Some quick thoughts on the No. 21 Seton Hall-Ohio State matchup after watching an extensive highlight package of the Buckeyes’ loss to Xavier on Thursday night:
1--The Hall needs to get in the lane.
The Musketeers’ guards used their quickness to get past Ohio State (3-1) and either finish or drive and dish for open three-pointers. Granted, Xavier rarely hit them, finishing 5-for-24 (20.8%) from long distance, but Seton Hall should be able to do some business offensively in that fashion. I could see Jamir Harris playing a bigger role tonight. Also, it will be interesting to see if Kadary Richmond gets more into the groove after struggling against Michigan.
2--Defending Liddell.
Xavier mixed it up against Ohio State's star 6-7 forward E.J. Liddell, who had 17 points and eight (!) blocked shots in the game. The Musketeers were sometimes fronting him, sometimes double-teaming and helping, and sometimes just trying to force him away from the low blocks and into taking mid-range jumpers. The Musketeers don’t have a rim protector the size or the caliber of Ike Obiagu, and thus Seton Hall has a weapon they don’t. However, the Pirates must be careful. On one second-half play, except for the fact he’s a righty, Liddell pulled a page from Sandro Mamukelashvili’s playbook, putting the ball on the floor just outside the three-point line and driving past a defender for a bucket.
3--Renewing acquaintances.
This will mark the first time Kevin Willard and Chris Holtmann have squared off since the latter coached at Butler. Their teams met six times from 2014-17, with Holtmann’s Bulldogs winning five consecutive times until Willard and The Hall knocked them off on Senior Day at Hinkle in 2017, a win that went a long way toward securing an NCAA Tournament bid for the Pirates that season. Holtmann's teams play much the same way as they did when he coached the Bulldogs, although they run a tad more often because they get more 4-star type players. And it’s less of a ballhandling-by-committee approach. Penn State transfer Jamari Wheeler has 18 assists and three turnovers for the Buckeyes.
Both teams have depth, and it will come down, as these games usually do, to which one makes plays down the stretch. I'd be surprised if it's a blowout either way.
1--The Hall needs to get in the lane.
The Musketeers’ guards used their quickness to get past Ohio State (3-1) and either finish or drive and dish for open three-pointers. Granted, Xavier rarely hit them, finishing 5-for-24 (20.8%) from long distance, but Seton Hall should be able to do some business offensively in that fashion. I could see Jamir Harris playing a bigger role tonight. Also, it will be interesting to see if Kadary Richmond gets more into the groove after struggling against Michigan.
2--Defending Liddell.
Xavier mixed it up against Ohio State's star 6-7 forward E.J. Liddell, who had 17 points and eight (!) blocked shots in the game. The Musketeers were sometimes fronting him, sometimes double-teaming and helping, and sometimes just trying to force him away from the low blocks and into taking mid-range jumpers. The Musketeers don’t have a rim protector the size or the caliber of Ike Obiagu, and thus Seton Hall has a weapon they don’t. However, the Pirates must be careful. On one second-half play, except for the fact he’s a righty, Liddell pulled a page from Sandro Mamukelashvili’s playbook, putting the ball on the floor just outside the three-point line and driving past a defender for a bucket.
3--Renewing acquaintances.
This will mark the first time Kevin Willard and Chris Holtmann have squared off since the latter coached at Butler. Their teams met six times from 2014-17, with Holtmann’s Bulldogs winning five consecutive times until Willard and The Hall knocked them off on Senior Day at Hinkle in 2017, a win that went a long way toward securing an NCAA Tournament bid for the Pirates that season. Holtmann's teams play much the same way as they did when he coached the Bulldogs, although they run a tad more often because they get more 4-star type players. And it’s less of a ballhandling-by-committee approach. Penn State transfer Jamari Wheeler has 18 assists and three turnovers for the Buckeyes.
Both teams have depth, and it will come down, as these games usually do, to which one makes plays down the stretch. I'd be surprised if it's a blowout either way.
