARDS
Seton Hall grabbed a season-high 47 rebounds in its victory at Providence on Jan. 7. Senior Herb Pope led the way with 10 rebounds. Fuquan Edwin was second on the team with nine rebounds. Freshman Brandon Mobley tied his career high with seven rebounds in a career-high 28 minutes, while sophomore Aaron Geramipoor grabbed a career-high six boards.
EDWIN'S EXCELLENCE
Sophomore Fuquan Edwin had one of the finest all-around performances of his young career at Providence on Jan. 7. The 6-foot-6 forward scored a career-high 24 points, while connecting on his first five three-pointer attempts. He also grabbed nine rebounds and recorded five steals to add to his national lead.
THEODORE NAMED TO HONOR ROLL
Senior point guard Jordan Theodore was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Jan. 9. He averaged 16.5 points, 10.0 assists and 4.5 steals in a week that saw Seton Hall go 2-0 with victories over #8 Connecticut and at Providence. Theodore, the BIG EAST assists leader, tallied 19 points and 11 assists vs. UConn and 14 points and nine assists at Providence. Earlier this season, he became the 38th player in Seton Hall history to record 1,000 career points.
CLIMBING THE SCORING CHART
With 11 points at Providence, senior Herb Pope passed Ed Petrie, Charles Mitchel and Martin Salley into 41st place on the all-time scoring list with 948 career points. He's on pace to become the 39th player in Seton Hall history to record 1,000 career points.
APPROACHING 500
Sophomore Fuquan Edwin now has 471 career points. He is poised to become the 109th player in Seton Hall history to record 500 career points.
PIRATES UPSET #8 UCONN, 75-63
Seton Hall held Connecticut to just 22 first half points, and 35.1% shooting for the game and the Pirates shocked the eighth-ranked Huskies, 75-63, on Jan. 3. Four Pirates scored in double-figures, led by senior Jordan Theodore who notched his fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 assists. The Pirates also out-rebounded and forced more turnovers than Connecticut.
ANOTHER STREAK HALTED
Just three days after Seton Hall snapped West Virginia's streak of seven straight wins over the Pirates, it ended Connecticut's 11-game win streak. Prior to Seton Hall's 75-63 victory over UConn on Jan. 3, the Pirates hadn't beaten the Huskies since March 3, 2001. Until this season, Seton Hall had never beaten both UConn and West Virginia in the same year.
AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
The Pirates have begun the 2011-12 season with a perfect 9-0 record at the Prudential Center. Last season Seton Hall went 8-7 at their home arena. All-time, Seton Hall is 51-24 in the building. Furthermore, Seton Hall is 20-18 all-time at Prudential Center against BIG EAST opponents. The Pirates haven't won their first nine home games since 1998-99.
FU'S FIRST
Sophomore Fuquan Edwin recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds in Seton Hall's upset of Connecticut on Jan. 3. It was his first-ever double-double after coming up short six prior times with just nine rebounds. The talented forward is currently averaging 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this season.
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Seton Hall's victory over #8 Connecticut on Jan. 3 improved the Pirates to 13-2 overall. Their 13 wins match the win total of the entire 2010-11 season, head coach Kevin Willard's first in South Orange. Last year, Seton Hall finished 13-18 overall and 7-11 in the BIG EAST. At 14-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference, the Pirates are poised to shatter both win totals of a year ago.
MOB TACTICS
Freshman Brandon Mobley turned in the best performance of his young career against #8 Connecticut on Jan. 3. The 6-foot-9 Savannah, Ga. native tied a career-high eight points, while grabbing a career-high seven rebounds in 20 minutes of action. Mobley hit a pair of clutch three-pointers in the first half to keep the Pirates in front of the talented Huskies. He was playing in only his sixth game of the season since returning from shoulder surgery.
BEATING RANKED TEAMS
Seton Hall's victory over #8 Connecticut on Jan. 3 was its first over a ranked opponent this season and only its seventh in the last five years. The Pirates' last win over a ranked opponent came last season when they defeated #15 St. John's, 84-70, at the Prudential Center on March 3. Seton Hall also beat #9 Syracuse at the Carrier Dome last season, 90-68.
