PirateCrew: Seton Hall Pirates Football & Basketball Recruiting
The definitive source for all PirateCrew news.
By Tyler Calvaruso
Seton Hall was granted a golden opportunity when Georgetown upset Villanova in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals. Their NCAA Tournament hopes in peril, the Pirates were presented with the chance to play themselves into the Big East title game, placing them in firm control of their March Madness destiny.
And then they let it slip through their fingers just as they have all season.
Seton Hall did not get enough out of its seniors to knock off a surging Georgetown team playing its best basketball of the season and faltered at the free throw line in a 66-58 loss to the Hoyas. Myles Cale, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Shavar Reynolds combined for just 19 points on 8-30 shooting from the field, while the Pirates could not take advantage of a bevy of opportunities at the free throw line, going 5-11 from the charity stripe and 2-7 in the second half.
Georgetown, meanwhile, went 18-25.
“We missed a lot of free throws where we could have given ourselves a one or two-point cushion,” Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard. “We missed a lot of free throws in the last three minutes, four minutes of the game where we ended up getting empty possessions.
“You just can’t go 5-11 from the free throw line when they’re going 18-25. That’s the difference in the ballgame.”
Seton Hall and Georgetown were knotted up at 57 with just over three minutes to play, but the veteran Pirates were unable to find their offensive rhythm down the stretch, scoring only one point over the final 3:08. Reynolds had a chance to cut Georgetown’s lead to 61-60 with under a minute remaining, but his drive into the paint amongst the trees was sent back with authority by Chudier Bile. Reynolds then committed a foul on a Dante Harris three-point attempt on the other end and Georgetown sealed the game at the free throw line.
Notably missing for Seton Hall in the closing minutes was Ike Obiagu, who fouled out with 1:38 left to play. Obiagu dealt with foul trouble throughout the night, picking up three in the first half and sitting for an extended period as a result. Georgetown went on an 11-4 run as soon as Obiagu checked out after picking up his second foul midway through the first half and his presence in the paint was missed when he was forced to the bench.
Despite a slow start, Seton Hall trailed just 36-34 at halftime thanks to a star showing by Jared Rhoden, who totaled 14 of his 22 points over the first 20 minutes. Tyrese Samuel also provided the Pirates with quality minutes off the bench, scoring six points in 10 minutes of action. Samuel, however, did not play at all in the second half.
Seton Hall’s loss to Georgetown could very well spell the end of its 2020-21 season, as the Pirates are unlikely to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Seton Hall’s participation in the NIT is also up in the air.
“I’m not 100% sure that’s going to be the best thing for this team,” Willard said. “I wouldn’t play Sandro in the NIT. I’m not sure going into a hotel in Texas right now is the best thing for my seniors, but I’ll have a conversation with them later. As of right now, I’m leaning toward not doing it just for the fact of everything we have been through all year long. I’m not sure that’s something that’s best for us right now.”
Quick Thoughts
-This loss is going to sting up until the beginning of next season. Seton Hall was presented with the unexpected chance to play its way into the Big East championship game against a Georgetown team, albeit red-hot, that should have been easier to defeat than Villanova, and it blew it. Tough way for Seton Hall’s senior class to go out– especially considering their struggles against the Hoyas.
“I’m proud of them,” Willard said. “They’ve been here four years; they’ve given their heart and soul. They have been great in the classroom; they have been great in the community and they’ve been terrific on the basketball court. I’m going to miss them very much. They can hold their heads high. They have had great careers.”
-Frankly, it does not make much sense for Seton Hall to take part in this year’s NIT. Willard is right, participating probably is not the best thing for this team – especially the seniors. Unless the young players account for all the minutes played, there is not much of a point in heading to Texas.
-Definitely a disappointing end result for a team that was destined to make its sixth straight NCAA Tournament just a month ago. There is no excusing Seton Hall’s play down the stretch – especially its four-game losing streak that ultimately cost the Pirates their place in the big dance – but you still have to feel for this group. The hope is that the returning players parlay this feeling into success next season. It is going to be an interesting offseason with a ton of roster turnover on the horizon.
