Creighton Game Notes

[Halldan1]

Creighton (11-5, 2-1 BIG EAST) at Seton Hall (12-3, 2-1 BIG EAST)

Jan. 9 · Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.) · 2 p.m.

TV: FS1 with Joe Davis & Jim Spanarkel

Radio: AM970 The Answer with Gary Cohen & Dave Popkin


What to Know About The Hall:

• Stout defense kept The Hall within striking distance throughout the night at No. 11 Villanova on Wednesday but the Wildcats eventually sealed a 72-63 win that stopped the Pirates’ seven-game winning streak. SHU fell in an early hole with nine turnovers in the first 10 minutes but closed the game with just three giveaways over the final 30 minutes while holding a 'Nova team that shot over 65 percent combined in its first two conference games to 21-of-58 (.362) from the field. Isaiah Whitehead tied a game-high with 20 points.
• Whitehead is in the midst of a breakout season even after earning BIG EAST All-Rookie Team honors a season ago. The sophomore now has four 20-point performances in 15 games this season and is one of two BIG EAST players who rank among the top-six in the conference in scoring (15.5 ppg, t-4th) and assists (4.5 apg, 6th) along with Providence’s Kris Dunn. Nationally, there are only 13 players at the high major level who rank among the top-six in their respective conferences in both categories:

BIG EAST (2): Kris Dunn (PC), Isaiah Whitehead (SHU)*
ACC (2): Anthony “Cat” Barber (NCST), Michael Gbinije (CUSE)
American (1): Nic Moore (SMU)
Big Ten (3): Yogi Ferrell, (IU), Caris LeVert (MICH), Denzel Valentine (MSU)
Big 12 (1): Isaiah Taylor (TEX)
Pac 12 (2): Bryce Alford (UCLA), Gary Payton II (ORST)
SEC (2): Kareem Canty (AUB), Ben Simmons (LSU)*
*Whitehead and Simmons (FR) are the only underclassmen in the group

• Despite the loss, The Hall still checked in at No. 41 in Friday’s RPI rankings and is one of five BIG EAST teams among the top-50 along with nationally-ranked Xavier (RPI: 1), Villanova (RPI: 2), Providence (RPI: 19) and Butler (RPI: 39). The Hall received votes (4) in Monday’s AP poll for the first time this season and also ranks among the top-50 teams in the nation according to both KenPom.com (41) and the ESPN Basketball Power Index (46).
• Seton Hall’s fast start has been fueled by the collective growth of its sophomore class. Whitehead has lined up alongside classmates Khadeen Carrington, Desi Rodriguez, Ismael Sanogo and Angel Delgado in the starting lineup 11 times and the five have combined for 836 points through 15 games (55.7 ppg) - up from 469 points (31.2 ppg) at this point last season. Overall, the sophomore class is responsible for over 75 percent of the teams points (836/1109, .754), assists (163/205, .795) blocks (51/67, .761) and steals (92/117, .786) as well as nearly 70 percent of its rebounds (402/590, .681)
• While the young core has continued to grow together, transfer Derrick Gordon has provided a vital presence off the bench with his leadership and versatile play. Against Villanova, Gordon tallied eight points, his second-straight 8+-point effort and 10th of the season, while hauling in a team-high 10 rebounds. A starter in all 100 of his career appearances with Western Kentucky and UMass prior to this season, Gordon is averaging 8.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in three BIG EAST appearances as a reserve
• Five of Gordon’s boards against the Wildcats came at the offensive end and the Pirates pulled down 15 offensive rebounds as a team; continuing a run that has seen the squad bring in double-digit offensive boards in 13-straight games. The Pirates now lead the league with 13.7 off reb./game and have recorded 37 second chance points in three conference outings. For the season, SHU is averaging 12.9 ppg on second opportunities.
• While thriving down low on the offensive end, Seton Hall has also established itself as the top defensive unit in the league in terms of limiting opponents on the perimeter. Heading into a matchup with a Creighton team that is averaging 22.9 3FGA per game, Seton Hall has held its opponent to 20 percent or worse from beyond the arc in four of the last six games; allowing just 32 makes on 105 attempts (.305) over the stretch. For the year, SHU has held its opposition to a .315 mark from deep.
• For the second-straight year, The Hall will head into its first meeting of the season with Creighton sitting at 12-3 overall and 2-1 in BIG EAST play. Last year, the Pirates pulled out a last-second victory in Omaha, prevailing 68-to-67 (1/10/15), before completing the season sweep with a 67-66 win at Prudential Center on February 28.
• The one-point margins of victory are a reflection of just how little separated Seton Hall and Creighton a season ago. Across the two meetings, The Hall totaled 50 FGM while CU recorded 52 FGM. SHU finished with a slight advantage in FTM (19-to-17) while each side knocked down 14 3-pointers during the season series.
• SHU remains unbeaten in eight home appearances and has won at least its first eight home games for the fourth time in the last five years. The Pirates dropped their ninth home game both last season and in 2012-13 but won their first 10 home appearances during a 21-win campaign in 2011-12.

Tweetables:

• .@SetonHallMBB’s Whitehead + LSU’s Ben Simmons are the only 2 underclassmen who rank in the top-6 of a high major conf. in both ppg and ape
• .@SetonHallMBB has started 8-0 at home for the fourth time in the last five years but is looking to move to 9-0 for first time since 2011-12
• While @BluejayMBB excels from downtown, @SetonHallMBB leads the @BIGEAST in 3FG Percentage Defense (.315) #HALLin