Pirates Travel to No. 1 Villanova on SB Sunday

Sunday, February 4

Villanova, Pa.

12 p.m.

Seton Hall University

Villanova

2/2/2018 5:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball

WATCH LISTEN

2017-18 BIG EAST Game Seton Hall Pirates (17-5, 6-3 BIG EAST) at Villanova Wildcats (21-1, 8-1 BIG EAST)
Date/Time/Location	Sunday, February 4 \| 12 p.m. \| Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Television Broadcast	FOX Broadcast Network (Channel 5 in NY) \| FOX Sports GO
Radio Broadcast	AM970 The Answer \| Pirate Sports Network
Game Notes	Seton Hall \| Villanova
Links	Live Stats \| Twitter \| Facebook \| Instagram

On each of the last 24 visits to Villanova, Seton Hall men's basketball has made the trip to the university's campus.

This year, they're heading to the City.

For the first time since Dec. 22, 1982, the Seton Hall at Villanova game will be played in Philadelphia. But instead of the Palestra as it was 36 years ago, it'll be Wells Fargo Center, home to the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers. Regardless of the venue, the Pirates are looking for their first road win over Villanova since 1994, and they have four seniors amped up for a chance to break that streak.

In addition, The Hall will be facing the No. 1 team in the country for the 15th time in program history, still looking for its first-ever win.

Villanova has been dominant in the BIG EAST since the reconfiguration in 2013; 79-12, which includes BIG EAST tournament games, to go with all four regular season championships and two tournament titles. But, one thing Seton Hall has going for it? The Hall and Butler are tied for the most wins over Villanova since the formation; each school has won three times.

Sunday's game will be nationally televised on big FOX with Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson on the call, Lisa Byington patrolling the sidelines and the immortal Steve Scheer producing. The game is scheduled to tip at 12:07 p.m. As always, the dynamic duo of Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will deliver the radio broadcast on AM970 The Answer, simulcast on the Pirate Sports Network.

Before the game the @BIGEAST honored @angelluis45 for becoming the all-time conference leader in rebounds! #HALLin pic.twitter.com/0A0Easp8YL
— Seton Hall MBB (@SetonHallMBB) February 1, 2018

Have yourself a day, @kcarrington11. Have. Yourself. A. Day. Here's all nine makes in last night's win over PC! #HALLin ?????????????????? pic.twitter.com/SUSUsIvNB8
— Seton Hall MBB (@SetonHallMBB) February 1, 2018

THINGS TO KNOW

The Pirates visit Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon for a crucial matchup against BIG EAST rival Villanova.
On Wednesday night, Khadeen Carrington erupted for 23 points and seven assists, and Seton Hall used a 19-0 first-half run to pull away as it recorded a 73-57 victory over Providence at Prudential Center.
Carrington scored his 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting from the floor, including a trio of three-pointers. His seven assists match a season high, and it was his seventh straight game with five or more assists. He committed only one turnover in 36 minutes. In all, four Pirates scored in double figures. Desi Rodriguez finished with 16 points, and Angel Delgado notched a double-double with 13 points and 14 boards, Myles Powell chipped in 11 points.
Powell has been a key factor in the Pirates offense this season, especially on the road. In six road games this year, Cheese is averaging 14.7 points while shooting 46.2 percent (18-for-39) from three-point range. On Monday, he was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after scoring a team-high 21 points in an 86-70 win at DePaul on Jan. 28.
The core four offensive contributors for the Pirates - Delgado, Carrington, Rodriguez and Powell - have scored 59.7 points per game - 79.1 percent of the team's total points during BIG EAST play.
The Pirates have won nine of their last 15 matchups against nationally ranked opponents, and are 3-1 this season.
Wednesday night marks the 114th all-time meeting between Seton Hall and Villanova. The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 72-41.
The last time the programs met was in a BIG EAST Tournament Semifinal classic at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2017. The Pirates led top-seed and No. 2 ranked Villanova for more than 34 minutes and went punch for punch with the Wildcats, but Josh Hart's three-point play with 9.6 seconds remaining in the game was the difference, as Villanova came away with a 55-53 victory.
Is there another sporting event happening today? Because the Pirates wouldn't know - they are 6-3 all-time on Super Bowl Sunday:
- Jan. 22, 1989 - New Hampshire College, 108-67 W
- Jan. 26, 1992 - No. 6 Ohio State, 68-64 W
- Jan. 31, 1993 - at Syracuse, 67-76 L
- Jan. 28, 1996 - Rutgers, 81-78 W
- Jan. 26, 1997 - at Rutgers, 75-72 W
- Jan. 30, 2000 - at No. 6 Connecticut, 56-66 L
- Feb. 3, 2002 - Notre Dame, 61-63 L
- Feb. 1, 2004 - at Providence, 55-46 W
- Feb. 5, 2006 - Rutgers, 73-67 W
Seton Hall's last 24 road games at Villanova have taken place on campus at The Pavilion. This is the first Seton Hall/Villanova game in Philadelphia since Dec. 22, 1982 at The Palestra.
Villanova has lost only 12 games since the new BIG EAST was configured, and Seton Hall and Butler are tied for the most wins against the Wildcats (three).

