Seton Hall Welcomes Villanova for BIG EAST Clash Tuesday Night

Date/Time: Tuesday, Dec. 23 • 7 p.m. Eastern
Site: Newark, N.J. • Prudential Center (11,153)
TV: NBCSN/Peacock • John Fanta and Tarik Turner
Online: Peacock
Radio: SHU Pirates Mobile App • Gary Cohen & Dave Popkin
SHUPirates.com • Varsity Network App
Seton Hall All-Time vs. Villanova: 44-87 (Streak: L3)

NOTES YOU NEED TO KNOW

With a victory, Seton Hall would be 12-1 for the first time since 1992-93.
The Hall's 11-1 start is its best start to a season since 2011-12.
With its win on Friday, Seton Hall improved to 9-4 in BIG EAST openers since 2013-14.
Seven of the last eight meetings at Prudential Center between the Pirates and Wildcats have been decided by single digits
Villanova head coach Kevin Willard returns to Prudential Center, where he coached the Pirates for 12 seasons and is the second-winningest coach in program history with 225 wins.
Willard engineered The Hall's turnaround in 2015-16, guiding the Pirates to their first BIG EAST title in 23 years.
Under Willard, the Pirates made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances (2016-19) and were destined for a fifth before the COVID-19 global pandemic ended the 2019-20 season prematurely.
Shaheen Holloway spent 10 seasons as Willard's assistant, two at Iona and eight at Seton Hall as his Associate Head Coach.
Seton Hall has recorded at least nine steals in 12 straight games, a program record.
The Pirates have had at least three double-digit scorers and have scored at least 68 points as a team in every game this year.
The Pirates opened the year with a six-game winning streak, the team's longest streak under Shaheen Holloway. The last time The Hall won six straight was Feb. 19-March 9, 2022.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO LATELY

The Pirates opened BIG EAST play with a 72-67 victory over Providence on Friday night in Rhode Island.
Stephon Payne put on a show with 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Tajuan Simpkins poured in a career-high 22 points.
Simpkins nailed what proved to be the game-winning three-pointer with just over one minute remaining to put The Hall ahead for good.
Seton Hall reclaimed the Boardwalk Trophy on Saturday by defeating in-state rivals Rutgers, 81-59, in the Garden State Hardwood Classic.
Budd Clark was named the Joe Calabrese MVP of the game, finishing with 16 points, seven assists, four steals and just one turnover.
Clark was also named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for his efforts.
Three of Clark's steals came within the first two minutes of the game, and 14 of his 16 points came after halftime.
The Pirates grabbed a signature road win on Dec. 6, downing Kansas State, 78-67, for their first win over a Big 12 foe since downing Texas, 64-60, on Dec. 7, 2021.
The Longhorns were ranked No. 7 in that game, which served as Seton Hall's last non-conference ranked win before it defeated No. 23 NC State at last week's Southwest Maui Invitational.
Picked to finish last in the BIG EAST before the season, the Pirates have already surpassed last year's win total and have scored double-digit signature wins over No. 23 NC State in Maui as well as on the road at Kansas State.
Budd Clark secured his first double-double of the season against CCSU on Dec. 3, dishing out a career-high matching 12 assists to pair with 10 points.
Five different Pirates made multiple three-pointers in the win over CCSU, a first since Feb. 14, 2012 against St. John's.