Gonzo Ball

Post Game Thoughts: Seton Hall 109, Providence 106 as Pirates Survive Late Collapse

2010-03-10T05:00:29Z

More photos » Henny Ray Abrams - AP

Pope, Paterson and Garcia, split the Gonzo Ball into thirds for their respective performances tonight.

-Complacency, complacency, complacency. I could really end the post-game thoughts with that, but we'll dive into it. It was a sloppy one.

With 13:36 left in the second half, Providence (12-20, 4-15) called a full timeout, trailing Seton Hall (19-11, 10-9) by 29 points, 76-47. At that point, Seton Hall mentally checked out of the game and started preparing for Notre Dame on Wednesday. Just 13 minutes later, the Pirates found themselves defending a Providence possession that gave the Friars a chance to tie the game in the final 7 seconds. How was it possible that PC reeled off a 59-33 run in the final 13 minutes? It started with Seton Hall's offensive possessions.

An efficient offensive effort over the course of 27 minutes, turned into borderline outright chaos. Gone was the pretty ball movement that was so prevalent in the first half. Gone was the concentrated effort to run the offense through Pope, which led to his career-high 27PTS. Instead, Seton Hall took poor shot attempt after poor shot attempt, failing to milk their possessions with effective clock management. Had the Pirates attempted to take 25 seconds off the shot clock on each possession over the last 13 minutes, Providence would have never had a chance to score 59 points in 13 minutes. Never. This is basic strategy, yet the lack of execution nearly cost us the game.

Although costly, you can't blame the entire collapse on blundered offensive possessions and clock management. Turnovers and missed free throws certainly played an equally large role in this near-disaster. Seton Hall shot just 2-of-6 from the charity stripe over the final 42 seconds. The majority of the Providence damage was already done, but if The Hall shot at least .500 down the stretch, they would have avoided the final heart-wrenching, breath holding, on the verge of vomiting, Providence possession. We learned one thing from the 2009-2010 Pirates team, nothing comes easy. No, not even closing out 29 point leads.

Onto the turnover front. The Pirates led 101-91, with 2:35 to play when Keno Davis once again called for a full timeout. Despite the lack of press throughout the game, Providence emerged from the timeout a frenzied club, shocking Seton Hall into committing a slew of turnovers. A slew is a massive understatement, as they committed four within a scoreless minute and five in the final two minutes as they watched their commanding lead disappear before their eyes. The final two minutes were extremely surprising as Seton Hall is usually very good against the press. Their inbound attempts were careless and lazy as were their attempts to push the ball up court through the press.

The Seton Hall faithful made it halfway into the 2nd half, feeling extremely confident. Entering the BET on consecutive road victories, the Pirates were seemingly playing their best basketball of the season. Their defense had been two steps quicker than their opponent and their offense had been rolling even with their leading scorer in a world of foul trouble. Lately, Pope's play had returned to a state of BIG EAST dominance, JRob had established himself as a viable second option and JT suddenly started hitting every jumper and 3PT attempt in sight. There was reason to be exuberant. Yet, as we've learned, nothing comes easy when you suffer from complacency. Instead of going into tomorrow's rematch with Notre Dame with an extreme confidence high, the Pirates will enter MSG on Wednesday with extreme caution. Maybe tonight's scare will prove beneficial after all.

On to the player breakdowns:

-For the first time tonight, a GonzoBall will be split between a Pirate and the opposition. Herb Pope and Jamine Peterson a re your recipients. Regarding Pope, he recorded his third straight double-double tonight with 27PTS/11REB/4AST, on 10-of-16 shooting, before fouling out with 3 minutes to play. Death, Taxes and a Pope double-double is alive and well. Where are those who made so much noise about his tried legs, playing out of position and wearing down due to the late season BIG EAST rigors? Nonsense. The man said the big lights would inspire him and tonight he put forth a truly inspiring performance.

Jamine Peterson, single-handedly, yes single-handedly, kept the Friars alive. He was the only interested party as his teammates were on the verge of losing by 40PTS with just over ten minutes remaining in the game. Peterson finished with 38PTS/16REB(10OFF)/3AST/BLK, on 14-of-25 shooting. It was probably one of the greatest BET performances in a losing effort as the BIG EAST honorable-mention sophomore, finished just 2PTS/4REB shy of a 40-20!

-What more can be said about Jordan Theodore? Our PGs couldn't buy a jump shot earlier in the year and our team struggled mightily as a unit. When a team can utilize a PG as a threat to pull-up and hit jumpers or 3PT attempts, it opens up plenty of options on the offensive end over the course of the game. Seton Hall doesn't just benefit on the scoreboard when JT is making his shots, their other options also reap the benefits as the defense will need to respect Theodore's shot. Tonight, he was good on 7-of-11 shot attempts for 21PTS, while going a perfect, 4-of-4 from downtown. He also added: 6AST/STL/REB/BLK/2TO in another impressive performance.

-Eugene Harvey contributed 12PTS/4REB/4AST on 4-of-5 shooting, despite committing 4TO. You've got to pull for Harvey and Garcia to make their first NCAA Tournament in their last season at The Hall. You can tell Harvey wants it bad. Pulled early in the game after throwing the ball out of bounds for his first turn over, an assistant tried to hand Eugene a bottle of gatorade. In a fit of frustration he slapped the bottle out of his area. You could tell Harvey was clearly upset with himself and wanted back into the game. Gonzo made the right move and got his senior right back on the floor in an attempt to right his wrong. Eugene did turn the ball over too much, but he still played well, nonetheless.

-Outscored by both Pope and JT, Jeremy Hazell finished with a quiet 18PTS on an efficient 5-of-9 shooting, while converting 8-of-10 of his FT attempts. The team has proved they can win without Hazell lighting up the scoreboard, in fact, their offense is much more potent when the entire team is involved. Recently, we've seen defensive efforts to take Hazell completely out of the game and it'll be interesting to see which poison ND will pick tomorrow. Will they concentrate on Hazell, leaving SHU's other options to take advantage? Or will they play somewhat straight-up accounting for Seton Hall's newfound offensive balance? I've still got my money on the former.

-Another impressive performance from JRob. Have we come to expect anything less? Night in, night out, he brings his best effort and tonight was no exception. Robinson finished with 15PTS/6REB, despite missing two critical FTs with 7 seconds left that would have iced the game. A 70% shooter from the line, JRob faced the biggest moment of his basketball career and he choked. It happens. Seton Hall still escaped with the victory. I have the utmost confidence that he'll respond with another impressive performance tomorrow night. Why wouldn't I? We've come to expect it and nothing less.

-Lastly, John Garcia doesn't want to go home. He's playing every game like it's literally his last. It may be just that. John Garcia toughed out 15 minutes of game time, logging 8PTS/2REB/2BLK. Honorable Gonzo Ball to the senior.

All your box score needs.

We'll see you tomorrow at 7PM for Notre Dame. As always, Let's Go Hall!

Halftime Notes: Seton Hall 55, Providence 39

2010-03-10T01:04:47Z

-Herb Pope has been dominant since the very first whistle. With the Pirates leading 5-4, I tweeted:

@GonzoBall: Pope offensive rebound and put-back, HE LOOKS GOOD TONIGHT. He's may very well take over. 5-4 SHU. #shbb #pcbb

Takeover he did. He's had an extra bounce in his step tonight, he wasn't kidding about being juiced for the big lights. His mid-range jumper is falling, he's stepped out to the perimeter and hit a 3PT and he's been an absolute force inside. He finished the first 20 with: 18PTS/7REB(5OFF)/2AST/0TO on 7-of-12 shooting.

-Jordan Theodore started off right where he left off on Saturday against the Friars team, scoring 13PTS/5AST/2STL/TO on 5-of-8 and 3-of-3 3PT shooting. JT is everywhere on the floor, playing great defense, hustling for loose balls and making great decisions as the point.

-Hazell has 10PTS on 4-of-7 shooting, without hitting a 3PT attempt, but has seen extended time on the bench after picking up his 2nd PF with about 8 minutes to play in the half.

-Providence has turned the ball over 8 times, opposed to 3 for the Pirates.

-Pirates are winning the battle of the major statistics: 16REB/14REB, 11AST/4AST, 6STL/2STL. Ok the Friars can have their 1BLK/0BLK advantage.

-Despite trailing by 16 points, the Friars are shooting 50% from the floor. The difference in the game? They're attempted 30 shots, opposed to 40 for the Pirates.

-Jamine Paterson leads the Friars with 13PTS on 5-of-11 shooting.

-The Pirates need to continue to take care of the ball while remaining efficient on offense and they'll have little trouble moving on to Wednesday. Of course, consecutive stops on defense will help seal the Friars fate.

BET Round 1: #10 Seton Hall Pirates (18-11, 9-9) v. #15 Providence Friars (12-18, 4-14) 7:00PM Open Game Thread

2010-03-09T23:17:15Z

More photos » Rich Schultz - AP

"These streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you."

