No. 19 Pirates Play VCU Saturday in #NFTC2017
12/7/2017 10:48:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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| 2017 Never Forget Tribute Classic No. 19 Seton Hall Pirates (7-1, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. VCU (5-4, 0-0 Atlantic 10) |
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| Date/Time/Location | Saturday, December 9Â |Â 3 p.m. Â |Â Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.) |
| Tickets | Ticketmaster.com |
| Television Broadcast | FOX Broadcast Network | FOX Sports GO |
| Radio Broadcast | AM970 The Answer | Sirius 93 | XM 202 | Pirate Sports Network |
| Game Notes | Seton Hall | VCU |
| Links | Live Stats |  Twitter |  Facebook |
Time to play for a different cause.
It's not just about the wins and losses on Saturday. It's about helping and honor victims from Sept. 11. Saturday is the second annual Never Forget Tribute Classic, and the Pirates are taking on VCU with a special cause behind it. The Never Forget Tribute Classic is partnering with the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund to help the children of Sept. 11 victims with their postsecondary education.
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You can listen to Coach Willard's full radio interview this morning promoting the @PruCenter Never Forget Tribute Classic: https://t.co/jSxTF4QVuU#HALLin #NFTC2017 pic.twitter.com/5YnjkZ0al5
— Seton Hall MBB (@SetonHallMBB) December 8, 2017
To help honor members of the Seton Hall community who lost their lives on Sept. 11, the Pirates will be wearing a special warmup shirt prior to the game that has the names of all 14 Seton Hall community members who passed away on that day.
As part of the @PruCenter Never Forget Tribute Classic, presented by @GEICO, @SetonHallMBB will wear this @UnderArmour warmup jersey prior to facing VCU to honor the @SetonHall 9-11 victims. #NFTC2017 #HALLin
— Seton Hall Athletics (@SHUAthletics) December 6, 2017
See the Pirates in action on Saturday: https://t.co/dg09hHObPP pic.twitter.com/zJ5bcHK3kR
The team also recently visited the 9-11 Memorial & Museum to learn more about what happened that day, how heroic the first responders are and how so many people are doing great things to keep the memory of the fallen alive.
Tip time is scheduled for 3 p.m., and the game will be nationally televised on FOX, simulcast on FOX Sports GO, with Brian Custer and Donny Marshall on the call and Holly Sonders on the sideline. As usual, the dynamic duo of Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will deliver the radio broadcast on AM970 The Answer, simulcast on Sirius 93, XM 202 and the Pirate Sports Network.
THINGS TO KNOW
- No. 19 Seton Hall and VCU square off on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the second annual Never Forget Tribute Classic at Prudential Center.
- The Pirates are fresh off back-to-back wins over ranked opponents away from Prudential Center, and three consecutive victories overall - Vanderbilt, No. 22 Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden, and at No. 17 Louisville.
- Senior Desi Rodriguez has had an incredible start to his senior campaign and was named BIG EAST Player of the Week after averaging 26.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in last week's marquee victories. He has had three consecutive 20-point games and is now averaging 20.0 points per game on the season.
- Expectations are high for the Pirates this season, who have 90 percent of their scoring and rebounding back from a team that won 21 games in 2016-17, advanced to the BIG EAST Tournament semifinal, and reached the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.
- SHU has its highest AP Top-25 poll ranking since January 2015, and has not been ranked higher than 19 since 2001.
- Head coach Kevin Willard and company picked up a 69-54 win on Nov. 17, 2011 in the opening round of the Charleston Classic, the lone meeting between the two programs.
- Herb Pope registered 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Jordan Theodore added 20 points and Fuquan Edwin finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. The Pirates limited the Rams to 22 points in the first half and maintained an arm's length lead for the vast majority of the contest.
- VCU is part of the challenging non-league slate for the Pirates this season. It is one of four teams on the schedule to have made the NCAA Tournament in 2016-17, and one of six currently in the KenPom Top-100 standings.
- Seton Hall has won 20 consecutive non-conference games at Prudential Center and 24 overall, good for the 10th-longest streak in the country.
- The #NFTC2017 has partnered with the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund in support of the education of children of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Late last month, the Pirates visited the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in person to learn more.
#PiratePursuit                       Â
The Pirates have flourished in the program's previous two seasons to the likes of which the program has not seen in over 20 years, and they are in pursuit of a truly special 2017-18 campaign.
The program has gone to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time since reeling off four straight appearances from 1991-94.
Last year's campaign secured the program's first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1992-93, and first back-to-back BIG EAST Conference winning seasons since 2003-04.
The Pirates are coming off back-to-back wins over ranked opponents in four days away from home, and continue the pursuit with an important non-conference matchup against VCU on Saturday afternoon.
