Hall Squares Off with NR/RV GW Saturday
11/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Fresh off a stretch that featured three victories in four days and sent the Seton Hall men's basketball team back from the Virgin Islands with some coveted cargo, the Pirates return to the Prudential Center on Saturday to face perhaps their stiffest test to this point in the season in the form of an experienced George Washington squad.
The Hall (4-0) captured its first eight-team tournament title since 1988-89 with commanding victories over Nevada, Gardner Webb and Illinois State; trailing for little more than 90 seconds combined throughout the three contests. Now, head coach Kevin Willard's group stands at 4-0 for the first time in five seasons and is set to square off with a 3-1 Colonials squad that was picked to finish second in a loaded Atlantic 10 after advancing to the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
Junior point guard Sterling Gibbs (Scotch Plains, N.J.) delivered a performance for the ages against the Redbirds to help SHU take home the crown, pouring in a career-high 40 points on 10-of-14 shooting that included a 7-for-9 showing from long distance. Gibbs tallied 23 of his points in the second half, sinking all 10 of his free throws in the period to help The Hall hang on for an 84-80 win after taking a 14-point lead into the break.
The Paradise Jam MVP, Gibbs ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring (22.0 ppg) and has helped fuel a long range barrage that has vitalized the Seton Hall attack. Gibbs and backcourt mate Jaren Sina (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) each stand in the top-five in the league in both 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage while The Hall owns the sixth-best connect rate from beyond the arc in the nation (.467).
Such proficiency could help the Pirates score another impressive early season victory on Saturday. George Washington, a team that continued to receive votes in the latest coaches' poll, has held its opponents to a paltry 12-for-56 mark (.214) from behind the line but has struggled to find the range on the offensive end. The Colonials' starters have shot a collective 9-for-38 from deep and the team percentage is only approaching 30 percent because reserves Yuta Watanabe and Nick Griffin have each converted six of 13 attempts.
Despite their lack of success from beyond the arc, this is a George Washington starting lineup that features five upperclassmen and three preseason All-Atlantic 10 honorees.
Argentinian swingman Patricio Garino is one of four starters shooting over 48 percent from the floor through the first four outings and was a preseason First Team All-Conference selection. Garino is joined in a talented junior class by 6-foot-10, 260-pound Danish forward Kevin Larsen - whose battle on the boards with standout Seton Hall freshman Angel Delgado (Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic) will be a matchup to watch - as well as the dynamic backcourt tandem of Kethan Savage and Joe McDonald.
Savage will enter the contest leading GW at 13.5 points/game while the diminutive McDonald has snatched a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game to go with averages of 9.5 points and 4.8 assists. The Colonials may need McDonald to continue excelling on the glass to limit a Seton Hall contingent that has proven one of the best in the league at generating extra opportunities; posting 14.3 offensive boards per outing.
Gibbs, Sina and Delgado will help the Pirates counter the George Washington experience with their own unique blend of veterans and newcomers that has rapidly jelled into a formidable unit. Freshman Desi Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.) was named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team while classmate Isaiah Whitehead (Brooklyn, N.Y.) is coming off a career-best 18-point performance and has handed out six assists in each of the last two outings.
Senior Brandon Mobley (Savannah, Ga.) has provided a two-way presence, twice scoring in double-figures while maintain his place among the conference's top shot blockers (1.8/game, fourth BIG EAST) while newcomer Khadeen Carrington (Brooklyn, N.Y.) has packed a scoring punch off the bench and recorded eight assists with just one turnover in four appearances.
Saturday will mark the sixth all-time meeting between the programs but the first since the turn of the millennium. Seton Hall is 3-0 all-time against GW at home but dropped a 72-63 decision on a neutral floor is Washington D.C. when the two last met as part of the BB&T Classic in 1999-00.
Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. EDT from the Prudential Center with a live national telecast scheduled to be carried on the FOX Sports Networks. The matchup can be viewed locally on the YES Network and the Seton Hall radio team of Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin can be heard on 970 AM and the Pirate Sports Network on SHUPirates.com.