#PiratePursuit

Seton Hall has 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 Pirates concluded non-conference play with a handful of resume-boosting victories including four over teams currently in the KenPom Top-100. Seton Hall is also 3-1 against ranked opponents this season.

In the Polls

The Pirates head into Sunday receiving votes in both the AP Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll.

It is the second time this season the Pirates have not been ranked in either poll.

Earlier this season Seton Hall was No. 13 in the rankings, the highest since Jan. 2, 2001.

Seton Hall has been in the weekly national rankings 111 times in program history, and 11 times this season.

Building a Resume

The Pirates have already notched several key wins that will loom large down the road, including victories over eight teams currently in the KenPom Top-100:

Indiana - 92 (W, 84-68)

Vanderbilt - 87 (W, 72-59)

Texas Tech - 12 (W, 89-79)

Louisville - 30 (W, 79-77)

Creighton - 23 (W, 90-84)

St. John's - 89 (W, 75-70)

Butler - 30 (W, 90-87)

Providence - 61 (W, 73-57)

Putting it in Perspective

The Pirates' 6-3 conference record is their best nine-game start since 2006 and only the sixth time in program history that they have begun 6-3. All five previous times resulted in NCAA Tournament bids:

2005-06: 6-3

2003-04: 6-3

1999-00: 7-2

1992-93: 6-3 (won BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles)

1988-89: 6-3

Up to the Challenge

Since head coach Kevin Willard's arrival in 2010-11, The Hall has shown consistent ability to perform well against nationally ranked opponents.

Sunday afternoon the Pirates can pick up their 18th win over an Associated Press top-25 team during Willard's tenure. Dating back to Feb. 28, 2016, the Pirates have won nine of last their 15 games against nationally ranked opponents.

Not Intimidated

Seton Hall's senior class has had 11 true road wins with attendance over 8,500

01/10/15 at Creighton - 17,397

01/28/15 at Marquette - 14,917

12/30/15 at Marquette - 13,314

01/16/16 at Providence - 11,148

01/30/16 at Creighton - 17,924

02/21/16 at St. John's - 13,204

11/17/16 at Iowa - 10,391

02/04/17 at Georgetown - 10,142

03/04/17 at Butler - 9,100

12/03/17 at Louisville - 19,244

01/06/18 at Butler - 8,855

Know How to Score

Between Rodriguez, Carrington and Delgado, the Pirates have an incredible threesome of experienced scorers - the trio has a combined 4,543 career points

Each also has significant experience scoring in double-figures:

Delgado - 79 times

Carrington - 77 times

Rodriguez - 72 times

A New King

Angel Delgado had already cemented his name in the BIG EAST record book entering the season. But last Sunday, with his second rebound, BIG EAST career rebound No. 702, he broke Syracuse's Derrick Coleman's (1986-90) all-time BIG EAST career rebound record that had stood for 28 years.

The big man is also second on the BIG EAST's all-time rebounding average list (11.63) behind only Michael Smith (Providence, 1991-94, 11.66 rpg).

Delgado is comfortable putting up eye-popping rebounding numbers. In 2016-17, he recorded over 200 more rebounds than any other player in the BIG EAST, and set the conference's single-season conference-games only rebounding record (253). He also set the BIG EAST single season conference-games only record for rebounding average (14.1).

Delgado Can Swing It

Angel Delgado's ability to distribute the ball and find the open man has been one of the most important aspects of his game, and has allowed the Pirates offense to click.

He is averaging 3.0 assists per game this season, the most among any non-guard in the BIG EAST.

During league play, he has already had four games with five or more assists, and is 11th in the BIG EAST with 3.6 per game.

#EliteDesi

Desi Rodriguez has been the most consistent offensive contributor, and an outright stud all season.

He is averaging a team-best 17.3 points per game, good for ninth in the BIG EAST. He is shooting 50.2 percent (146-for-291) from the field and 36.6 percent (37-for-101) from long range.

Rodriguez earned BIG EAST Player of the Week on Dec. 4 by averaging 26.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 55.9 percent in two Seton Hall victories over ranked opponents.

At No. 17 Louisville, the Bronx native went off for a season-high and game-high 29 points. 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 10-1 this season when Rodriguez is the team's leading scorer, and 34-10 all-time when he scores at least 15 points.