PIRATES MAUL MOUNTAINEERS, 67-48
Seton Hall earned its first BIG EAST win of the season with a 67-48 victory over West Virginia on Dec. 30. In their best defensive effort of the year, the Pirates held the Mountaineers to just 48 points, matching the season-low for a Seton Hall opponent. West Virginia shot just 32.1% from the floor and committed 17 turnovers. Fuquan Edwin led the team with 19 points. Jordan Theodore had 18 points and eight assists.
DARLING DECEMBER
Seton Hall closed out the month of December with a 67-48 victory over West Virginia to improve the team to 7-1 in the month. It's the Pirates' best December since going 6-0 during the 1998-99 season.
NATIONAL ATTENTION
In the Jan. 2 release of the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls, Seton Hall is receiving votes. The Pirates received three votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Two weeks ago, they made their debut in that poll with one vote. Seton Hall received two votes this week in the AP Poll. It is the team's debut in that respective poll.
PIRATES FALL AT #1 SYRACUSE, 75-49
Seton Hall had its eight-game win streak snapped on Dec. 28 with a 75-49 loss at #1 Syracuse. The Pirates played the Orange much closer in the second half, but shot just 18.5% from the field in the first half and found themselves down 34-15 at halftime. Jordan Theodore led the team with 14 points. Seton Hall grabbed a season-high 45 rebounds, but committed a season-high 23 turnovers.
BENCH BOOST
For the first time this season, Seton Hall's bench outscored its opponent's bench. The Pirates received career outputs from freshmen Sean Grennan and Brandon Mobley. Grennan tallied career-highs of five points and three assists. Mobley had career-highs of eight points and five rebounds. Every Pirate who played scored in the game, including bench players Haralds Karlis, Freddie Wilson and Aaron Geramipoor.
PIRATES ROUT LONGWOOD, 87-61
Seton Hall started slow, but used a 13-2 run late in the first half to pull away and eventually defeat Longwood, 87-61, for its eighth straight victory and second straight road win. The Pirates shot a season-high 57.1% from the floor for the game, which included a blistering 63.3% in the first half. Seton Hall out-rebounded the Lancers, 38-30, and forced more turnovers, 16-to-9.
THEODORE JOINS 1,000-POINT CLUB
Senior Jordan Theodore needed just 12 points at Longwood to become the 38th player in Seton Hall history to record 1,000 career points. The point guard finished with a career-high 26 points against the Lancers. Theodore is now averaging 15.9 points per game this season.
CAREER HIGHS
Senior Jordan Theodore scored a career-high 26 points on 11-for-18 shooting at Longwood. The point guard also dished out six assists and continues to lead the BIG EAST in assists per game. Sophomore Fuquan Edwin tied a career-high with 20 points on an efficient 9-for-12 shooting. He also grabbed five rebounds and four steals in a strong game.
A+ FOR BIG A
Sophomore Aaron Geramipoor turned in arguably his best career effort vs. West Virginia. The 6-foot-11 backup center tallied a career-high four points in a career-high 21 minutes. It's his second straight strong performance. Geramipoor grabbed a career-high five rebounds in 13 minutes of action at Syracuse.
HONORS FOR THEO
Senior Jordan Theodore was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 26 for leading the Pirates to a pair of road wins at Dayton and Longwood. Theodore averaged 20 points and 7.0 assists per game last week. His 26 points at Longwood was a career-high.
STARTING STRONG
With the victory at Longwood on Dec. 23, Seton Hall improved to 11-1 on the young season. It's the best season start for a Pirates' team since beginning 14-1 during the 1992-93 campaign. That season, the Pirates went on to win the BIG EAST Championship.
LET'S GO STREAKING
Seton Hall's victory at Longwood on Dec. 23 was its eighth straight. It was the longest win streak of the Kevin Willard era and the most since Seton Hall won eight straight to open the 2009-10 season.
NON-CONFERENCE EXCELLENCE
Seton Hall completed its 2011-12 non-conference schedule with a record of 11-1. It's the team's best non-conference showing since going 11-1 during the 1990-91 season. That year, the Pirates won their first BIG EAST Championship.
PIRATES WIN FIRST ROAD TEST, 69-64 AT DAYTON
Seton Hall used a balanced offensive attack and shot a season-high 54.0% from the floor to defeat Dayton, 69-64, in their first true road game of the season. For the Flyers, it was just their 13th loss in the last six years at home. The victory avenged a home loss to Dayton last year by almost the same final score (69-65). Seton Hall turned the ball over eight times in the first half, but just three times in the second.
