Game Preview: Hall clashes with Red Storm to open Big East Play (12/29/18)

Date: December 29, 2018

By Wilnir Louis

 

Big East action this season will finally begin for the Pirates as St. John’s will visit Newark, N.J. to face Seton Hall in game number one of conference play. There is a lot to unpack from both team’s seasons for far before their matchup, so sit back as we give you what you need to know about both teams.  

 

The Pirates finished their nonconference play with an overall record of 9-3. After a tough 1-2 start, losing to Nebraska 80-57 and squandering late to Saint Louis in their home opener 66-64, the Hall has been looking sharp, winning eight of their last nine matchups. They won the Wooden Legacy tournament after defeating Miami in the championship 83-81. The Pirates also took down then ranked No.9 Kentucky in overtime 84-83 in the Citi Hoops Classic at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 8. After, the Pirates then retook state supremacy by handling Rutgers to a score of 72-66 in the Garden State Hardwood Classic. In addition, in their final non-conference game, Seton Hall brought home a big road victory, after getting the better of the Maryland Terrapins in the XFinity Center 78-74.
 

In these 12 games, Myles Powell looked like a contender for the Big East Player of the Year award, averaging 23.1 points per game for the Hall on 48% shooting on the floor, 38% shooting from behind the arc, and going 87% from the charity stripe. Other players have been stepping up in their roles too, as three other Pirates are averaging over nine points per game. Those Pirates are Michael Nzei (9.8ppg), Sandro Mamukelashvili (9.7ppg) and Myles Cale (9.7ppg). Mamukelashvili has also been doing a great job at rebounding, as he leads the team with 7.8 boards per game.

 

As for St. John’s, they are having a historic season. Currently they are 12-0, which is their program’s best start since 1982-83. They are coming off a record performance against Sacred Heart, where they set a program record with 17 made 3-pointers. Throughout their undefeated start, they defeated common opponents with Seton Hall, such as, Rutgers (84-65), Wagner (73-58) and Sacred Heart (104-82).

 

St. John’s has more of a balanced approach in scoring, as the Red Storm have four players averaging double digits. Another Big East Player of the Year contender, Shamorie Ponds, leads the Red Storm in points with 19.6 points per game. Ponds also leads the team in assists with 6.0 per game and steals with 2.5 per game. As for the other double-digit scorers for St. John’s, Mustapha Heron, LJ Figueroa, and Marvin Clark II averages 15.6, 15.4, and 12.3 points per game respectively. Figueroa leads the team in rebounds as well with seven per game.

 

This is going to be a great matchup between two solid Big East teams at prime time. At 8:30 p.m., these two teams will collide, and all of the action will be provided on 89.5 FM WSOU with Bob Towey and Chris Famularo bringing you all of the action of the battle between the Red Storm and the Pirates at the Prudential Center.

 

Wilnir Louis can be reached at wilnir.louis@student.shu.edu.

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