Coming off of a 72-66 win over Rutgers this past weekend, Seton Hall has now won three in a row.
Seton Hall guard Myles Powell — Image credit: Anthony J. Causi
With a win over Kentucky in the previous game, Seton Hall does seem like a top team in the Big East, right? Currently they sit third to last in the conference standings for overall record. Their latest win gives them a 7-3 record. Despite being third to last in the conference they’re just three games behind first place St. Johns.
In the beginning of the first half against Rutgers, Seton Hall looked sluggish. They struggled to get it going with the Scarlet Knights leading 14-13, but with a few key blocks from Romaro Gill, and a couple of three’s from Myles Powell, the Pirates took over the game. Powell scored 11 points in the last six minutes of the first half and Seton Hall closed out the half 34-25.
The Pirates never looked back as they dominated the rest of the game. Powell finished with 28 points, making six three pointers. “I think he’s starting to figure it out, that although early on games if he’s not getting it, if he’s not making shots he has to stay aggressive,” said coach Kevin Willard in regards to Powell’s slow start and great finish.
The question for Seton Hall is are they a contender or pretender?
For now, yes. Seton Hall has the right recipe for success. Perimeter players like Powell, Myles Cale and Quincy McKnight can shoot. They have an inside/outside scorer who can rebound in Sandro Mamukelashvili. And they have rim protectors Michael Nzei and Romaro Gill.
The Pirates have what it takes to be a top team in the Big East and make the NCAA Tournament, like they’ve done before. The final games of 2018 will tell you if this team is really legit or not. Seton Hall plays their next game against Sacred Hart, which should be a tune-up game, given their record in their conference (4-6 in the NEC Conference). Then they play Maryland, which has a 9-2 record in the Big Ten Conference. But the game to really keep your eye on is against 10-0 St. Johns.
Not only is that a big game because of their record, but also it’s their conference rival who has emerged as the best team in the Big East. Their star guard Shamorie Ponds is having a great season, averaging 21 points and 5 assists. He’s looked like the best player in the conference so far. If Seton Hall wants to show the world that they’re contenders they have to win these next three games, especially against St. Johns, who have multiple players that score in double figures.