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#10 Seton Hall v. #15 Providence, 7:00PM
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Television: ESPNU
Radio: 770 WABC

Online: Pirates v. Friars Coverage, Twitter @GonzoBall @thecycle

Projected Starting Five: G-Harvey, G-Theodore, G-Hazell, F-Robinson, F/C-Pop

Here we are. The BET is underway and the Seton Hall Pirates have an opportunity to play their way into the big dance. Yes, every team has the opportunity to play their way into the NCAA Tournament by winning their conference tourney, but unlike year's past, the Pirates will likely earn a berth with just a couple victories at the garden. For the record, I'm in the camp that believes SHU will be in with just two victories against PC and ND.

After just defeating the Friars by 12 points in Providence on Saturday, will the Pirates suffer from a sense of overconfidence? Will the team and specifically, the head coach be distracted by the NYT onslaught yesterday? A lot of questions will be answered in just a couple hours. Ultimately, time will tell, but I'm banking on the team rallying behind Bobby Gonzalez not only tonight, but throughout the course of the tournament. His team knows what they need to do to silence the critics. Likewise, the SHU faithful understands what needs to be done in this year's conference tournament and they can contribute in making it happen. South Orange is just miles away from NYC and the greatest arena on earth, utilize the home court advantage, it's there for the taking. Pack it out. Get loud. As far as the team? Beat Providence. One game at a time, one game.

SHU Athletics preview:

Overall, 18 wins is a high for Seton Hall under Bobby Gonzalez. The Pirates earned the #10 seed in the 2010 BIG EAST Championship. For the season, Jeremy Hazell leads Seton Hall and ranks third in the conference with 21.2 points per game. Herb Pope became the first Pirate to finish a season leading the BIG EAST in rebounds per game (11.1).

PC preview:

The Friars (12-18) and the Pirates (18-11) just faced each other in the final game of the regular season with Seton Hall earning a 92-80 win at Providence on March 6. The Friars have posted a 45-41 mark all-time versus the Pirates, including a 2-3 record in BIG EAST Tournament action. The last time the two teams met in the BIG EAST Championship, Seton Hall defeated the Friars, 85-65, on March 8, 2000. PC's last win over Seton Hall in the BIG EAST Championship was a 77-75 victory on March 6, 1985.

SBNation preview:

Jeff Robinson puts forth 11.7 ppg for SHU, while Herb Pope produces 11.2 ppg. Pope is also the top rebounder in the Big East, ripping down 11.1 rpg.

SHU is running well right now and Hazell should have himself a big night in leading the Pirates past Providence for the second time in just a few days.

Tonight is the biggest Seton Hall basketball game in the last four years, writes Paul Tyahla:

Today, thanks to two road wins, a weak national bubble and a favorable Big East Tournament draw, Pirate Nation will watch their team take the floor at Madison Square Garden with the chance to play themselves into the NCAAs. It is the most important Seton Hall basketball game in the last four seasons.

Brendan Prunty has the Pirates as, 'Last Four Out,' but their play in the BET will determine where they stand on Sunday:

The Pirates dodged two major bullets Monday night when Siena and Old Dominion both pulled out their respective conference championships. Had either one - or worst case, both - lost, it would have made Seton Hall's margin for error that much slimmer. We don't think the Gonzaga loss to St. Mary's hurts their chances at all because we thought the Gaels were going to make the field. But a Butler loss to Wright State would be a big blow to their at-large chances.

John Garcia nearly lost his life at the age of three when he was struck by a van, after surviving, he has learned to overcome various obstacles in his life, including persistent injuries that have slowed his career. He hopes to see the NCAA Tournament once more before his collegiate career comes to an end. Courtesy of Prunty:

His parents, who are separated but still a large part of his life, will be there this afternoon just as they were by his bedside at Passaic Hospital. Jhony already knows there will be tears, but unlike on that terrifying morning when he held John in his arms in the hospital's parking lot after the accident, these will be tears of joy.

"I know for a fact that he's here for something," Jhony Garcia said. "God has something reserved for him. If he can beat death when he was 3 years old, I know that there's something for him in his life."

Great work Brendan. We're pulling for you John.

Also, in his projected BET final four, Prunty has SHU v. WVU and Marquette v. Syracuse.

Herb Pope, Bobby Gonzalez and Jeremy Hazell are saying all the right things, as J.P. Pelzman provides recent quotes. From Jeremy Hazell:

"We can't look ahead," coach Bobby Gonzalez said Saturday after a 12-point win over Providence. "Somebody said [we're] in a decent bracket with Notre Dame and this team and that team. You can't think like that."

"We always focus on the team we're about to play," said Jeremy Hazell, who admitted he is bothered sometimes by a still-healing cut on his right hand. "It's hard to beat any team twice in a couple of days' span. We have to come out and play like we did [Saturday]. We have to be aggressive, make shots and defend and I think we'll be all right."

Jerry Carino predicts the Pirates win their first two contests, while adding:

Why they'll have a great week: The ability is here. The Pirates had West Virginia and Syracuse on the ropes and split with Pitt.

Why they won't: They've had a tough time executing late in close games.

Lastly, Dana O'Neil, reporting from the BET, chooses Herb Pope as her SHU player to watch:

Herb Pope. Jeremy Hazell is the scoring machine, but Pope is the reason the Pirates have moved up the Big East ladder. Not always a prolific scorer, he's tireless on the boards, where he averages 11 rebounds a game. For a team that likes to go and score as much as Seton Hall, each ball Pope corrals is critical.

See you immediately after the game for post-game thoughts. As always, Let's Go Hall!

Bobby Gonzalez Mass Hysteria!

2010-03-09T00:21:39Z

More photos » Matt Slocum - AP

WHERE'S MY BUS!

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Well, there's a reason I titled the blog, Gonzo Ball.

To your right, you'll see, "Gonzo Ball," described as:

Gonzo Ball: noun 1. a game played by 13 members of a basketball team, five at a time, sometimes crisp, often sloppy, but always furiously.

In the, "Introducing Gonzoball, What is Gonzo Ball?" post, I described the name's origin:

It's origin derives from our boisterous, sometimes theatrical, but absolutely methodical head coach, Bobby Gonzalez.

No, I didn't write the articles that surfaced in today's New York Times, but without further ado, let's check them out:

The original piece, from Kevin Armstrong and Pete Thamel:

Seton Hall's Bobby Gonzalez Is a Divisive Figure in the Big East:

The former Jasper Kenny Minor called Gonzalez "the craziest person I've ever met in my life, by far." Minor added: "If I were to ever become a coach, I learned a lot of things I wouldn't do. Even though we won, it was hard to enjoy basketball."

The pair of writers followed with:

At Manhattan College, the Memories of Gonzalez Are Not So Fond

Byrnes said that when he was informed that Gonzalez was leaving for Seton Hall, he said: "Good luck. I had him for seven years. I used to have a lot of hair. I'm almost bald now." He said he had seen Gonzalez only once since he left, at a dinner, but did receive a bobblehead of Gonzalez in the mail recently from him.

"I don't talk to you for four years, and you send me a bobblehead?" Byrnes said. "Save the postage."

Forgive me, but after reading that I can't help but think of Jack Woltz waking up with a horse's head in his bed. Regardless of what you think of this mess, you can't tell me that Gonzo sending Byrnes the bobblehead wasn't outright hilarious.

Lastly, Thamel conducted a formal Q&A with Bob Byrnes:

A good example: you got to someone's else's arena for shootaround. There's a man in the upper level sweeping the floor. He would dispatch someone immediately, like the person sweeping the floor is spying on our practice or something. It was like, over-the-top boogeyman stuff. It's wearing. The part that I was disappointed in was the handling of the players and the ‘us against the world' type of thing and the lack of focus and attention on school. I felt that we got lip service.

Of course, everyone weighed in with their reactions:

USA Today, Seton Hall's Bobby Gonzalez knows how to rub folks the wrong way:

But after Monday's piece in the Times, Gonzalez now may face questions about more than just basketball as his team travels to New York to play in the Big East tournament, where they are the 10th seed and will face Providence in the first round.

Eamon Brennan of ESPN:

Uh, yeah. I have a feeling Gonzalez isn't going to like this. Which means Seton Hall's Big East tournament games should be thoroughly awesome. Well, the postgame press conferences, anyway.

Brennan, which Gonzo presser ISN'T awesome? From taking shots at Adam Zagoria, to throwing John Garcia under the bus, to insinuating the snowstorm in D.C. might have been to blame for the Pirate's 25PT loss in Pittsburgh, you never know what you'll hear. Don't get me started on his BIG EAST conference calls.

Follow the jump for more reactions to the mass hysteria, Bobby Gonzalez style:

Chris Littman of Sporting News:

Bobby Gonzalez Not Creating a Big Fan Club:

It all begs the question: How the heck has Gonzalez gotten this high up the food chain without all of it coming back to bite him? (The fact that no one called the AD at Manhattan to do a background check probably helped.) Like most people, he's masked these problems with wins. At Manhattan, Gonzalez won 20 games four times while making two NIT appearances and two NCAA Tournaments. He's yet to crack the NCAA Tournament at Seton Hall, but the team has improved to 18 wins overall and nine Big East wins this season.