RETURN TO SENDER
Seton Hall tied its season-high with six blocks at Dayton on Dec. 21. Senior Herb Pope and sophomore Patrik Auda had three each.
AUDA-SIGHT!
Sophomore Patrik Auda recorded a career-high 18 points in Seton Hall's victory at Dayton on Dec. 21. The 6-foot-9 forward did so on 7-for-10 shooting from the floor, including 2-for-3 from three-point range. He also tied a career-high with three blocks. Over a stretch of 6:10 in the second half, Auda scored 11 straight points for the Pirates.
PIRATES OUTLAST MERCER, 80-77 in OT
Five players scored in double-figures as Seton Hall improved to 9-1 on the season with an 80-77 overtime victory against Mercer in the non-conference home finale. Senior Herb Pope had another monster game with game-highs of 24 points and 17 rebounds for his nation-leading eighth double-double of the season.
ROCK PROTECTION
Seton Hall completed its non-conference home schedule with a perfect 7-0 record. It's the first time since 2003-04 that the Pirates went undefeated at home against non-conference opponents.
MOBLEY RETURNS
After missing the team's first nine games to start the season, freshman Brandon Mobley saw four minutes of action vs. Mercer on Dec. 18. The 6-foot-9 forward grabbed one rebound and dished out one assist in his collegiate debut.
FOURTH STRAIGHT HONOR ROLL
Senior Herb Pope was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for a fourth consecutive week on Dec. 19. It marked the fifth straight week he was honored by the conference as he was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Nov. 21. Last week, Pope tallied 24 points and a season-high 17 rebounds in a victory over Mercer.
STEALS RECORD TIED
Sophomore Fuquan Edwin tied Seton Hall's single-game record with eight steals vs. Mercer on Dec. 18. The Paterson, N.J. native tied former Pirates Level Sanders and Paul Gause, who notched eight steals three times. Edwin leads the BIG EAST with 3.2 steals per game and the nation with a total of 51 steals.
PIRATES CHOP DOWN WAKE FOREST, 68-54
Seton Hall used a 16-3 run late in the first half to lift itself to a 68-54 victory over Wake Forest on Dec. 10. The Pirates received another monster game from senior Herb Pope who tallied game-highs of 26 points and 14 rebounds. As a team, The Hall shot 48.9% from the floor compared to 39.6% for the Demon Deacons. Seton Hall out-rebounded Wake Forest, 33-to-28 and committed a season-low seven turnovers.
"HERB"ICIDE KILLS FOREST
Senior Herb Pope proved vs. Wake Forest once again that he's more than just one of the elite rebounders in the BIG EAST. The 6-foot-8 power forward erupted for a game-high 26 points on 8-for-9 shooting to lead the Pirates in a convincing 14-point victory over an ACC opponent. Pope also set career-highs with nine free-throws made and 14 free-throw attempts.
RARE WINS OVER SEC & ACC
Seton Hall's victory over Wake Forest on Dec. 10 completed a rare feat for the team. Coupled with their victory over Auburn on Dec. 2, it marked the first time the Pirates had recorded victories over an SEC and ACC opponent in the same season since the historic 1988-89 campaign. That year, Seton Hall defeated Kentucky, 63-60, in the Great Alaska Shootout and Duke, 95-78, in the national semifinals.
THIRD STRAIGHT HONOR ROLL
Senior Herb Pope was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for a third consecutive week on Dec. 13. It marked the fourth straight week he was honored by the conference as he was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Nov. 21. Last week, Pope averaged 25.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game while guiding Seton Hall to victories over NJIT and Wake.
AMONG NATION'S BEST
Against Mercer, senior Herb Pope recorded a double-double, the 27th of his career. The 6-foot-8 power forward scored 24 points to go with 17 rebounds, displaying much of the inside rebounding prowess that had him become the first Seton Hall player to lead the BIG EAST in rebounding two years ago. Pope's nine double-doubles in 16 games currently rank him among the most in the nation. His 28 career double-doubles makes him the active career leader in the BIG EAST.
PIRATES HANDLE HIGHLANDERS, 78-48
Seton Hall used a 29-2 second half run to defeat NJIT, 78-48, for its fourth straight victory. The Pirates' stout defense limited the Highlanders to just four second half field goals and a shooting percentage of just 15.4%. Seton Hall grabbed a season-high 40 rebounds and committed a season-low nine turnovers. The Pirates scored more field goals in the second half (16) than NJIT scored in the entire game (15).
ASSISTING THE RECORD BOOKS
Senior Jordan Theodore recorded a career-high 11 assists vs. NJIT on Dec. 6. He recorded assists on the Pirates' first six field goals vs. NJIT, which had media members looking at the single-game record (17 - Paul Lape in 1973). Theodore is on pace for 228 assists this season. The Pirates' single-season record for assists is 197, set by Golden Sunkett in 1962-63.
PIRATES VISIT ST. BARNABAS
The Pirates took some time out from their hectic early season schedule on Friday, Dec. 9 to pay a visit to the patients at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. "It was a great experience," said senior forward Herb Pope. "It's a great feeling to bring a smile to those kids' faces. We spent time talking with them and joking about how good the food was. Doing things like that really helps keep things in perspective and makes you realize all the things we have to be grateful for." Team members and coaches spent several hours visiting with the patients in the pediatric and burn units.
RAINING THREE'S
Against NJIT, Seton Hall went 9-for-20 from three-point range. Seven different Pirates connected from downtown, with freshman Aaron Cosby leading the way with three made. Only Sean Grennan, who played just seven minutes, and Aaron Geramipoor, who has yet to attempt a three-pointer in his career, did not make a "three" among scholarship players on the active roster.
DILL'S DAY
Senior walk-on Pete Dill scored his first career points with a put-back bucket late in Seton Hall's 78-48 win over NJIT on Dec. 6. The 6-foot-3 guard put up a shot, got his own rebound and connected. He also picked up a career-high two rebounds in the effort.
PIRATES TROUNCE TIGERS, 81-59
Seton Hall handed Auburn its first loss of the season with an 81-59 trouncing of the Tigers in the BIG EAST/SEC Challenge on Dec. 2 at Prudential Center. Four Pirates scored in double-figures and were led by Herb Pope's sixth double-double of the season. Seton Hall is now 1-1 all-time in the annual event.
CZECH-MATE
Sophomore Patrik Auda scored a career-high 17 points in Seton Hall's victory over Auburn. The 6-foot-9 forward did all of his scoring in the second half and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Auda also included five rebounds and three assists in a strong all-around performance.
FEELING GENEROUS
In Seton Hall's victory at Dayton, senior Jordan Theodore dished out eight assists to go with 14 points. Theodore is currently averaging a career-best 7.4 assists per game which leads the BIG EAST Conference.
ANOTHER HONOR ROLL
Senior Herb Pope was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 5 for a second straight week for leading the Pirates to a 1-0 week with a victory over Auburn in the BIG EAST/SEC Challenge. Pope tallied 23 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and three steals in a strong all-around effort.
PIRATES PICK OFF PEACOCKS
Seton Hall used an 11-2 run late in the second half to defeat in-state non-conference rival Saint Peter's, 63-54, on Nov. 26 at the Prudential Center. Both Pirates' seniors, Herb Pope and Jordan Theodore recorded double-doubles in the victory. Seton Hall shot 42.1% from the floor and forced 17 Peacock turnovers.
BIG EAST / SEC CHALLENGE
The Pirates hosted Auburn as part of the 2011 field for the BIG EAST/SEC Challenge on Friday, Dec. 2. The game was carried by ESPNU. Last season, Seton Hall lost to Arkansas, 71-62 at Louisville, in this event. The Pirates did however, go 1-1 against SEC opponents in 2010-11 with an 83-78 victory over Alabama in the opening round of the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. This was the first-ever meeting between Seton Hall and Auburn.
PIRATES TAME BULLDOGS
Seton Hall returned to the win column with a 73-62 victory over Yale on Nov. 22. The Pirates had a balanced scoring attack with four players in double-figures. Seton Hall shot 44.6% from the field, their fifth straight game of shooting 40% or better. The Pirates improved to 4-1 with the victory despite shooting just 2-for-16 from three-point range in the victory.
NOT BOOS, FOOS
Super-sophomore Fuquan Edwin scored a career-high 20 points in a victory over Yale on Nov. 22. The 6-foot-6 swingman also grabbed seven rebounds and made a career-high five steals. Edwin played a game-high 39 minutes and was 7-for-12 from the field and a career-high 6-for-8 from the free-throw line.
