Seton Hall and Its Throwback Uniform host Wichita State in Marquee Matinee on Saturday
Wichita State (5-4, 0-0 MVC) at Seton Hall (8-2, 0-0 BIG EAST)
Dec. 19 · Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.) · 12 p.m.
TV: FOX with Tim Brando & Jim Jackson
Radio: AM970 The Answer with Gary Cohen & Dave Popkin
What to Know About The Hall:
Tweetables:
• .@SetonHallMBB’s Isaiah Whitehead scored a game-high 23 pts at WSU as a freshman and has already added 3 20+-point games as a sophomore
• Kickin’ it old school... @SetonHallMBB will wear throwback unis dubbed “Glory Days” designed by @UnderArmour vs. @GoShockers Sat. #HALLin
• .@SetonHallMBB has won 34 of 38 games in which it has led at halftime over the last three seasons including all five this year #HALLin
Wichita State (5-4, 0-0 MVC) at Seton Hall (8-2, 0-0 BIG EAST)
Dec. 19 · Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.) · 12 p.m.
TV: FOX with Tim Brando & Jim Jackson
Radio: AM970 The Answer with Gary Cohen & Dave Popkin
What to Know About The Hall:
- The Hall extended its winning streak to three with a 72-46 victory over Saint Peter’s on Sunday, recording its fourth 10-game start of 8-2 or better in the last five seasons. All 13 active Pirates saw action as SHU never trailed and coasted to its 13th consecutive non- conference home win.
- The performance was the latest in a streak that has seen the Pirates extend their winning ways behind a balanced and efficient offense. During the current run, SHU is out-scoring opponents by nearly 22 points (78.0-56.7) while sophomores Isaiah Whitehead (15.0 ppg), Khadeen Carrington (14.3 ppg), Angel Delgado (12.0 ppg), Desi Rodriguez (11.7 ppg) and red- shirt freshman Michael Nzei (10.3 ppg) are all averaging in double-figures.
- It’s no surprise that the early-season surge has been powered by what is one of the most youthful and dynamic cores in the nation. To this point in the year, 648 of the team’s 739 total points (.877) and 329 of 396 rebounds (.831) have come from players listed as either freshmen or sophomores. Underclassmen are also accounting for over 85 percent of the squad’s total assists (107/125, .856), 90 percent of its blocks (41/45, .911) and more than 80 percent of its steals (60/73, .822).
- In the win over the Peacocks, Seton Hall knocked down a season-high 10 3-pointers,finishing 10-of-19 (.526) from downtown. Carrington, Whitehead and Rodriguez all connected on multiple treys as The Hall finished with 10+ 3FGM for the first time this season after doing so six times last year.
- The improved perimeter shooting supplemented what has been a steady attack on the interior as the Pirates finished with 36 points in the paint; their sixth-straight game with 30+ points from inside the lane. In 10 games to this point in the year, SHU has recorded at least 30 points in the paint eight times and posted a double-digit advantage in the category on seven occasions.
- The Hall also registered a season-high nine steals for the second-straight game, turning 15 Saint Peter’s turnovers into 24 points. Winning the turnover battle has been a point of emphasis for the young SHU group and after totaling 43 giveaways in the first two games of the season, the Pirates are averaging less than 12 turnovers per game (11.7) over the last eight while forcing their opponents into an average of 13.7 giveaways over the same span. Limiting empty possessions could prove key in SHU’s effort to get past Wichita State as the Shockers won last season’s meeting, 77-to-68, on the strength of a 24-to-5 edge in points off turnovers.
- Getting off to a fast start could also go a long way towards another signature non- conference win for the Pirates as SHU improved to 5-0 this season when leading at halftime during the victory over the Peacocks. Over the last three seasons overall, The Hall has closed out 34 of the 38 games in which it has taken a lead into intermission (34-4, .895). The Shockers trailed at the break in every game of a three-game losing streak that gave way to the team’s current three-game winning streak.
- Isaiah Whitehead poured a game-high 23 points at Wichita State last season despite the loss, igniting a trend that has seen the former McDonald’s All-American deliver some of his finest performances against the toughest competition. In eight appearances against RPI Top-50 opponents last year, Whitehead averaged a team-best 13.3 ppg; posting four games with at least 15 points and handing out four or more assists in four games as well. Wichita State is rated no. 47 in the latest RPI rankings while Seton Hall is just four spots outside the top-50.
- Whitehead has continued to shine in his transition to the team’s primary point guard as a sophomore, leading the team in both scoring and assists four times in 10 games. The Brooklyn native has scored or assisted on over 33 percent of the team’s field goals made (88/265, .332) and ranks first on the team with an average rating of +11.6 per game. All 10 Pirates averaging at least six minutes per contest boast a positive +/- rating but Whitehead’s impact is undeniably significant given that Delgado stands second on the squad with at +7.0 per game.
- With Whitehead at the controls, fellow Brooklyn product Khadeen Carrington has been thriving off the ball, scoring in a variety of ways. Carrington has scored in double-figures a team-best nine times this season including the last eight and is shooting nearly 50 percent from inside the arc (35-of-72, .486). From downtown, Carrington ranks second on the team behind Whitehead (18 3FGM) with 15 3FGM - nine of which have come over the last three games. In 31 appearances as a freshman, he totaled 17 treys while shooting 28.3 percent from deep (17-of- 60).
- Carrington is far from the lone Pirate who has made a significant leap on the offensive end as classmate Desi Rodriguez continues to shine in his role on the wing after logging most of his minutes as a rookie down low. With two more triples in the victory over Saint Peter’s, Rodriguez has now made more 3-pointers (13) this season than he attempted in 31 games as a freshman (12) and is shooting a team-best 44.8 percent from deep. The Bronx native opened the year with six consecutive double-digit scoring efforts after totaling three last year and recently posted his first career double-double with career-highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Troy.
- Big man Angel Delgado is no stranger to double-doubles and pushed his career-best streak to three with a 10-point, 10-rebound showing against Saint Peter’s. Delgado’s four double- doubles are second most in the BIG EAST and he now has 14 in 41 career appearances. The 6-foot-9 forward is tied for 30th in the nation in double-doubles and as the BIG EAST leader with 9.9 rpg, also stands inside the top-30 nationally on the glass as well (27th).
Tweetables:
• .@SetonHallMBB’s Isaiah Whitehead scored a game-high 23 pts at WSU as a freshman and has already added 3 20+-point games as a sophomore
• Kickin’ it old school... @SetonHallMBB will wear throwback unis dubbed “Glory Days” designed by @UnderArmour vs. @GoShockers Sat. #HALLin
• .@SetonHallMBB has won 34 of 38 games in which it has led at halftime over the last three seasons including all five this year #HALLin
