Kudos to the crowd.
From the student section to the alums the Rock was filled and noisy. You can't ask for better support than what was given yesterday before a national TV audience.
Add in Delgado as usual winning the opening tip and the Hall sprinting out to an early 13-5 lead and all the ingredients were there for a very good good day for all Pirate fans.
In fact the Hall got out to great starts in both halves as they jumped on Xavier to the tune of 7-2 coming out to start stanza #2. So clearly the energy missing the last couple of games, especially coming out of the gate was there.
What's the point?
The fear coming into the season was despite the Hall having excellent experienced talent that there was no one capable of running the show. Well as January fades that fear has grown into a full blown concern.
To date Khadeen Carrington has shown absolutely no ability to run the team as one would want for a top 20 basketball team. And to make matters worse his play at the 1 has affected him to the tune of shooting 38% from the field, his lowest mark in 4 years at the Hall.
Yesterday Deeno, who BTW I do not in any way blame for his poor performance this season as he is clearly playing out of position, did not hit a single shot outside the paint. And that after launching 19 assorted jumpers, floaters and layups.
In fact as Seton Hall has now lost 3 of 4 the preseason first team selection has hit 9 of his 45 attempts. That comes out to 20%.
As noted before our game yesterday as goes Carrington so goes the Hall. No truer words were ever spoken.
Again, and again and again the bank never closes for the Hall. But usually the entrance is the front door, Yesterday the bank left it's side door open as a Xavier player threw up a deep corner jumper that somehow crazed the side of the backboard and caromed into the net.
It wasn't all bad for the Hall. When Ish went down holding his surgically repaired shoulder visions of the Pirates season ending entered the heads of all SHU fans. Fortunately after what seemed like an eternity Sanogo came back from the locker room appearing no worse for wear.
12:30
Why is that time important? Well that's when Ish picked up his 3rd foul in the second half and although unknown then it was the turning point of the game. When Sanogo took a seat next to his coach the Pirates were up 49-41. From that point on the team was outscored 32-15, aided by Ish picking up his 4th foul shortly after re-entering the game forcing him back to the bench.
On both occasions the fouls were unnecessary and caused by poor decisions by Angel Delgado. One when prone on the court Angel threw a very bad pass directly to a Xavier player who had a run out with Ish trying to stop him and instead fouling. And the second with Angel throwing up a blind jump hook from a bad angle and Ish trying to get the air ball rebound and fouling over the top.
Staying with Ish. He said that Xavier won the game because they wanted it more than the Hall did. I don't agree.
It has nothing to do with want and everything to do with execution.
Seton Hall's offense is incredibly predictable. In fact one reporter from a visiting team once told me that his coach told him off the record that SHU is the easiest team in the conference to prepare for.
By that he meant we know what they are going to do every time down the court, but that doesn't mean they're easy to stop.
Yesterday because of Xavier's size and determination they gave the Hall fits whenever the Pirates had the ball. Especially down the stretch when every possession is critical.
Falling in love.
Usually that's a good thing. But not for Myles Powell.
He's had so much success taking the ball to the tin that for one day at least he fell in love with that tactic, and it cost the Hall dearly.
There were numerous times Powell had open jumpers but instead chose to take the ball to the hole with the results because of Xavier's length being disastrous.
Big Mac.
Yeah Macura is easy to hate. He that kind of player. The one no one likes except for his teammates and fans.
Macura is an irritant. He's does everything he can to wear the black hat and seems to thrive on being the villain. But yesterday for the most part Macura let his game and not his actions do the talking and clearly he was the reason Xavier walked away from the Rock with their first victory ever.
Hate him if you must but give credit when you have to. Xavier didn't beat Seton Hall on national TV. J P Macura did.
Kudos and complaints.
I thought Kevin Willard did a masterful job in a tough match up against Xavier. They are bigger and they are deeper. But Willard went toe to toe matching his counterpart Chris Mack re his substitution strategy.
That's the good. The bad?
Well, it's the mind set. After the game coach noted that he was very happy where his team is right now. I'm sorry, but 4-3 in the conference and losing 3 of the last 4 doesn't bring to mind the word happy.
It's that contented mind set that I believe keeps Kevin Willard, a good coach from being an exceptional one.
You're not winning many games turning the ball over 18 times against quality opposition. That's what the Hall did with the biggest culprit being Desi Rodriquez, to the tune of 7 giveaways.
Desi had a very good offensive game but when it mattered and the offensive flow came to a grinding halt there was too much hero ball and the result was loss of one possession after another.
That's often on the point guard, but clearly this roster doesn't have one that can be counted on down the stretch as only Jordan Walker fits that description and clearly he's not ready yet to take on that burden.
Sock it to me update. Well for the first time this year the holiday socks took it on the toe, I mean chin. Maybe for the best as they were starting to take on diva status with their previous unbeaten streak asking for new Baller Sneakers and their own drawer.
3:55
Turning point #2. Down a deuce Angel Delgado went to the foul line shooting a 1 and 1. Doubt there was a fan in the arena that didn't expect the result which was a short shot hitting the front rim. SHU never got closer than that 2 point deficit.
It wasn't all bad for the SHU center as he had an amazing 18 boards against the massive front line of Xavier, finishing 1 short of tying Syracuse's Derrick Coleman for the all time rebounding record in the Big East.
Angel Delgado, a man's man.
Bottom line, It's pretty clear that the thought of the Hall battling Nova for the regular season Big East title is now a fantasy and the bigger concern is for the Pirates to right their sinking ship. It won't be easy because clearly the offense is in disarray and the team psyche has taken a beating. But if there is one thing this team and their coach have proven is that they own February and early March.