MEN OF STEAL
On Nov. 22 vs. Yale, Seton Hall recorded a season-high 13 steals. Both Fuquan Edwin and Jordan Theodore tallied a career-high five steals each.
A REGULAR OPPONENT
When Seton Hall hosted Saint Peter's on Nov. 26, it was the 83rd meeting all-time between the schools. The Pirates have faced Saint Peter's more than any other non-conference opponent. Overall, only Villanova (100), Georgetown (93), Providence (89) and St. John's (87) have logged more games against the Seton Hall than the Peacocks.
PIRATES FALL TO NORTHWESTERN, 80-73
Seton Hall rallied, but fell short, and suffered its first loss of the 2011-12 season, 80-73, to Northwestern in the championship game of the Charleston Classic. The Pirates trailed by 12 with just over 15 minutes remaining, but used a 15-0 run to take a three-point lead with 8:29 left. The Wildcats took control late however, connecting on 17-of-19 free-throws. Seton Hall was just 5-for-6 from the line for the game.
POPE'S PERFORMANCE
Senior Herb Pope played arguably the best game of his career against Northwestern in the title game of the Charleston Classic. The 6-foot-8 power forward erupted for a career-high 32 points on an efficient 14-for-17 from the field. He was also 2-for-2 from three-point range. Pope also collected nine rebounds, narrowly missing his fourth straight double-double, and recorded two blocks and two steals.
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN
Seton Hall was 10-for-23 for 43.5% from three-point range against Northwestern on Nov. 20, all season-highs. Cosby made three, Herb Pope, Jordan Theodore and Haralds Karlis had two each. Fuquan Edwin made one made three-pointer.
POPE'S NAMED POTW
Senior Herb Pope was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Nov. 21 for his exploits through the first four games of the 2011-12 campaign. In leading the Pirates to a 3-1 start, Pope has averaged 22.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.
SECOND PLACE FINISH
Seton Hall placed second in the eight-team field at the 2011 Charleston Classic, falling to Northwestern, 80-73, in the championship game. Saint Joseph's won the consolation game over Tulsa for third place. LSU defeated Georgia Tech for fifth place, while VCU defeated Western Kentucky for seventh place.
ALL-TOURNAMENT HERB
During the Charleston Classic, senior Herb Pope averaged 23.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game to earn him a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Joining him was Drew Crawford and John Shurna of Northwestern, Carl Jones of Saint Joseph's and Anthony Hickey of LSU.
PIRATES DOWN SAINT JOSEPH'S, 78-70
Seton Hall used a balanced offensive attack to defeat Saint Joseph's, 78-70, in the semifinals of the 2011 Charleston Classic. Four players scored in double-figures including Jordan Theodore who led the team with 18 points. The Pirates trailed by seven at halftime, but shot 58.3% in the second half to outscore the Hawks, 46-to-31, in the final 20 minutes.
THE COSBY SHOW
Freshman Aaron Cosby had a coming out party against Saint Joseph's of Nov. 18. The guard connected on 3-of-6 three-pointer attempts and scored a career-high 13 points in 38 minutes of action. Cosby has started all 16 games this season and is starting to show why he had a reputation for being a clutch shooter.
NEAR TRIPLE-DOUBLE
Senior Jordan Theodore nearly recorded the program's second-ever triple-double vs. Saint Joseph's on Nov. 18. The point guard tallied 18 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in a fantastic all-around effort. The double-double was the first of his career. The only triple-double in school history was recorded by Eddie Griffin on Dec. 4, 2000 against Norfolk State. He had 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks.
EDWIN'S EXCELLENCE
Sophomore Fuquan Edwin enjoyed a 2011-12 coming out party vs. VCU. The 6-foot-6 swingman scored 18 points, one off his career-high, on the strength of 4-for-5 shooting from three-point range. He grabbed nine rebounds and collected three steals.
OVERTIME WIN
Seton Hall's 75-71 overtime victory against St. Francis was the team's first extra-session win since they defeated Cincinnati at Fifth Third Arena, 67-63 on March 7, 2009. Since then, the Pirates had dropped six straight overtime games.