Sean Keeley writes:

Don 't Drive Bobby Gonzalez Anywhere, Anytime:

And so, they've posted a sidebar piece with thoughts from Gonzalez' former boss, Manhattan College AD Bob Byrnes. Byrnes paints a picture of a man with serious road rage issues...even if he wasn't the one driving.

You've got to respect Adam Zagoria's take on the recent articles, as he took the high-road and simply linked to them with:

Without further ado, here is the link to the story by Kevin Armstrong and Pete Thamel. And here's the sidebar, You don't want to drive the bus.

Adam could have had at Gonzo, seeing as Bobby sarcastically referred to Zagoria as a, "blog guru guy" when interviewed by Evan Roberts on WFAN two weeks ago:

"Hazell will play today, contrary to some of these infamous blog guru guys, we have one in the state of new jersey, that has his unnamed sources that constantly writes articles with no credibility and came out with a story that said he'd be out a week, I don't know where they get this stuff, they almost throw it against the wall and hope it sticks."

Lastly, Brendan Prunty also weighed in:

Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez seen as polarizing figure in college hoops, report says:

However, in a story in Monday's New York Times, Gonzalez is depicted in an unflattering light by those who knew him during his time at Manhattan and currently at South Orange. The story, which has an accompanying smaller story as well as a Q & A with Gonzalez's former boss at Manhattan, athletic director Bob Byrnes, paints the current Pirates coach as a coach wanting to move up the ladder at any expense.

Interesting timing for all of this to come out a day before the biggest game in the Pirate's 2009-2010 season. For that reason, I have presented you all with the articles and the reactions, however, I won't be commenting with my opinion at this time, as I'd rather focus on basketball. The Pirates have an opportunity to play their way into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005-2006 and to me, that is today's real news. As always, LET'S GO HALL!

NYT: Seton Hall’s Bobby Gonzalez Is a Divisive Figure in the Big East

2010-03-08T04:59:14Z

NYT: Seton Hall’s Bobby Gonzalez Is a Divisive Figure in the Big East

In regards to Gonzo's contract extension:

"Seton Hall made a bad decision," Jhony Garcia said after Gonzalez attributed a recent Senior Night loss partly to the two minutes his son, John Garcia, played.

Regarding former Jasper Kenny Milnor:

He and others said that Gonzalez consistently broke the N.C.A.A.’s rules on practice hours. Byrnes confirmed that players "on more than one occasion" anonymously complained about Gonzalez going over practice limits.

Must-read article, check it out by following the link above.

Update 03/08 In the comments section, I've posted two more pieces from the NYT. One in regards to his time at Manhattan College, along with a Q&A with Manhattan's AD, Bob Brynes. Check them out.

Seton Hall's Day After: Pirates 92, Friars 80, Big Lights to Inspire Pope

2010-03-07T21:18:27Z

More photos » Keith Srakocic - AP

Death, Taxes and a Pope double-double. After consecutive dub-dubs (his 11th), it looks like Pope has caught a second wind. Hopefully it will continue through the BET.

Browse more photos »

By defeating Providence on Saturday night, 92-80, the Pirates (18-11, 9-9) have earned the right to play the Friars in a rematch on Tuesday night in the first round of the Big East Tournament. Jordan Theodore stepped up tremendously with a career high 8AST, while leading the team with 21PTS. It's definitely encouraging that the team is playing their best basketball of the season as they embark on MSG next week, however, let's take it one game at a time.

GB's post game thoughts:

Tonight's game means absolutely nothing if they falter on Tuesday. Providence, on the other hand, will only be playing for pride in the BET, whereas the Pirates are playing for a postseason berth. You'd like to believe that overconfidence wouldn't be an issue given the circumstances, but after beating PC in their house, on senior day, by 12 points, I'm going to worry.

SHU Athletics Recap:

Seton Hall kept the pressure on and a pair of free throws by junior Robert Mitchell with only 1:26 remaining in the game gave the Pirates their largest lead of the night, 86-69. The Friars would not get closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

PC Athletics Recap:

Freshman guard Vincent Council (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the Friars with a career-high 25 points and added six rebounds and four assists, while senior guard Sharaud Curry (Gainesville, Ga.) recorded 19 points in his final home game as a Friar. Freshman forward/center Bilal Dixon (Jersey City, N.J.) added his fourth double-double of the season, recording 11 points and a career-high 19 rebounds for PC.

Herb Pope is juiced in anticipation of the BET, writes Tim Casey, reporting for the Star-Ledger:

"I can't wait," said Pope, who scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his 12th double-double of the season. "Like Jay-Z said, big lights will inspire me, ...I'm going to be juiced, man. That's MSG, man."

I love the attitude from the Pope of South Orange, but I believe it was Alicia Keys that sung it in Jay's song.

Speaking of Pope, he's been named to the final BIG EAST Honor Roll:

Pope averaged 17.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game in a pair of Seton Hall victories this week. Pope tied a career-high with 22 points and 18 rebounds in an 85-74 victory at Rutgers on Thursday. On Saturday at Providence, Pope tallied 13 points and 11 rebounds. The performances were double-doubles #11 and #12 this season. Overall, Pope averaged 11.1 rebounds per game this season becoming the first Pirate ever to lead the BIG EAST Conference in the category.

Pope has been killing the competition over the last week. It looks like, Bobby's early anointment of, "Death, Taxes and a Pope double-double" is back after a two month hiatus. The reports of his tired legs have been greatly exaggerated.

For reactions from Bobby Gonzalez and the players following the game, check out J.P. Pelzman's recap:

"We wanted to finish the [regular] season strong," Theodore said.

Pope noted how the Pirates beat two teams celebrating senior night this week, including Rutgers on Thursday, after the Hall had lost its final regular-season home game to Marquette last Sunday.

"We told [senior] John [Garcia], 'Let's get two wins for the one we lost," " a smiling Pope said.

Bobby Gonzalez wouldn't be surprised if Tuesday's contest is much closer than last night's, writes Kevin McNamara:

Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez noted that both teams came into Saturday a bit tired after playing Thursday night. Now they'll have a bit more time to not only rest but prepare for each other once again.

"This will be a very different, unique experience," said Gonzalez. "We can't look ahead. I think it will be a tougher game for both teams. I wouldn't be surprised to see a tough, hard-fought game."

The Pirates have work left to do in the city, according to Brian Wisowaty of the Setonian:

Seeking some déjà vu, it's the Friars on deck for the men's basketball team for the second straight game.
In need of wins to bolster a questionable NCAA Tournament resume, Seton Hall will cross the river and head to the 2010 Big East Tournament starting on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Brendan Prunty breaks down the All BIG EAST selections, with a focus on the garden state presence among the finalists:

A total of five players with New Jersey ties have been named to the league's all-conference teams it was announced Sunday. Newark native Da'Sean Butler of West Virginia was a first-team all-Big East selection, joining five others on the team.

The Big East's second team was highlighted by the only player from Seton Hall or Rutgers to make the list: Pirates junior guard Jeremy Hazell. Joining Hazell was Scotch Plains native and Seton Hall Prep product Ashton Gibbs of Pittsburgh.

Lastly, in looking at the NCAA Tournament picture, Prunty has the Pirates listed under, "work to do:"

Work to do
Seton Hall (18-11, 9-9)
Old logic would say that 10 Big East wins gets you in, but in the Pirates' case, it won't be the case. In all likelihood, Seton Hall will need to get to the semifinals to assure themselves of a spot in the field. Beating Providence (RPI: 126) for the second time in four days isn't enough. A win over Notre Dame on Wednesday not only puts the Pirates in prime spot, but eliminates their stiffest competition on the bubble. Beating Pitt in the quarterfinals is enough to overcome a non-conference schedule that included five games against teams with an RPI of 250 or above.

Not sure I agree with it, but as of right now, noted bracketologist Jerry Palm has Seton Hall IN as a 12 seed.

The Pirates are next in action, Tuesday night at 7PM, taking on Providence in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament.

Post Game Thoughts: Seton Hall 92, Providence 80, BET Will Decide Postseason Fate

2010-03-07T02:40:59Z

More photos » Bill Kostroun - AP

Jordan Theodore led the Pirates with 21PTS and a career high 8AST tonight against Providence.

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-Beat Providence. The Pirates (18-11, 9-9) did just that tonight, improving their conference record to 9-9, finishing at .500 for the first time since they finished 9-7 in 2005-2006. That year, they made the NCAA Tournament. Will this year's squad do the same? The BET stands in the way, but the future is looking a lot brighter right now than it was last Sunday. They'll need to defeat Providence again on Tuesday night in the first round of the BET tournament to remain on the bubble. Should the Pirates win Tuesday, they would face Notre Dame on Wednesday night in what may very well determine their postseason fate. Although their fate may be decided Wednesday (should they get there), their postseason legitimately began against Rutgers on Thursday. The Pirates have stepped up, spoiling back-to-back senior days, which is far from an easy task in the Big East Conference regardless of who you're playing.

The one thing I'm worried about right now is overconfidence. I'd like to believe Bobby will have his squad ready on Tuesday, making sure his players quickly forget about tonight's outcome. Tonight's game means absolutely nothing if they falter on Tuesday. Providence, on the other hand, will only be playing for pride in the BET, whereas the Pirates are playing for a postseason berth. You'd like to believe that overconfidence wouldn't be an issue given the circumstances, but after beating PC in their house, on senior day, by 12 points, I'm going to worry.

-A great all around team effort by the Pirates tonight, who at one point, were on the verge of putting PC away early in the first half. Leading by 14 with just 3 minutes remaining in the first half, the Friars reeled off an 8-0 run as the closing seconds ticked off of the clock. Just as it seemed that Providence would take all the momentum into the locker room at halftime, the Pirates had one last possession.

Eugene Harvey dribbled the ball to around mid-court and let close to 20 seconds milk off of the clock before penetrating into the heart of the defense. Two defenders collapsed on him, believing he would put up a contested layup. Instead, Harvey wrapped the ball behind a defender's back and found JT who finished for a reverse layup. The well executed play gave the Pirates an 8 point lead heading into intermission, but more importantly the play deflated a PC team who had just put together a nice run in the closing minutes.

-Gonzo Ball to Jordan Theodore, who continues to break out and has really stepped up his play as of late. JT finished with 21PTS on 6-of-9 shooting, he set a career high with 8AST, shot 8-of-8 from the stripe while adding 2REB/2STL and only committed one turnover. Very impressive play from the sophomore as he even outscored the Pirates leading scorer Jeremy Hazell, by one point.

-Jeremy Hazell finished with 18PTS/5REB on 7-of-14 shooting. Jeremy shot the ball a little better tonight, despite just shooting 2-of-6 from 3PT distance. It was the second consecutive game where Hazell had at least 5REB, as he's made a concentrated to get involved more on the glass.

-Eugene Harvey was rather impressive tonight with 12PTS/4AST on 4-of-5 shooting, despite turning the ball over three times. Harvey finished strong on his drives throughout the night, once even after receiving contact and picking up the AND-1 foul.

-Herb Pope dropped his second straight double-double with 13PTS/11REB/5BLK. Pope was everywhere tonight on both sides of the basketball. It looks like his new double-double streak has begun after going 2 months without one. Tired legs? No.

-Robert Mitchell was also perfect from the stripe, 8-of-8 and finished with 14PTS.

-Jeff Robinson was the final Pirate to finish in double figures with 10PTS after sitting the majority of the first half after picking up a quick two fouls.

-Vincent Council led the Friars with 25PTS on 9-of-16 shooting.

-As a team, Providence only shot 38.5%, whereas the Pirates were good on 51% of their shot attempts.

See you Tuesday, Providence.

...Much more to come in tomorrow's morning after post.

Halftime Notes: Seton Hall 43, Providence 35

2010-03-07T01:14:41Z

-Seton Hall had a chance to put a first half beating on the Friars as they led 41-27 with 2:50 remaining in the half. However, Providence would unleash an 8-0 run in the final two minutes, making it a manageable 8 point deficit at intermission.

-Seton Hall had the last possession of the half and it was a pretty one. Eugene Harvey took the ball out to about half court as he let about 20 seconds tick off the clock, with 9 seconds on the game clock, he penetrated to the hoop, but two Providence defends collapse on him. The senior, reached around one defender and dumped the ball off to JT who finished a pretty reverse layup. Execution.

-Regarding the roster and contribution output, the Pirates had one of their most balanced 20 minute efforts of the year. Hazell has 8PT, JT has 8PT, JRob 6PT, Pope 5PT, Harvey 6PT, Stix 6PT. That's as balanced as you can get for your heavy rotation players.

-Jordan Theodore tied his career high with 6AST in the first half already.

-The Pirates put the Friars in the bonus with 11:30 remaining in the first half. Too many fouls, the Friars only converted 7FT of 12 attempts, but this game could be closer to being out of reach right now if Seton Hall didn't put themselves in that position.

-Sharaud Curry leads the Friars with 14PT on 4-of-7 shooting, he burned the Pirates twice from the perimeter when they left him wide open to shoot away.

-Difference in the game? Shooting from the floor, to the tune of 20% different. SHU good for 53%, PC 33%.

Seton Hall locks up 10th seed in BET

2010-03-06T22:44:30Z

Seton Hall locks up 10th seed in BET

With Notre Dame's win at Marquette and Uconn's loss at USF, Seton Hall will be the 10th seed in the BET.

If Seton Hall beats PC tonight or RU beats Pitt, Seton Hall will play Providence in the first round of the BET.

If Seton Hall loses at PC tonight and RU loses to Pitt, Seton Hall will play Rutgers in the first round of the BET.

Seton Hall Pirates (17-11, 8-9) @ Providence Friars (12-17, 4-13) 7:00PM Open Game Thread

2010-03-06T16:17:01Z

More photos » Keith Srakocic - AP

How will Providence respond after their heartbreaking loss in Pittsburgh?

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Seton Hall @ Providence, 7:00PM
Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI
Television: ESPN360
Radio: 770 WABC

Online: Seton Hall v. Friars Coverage, Twitter @GonzoBall @thecycle

Projected Starting Five: G-Harvey, G-Theodore, G-Hazell, F-Robinson, F/C-Pope

With a victory today, Seton Hall will finish with a .500 conference record for the first time since they were (9-7) in 2005-2006. Is it progress? Certainly. Will it be enough for a fan base that has become increasingly frustrated in recent years? Probably not. However, the season won't end today if the Pirates can pull off back-to-back senior day road victories.

If they can pull to .500, they'll bring a respectable record, but more importantly, a bit of momentum into BET play. Once there, reel off another two victories in the tournament against a bottom feeder and a team that they're evenly matched with (in round two), and this team might begin to polish their slippers. Obviously, I'm getting ahead of myself as the Pirates need to solely focus on one game at a time. If they don't bring their best effort into Providence tonight, the Friars (who are playing for the 14th seed in the BET -- aka pride), may pull off their first victory in their last ten attempts. Beat Providence.

SHU Athletics preview:

This will be the 96th meeting all-time between the teams, second-most among all Seton Hall opponents (Villanova, 99). The Friars have a slim 45-40 edge in the series. Seton Hall has won three of their last four games at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Last season, Providence beat the Pirates, 98-93, in overtime.

Providence game notes:

FRIARS TO HONOR SENIORS IN PREGAME CEREMONY...Prior to the home finale against Seton Hall on Saturday, the Friars will honor the team's four seniors for their contributions to the Providence College men's basketball program. The seniors are Luke Burchett (Western Springs, Ill.), Sharaud Curry (Gainesville, Ga.), Ray Hall (Denver, Colo.) and Brian McKenzie (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

The News Tribune:

Both of these teams have some big men who can bang around in the low post. But in the backcourt, the Friars don't have anybody who can match Hazell's scoring output.

Accuscore has the Friars as the favorites in tonight's action:

The Providence Friars are slight 56.3 percent favorites over the Seton Hall Pirates. The Pirates are shooting 44.8 percent from the field and the Friars are forecasted to shoot 41.5 percent. The rebounding battle is pretty even with the Pirates projected for 40.8 rebounds vs. 40.5 for the Friars. The Friars are committing fewer turnovers at 11.6 vs 14.2 for the Pirates.

Providence Journal preview:

The Pirates come to town as one of the Big East's shakiest bubble teams, but they remain hopeful of winning enough games down the stretch to make the NCAA Tournament. After a 1-4 start in Big East play, the Pirates have rallied against the softer stretch of the schedule.

Friars are determined to show they still have fight, writes Kevin McNamara:

A combination of a murderous schedule, an all-too-frequent horrid defense and a dose of bad luck has this team backed up against the wall. But, to everyone's credit, there is little panic or self-pity dressing alongside the players in the locker room. In fact, long stretches of strong basketball and several close losses - highlighted by Thursday night's heartbreaking 73-71 defeat at No. 17 Pittsburgh - are keeping the Friars hungry.

As always, Let's Go Hall!

Seton Hall's Day After: Pirates Sweep Intrastate Rivalry, Attempt to Connect Jigsaw Puzzle

2010-03-05T23:52:44Z

More photos » Mel Evans - AP

"Dane Miller? He ran that way."

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Seton Hall's bubble hasn't been completely refurbished after being shattered against Marquette, but the pieces are lying right on the table ready for assembly a la your everyday jigsaw puzzle. The problem? The table sits in Providence, where the Pirates will attempt to ruin back-to-back senior nights after thrashing Ndiaye and the Scarlet Knights last night in Piscataway. Let's get right to the reactions:

GB's Post Game Thoughts:

Seton Hall swept the battle of New Jersey for the second consecutive year. Definitely a feat for Bobby Gonzalez, the Pirates and the Seton Hall community to be proud of. More importantly, with an impressive, hard-fought performance, the Pirates have worked their way back onto the bubble's thread. Beat Providence.

SHU Athletics Recap:

After the Scarlet Knights cut the Pirates' lead to one, at 30-29, Herb Pope hit his second three-pointer of the half to send Seton Hall into halftime with a 33-29 lead. Pope had a monster half for the Pirates scoring a team-high 18 points, pulling down nine rebounds and blocking three shots. Hamady Ndiaye and Mike Coburn led Rutgers with six points apiece.

RU Athletics Recap:

Redshirt junior forward Jonathan Mitchell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead four Scarlet Knight scorers in double figures, but it was not enough as Rutgers (15-15, 5-12) fell, 85-74, to Seton Hall (17-11, 8-9) Thursday evening at the RAC. RU committed just four turnovers, the programs fewest since 2005, but could not overcome being both out-rebounded and out-shot by the Pirates.

Last night was a, 'Garden Statement,' writes Paul Tyahla. What does it mean for the Pirates?

- It means that with a win on Saturday, combined with a Notre Dame loss at Marquette and a USF loss to UCONN, Seton Hall will be the 8th seed in the Big East Tournament, giving them a first-round bye. Check out Gonzoball's post regarding BET seeding scenarios.

Is it corny to plug your own plug? Sorry. Job well done, Keith.

Handshake lines and sprinting off the court were two stories that made some noise following the final buzzer, as reported by Brendan Prunty:

During the postgame handshake, Rutgers assistant Darren Savino and recruiting coordinator Jim Carr appeared to exchange words with Gonzalez, coming on the heels of the two Seton Hall dunks. Rutgers coach Fred Hill downplayed any exchange between the two staffs, saying only: "I didn't see anything. I just shook hands and kept going."

But the verbal exchange was just one layer of what was an intense Senior Night at the RAC. As the handshake lines began to form, Rutgers freshman Dane Miller - who was fouled hard by Herb Pope in the final seconds of the teams' last meeting on Feb. 23 - sprinted toward the locker room. He avoided the handshakes.

Of course Pope and JRob received game-balls in Prunty's Q&A's, but head coach Bobby Gonzalez finally showed up on the opposiste-side of the, "suicide" award last night:

GAME BALLS
Bobby Gonzalez: The Seton Hall coach has made some questionable coaching maneuvers this season, but letting Pope do his thing from mid- (and sometimes long) range was the smart play. Pope is a very good scorer down low, which sometimes gets lost in the "Give it to Hazell" gameplan.

I agree with the assessment on Gonzo's strategy with Pope. Rutgers insisted on playing a junk-zone defense that enabled Pope to step out to the perimeter, burning the Scarlet Knights who dared him to shoot it from long-distance. Pope has shown a nice smooth stroke from long-distance, but has struggled hitting his mid-range jumper which has been badly off at times. Still, the 2-for-3 3PT shooting (missed 3-of-4 3PT shooting by an inch) is nice, but I'm still more confident with him around the tin than stepping out regularly.

Hit the Jump for reactions from Carino, Pelzman, LFBall and Friday's comedic treat, courtesy of ESPN

Jerry Carino's recap, Rumble at the RAC, provides all the quotes from both sides following Thursday's heated contest. From the senior, Hamady:

"It always happens between us and Seton Hall. It's like a war, a basketball war, and we always go at it. It's physical and it's a rivalry game. I wish I would've kept my composure more, but I got into the emotion and it happens."

J.P. Pelzman makes a terrific connection between the atmosphere at the RAC and Seton Hall's practices:

But instead of folding because of the audible onslaught, visiting Seton Hall played better. The Pirates are used to being around a loud, animated person every day in practice, so what's a few thousand more?

Post Game Thoughts: Rutgers 74, Seton Hall 85 as The Pirates Hang From Bubble's Thread

2010-03-05T04:07:59Z

More photos » Mel Evans - AP

Not in Pope's house and not in Ndiaye's house either. Not even on Senior Day. Herb Pope finished with a dominating 22PTS/18REB/3BLK.

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-After committing 9TO in the first half, I wrote:

The Pirates need to take care of the ball and win the turnover battle in the second and they should secure the victory, of course, it would help if they stopped getting blocked inside.

Seton Hall (17-11, 8-9) responded by taking care of the ball to the tune of zero turnovers over the final 20 minutes. Eugene Harvey hit the pine in the second half, after being removed for his poor defensive play. Harvey also carelessly dribbled the ball out of bounds on the baseline under the basket without a defender even in his immediate vicinity. Keon Lawrence and Jordan Theodore refused to turn the ball over once in the second half, securing the victory over Rutgers (15-15, 5-12). Rather easily.

-A Gonzo Ball goes out to Herb Pope for the absolutely dominating performance we've all been waiting for since his 19PT/8REB showing against Pittsburgh in Newark. Pope, was clearly motivated on the road, in a must-win game against Hamady Ndiaye on senior night at the RAC, finishing his night with 22PTS/18REB/3BLK/2AST/STL. Who said he had tired legs? He shattered his two month double-double drought tonight and his biggest performance as a Pirate couldn't have come at a better time.

Pope sent a message in Newark with his hard foul on Dane Miller with 0.1 seconds remaining and it visibly carried over in tonight's action. The foul was evidence that the team was willing to play hard for 40 minutes and that's exactly what was on display in Piscataway. The Pirates played tough, hard-nosed basketball the entire way, refusing to give way to a Rutgers team that was fired up in an electric atmosphere at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights tried to create a little space early in the first half as they took a 10-5 lead and Ndiaye did his part, sending the RAC into a frenzy with a few powerful dunks. The Pirates would have none of it. Seton Hall was determined to fight through every RU mini-run and would continuously answer whenever the Red put points on the board.

-Jeff Robinson stepped up tremendously over the last month with Pope slumping and despite Herb's monster game, JRob found no reason to slow down tonight. Robinson also contributed a double-double, good for 16PTS/14REB/2AST/STL on only 7-of-14 shooting. Of course, 50% is nothing to complain about, however with the way JRob has been shooting over the last month, we've become accustomed to 70% nights from the junior. Tremendous job again by Jeff. Tonight was the first time all season we've seen what this team is capable of when Herb and Jeff both take over and it's a dangerous thing for any team in the BIG EAST to defend.

Robinson and Ndiaye got into a bit in the second half after JRob was inadvertently struck in the face by a Ndiaye block attempt. After the refs failed to call the foul, Robinson bumped Hamady on the next Rutgers possession. Initially, it looked like Jeff was just jocking for inside defensive positioning. However, on the replay, it looked like JRob gave him a little more as the Scarlet Knight fell to the ground. The Oscars are this Sunday and Hamady did his best to earn a late nomination with his flop that transpired after the bump.

After rolling from the key all the way to the sideline, the senior leaped to his feet and high-tailed it towards Robinson before his teammates intervened. Ndiaye was fired up, waving his arms and imploring the crowd to go nuts. The RAC responded and Rutgers seemingly gained all the momentum. You've got to love BIG EAST fireworks. Following the double-technical, Rutgers cut their five point deficit to only one with just 13 minutes to play. Not to be outdone, the Pirates would also respond to the tussle in an effort that proved to be more effective than the Rutgers run. The Hall reeled off an 11-3 run and created a little breathing room with 9 minutes to play.

-With Pope and Robinson having big games, Hazell must have been quiet right? Well, Jeremy only shot 33% on 6-of-18 shooting, including 1-of-8 from long-distance, but still finished with 19PTS/5REB. It was nice to see him hit the boards a little harder on a night where his shot wasn't falling. The Seton Hall faithful held their collective breath as Hazell exited the game early in the first half as blood started to trickle out of the cut on his hand. This time, the Seton Hall trainers were able to tend to the wound quickly and Hazell was back in action before five minutes ticked off the clock. The shooting slump has to be a bit alarming though, as he's obviously still struggling to find his grove with the cut still causing problems for his shot.

-Keon Lawrence! Finally. He had the type of game we've been expecting him to contribute, after seeing what he was capable of during his time at Missouri. Lawrence logged 32 minutes with 11PTS/5REB/3AST/BLK/TO on 3-of-5 shooting, including a 3PT attempt that hit bottoms. We don't need him to do too much with our other scoring threats serving as viable options, but if he can knock down a jumper here or there, it'll make our offense that much more dangerous.

-Five Scarlet Knights finished in double-figures, despite only shooting 36% as a squad. In his last game at the RAC, Hamady Ndiaye recorded 5BLK in the first half, but would come up empty in the second half, failing to continue the block party. He finished with 12PTS/5REB/5BLK.

-The Pirates DOMINATED Rutgers on the glass all night to a tune of 52REB/38REB (OFF:17REB/13REB), while RU finished with more STL/BLK than the Blue & White, 8STL/4STL, 7BLK/5BLK, respectively.

-Seton Hall swept the battle of New Jersey for the second consecutive year. Definitely a feat for Bobby Gonzalez, the Pirates and the Seton Hall community to be proud of. More importantly, with an impressive, hard-fought performance, the Pirates have worked their way back onto the bubble's thread. Beat Providence.

...Much more to come in tomorrow's day after post.

Big East Tourney Seeding Scenarios

2010-03-05T12:55:15Z

More photos » Mel Evans - AP

5 days ago: Seton Hall's Herb Pope (15) takes a shot past Rutgers' Jonathan Mitchell (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, March 4, 2010, in Piscataway, N.J. Pope had 22 points in Seton Hall's 85-74 win. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

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I've been wanting to post something like this for a while, but there was too much time to have an idea on how the Big East Tournament would set itself up as. Finally, after a bubble-saving win by Seton Hall and a buzzer-beating three by Pitt, we're down to one game left for each team in the conference. Thus, there finally is a pattern emerging for the five days in NY. Here's how the league shakes down with a weekend of basketball remaining.

Double Byes: Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia, Pittsburgh

With Ashton Gibbs three at the buzzer, Pitt locked up the fourth and final double bye in the Big East. Marquette loses out because they lost to both WVU and Pitt. Syracuse locked up the top seed with their win Tuesday against St. John's and go into Louisville Saturday with nothing to play for, except top seed in the entire NCAA tournament. Villanova and WVU play on Saturday for the 2nd seed and Nova would get it if they win. If Nova wins, Pitt would then get the 3rd seed if they win their game against Rutgers and would still get it if they lose since they win their tiebreaker with WVU. The nightmare scenario is if WVU wins, which means the 2nd seed would be determined by where Georgetown and Notre Dame finish. If Pitt joins the Mountaineers and WIldcats at 13-5. Pitt would win a tiebreaker between WVU and Villanova, who are 3rd and 4th, respectively.

Single Byes: Marquette, Louisville

Both the Golden Eagles and Cardinals have locked up one bye and will start on Wednesday at MSG. Marquette is the 5 seed, so they could be set for an early tourney run, but could also face UConn, which would ratchet up a challenge in that case. Louisville would be the sixth seed if they win, or finished tied with ND. If they are tied with Georgetown, then the Cardinals are the seventh seed behind the Hoyas. If Louisville, Georgetown and Notre Dame are tied, then the complex three-way tiebreaker appears, which looks to favor Louisville.

Alive for a Bye: Georgetown, Notre Dame, South Florida, Seton Hall

Here's the group that Seton Hall falls into. Their best chance at a bye in the Big East tourney is if they win, USF loses, and ND loses. South Florida is in a similar boat with Georgetown, needing a SHU loss to help them get the bye. Obviously, if Georgetown and Notre Dame win, they have a bye, of which ND is the 7th seed and the Hoyas are 8th (assuming Louisville wins). Should that happen, SHU needs a win and a USF loss to get the 9th seed and DePaul in round one. With multi-team ties, Seton Hall would need Pitt to finish close to the top of the league based on the tiebreaker, particularly if ND is involved. There's a chance here for a four-way tie, which Seton Hall ends as the 10th seed behind ND, Georgetown and USF.

The rest:

UConn can move past South Florida with a win in Tampa and losses by both Cincinnati and Seton Hall. The Bearcats, however, would have to have UConn win to move up, since any tiebreaker that benefits Cincy includes their two wins over the Huskies. If the Big East still only sent 12 teams to NY, Rutgers, St. John's, Providence and DePaul would be eliminated already. Rutgers would be 13th if they win or Providence loses. St. John's needs a win and Rutgers loss to be 13th, while they could fall to 15th if they lose and the Friars win. Providence gets the 13th seed if they win and Rutgers loses. As mentioned earlier, DePaul is the 16th seed once again.

What this means for Seton Hall?

This means that the Pirates can finish as high as 8th if they are tied with Notre Dame. They'll be 9th if they are tied with Georgetown or are 9-9 alone. They are 10th if South Florida wins, regardless if Cincy wins. They are 11th if they lose, and UConn wins and can still be 12th if they lose and both UConn and Cincy win.

Halftime Notes: Seton Hall 33, Rutgers 29

2010-03-05T01:02:49Z

-Ball security, turnovers are killing the Pirates who have committed 9 already. Unofficially, I want to say that's the SHU record for first half TOs this season.

-Hamady Ndiaye has gone all Thabeet on the Pirates, recording 6BLK's in just 20 minutes. Impressing his mother who is in attendance for her first ever collegiate basketball game.

-Jeremy Hazell has just 2PT on 1-of-7 shooting, meanwhile Mike Rosario has 1PT on 0-for-8 shooting.

-Herb Pope will finally break his 2 month double-double drought as he's already recorded 18PT/9REB/3BLK/2STL. Who said he has tired legs?

-The Pirates are shooting just 39% from the floor. Luckily for the blue-and-white their intrastate rivals are only shooting 30%.

-Rutgers doesn't have a player who has scored more than 6 PT thus far.

-Pirates need to take care of the ball and win the turnover battle in the second and they should secure the victory, of course, it would help if they stopped getting blocked inside.

Seton Hall Pirates (16-11, 7-9) @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights (15-14, 5-11) 7:00PM Open Game Thread

2010-03-04T22:51:47Z

More photos » Bill Kostroun - AP

It might be Hamady's senior night, but will Seton Hall's, "H" be the difference in tonight's game?

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Seton Hall @ Rutgers, 7:00PM
Louis Brown Athletic Center, Piscataway, NJ
Television: ESPN
Radio: 770 WABC

Online: Seton Hall v. Rutgers Coverage, Twitter @GonzoBall @thecycle

Projected Starting Five: G-Harvey, G-Theodore, G-Hazell, F-Robinson, F/C-Pope

The rematch tonight at the RAC. Seton Hall knows what's at stake, win and cling to the thread of the bubble. Lose and they'll continue fighting for an NIT berth. Should the Pirates lose out, they'll finish at 7-11 for the third consecutive year. Which team wants it more? Pope's last second foul has surely fired up the Scarlet Knights who already want to bring home a victory for Hamady Ndiaye's senior night.

SHU Athletics preview:

Each of the last seven games in this series have either gone to overtime or been decided by six points or less. Most recently, Seton Hall defeated Rutgers, 76-70, on Feb. 23.

From the RU preview:

A "Senior Night Block Party" for Rutgers students in honor of team co-captain Hamady Ndiaye (Dakar, Senegal), who will be playing his final game on the RAC hardwood, will supplement the evening. Ndiaye leads the BIG EAST and ranks third nationally in blocks with 4.6 rejections-per-contest. He also ranks second among active NCAA players in career blocks with 346, which is nine rejections shy of the Rutgers career mark (355) set by All-American and NBA veteran Roy Hinson (1979-83).

Mike Rosario responds to Herb Pope's hard foul at the end of game one. Courtesy of J.P. Pelzman:

"There's nothing to say about that. That's just the way they are and we carry ourselves the way we are. The biggest thing right now for Rutgers University basketball is to get this win. You're going to see a team that's going to come out from the beginning to the end with so much energy and passion."

Jerry Carino has the quotes from Gonzo in preparation of tonight's action:

"It's revenge game," Gonzalez said. "We've beaten them two times in a row in their building. It's hard to go on the road and win in a rivalry game three years in a row. So we've got a lot going against us in that game."

Hamady has a ton to play for in his final game at the RAC, as reported by Brendan Prunty:

Instead, he's focused on playing well in front of his parents, who he has only seen sparingly since leaving Senegal. Mazide Ndiaye, his father, has been to two games, but Thursday night will be most special because his mother, Henriette, has only ever seen him play pick-up games.

"I can't imagine what that's going to be like for her," Hamady said. "I really can't imagine. It's going to be probably the most amazing thing she's ever seen."

Jerry Carino adds how special the game will be senior from Senegal:

"My mom and my dad are going to be here, it's Senior Night, last game here, playing Seton Hall, the rival. It's going to be extremely hard for me, knowing myself, being so emotional. It's going to be a challenge blocking everything out and going and playing."

Great story and great career for H. We wish him the best of luck in his future and basketball career. After tonight, of course.

As always, Let's Go Hall!

It's Time for 'On The Banks of the Raritan' to Walk the Plank Part 4

2010-03-04T01:55:14Z

More photos » Rich Schultz - AP

What's funny about this picture?

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Part 4 with Shawn from 'On The Banks of the Raritan' below:

OTBR: Which Seton Hall players deserve some consideration for end of year awards?

GB: If we're talking legitimate end of the year awards, opposed to Seton Hall awards, the only player in consideration would be Jeremy Hazell for All Big East. It'll be extremely tough for him to make the first team, however if he carries SHU in back-to-back road victories with a couple epic performances (think 30+ in each game, leading to W's) he'd have to be in the consideration for first-team. At this point, my BE first team would consist of: Reynolds, Johnson, Butler, Jones, Harangody, Monroe. Now, if Luke doesn't come back, he'll only have participated in 2/3rds of the conference season. Is that enough? I believe so, however if he doesn't get in, Jeremy's got a chance. In all likelihood, we'll see him on the second team.

As far as Seton Hall awards, obviously Hazell would take the team MVP, while Jeff Robinson would nab the MIP.

OTBR: What will it take for SHU to win more than 1 or 2 games in the Big East Tournament?

GB: To win MORE than 1 or 2?!?!? Good question. First of all, they would need to finish 9th or lower in the conference standings to ensure they get a first round game. At this point, it looks like they're safe in that regard as it would take them winning out (possible) and a complete meltdown by a couple teams ahead of them. If they advance into the second round, it's going to take a repeat of their best defensive performance of the season when they defeated the Panthers 64-61, holding Pitt to 35% FG shooting. Seconldy a big game from Jeremy is a must and why don't we sprinkle in a little "MSG magic" for good measure? To win more than two games? We're going to need to unscrew that "MSG magic" shaker and let it rain. With that said, if they can win their last two regular season games AND reel off 2 BET victories, I think they're in the dance. Unlikely scenario, but that's all that matters to me.

