never seen my team, picking other people’s teams, on what they heard, so I don’t care,” said Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway, who has worked hard to turn around the program despite initial doubts.
Bracketology and Matchup Analysis
According to bracketologist Brad Wachtel of NJ Advance Media, a win over UConn would be “massive” for Seton Hall. He believes it could move them up from an 8 seed to a 7 with a victory. Joe Lunardi of ESPN also sees the Pirates moving up a full seed line if they can pull off this upset. “It probably elevates the Pirates to a No. 5 or 6 seed and also provides some leeway in case they end up with a Q3 or Q4 loss somewhere down the line,” said Wachtel.
Seton Hall’s defense has been strong, leading the Big East in points allowed per game (62.7 ppg).
However, UConn is not an easy opponent, ranking second in the league at 63.3 points allowed per game and scoring fourth with 79.9 points per game.
Coach Dan Hurley of UConn highlighted Seton Hall’s quickness and physicality on both ends of the floor. “They’re quick, they’re very aggressive, very physical, on ball, off ball,” he said. “We’re going to have to take care of the ball.” The Pirates force 15.1 turnovers per game, tied with St. John’s for tops in the Big East.
Key Player Performances and Strategies
Seton Hall’s Merrimack transfer Adam “Budd” Clark has been a standout player recently, scoring 22 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists against Georgetown. “He plays really physically, defensively,” said Hurley of Clark. “They got some real guard depth, which makes it easier on all those guys.”
Holloway praised Hurley’s coaching style, saying he has worked with him for years and respects his approach. The game promises to be a tough test for both teams but could be the biggest win of Seton Hall’s season if they can come out victorious.
For NJ.com, Adam Zagoria covers hoops at all levels, providing detailed insights into college basketball’s latest developments.