PirateCrew: Seton Hall Pirates Football & Basketball Recruiting
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By JP Pelzman
Looking back at Seton Hall’s 73-67 loss to Villanova and ahead to the Pirates’ game against UConn in Storrs on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.:
Missed opportunities.
Yes, Seton Hall faltered during winning time. But the Pirates also had issues earlier in the game.
The Hall had nine of its 14 turnovers in the first half, and also missed four of its last five shots from three-point range, finishing 7-for-14 before intermission. Both factors slightly nullified a 6-for-9 start from beyond the arc. To beat a team such as No. 15 Villanova on the road, you have to take advantage of every opportunity. Seton Hall did not.
Consider that that the score barely moved in the last four minutes of the half. It was 29-29, and the only scoring during that span was a Kadary Richmond three. This was a chance to get some separation from the Wildcats. Would they still have made runs? Of course. That’s what good teams do. But The Hall left points on the floor.
Bright side.
Coach Kevin Willard was upbeat afterward, as was super senior guard Myles Cale.
“I feel good,” Cale said, as quoted by the Daly Dose Of Hoops blog. “We went through adversity coming off that stretch coming out of COVID, so I feel like we found ourselves again and we’re in a very good spot. We’re not trying to have a domino effect and let this affect us the whole rest of the season. We’ve just got to come back to work on Monday, have a good head on our shoulders and prepare for UConn.”
Still, a win Saturday could have all but cemented an NCAA bid for the Pirates.
What about Aiken?
Bryce Aiken again didn’t play, and hasn’t done so since suffering a concussion at Marquette on Jan. 15.
Again, Cale was upbeat.
“Bryce is taking his time with his concussion,” Cale said Saturday, as quoted by Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press. “We can’t rush him with that. So we’re letting him take his time. Day by day, he’s getting better. I don’t know when he’s going to be back, but he’s getting better day by day.”
Teed off.
Willard drew a technical with 15:54 left, apparently feeling that Jermaine Samuels had committed a three-second violation after being trapped by a double-down in the paint before shoveling the ball out to Caleb Daniels, who drained a three. Collin Gillespie made both foul shots--natch--and the score suddenly was tied at 41.
Willard wasn’t asked about that, but was asked if there was a pushoff on the offensive rebound that led to Chris Arcidiacono’s key three.
He said, mockingly, “No! Villanova? Come on! We didn’t get in the bonus. I haven’t been in the bonus in three games against them, so it’s like, a push?”
Scheduling advantage?
UConn plays at St. John’s today after losing at Xavier on Friday night. Thus, not only will the Pirates have an extra day to prepare, the Huskies could be a bit weary. We shall see.
