Seton Hall is one game away from a perfect January, with only DePaul next Wednesday standing in the way. Some thoughts and observations on the Pirates’ 73-64 victory over Providence on Wednesday night at the Prudential Center.
Romaro Gill, offensive powerhouse
Yes, he had eight blocked shots. Ho-hum. But what is becoming even more impressive is his ability to work the pick-and-roll with Quincy McKnight (and Myles Powell sometimes) and use his incredible length to create easy dunk opportunities. I’m pretty sure I once was a passenger on a prop plane to Buffalo that had a shorter wingspan than Gill. Coach Kevin Willard said afterward he believed Gill could have made this leap offensively last year if not for the ankle injury that interrupted his season.
On one of Gill’s eight dunks, he took off from almost outside the paint, and later admitted he thought he might wind up pinning the ball against the rim. He need not have worried.
McKnight recognized
Earlier in the day Wednesday, senior guard Quincy McKnight was one of 15 players named to the mid-season list for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. As Willard said, “some smart people are making that list.” McKnight continued his strong play against the Friars with 11 points, eight assists and three steals. McKnight has had at least five assists in eight games of Seton Hall’s current 9-0 run.
Quiet game for Powell, but that’s OK
On the night when Myles Powell was honored in a pregame ceremony for scoring his 2,000th career point Saturday at Madison Square Garden, he scored merely 14 points and took only six shots from the floor as the Friars made it clear they wanted other Pirates to beat them. And that is exactly what happened. The Hall already is a top-10 team in the nation, and justifiably so. Winning games comfortably without Powell being a huge factor underscores why that is so.
When is Mamu coming back?
Willard put the brakes on the hoped-for return of injured power forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, saying that although his fractured right wrist has healed, the muscles surrounding it still aren’t strong enough to provide support in case of a fall. So, Willard said, Mamukelashvili will not return for the DePaul contest. Stay tuned because the medical updates can change.
Nzei in the house
Former Hall standout Mike Nzei, now working on Wall Street, was at the game cheering on his former teammates, sitting just beyond the Seton Hall bench. He seemed especially excited at the exploits of Gill, whom he went against in practice the past two years. The presence of Nzei, considered one of the leaders of last year’s team, speaks volumes about the friendship and camaraderie these players have on and off the court.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
Romaro Gill, offensive powerhouse
Yes, he had eight blocked shots. Ho-hum. But what is becoming even more impressive is his ability to work the pick-and-roll with Quincy McKnight (and Myles Powell sometimes) and use his incredible length to create easy dunk opportunities. I’m pretty sure I once was a passenger on a prop plane to Buffalo that had a shorter wingspan than Gill. Coach Kevin Willard said afterward he believed Gill could have made this leap offensively last year if not for the ankle injury that interrupted his season.
On one of Gill’s eight dunks, he took off from almost outside the paint, and later admitted he thought he might wind up pinning the ball against the rim. He need not have worried.
McKnight recognized
Earlier in the day Wednesday, senior guard Quincy McKnight was one of 15 players named to the mid-season list for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. As Willard said, “some smart people are making that list.” McKnight continued his strong play against the Friars with 11 points, eight assists and three steals. McKnight has had at least five assists in eight games of Seton Hall’s current 9-0 run.
Quiet game for Powell, but that’s OK
On the night when Myles Powell was honored in a pregame ceremony for scoring his 2,000th career point Saturday at Madison Square Garden, he scored merely 14 points and took only six shots from the floor as the Friars made it clear they wanted other Pirates to beat them. And that is exactly what happened. The Hall already is a top-10 team in the nation, and justifiably so. Winning games comfortably without Powell being a huge factor underscores why that is so.
When is Mamu coming back?
Willard put the brakes on the hoped-for return of injured power forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, saying that although his fractured right wrist has healed, the muscles surrounding it still aren’t strong enough to provide support in case of a fall. So, Willard said, Mamukelashvili will not return for the DePaul contest. Stay tuned because the medical updates can change.
Nzei in the house
Former Hall standout Mike Nzei, now working on Wall Street, was at the game cheering on his former teammates, sitting just beyond the Seton Hall bench. He seemed especially excited at the exploits of Gill, whom he went against in practice the past two years. The presence of Nzei, considered one of the leaders of last year’s team, speaks volumes about the friendship and camaraderie these players have on and off the court.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