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In the Polls                            Â
The Pirates are back in the AP Top-25 poll after a one-week absence, and are up to No. 19, the highest ranking of the season.
Seton Hall has been in the weekly national rankings 104 times in program history, and now four times this season.
This year marked the fourth time Seton Hall was ranked in the preseason top 25
2017-18: No. 23
2000-01: No. 10
1992-93: No. 6
1991-92: No. 9
Of the 104 all-time rankings, this is the fourth time Seton Hall has been ranked No. 19, and first since January 2015.
Seton Hall's all-time record as an AP nationally ranked team is 147-49 (.750).
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Building a Resume                   Â
The Pirates have already notched several key wins in the heart of a challenging non-conference slate that features matchups against six teams in the KenPom Top-100:
Indiana - 82 (W, 84-68)
Rhode Island - 48 (L, 74-75)
Vanderbilt - 69 (W, 72-59)
Texas Tech - 18 (W, 89-79)
Louisville - 26 (W, 79-77)
VCU - 87
A total of four non-conference opponents reached the NCAA Tournament in 2016-17 including Louisville, Vanderbilt, Rhode Island and VCU.
The Pirates have gone 10-2 during non-conference play in each of the past three years.
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Rock The Rock                       Â
The Pirates have won 20 straight non-conference games at Prudential Center and are 63-8 all-time in non-league contests at The Rock.
Overall, SHU has won 24 consecutive non-conference home games, the 10th-longest streak in the country.
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#EliteDesi                             Â
Desi Rodriguez has been elite all season.
He has scored 20 or more points three games in a row, and is now averaging a team-best 20.0 points per game, on top of 4.9 rebounds per game, shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from long range.
He earned BIG EAST Player of the Week after averaging 26.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 55.9 percent in two Seton Hall victories over ranked opponents last week.
Against No. 22 Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden, he posted a game-high 24 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field, 3-for-6 from long range and 7-of-7 from the stripe. He also added four assists and seven rebounds.
At No. 17 Louisville on Sunday, the Bronx native went off for a season-high and game-high 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the field, on top of eight rebounds and two assists. He connected on the game-winning layup with 7.5 seconds remaining to lead The Hall to a 79-77 victory over the Cardinals, the program's first win at Louisville since Feb. 25, 1952.
The Pirates are now 6-0 this season when Rodriguez is the team's leading scorer, and 27-8 all-time when he scores at least 15 points.
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Halftime Adjustments              Â
Over the past four games the Pirates are averaging a +8.9 scoring margin over the final 20 minutes.
The defense has been locked in, as opponents are shooting just 34.5Â percent (41-of-119) from the field and 23.8 percent (10-of-42) from three-point range during the second half of the previous four games (Louisville, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt and Rhode Island).
Furthermore, during the final five minutes, SHU is out-shooting opponents from beyond the arc, 50.0 percent (7-of-14) to 20.0 percent (5-of-25).
The Pirates have won two games this season when trailing at the break, and are shooting 48.8 percent from the field in the second half.
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HOLD THE DOOR!                  Â
The Pirates pride themselves on defense, and have proven the ability to hold off late pushes by the opposition.
In fact, Seton Hall is 51-3 in its last 54 games (dating back to the start of the 2015-16 season) when holding a lead of seven or more at any point in the contest.
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Chomping at the Bit                Â
Although as a collective, the Pirates have played better in the second half, but Desi Rodriguez does his best work right from the jump.
Rodriguez is averaging 11.8 points and shooting 58.7 percent (37-of-63) over the first 20 minutes of games this season.
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Sharp Cheddar                       Â
The man called "Cheese" - Myles Powell, has a smooth and savory stroke from long range, and is leading the Pirates in three-point buckets, shooting 23-for-56 (41.1 percent).
He took control against Texas Tech when it mattered most. With 2:05 to go in the game, Cheese banged a three to push the lead to nine. He later made an acrobatic layup, then stole the ball on the ensuing possession and converted a layup while being fouled with 1:20 left. In all, he finished with eight of the team's final 10 points.
When Cheese gets hot, the Pirates feed off his energy and seem to play better as a collective. In fact, they are 11-5 over the course of his career when he makes three or more treys.
Cheese scored a season-best 21 points and went 5-for-7 from long range against Rhode Island on Thanksgiving, and was 4-for-8 against Texas Tech. He has scored in double-figures all eight games this year.
He has been piping hot from long range during the second half of games this season, shooting an incredible 52.2 percent (12-for-23).
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General Carrington at Your Service                                                  Â
Carrington's transition to point guard this season has been a success thus far, as he leads the team with 33 assists and has just 14 turnovers.
He has furthermore committed only 13 fouls while playing 242 minutes of lockdown defense.