Bullies in the Backcourt

Against Providence on Wednesday night, Carrington and Powell held two of the best guards in the BIG EAST, Kyron Cartwright and Jalen Lindsey, SCORELESS on a combined 0-for-13 effort from the field.

Entering the game and during BIG EAST play, Cartwright was averaging 16.1 points, a league-best 7.5 assists, was shooting 51.8 from the floor, and had a 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.

On top of being held without a point, Cartwright turned it over four times and dished out just two assists in 27 minutes.

Lindsey was averaging 12.7 points in conference games and shooting 47.8 percent from deep overall. He was limited to and 0-for-4 effort from long range on Wednesday.

Finish Strong

The Pirates pride themselves on defense, and have proven the ability to hold off late pushes by the opposition.

In fact, Seton Hall is 59-5 in its last 64 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.

Sanogo the Scorer

Although widely regarded as the team's top defender, Ismael Sanogo has shown the ability to step in and contribute on the offensive end.

He has scored seven or more in each of the last six games, while shooting 20-of-32 (62.5 percent) from the floor, averaging 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds.

He has gone 5-for-8 (62.5 percent) from three-point range over the last six games. Entering the season, he was 1-for-6 in his career from long range. He also started the season 0-for-7 from deep.

At Marquette on Jan. 9, he scored a career-high 14 points to go along with six boards and a pair of three-point buckets.

Rebounding on Both Ends

Delgado's ability to rebound on both ends of the floor has earned him national attention.

He was named to the 2018 Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List after earning a spot on the 2018 John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top-25 list two weeks ago.

Delgado's 4.3 offensive boards per game so far this season is good for fourth in the country. Overall, Delgado's 12.1 rebounds per game ranks second in the nation.

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 117 of 120 career games.

Second-Half Heroics

On Dec. 28 the Pirates pulled off a 13-point second half comeback win over Creighton, and an 11-point second half comeback win at Butler on Jan. 6. Seton Hall also trailed Georgetown by 10 in the first half on Jan. 13, but won by 13 points. It has been stellar in the second half all season.

Over the final 20 minutes, Seton Hall is shooting 46.2 percent while holding opponents to 41.8 percent shooting from the field.

One of the main reasons the Pirates have been able to create separation during the second half this season has been their three-point field goal defense. Opponents are shooting just 31.4 percent (72-for-229) from long range over the final 20 minutes.

One of the All-Timers

Carrington has a natural scoring ability that ranks him among the all-time greats at The Hall.

Currently, Carrington is 13th on the all-time scoring leaderboard with 1,627 career points. He also ranks 15th on the all-time assists leaderboard with 335.

The Brooklyn native has scored 20 or more points 22 times in his career.

Carrington has found his stroke at the free throw line, and is shooting 90.5 percent (38-of-42) during BIG EAST play, up from 79.2 percent in 11 non-conference games this year.

In eight career games against Villanova, Deeno is averaging 12.1 points and 2.3 assists.

Some Wine With That?

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 57-for-138 (41.3 percent).

He was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday after scoring a team-high 21 points at DePaul on Sunday.

Against Georgetown on Jan. 13, Cheese filled the box score with a game-high 19 points, five rebounds, and a career-high six steals.

Earlier this season against Texas Tech, Powell also took control 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 15-7 over the course of his career when he makes three or more treys. He has scored in double-figures in 19 of 22 games this year.

Getting to the Line is Key

The Pirates are 28-3 over the last 31 games and 13-1 this season with they have more free-throw attempts than their opponent.

Owning the Glass

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 had a positive margin in 21 of the last 27 games dating back to last season.

The Pirates score an average of 37.0 points in the paint and allow just 29.4 per game.

Offensive rebounds lead to second-chance points, and the Pirates have been excellent in taking advantage. SHU averages 12.9 second-chance points per game, while opponents are averaging 10.5.

Sharing is Caring

Against St. John's on Dec. 31, the Pirates assisted on 19 of their 24 made field goals, the highest percentage of assists to field goals this season.

The Pirates have won 17 of 18 games when they register a positive assist-to-turnover ratio and 22 of the last 24.

Seton Hall has finished with an even or positive assist-to-turnover ratio in 16 of 22 games this year.

A total of four different Pirates have recorded five assists or more in a single game this season (Carrington, Delgado, Powell, Rodriguez).

Be Like Mike

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.

Against VCU, he scored 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, and currently leads the team in field goal percentage, 56.2, on 41-of-72 shooting.

He is second on the team with seven dunks this season, and the Pirates are 8-1 all-time when he scores in double figures.

Against Creighton on Dec. 28, Nzei pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds.