By: Steve Tichenor
At 15-8, It’s very clear if Seton Hall is going to make the dance they will have to close strong. The Big East has established itself as a mighty basketball conference once again and the Pirates face 6 straight conference match up’s down the stretch.
The Pirates should be a lock with a 4-2 run and at least an opening round win in the Big East tournament. But the road will not be easy. It start’s tomorrow with a matchup against a much improved St. John’s team at Madison Square Garden. The Hall should win this game but it is hardly a pushover.
They then return to the Rock for an extended home stand. A crucial trifecta vs. the beasts of the East, Creighton, Villanova and Xavier. March Madness aspirations will live or die right in Newark. It would be nice to get two wins here but at the very minimum they have to get one. Knocking off #2 Villanova would obviously be huge. On the other hand, three straight home losses against the best of the conference frankly means your team’s not worthy.
After those three battles they head to Chicago where they can not have a letdown against DePaul. They wrap up back at the Rock against Georgetown in what will likely be a badly needed win for the Pirates.
As we witnessed last year, anything can happen in the Big East tournament which the Pirates surprisingly won. But last year’s star, Isaiah Whitehead is playing for the Brooklyn Nets. Don’t count on that happening this year. Not that the Pirates don’t have talent, they do. Will Carrington, Delgado and Rodriguez be enough? We’re about to find out.
