Seton Hall guard Shavar Reynolds celebrates with teammates after hitting game-winning shot against St. John’s. Image credit –Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)
In the last game of 2018, on a cold Saturday night in Newark, Seton Hall made a second half comeback to beat undefeated St. John’s.
After being down by as many as 12 points in the second half, the Pirates went on a 10-0 run to kick off the comeback.
A layup by Myles Powell, gave the Pirates a 73-72 lead, with about a minute to go. A controversial clock error on an inbounds play, which almost became a Seton Hall turnover, set the stage for a dramatic ending at “The Rock”.
Sophomore Shavar Renoylds hit the game winning three, with 3.1 seconds left on the clock, to seal a 76-74 win.
“I told the guys I think this was the best win I’ve ever had in the building,” said coach Kevin Willard, afterwards at Prudential Center.
And he might be right.
A big game against a Big East rival opens eyes and turns heads. A lively crowd with a chance to move up in the conference means a lot. This team is consistently proving over they’re not only talented but they’re mentally tough as well.
To have a sluggish start and finish the game with four starters in double figures, says a lot for a team that can beat opponents in different ways. With wins against Kentucky, Maryland, and a hot St. John’s team, one could only think the question — “Is Seton Hall a Top 25 team?”
My belief is that they are.
A resume, already stacked with quality wins, presents a strong case for Seton Hall.
This team has shown they have what it takes to be a top team in the Big East this season. This, along with their impressive non-conference showing, puts them in prime position for another NCAA Tournament bid.
When asked about Seton Hall’s spot in the top 25 rankings, Willard shied away from that and placed the focus on the team’s character.
“One game at a time,” said Willard. “I’m not worried about that. I’m proud of the effort these guys have been giving, I’m proud of their attitude, I’m proud of their resiliency.”
He my not want to admit it to the media yet, but he believes this team is good enough to be up there with the best.