In the season opener against Fairleigh Dickinson, the Pirates assisted on 22 of their 33 made field goals, which is the most in a game since Jan. 28, 2015 when the Pirates registered 23 at Marquette.
Seton Hall has finished with an even or positive assist-to-turnover ratio in six of eight games.
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Owning the Glass                    Â
It helps to have the best rebounder in the country, but rebounding is truly a team effort, and the Pirates have proven the ability to dominate.
The Pirates have out-rebounded opponents 299-254 this season, and have had a positive margin in 11 of the last 13 games dating back to last season.
The Pirates have out-scored opponents in the paint this season, 310-208.
Offensive rebounds equal second-chance points, and the Pirates have been twice as good as their opponents in taking advantage. SHU averages 14.1 second-chance points per game, while opponents are averaging just 6.9.
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Big Man, Big Expectations         Â
Angel Delgado is one of the best players in the country. His on-court dominance has garnered national attention, and his play has earned him preseason All-America honors from multiple outlets including the Associated Press.
The Dominican native led the country with 13.1 rebounds per game last season, and was a unanimous First Team BIG EAST selection and AP All-America honorable mention.
In 2016-17, he recorded over 200 more rebounds than any other player in the BIG EAST, and set the conference's single-season rebounding record (253).
Against Vanderbilt earlier this season, Delgado was held without an offensive rebound, snapping a streak of 71 games with one or more offensive boards.
He has grabbed one or more offensive rebounds in 103 of 106 career games.
Delgado's 3.8 offensive boards per game so far this season is good for 16th in the country.
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Scoop n' Score                        Â
The Pirates have scored 134 points off 131 turnovers through the first eight games of the season, and have won the turnover battle five times.
The Pirates have won nine consecutive games when they register a positive assist-to-turnover ratio and 14 of the last 15.Â
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Unmatched Senior Scorers        Â
Between Delgado, Rodriguez, Carrington and Sanogo, the Pirates entered 2017-18 with the most senior points returning in the country:
Seton Hall - 3,816 points - four players
Idaho - 3,736 points - six players
Purdue - 3,392 points - four players
Xavier - 3,088 points - three players
Bucknell - 3,026 points - three players
Drake - 2,988 points - six players
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Do Not Pass Sanogo                 Â
Largely considered one of the top defenders in the BIG EAST, Ismael Sanogo throughout his career has played a crucial role in shutting down top opponent scorers and limiting teams to below their scoring average.
Against Rhode Island, his presence in the second half allowed the Pirates to get back in the game, as they limited the Rams to just 21 points on 25.8 percent shooting over the final 20 minutes.
He was also a major factor in holding Vanderbilt scoreless for an 11-minute stretch in the SHU victory, while contributing eight rebounds and four blocks.
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One of the All-Timers              Â
Whether it is dribble-drive and slash to the hoop, or filling it up from long range, Khadeen Carrington has a natural scoring ability that ranks him among the all-time greats at The Hall.
Currently, Carrington is 22nd on the all-time scoring leaderboard with 1,410 career points.
The Brooklyn native has scored 20 or more points 18 times in his career, and led the Pirates with 17.1 points per game last season.
He put on one of the best individual performances in program history with a career-high 41 points, capped by a last-second steal and breakaway slam, in an 87-81 home win over No. 20 Creighton last year.
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Offensive Showcase                  Â
The Pirates unloaded some serious offensive power against No. 22 Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden.
Entering the game, the Red Raiders were leading the country in field goal percentage defense (33.5), were third in scoring defense (55.3), and had not given up 70 or more points in any of their first six games.
However, the Pirates, playing at their "home away from home," finished with 89 points, shot 50.8 percent (30-of-59) from the field, and was a season-best 11-for-20 from long range (55.0 percent).
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That's Usin' Your Noggin'Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Junior Mike Nzei is one of the brightest all-around student-athletes at Seton Hall, and the economics major is a two-time All-Academic BIG EAST selection.
Unsurprisingly, his intellect translates to the court in terms of his efficiency and shot selection.
He led the team in field goal percentage in 2016-17, shooting an incredible 65.1 percent from the field (54-of-82), and would have been second in the BIG EAST if he registered enough attempts to qualify.
He is tied for the team lead in dunks (four), and the Pirates are 5-1 all-time when he scores in double figures
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1,000 Point Club                    Â
Desi Rodriguez, Angel Delgado and Khadeen Carrington entered the season as the only trio of returners with 1,000 or more career points.
In fact, all three reached the milestone in 2016-17, becoming only the program's second trio of 1,000-point scorers to be active in the same season, joining John Morton, Daryll Walker and Ramon Ramos of the program's historical 1988-89 national runner-up season.
Delgado is the NCAA's active leader in career rebounds (1,127) and double-doubles (55), and is the only active 1,000-point, 1,000-rebound player in the country.
