by JP Pelzman
Given the immense hype that surrounded Seton Hall back during the preseason, it might not have been that much of a surprise back in October if you had been told the Pirates would be ranked 10th in the nation in the final week of January.
The way they got here might have been a tad unexpected, however. Consider that in Seton Hall’s most recent game, a 73-64 win over Providence on Jan 22, FoxSports1’s post-game interviewee was not superstar Myles Powell, who had a mere mortal-like 14 points that night.
Instead, the man of the hour was skyscraping center Romaro Gill, who had just recorded eight blocked shots and seven dunks. And he had been requested by the network, unlike after a previous game in which Powell, the ultimate teammate, insisted on roommate Gill accompanying him.
So why didn’t Gill return the favor?
“He went away,” Gill said, grinning. “I was looking back for him, but he went away.”
A likely story.
There are plenty of smiles and one-liners for the Pirates these days, but rest assured they won’t go away from the blueprint that has gotten them to this point, which begins with a lot of hard work. Thus, Seton Hall must guard against a letdown tonight as a significant favorite at the Prudential Center against a reeling DePaul team (12-7, 1-6 Big East) that just lost at home to St. John’s by 13 points on Saturday.
If the Pirates (15-4, 7-0) need any motivation, all they must do is pop in the tape of the previous meeting with the Blue Demons (which they most certainly have done, at least the key cutups), and note how DePaul had a nine-point lead in the first half. Six-nine junior forward Paul Reed is projected by many as a first-round NBA selection if he leaves early, and he is averaging 16.2 points and 11.3 rebounds.
In The Hall’s 74-66 win over the Blue Demons on Dec. 30, Powell returned after missing two games with a concussion and scored 27 points. History is expected to repeat itself, somewhat, as junior power forward Sandro Mamukelashvili is likely to make his return after sitting out 10 consecutive games with a fractured right wrist.
It is unclear how much he will play, as coach Kevin Willard may want to work him in slowly. Still, he will provide yet another offensive option to a team with plenty of them, including nobody outside the team expected in Gill.
“We can’t wait to have (Mamukelashvili) back,” Powell said after the Providence game. “We still know what he brings to the table. I feel like he’s one of the best 4 men in the country and when he gets back we’ll have our full team. We’re going to keep going through the roof when he gets back.”
A scary thought for future opponents.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
Given the immense hype that surrounded Seton Hall back during the preseason, it might not have been that much of a surprise back in October if you had been told the Pirates would be ranked 10th in the nation in the final week of January.
The way they got here might have been a tad unexpected, however. Consider that in Seton Hall’s most recent game, a 73-64 win over Providence on Jan 22, FoxSports1’s post-game interviewee was not superstar Myles Powell, who had a mere mortal-like 14 points that night.
Instead, the man of the hour was skyscraping center Romaro Gill, who had just recorded eight blocked shots and seven dunks. And he had been requested by the network, unlike after a previous game in which Powell, the ultimate teammate, insisted on roommate Gill accompanying him.
So why didn’t Gill return the favor?
“He went away,” Gill said, grinning. “I was looking back for him, but he went away.”
A likely story.
There are plenty of smiles and one-liners for the Pirates these days, but rest assured they won’t go away from the blueprint that has gotten them to this point, which begins with a lot of hard work. Thus, Seton Hall must guard against a letdown tonight as a significant favorite at the Prudential Center against a reeling DePaul team (12-7, 1-6 Big East) that just lost at home to St. John’s by 13 points on Saturday.
If the Pirates (15-4, 7-0) need any motivation, all they must do is pop in the tape of the previous meeting with the Blue Demons (which they most certainly have done, at least the key cutups), and note how DePaul had a nine-point lead in the first half. Six-nine junior forward Paul Reed is projected by many as a first-round NBA selection if he leaves early, and he is averaging 16.2 points and 11.3 rebounds.
In The Hall’s 74-66 win over the Blue Demons on Dec. 30, Powell returned after missing two games with a concussion and scored 27 points. History is expected to repeat itself, somewhat, as junior power forward Sandro Mamukelashvili is likely to make his return after sitting out 10 consecutive games with a fractured right wrist.
It is unclear how much he will play, as coach Kevin Willard may want to work him in slowly. Still, he will provide yet another offensive option to a team with plenty of them, including nobody outside the team expected in Gill.
“We can’t wait to have (Mamukelashvili) back,” Powell said after the Providence game. “We still know what he brings to the table. I feel like he’s one of the best 4 men in the country and when he gets back we’ll have our full team. We’re going to keep going through the roof when he gets back.”
A scary thought for future opponents.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
