3 Things About Wednesday's Road Matchup With Xavier

2019-20 BIG EAST Game Seton Hall Pirates (10-4, 2-0 BIG EAST) at Xavier Musketeers (12-3, 1-1 BIG EAST)
Date/Time/Location	Wednesday, Jan. 8 \| 8:30 p.m. \| Cintas Center (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Television Broadcast	FS1 \| FOXSportsGO
Radio Broadcast	WMCA 570 AM \| XM 380 \| Pirate Sports Network
Game Notes	Seton Hall \| Xavier
Links	Live Stats \| Twitter \| Instagram

Playing on the road in the BIG EAST requires thick skin, calmness and communication. Last year, the Pirates won at Xavier despite falling behind 10 points in a hostile environment. The best quote from head coach Kevin Willard after that victory?

"We go down 10 and I called a timeout and I was being so positive and such a loving coach at that time. Q took over the huddle. He said, 'We've been in this situation before. We're only down 10. Everyone just relax.' He kind of relaxed me a little bit."

Don't underestimate the power of veteran leadership. These Pirates have been here before.

Xavier is a great team and has a great home court advantage. Seton Hall will be greatly challenged in this contest and the program hasn't started 2-0 in BIG EAST road games since 2000, but at the very least know that the Pirates have a group that knows what they'll be up against. Sometimes that's half the battle.

Wednesday's game is an FS1 affair with Thom Brennaman and Tim Miles doing all the talking. Seton Hall makes its first WMCA 570 AM radio appearance of the season and will be voiced by the incomparable duo of Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin, simulcast on XM 380 and the Pirate Sports Network.

Three Things to Know About Wednesday's Road Game at Xavier

1. Xavier is Great When It Hits Threes
Xavier is already a good team, but when it can make threes, it can be a great team. The Musketeers are only shooting 29.7 percent as a team from three this season, but they are capable of making them, as evidenced by going 7-for-15 in a huge road win at TCU last month. In their only three losses this season, they were a combined 12-for-49 (24.5%) from long distance. Can the Pirates make Xavier uncomfortable on the perimeter?

2. Second Chance Points Are Key
It feels like offensive rebounding comes up a lot in this space, but it's definitely a priority. Georgetown got only seven second chance points off seven offensive boards last Friday night, and the Pirates need to limit those chances again in this matchup. Xavier's Tyrique Jones is a monster underneath, averaging 4.1 offensive boards per game.

3. Get Ready for the Grind
Seton Hall and Xavier are both holding opponents to just 64.2 points per game. The Pirates have the seventh-best defensive efficiency in the country, and the Musketeers have the 20th best. This game could be a defensive battle, and, no, defensive games aren't always pretty. But you have to find beauty in defending. Watch how the teams defend the pick-and-roll. Watch for perimeter closeouts. Watch to see if defenders are forcing drivers off their dominant hand. Watch if the teams choose to switch on certain players or if they will switch everything. There's a nuance to it all, and it can be appreciated.

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3 Things About Wednesday's Road Matchup With Xavier

Three Things to Know About Wednesday's Road Game at Xavier

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