Follow the jump for a lengthy finish covering the BET, the future, and of course, Gonzo!

OTBR: What team other than Syracuse, Villanova, or West Virginia can you see winning the BET? Why?

GB: I am SURE this answer will surprise you, but I've got a feeling (and I realize that I can't use that phrase anymore without the atrocious BEP's song popping into heads, but oh well) that UConn is more than capable of pulling it off. Hear me out. At times this season, they've looked like a top 5 team in the country. They're battle tested, they love MSG and never have trouble getting up for games on the biggest stages. They've got a score to settle with the Orange (if not two after this year at Carrier), and can play with ANY team in the conference on ANY night. Oh yeah, they're led by a healthy (we believe) hall of fame head coach, Jim Calhoun. They lost a close contest with UK early in the year, but have beaten three heavyweights in: TX (when they were #1), @Villanova and WVU.

They're in the same situation as Seton Hall, where they'll need some luck to get a first round bye. Unlike Seton Hall, UConn would actually benefit from the first round bye. Why? They struggle against lesser competition, all year they've played down to their competition. It's to the Huskies advantage to weed out the bottom-feeders and if they can get past the second round, they'll be sniffing the NCAA tournament. At that point, why leave it up to the committee? If there's a team that can make a BET push and play their way into the dance, the Huskies are more than capable. Disclaimer: I strongly dislike the Huskies, yet have watched nearly all of their games this season and it pains me to say, they're MUCH better than their 7-9 BE record.

OTBR: How good do you think SHU will be next year? Who will be back? What do you know about in-coming players?

GB: That is such a tough question to answer as there are so many unknowns at this point. First, will Bobby be back? I'm 95% confident that he will be seeing as the University just gave him a 3 year contract extension last year (while he still had a year left, obviously a bad decision). However, try this on for size. Say the Pirates lose-out during their final two game road trip, that will leave them with a regular season record of 7-11 for the third straight season. After all of the off-season talk of NCAA expectations, the hype of the, "impact-transfers," and how they were headed in the right direction, can you imagine the reaction of the fanbase if they finish 7-11, AGAIN? It won't be pretty. Will it be enough for the University to eat a whole bunch of money? I highly doubt it. Let's say there's a buyout in place and they can save some money, good luck finding the next coach who's willing to come to SHU after canning Gonzo, ripping up a multi-year extension. Yeah, that would be a mess.

Oh, you were talking players? As far as the seniors go, we're losing a couple very likable, quality players in Eugene Harvey and John Garcia. As far as players leaving early, in the beginning of the season, I was worried we'd potentially lose two players in Pope and Hazell. At this point, we still may lose two, but Pope isn't going anywhere. I do think Hazell will test the NBA waters, let's be honest, he should. Hopefully he goes at it without an agent, the scouts talk him out of it, telling him he needs to improve various facets of his game (defense, dribbling with both hands, becoming a better distributor and more aggressive rebounder) and hopefully he returns. If he does leave to play professionally ball, Seton Hall will be in a world of hurt and our intrastate neighbors will be very relieved. Other than Hazell, Melvyn Oliver has been suspended off-and-on all season long in regards to his academics. If he doesn't turn it around in the classroom and in the gym, it would be very unfortunate for him (as a person) to lose his scholarship to Seton Hall.

As far as newcomers, after losing commit Jesse Morgan to UMass (after he failed to qualify for the BIG EAST), we're bringing in forwards: Fuquan Edwin, Eugene McCrory and fresh off his verbal commitment yesterday, Jamir Hanner. In most circles Edwin is recognized as a top 5 recruit in the state of New Jersey, while McCrory and Hanner are less well-known, but bring a strong, "diamond in the rough," potential. At the moment, there's still one scholarship available and with a glaring hole at the center position, the Pirates would love to reel in 6'10, Maurice Walker. If they can't grab Walker, I'm sure they woulds "settle" for Moses Abraham. Wishful thinking.

OTBR: What are your top one or two cringe-worthy Bobby Gonzalez moments this season? Or, why should everyone stop hating on Gonzo?

GB: There's been a few. First, he benched senior Eugene Harvey in the opening game of the season, starting Jordan Theodore instead. Mind you, Harvey made 93 consecutive starts prior to his demotion to the bench. It was also Eugene who hit a miraculous 40 foot prayer at the buzzer to narrowly defeat SPC. After putting Harvey back in the starting lineup, the, "standard" starting five, reeled off a 7-0 non-conference record. Against VMI, Bobby altered with the rotation and inserted JT for Stix and the Pirates won, but the use of random starting lineups was soon to follow. The following two games against Temple and Navy, Bobby reverted back to the, "standard" lineup of Harvey, Hazell, Stix, Pope and Garcia, but with Big East play starting and transfers Jeff Robinson and Keon Lawrence vying for minutes, that would all change. For the next 18 games, we never saw the, "standard" lineup again. Sure competition is better in the Big East and adjustments need to be made occasionally to account for injuries and match-ups, but it's still not easy to understand. Keon Lawrence started entirely too many games this season for as poor as he's played offensively. Gonzo's finally put him back on the bench the last two games against RU and MU, which SHU has split 1-1.

The other cringe-worthy Bobby Gonzalez moment was the Hazell benching at the end of the Villanova game. After dropping 32 points, with the Pirates trailing by 12 with 4:00 minutes left, Gonzo lifted Hazell from the game and Jeremy wouldn't return for the remainder of play. Bobby also refused to foul the Wildcats in the last 3 minutes as they nursed a 12 point lead and allowed his offense to use up the majority of the shot clock on each of their OWN possessions. I'm cringing just thinking about that game again. Cringing is a typical reaction during a BG presser and after VU, it was no different. He originally told the press, "You can't just all of a sudden go 1-on-5 and put your head down and looking for the refs to bail you out and complaining on every call and taking bad shots, because then it's not good for the team," as he was clearly unhappy with his player's shot selection. Two days later, in the BIG EAST conference call, Gonzalez told reporters that he wasn't removed for bad shot selection, but instead it was because he didn't get back on defense and didn't join the team in a time out. Was he responding to the criticism of one blog in particular?

OTBR: What do you expect to see in Thursday's rematch? What must SHU do in order to win at the RAC?

GB: I do expect Seton Hall to win another close one as they need the game more than the Scarlet Knights, who I'm HOPING have packed it in for the season. Oh, who am I kidding? This is the season for Rutgers and there's no doubt in my mind they'll be ready and put forth their best effort against their rivals. Who doesn't love playing the role of spoiler? Rutgers can deaden any talk of the Pirates potentially making the NCAA Tournament with a win on Thursday. The atmosphere is going to be electric and I guarantee it will come down to who executes better in the final minutes, again. The Hall must make stops defensively, particularly inside, while winning the turnover battle again. Even if Rutgers out-rebounds the Pirates, which they probably will, I think Seton Hall will out-shoot the Scarlet Knights and when it's all said and done, the Pirates will have swept the season series from our brethren across town.

Best of luck Shawn, thanks for plank walkin' a second time.

It's Time for 'On The Banks of the Raritan' to Walk the Plank Part 3

2010-03-04T00:02:12Z

More photos » Mel Evans - AP

The Plank is THAT way.

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In the first, "Part 3," of the season we're sitting down with Shawn from 'On The Banks of the Raritan' (a Rutgers Scarlet Knights blog), and exchanging Q&A's once again in advance of RU/SHU tomorrow night. In part 1, we're asking the questions to OTBR, focusing on an end of the season assessment, while looking forward to next season. Later tonight, we will post our answers to OTBR's questions, again assessing the season and looking at the future.

A big thanks to Shawn for participating in the Plank Walk twice this year. Best of luck tomorrow night, however the Pirates need this one more. How about The Scarlet Knights just lay down and let the Pirates sweep them off the floor? I kid. Kind of.

Enjoy the Q&A!

GB: Which Rutgers players deserve some consideration for end of year awards?

OTBR: Dane Miller should be a lock for All-Rookie Big East team. He won Rookie of the Week three straight weeks which should also make him the front-runner for Rookie of the Year. Miller leads rookie scorers with 12.6 ppg and tops the list for rebounds per game among rookies with 6.6 per game. He's also among the top three rookies in steals, assists, and blocks per game.

Senior Hamady Ndiaye might get the nod as the Big East's Defensive Player of the Year. He leads the league and is third nationally with 4.6 blocks per game. He's nine blocks shy of matching the school record set by Roy Hinson in the 70s. Hinson finished with 355 career blocks. Hasheem Thabeet won the defensive player of the award last year for his shot-blocking skills. Hopefully H can get the love this year. Mike Rosario is currently 11th in the league in scoring with 16.4 points per game. This could make him a longshot for 3rd team All Big East. We'll have to wait and see.

GB: What will it take for Rutgers to win more than one game in the Big East Tournament?