Pirate fans can only hope for a repeat.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
From the student section to the alums the Rock was filled and noisy. You can't ask for better support than what was given yesterday before a national TV audience.
Add in Delgado as usual winning the opening tip and the Hall sprinting out to an early 13-5 lead and all the ingredients were there for a very good good day for all Pirate fans.
In fact the Hall got out to great starts in both halves as they jumped on Xavier to the tune of 7-2 coming out to start stanza #2. So clearly the energy missing the last couple of games, especially coming out of the gate was there.
What's the point?
The fear coming into the season was despite the Hall having excellent experienced talent that there was no one capable of running the show. Well as January fades that fear has grown into a full blown concern.
To date Khadeen Carrington has shown absolutely no ability to run the team as one would want for a top 20 basketball team. And to make matters worse his play at the 1 has affected him to the tune of shooting 38% from the field, his lowest mark in 4 years at the Hall.
Yesterday Deeno, who BTW I do not in any way blame for his poor performance this season as he is clearly playing out of position, did not hit a single shot outside the paint. And that after launching 19 assorted jumpers, floaters and layups.
In fact as Seton Hall has now lost 3 of 4 the preseason first team selection has hit 9 of his 45 attempts. That comes out to 20%.
As noted before our game yesterday as goes Carrington so goes the Hall. No truer words were ever spoken.
Again, and again and again the bank never closes for the Hall. But usually the entrance is the front door, Yesterday the bank left it's side door open as a Xavier player threw up a deep corner jumper that somehow crazed the side of the backboard and caromed into the net.
It wasn't all bad for the Hall. When Ish went down holding his surgically repaired shoulder visions of the Pirates season ending entered the heads of all SHU fans. Fortunately after what seemed like an eternity Sanogo came back from the locker room appearing no worse for wear.
12:30
Why is that time important? Well that's when Ish picked up his 3rd foul in the second half and although unknown then it was the turning point of the game. When Sanogo took a seat next to his coach the Pirates were up 49-41. From that point on the team was outscored 32-15, aided by Ish picking up his 4th foul shortly after re-entering the game forcing him back to the bench.
On both occasions the fouls were unnecessary and caused by poor decisions by Angel Delgado. One when prone on the court Angel threw a very bad pass directly to a Xavier player who had a run out with Ish trying to stop him and instead fouling. And the second with Angel throwing up a blind jump hook from a bad angle and Ish trying to get the air ball rebound and fouling over the top.
Staying with Ish. He said that Xavier won the game because they wanted it more than the Hall did. I don't agree.
It has nothing to do with want and everything to do with execution.
Seton Hall's offense is incredibly predictable. In fact one reporter from a visiting team once told me that his coach told him off the record that SHU is the easiest team in the conference to prepare for.
By that he meant we know what they are going to do every time down the court, but that doesn't mean they're easy to stop.
Yesterday because of Xavier's size and determination they gave the Hall fits whenever the Pirates had the ball. Especially down the stretch when every possession is critical.
Falling in love.
Usually that's a good thing. But not for Myles Powell.
He's had so much success taking the ball to the tin that for one day at least he fell in love with that tactic, and it cost the Hall dearly.
There were numerous times Powell had open jumpers but instead chose to take the ball to the hole with the results because of Xavier's length being disastrous.
Big Mac.
Yeah Macura is easy to hate. He that kind of player. The one no one likes except for his teammates and fans.
Macura is an irritant. He's does everything he can to wear the black hat and seems to thrive on being the villain. But yesterday for the most part Macura let his game and not his actions do the talking and clearly he was the reason Xavier walked away from the Rock with their first victory ever.
Hate him if you must but give credit when you have to. Xavier didn't beat Seton Hall on national TV. J P Macura did.
Kudos and complaints.
I thought Kevin Willard did a masterful job in a tough match up against Xavier. They are bigger and they are deeper. But Willard went toe to toe matching his counterpart Chris Mack re his substitution strategy.
That's the good. The bad?
Well, it's the mind set. After the game coach noted that he was very happy where his team is right now. I'm sorry, but 4-3 in the conference and losing 3 of the last 4 doesn't bring to mind the word happy.
It's that contented mind set that I believe keeps Kevin Willard, a good coach from being an exceptional one.
You're not winning many games turning the ball over 18 times against quality opposition. That's what the Hall did with the biggest culprit being Desi Rodriquez, to the tune of 7 giveaways.
Desi had a very good offensive game but when it mattered and the offensive flow came to a grinding halt there was too much hero ball and the result was loss of one possession after another.
That's often on the point guard, but clearly this roster doesn't have one that can be counted on down the stretch as only Jordan Walker fits that description and clearly he's not ready yet to take on that burden.
Sock it to me update. Well for the first time this year the holiday socks took it on the toe, I mean chin. Maybe for the best as they were starting to take on diva status with their previous unbeaten streak asking for new Baller Sneakers and their own drawer.
3:55
Turning point #2. Down a deuce Angel Delgado went to the foul line shooting a 1 and 1. Doubt there was a fan in the arena that didn't expect the result which was a short shot hitting the front rim. SHU never got closer than that 2 point deficit.
It wasn't all bad for the SHU center as he had an amazing 18 boards against the massive front line of Xavier, finishing 1 short of tying Syracuse's Derrick Coleman for the all time rebounding record in the Big East.
Angel Delgado, a man's man.
Bottom line, It's pretty clear that the thought of the Hall battling Nova for the regular season Big East title is now a fantasy and the bigger concern is for the Pirates to right their sinking ship. It won't be easy because clearly the offense is in disarray and the team psyche has taken a beating. But if there is one thing this team and their coach have proven is that they own February and early March.
Pirate fans can only hope for a repeat.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