PIRATES RAM RAMS
On the strength of its defense Seton Hall defeated VCU in convincing fashion, 69-54, in the opening round of the Charleston Classic on Nov. 18. Seniors Herb Pope and Jordan Theodore had 20 points apiece for the Pirates. Seton Hall out-shot, out-rebounded and forced more turnovers than the Rams in a complete team effort. The Pirates shot an impressive 46.8% from the floor.
PIRATES EDGE TERRIERS IN OT
The Seton Hall men's basketball team began the 2011-12 regular season with a 75-71 overtime victory against St. Francis (N.Y.) on Nov. 12. The Pirates trailed by as many as 13 points with just over 12 minutes remaining in regulation, but The Hall battled back and Jordan Theodore's running layup with under two seconds remaining sent the game into overtime.
CAREER DAY FOR THEODORE
Senior Jordan Theodore scored a career-high 25 points in Seton Hall's season-opening overtime victory against St. Francis on Nov. 12. The point guard played 41 minutes and hit a running layup with under two seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. In the extra session, Theodore was 7-for-7 from the free-throw line to ice the victory for the Pirates.
TAKEAWAYS
The Pirates' defense forced St. Francis into 24 turnovers in Seton Hall's season-opening 75-71 overtime victory. It is the most takeaways for a Pirates' team in the Kevin Willard era and the most since forcing James Madison into 33 turnovers on Dec. 22, 2007.
POPE'S PLAY
Senior Herb Pope put forth a strong effort in Seton Hall's season-opening 75-71 overtime victory against St. Francis. The 6-foot-8 forward scored 21 points and grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds in 38 minutes of action. Pope also tallied two blocks and two steals in a strong all-around game.
CHARLESTON CLASSIC
Seton Hall was a part of the eight-team field at the 2011 Charleston Classic set to be held, Nov. 17-20, at Carolina First Arena in Charleston, S.C. In addition to the Pirates, participating schools include: Georgia Tech, LSU, Northwestern, Saint Joseph's, Tulsa, VCU and Western Kentucky. The 2011 Charleston Classic, a bracket-format tournament, will feature 12 games over the three days. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. Seton Hall will face VCU in the first round on Nov. 17.
SEASON OPENERS
With Seton Hall's overtime victory over St. Francis on Nov. 12, the Pirates have now won their opening game in 11 of the last 13 years. Last season, the Pirates lost at #22 Temple, 62-56, to begin the year. Seton Hall is 85-14-1 all-time on opening night.
POLYNICE DRAFTED
Former Seton Hall guard Eniel Polynice was selected by the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Developmental League (NBDL) with the first pick in the third round (32nd overall) of the league's annual draft. The D-Fenders are the official NBDL affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers.
AUDA'S "WORLDLY" PERFORMANCES
Sophomore Patrik Auda started all eight games for the Czech Republic national team last summer at the World University Games in Shenzen, China. He finished with team-high averages of 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds to go along with 1.8 steals per game. Against Japan in the final game of the tournament, Auda tallied 27 points, the highest single-game scoring output by any Czech player in the tournament, and grabbed nine rebounds. He was 9-for-11 from the field, including 3-of-4 from downtown.
THE KIDS AT THE HALL
The 2011-12 Pirates roster will feature five true freshmen. Aaron Cosby, Haralds Karlis and Freddie Wilson signed in November, while Sean Grennan and Brandon Mobley were added in the spring.
FORMER PIRATES SIGN OVERSEAS
Jeremy Hazell and Jeff Robinson will both be playing basketball in Europe this fall. Hazell signed a contract to play professionally with Lucentum Alicante of Spain. The team plays in the Spanish ACB League, the nation's top league and one of the most heralded leagues in all of Europe. Robinson signed a contract with BSC Raiffeisen Furstenfeld in Austria. The team participates in Austria's "A" league. Hazell was released by Lucentum Alicante in early November.
THE VETERANS
The Pirates this fall won't be without veteran leadership this fall. Herb Pope and Jordan Theodore will return for their senior campaigns. Both have an opportunity to surpass 1,000 career points this season. To date, there are 37 members of the prestigious 1,000-point club with the most recent addition being Jeremy Hazell. Hazell currently ranks third on Seton Hall's all-time scoring list with 2,146 points.