OTBR: They'll have to rebound and limit their turnovers. This has been the ingredient for success this season. We'll also need Ndiaye to stay out of foul trouble and either Brian Okam or Austin Johnson, both freshman, will need to log some key minutes to at least get H a breather from time to time. It will be tough for H to play 35+ minutes on consecutive days against Big East thugs. Additionally, Rosario will need to be efficient. Scoring 20+ is one thing, but more importantly, he needs to shoot well from the floor. If he comes out on fire next Tuesday, RU will have a good shot to play on Wednesday.

GB: What team other than Syracuse, Villanova, or West Virginia can you see winning the BET? Why?

OTBR: I've really been won over by Buzz Williams and his Marquette team. They put a hurting on a Louisville team that had a lot to play for Tuesday night. Marquette won its last three Big East road games, all in overtime. They have some great players on that team--Lazar Hayward and Jimmy Butler, but also some guys like Maurice Acker and Darius Johnson-Odom that can do just as much damage as Hayward and Butler. Their proclivity for the three-point ball could hurt them if they come out cold. They do seem to be peaking at the just the right time.

Hit the jump for thoughts on Rutgers' future, Fred Hill and the rematch.

GB: How good do you think Rutgers will be next year? Who will be back? What do you know about in-coming players?

OTBR: Rutgers has just one senior, albeit fan-favorite Hamady Ndiaye, that graduates this spring. We also lost sophomore center Gregory Echenique earlier this year when he decided to transfer to Creighton. That leaves a big hole to fill on the interior. Freshmen Brian Okam and Austin Johnson have played well at times, but they'll need to improve in a hurry in order for RU to have any inside presence.

Touted recruit Gilvydas Birutas from St. Benedict High School gives the team some much needed size at 6 ft. 8, but how much the team can rely on him next season is a big question mark. Rosario, Miller, and Jonathan Mitchell can score points. Mitchell is also a solid rebounder, but our perimeter guys will be easy for opposing defenses to lockdown if there is no inside game. I'm sure Fred Hill and his staff are looking to land a a big man that can hang with the Big East boys, but that is a lot easier said than done for a program like RU.

GB: What are your thoughts on Fred Hill's future at Rutgers?

OTBR: Hill has gotten a lot of attention this year. The team's 0-8 start to Big East play seemed like a nail in his coffin, but the team turned things around to win 5 of its last 8 conference games. The man deserves credit for the turnaround despite what his critics may have to say. Sure, five wins in the Big East is nothing to write home about, but it is the most wins under a Fred Hill team in four years. He also earned his biggest win at Rutgers when the team knocked off then No. 7 Georgetown.

Brian at Scarlet Report recently asked, "How do we know Hill is the wrong guy for this program?" Hill has demonstrated the ability to recruit and I think he does have the program improving. I expect he'll be back next year. The school will owe him $1.8 million if they let him go. That's a hefty price to pay for giving Hill the pink slip. Based on what he's done in the last eight Big East games, I think RU gives him another shot next season. If the team wins two at next week's tournament, Hill is a definite to return.

GB: What do you expect to see in Thursday's rematch? What must RU do in order to win even the season series with SHU?

OTBR: I think the boys will be much better this time around against the Pirates. It will be Ndiaye's final game on the banks and the rest of the players and the Rutgers' fans truly love the guy. That alone should inspire better play. The Feb. 23 game at the Prudential Center got away from the Scarlet Knights early. They can't let that happen this time around. RU turned the ball over 16 times to SHU's six. RU also shot under 40% for the game. Despite the sloppy play, RU had a chance late in the second half, but the deficit was too big. I think this one will be tough for SHU. It should be a good one.

Part 2 will be posted later tonight...

Big East Bubble Watch

2010-03-03T23:09:06Z

More photos » Thomas Cain - AP

Calhoun's Huskies are facing a must-win in South Bend as UConn will attempt to work it's way back onto the bubble.

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In yesterday's action:

Villanova (24-5, 13-4) defeated Cincinnati (16-13, 7-10), 77-73, holding off a late Cincinnati rally.

Say goodnight Bearcats, winning the BET is extremely unlikely for Cinci and that's the only way they're getting in at this point.

Louisville (19-11, 10-7) was smoked by Marquette (20-9, 11-6), 69-48 in Milwaukee, as the cardinals only shot 37% from the floor.

Like I said in the last BE Bubble Watch, I'm not sold on Louisville and last night was an exact indication as to why. Making matters worse, they have to finish at home against the #1 team in the country. They're probably safe regardless, but losing their first BET game would raise eyebrows.

Marquette, congratulations on moving yourself off of the Gonzo Ball Bubble.

South Florida (18-11, 8-9) inched past DePaul (8-21, 1-16), 63-59, in Rosemont.

USF is still hanging on by a thread, but a victory at home against UConn would give them the required momentum heading into the BET, needed to make a run.

Tonight:

UConn (17-12, 7-9) @ Notre Dame (19-10, 8-8) 7:00PM

Notre Dame wins and they move into excellent position. Even if UConn losses, I wouldn't count them out from a BET run, they're extremely talented, just wildly inconsistent.

Tomorrow:

Seton Hall (16-11, 7-9) @ Rutgers (15-14, 5-11) 7:00PM

Must win for The Hall to get back on the Bubble's thread.

Jamir Hanner (NIA, Newark) Commits to Seton Hall

2010-03-03T02:56:47Z

According to Adam Zagoria, 6'8 Jamir Hanner from NIA Prep (Newark, NJ) has verbally committed to Seton Hall, joining 6'6 Fuquan Edwin and 6'8 Eugene McCrory in the current class of 2010-'11 Pirates. Hanner had received interest from Iowa State, Texas, Oregon State, Minnesota, Boston College, Western Illinois, Cleveland State, Utah State, Rider, St. Peter's, Norfolk State, Charlotte, and Coppin. According to his NIA coach Rudy King:

He has the potential to play the 3 and 4 positions and rebounds with the best of them. He finishes strong above the rim with either hand and runs the floor like a deer. He has great touch for a prep school forward/center and will be a force to reckon with in the Big East.

"What I admire most about Hanner is that he is coachable, plays team basketball and hates losing and took advantage of the prep opportunity the way it was originally designed. I’m happy for Jamir and his family."

Regarding Seton Hall, Hanner said:

"I just like the atmosphere of the campus. I like the coaching staff as well as their style of play," Hanner said by text."

Jamir has impressed NBE Basketball Report with his athletic ability as they posted yesterday:

Hanner has impressed NBE in earlier views with his athletic ability on the glass and in transition. He also showed the ability to face up and attack off the dribble.

In his junior year, PhillyHoops.net had Jamir as the 10th player in their Class of 2010 top 45. He was the 2nd SF on their board, however.

Recruitrecon.com ranks Hanner as a 2.5 on a scale of 4 on his player page which was last updated on November 2009. They also had the following to say about his performance in the Eddie Griffin Challenge:

Jamir proved to be a strong and athletic player in this game. On one play he powered his way through contact and finished on a layup. He was fouled on this play but missed the free throw and really struggled from the charity stripe throughout the game. His athleticism came in to play on the defensive end when he flew in to block a shot from behind and also on a pair of his dunks. One of his dunks was a high flying alley-oop while the other he threw down with 2 hands after taking a single dribble. Other than his free throw shooting Jamir was impressive and finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds.

In February, Hanner participated in the NPSI in Rhode Island and was a stand-out player, earning recognition on the All-Tournament Team courtesy of Net Scouts Basketball:

Jamir Hanner of NIA Prep. The 6′9 senior scored 31 points and had 21 rebounds in his two games.

Last week, he made North Star BBall's Class of 2010 Fab 50:

13. Jamir Hanner, PF, 6'7, NIA Prep, uncommitted- a lengthy 4 who can put the ball on the floor a bit, he rebounds well, scores, and plays hard

In a recent interview, he was asked about the lack of offers after only hearing from James Madison and Canisius, to which he answered:

"James Madison and Canisius. That's it so far because it always has been a situation with my grades. Now that I'm doing well at this prep school, I should hopefully [get more offers]."

ESPN insider lists his scouts grade as an 83. His page was updated today, but their last evaluation was nearly a year ago, in April of 2009:

He is an above the rim finisher with a clear path and likes to score from the left block with a high elevating turn shot over his left shoulder. Hanner also displayed his ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim from the low wing and he is even better from high post area especially going to his right. He also is a terrific offensive rebounder that gets his share of tip ins. At times he gets lost on the defensive end in terms of positioning in relationship to the ball but is still very much a work in progress with excellent upside.

A few Jamir Hanner highlights:

At the 1:00 minute mark, #25, apparently his nickname is, "Jigga." The following video is a clip of three relatively uncontested Hanner dunks against undersized and rather nonathletic bigs.

Some more highlights from #25 throughout this clip:

We will have much more to follow on the Jamir Hanner verbal commitment in the coming days. Welcome to The Hall, Jamir. We're excited and proud to have you as a Pirate for the years to come.

Jamir Hanner Commits to Seton Hall

2010-03-03T01:01:01Z

Jamir Hanner Commits to Seton Hall

Per Adam Zagoria:

Jamir Hanner, a 6-8 forward from Newark (N.J.) Nia Prep, has verbally committed to Seton Hall.

"I committed about two hours ago. I just like the atmosphere of the campus. I like the coaching staff as well as their style of play," Hanner said by text.