PirateCrew: Seton Hall Pirates Football & Basketball Recruiting
The definitive source for all PirateCrew news.
By Colin Rajala
Before you enter onto James Naismith Court in Phog Allen Fieldhouse it reads “PAY HEED, ALL WHO ENTER – BEWARE OF THE PHOG.” It was all but smooth sailing for Seton Hall Thursday evening as the fog certainly rolled in on the Pirates in Lawrence, Kansas.
Defending national champion Kansas, ranked 9th in the country, defeated Seton Hall 91-65 to extend the Pirates losing streak to three games in their most lopsided defeat of the season.
The Jayhawks had six players score in double figures, including all five starters, and were led by senior guard Kevin McCullars Jr., who recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and an assist, and junior forward Jalen Wilson, who tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Seton Hall kept it close early, but was hampered by the same issues that have plagued them all season – a lack of cohesion on both ends of the floor, turnovers, 16, and poor free throw shooting, 59.4% on 19- 32. It was not all bad for The Hall as they saw junior guard Kadary Richmond put on his best performance of the season after playing just two minutes in the second half in a close loss to Siena last week. Richmond filled the stat sheet with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal, showing glimpses of what makes him a tantalizing prospect, however, he did turn the ball over seven times. Seton Hall had only one other scorer in double figures - senior forward Tyrese Samuel with 16.
The Pirates had opportunities to take control and subdue the Phog early, but committed two turnovers and missed two free throws, and from there it was all Wilson for Kansas early on as he scored nine of the Jayhawks first 14 points as they took a 14-10 lead in the first seven minutes of the Big East-Big 12 Battle matchup.
Not to be outdone by Wilson, Richmond recorded six of the Pirates first 10 points, including a pair of strong drives and finishes as well as tough midrange floater over a defender.
Kansas would extend their lead to 23-14 over the next five minutes with a 7-0 run featuring two jumpers from McCullers, including one from deep.
Richmond would answer back for Seton Hall with a personal 4-0 run, cutting the lead down to 23-18 after splitting two defenders off the dribble on his way to finishing at the rim.
From there the game would slip away from the Pirates. With Kansas leading 28-21, Richmond attempted a lob pass to freshman wing Tae Davis, but the pass was errant and high, and on the ensuing possession senior forward Tray Jackson missed a layup that could have pulled the game to within three at 28-25. Instead Kansas would put together another run, this time 6-0, to extend the lead out to 34-21 with four minutes remaining in the half.
Seton Hall’s would draw the game back to within single digits for the final time on the evening, 36-27, with a 6-2 run over the next two minutes, which was capped by a Samuel layup off a lob from Richmond.
The Hall could not help itself to close the half as Richmond, Samuel and graduate guard Jamir Harris would all miss free throws and graduate forward KC Ndefo would commit a turnover, leaving Kansas with a 40-29 lead.
Seton Hall stuck around thanks to Richmond and Samuel, who combined for 19 of the teams 29 points. The Pirates generated 20 of its 29 points in the paint in the first half on 10-15 shooting, but would go 0-6 from three, 9-16 (56.3%) from the charity stripe and commit six turnovers.
The Hall would start the second half with three consecutives misses from its top scoring options – an in and out midrange jumper from Richmond, Samuel’s layup was swatted away and graduate guard Al- Amir Dawes would miss an open corner three after sitting out most of the first half with two fouls, a sign of what was to come from Kansas’ stifling defense.
From there Seton Hall proceeded to commit three turnovers and shoot 2-6 from the free throw line as Kansas increased its lead to 50-31. Kansas would extend that lead to 61-38 on another 6-0 run after freshman guard Gradey Dick connected on two free throws after drawing Ndefo’s fourth foul.
Seton Hall put together one last 9-0 run on a Dawes three followed by Samuels connecting on a dunk, two free throws and a layup to cut the score to 67-48 with eight minutes remaining, but it was far too little and far too late as the Jayhawks cruised to close out the game.
The Pirates will look to regain some confidence next week as they host Division II Lincoln University in Walsh Gymnasium on Wed. Dec. 7 at 8:30 PM with a matchup at in-state rival Rutgers looming on Sunday, Dec. 11