COLLECTING CANARIAS
Freshman Haralds Karlis is the third current player on the Seton Hall men's basketball roster from the Canarias Basketball Academy (CBA) in the Canary Islands. Karlis re-joins former teammates Patrik Auda and Aaron Geramipoor who are both CBA alumni. The three represent a heavy international flavor on the Pirates this year. Karlis is originally from Riga, Latvia. Auda is from Brno, Czech Republic and Geramipoor is from Manchester, England.
PIRATES ADD TRANSFERS
Brian Oliver and Eugene Teague transferred to Seton Hall this summer following two seasons at Georgia Tech and Southern Illinois University respectively. Both will not be permitted to play in games for the Pirates this season per NCAA transfer regulations, but will be allowed to practice with the team. Oliver averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds last season for the Yellow Jackets and exploded for 32 points in a close loss to Syracuse on Nov. 27. In two seasons, he made 99 three-pointers for Georgia Tech. Teague tallied a team third-best 8.6 points per game and a second-best 5.3 rebounds per game for the Salukis in 2010-11. The Vineland native led Southern Illinois with a .606 field goal percentage.
TURN UP THE RADIO
For the ninth consecutive year, play-by-play voice Gary Cohen and color analyst Dave Popkin will team up to call all the Pirate action. Each of Seton Hall's 30 regular season games will be heard on either 77 WABC or ESPN New York 1050 Radio. 77 WABC has a long history of broadcasting Pirates basketball and will transmit 18 games this year including Seton Hall's first seven BIG EAST contests including its matchup with defending national champion Connecticut on Jan. 3. ESPN New York 1050 joins the Seton Hall family and will broadcast the remaining 12 games including the Pirates' season-opener vs. St. Francis on Nov. 12 and seven of the team's first eight games. As in the past, every Seton Hall game, home and away, will also be heard on WSOU 89.5 FM, Seton Hall's student radio station. Led by sports director David Rind, WSOU's coverage will again feature "Hall Line" following each basketball broadcast.
WATCH THE PIRATES
Overall, at least 23 of the Pirates' 30 regular season games will be televised with nine games on national television. The Pirates' four non-televised home games will be streamed live via the Pirates Sports Network at www.SHUpirates.com. All 18 of the Pirates' BIG EAST match-ups will be televised either nationally or regionally this season. National broadcasts include games with West Virginia on Dec. 30 and Rutgers on Feb. 8, which will be shown on ESPN2. Games with Villanova on Jan. 18, and Rutgers on Feb. 25, will be carried by ESPNU. Contests with DePaul on Jan. 10 and USF on Jan. 13 will be shown on ESPN3. The Pirates' contest vs. Pittsburgh on Feb. 12 has been designated as the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week.
NOVEMBER REIGN
Seton Hall's win over Saint Peter's on Nov. 26 improved SHU to 28-6 in the month of November over the last six years.
2011-12 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
The Pirates will play 12 non-conference games with seven home dates at the Prudential Center. Seton Hall's home games include the season opener vs. St. Francis (N.Y.) on Saturday, Nov. 12, Yale on Tuesday, Nov. 22, Saint Peter's on Saturday, Nov. 26, NJIT on Tuesday, Dec. 6, Wake Forest on Saturday, Dec. 10 and Mercer on Sunday, Dec. 18. Pirates' road games include Dayton on Wednesday, Dec. 21 and Longwood on Friday, Dec. 23. Seton Hall will face Auburn at Prudential Center as part of the BIG EAST/SEC Challenge on Dec. 2. They will also play three neutral site games at the Charleston Classic, Nov. 17-20, including an opening round game against VCU.
LOOKING AHEAD
USF
Friday, Jan 13, 2012
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Times Forum
Tampa, Fla.
TV: ESPN3
Live Audio Stream: www.SHUpirates.com
Radio: 77 WABC AM / WSOU 89.5 FM
NOTEBOOK: Seton Hall will return to the road on Friday, Jan. 13 when it travels to Tampa to face USF. The Pirates have won eight out of nine all-time meetings with the Bulls including a 64-55 victory last season at the Prudential Center. Herb Pope logged 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead five Pirates in double-figures in scoring. The Pirates lost in their last trip to Tampa in overtime two seasons ago.
USF returns two starters from a team that went 10-23 and placed 15th in the BIG EAST last year. Augustus Gilchrist returns to bolster the Bulls' front court. To date, he is averaging more than 11 points and six rebounds per game. The Sundome is being renovated so the Bulls are playing in other venues. They'll host the Pirates at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
