Pirates Seek Another BIG EAST Upset Against No. 16 Marquette

Published: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

by Miguel Freire

Fresh off a stunning upset over UConn in Newark, the Seton Hall Pirates (7-18, 2-12) head to Milwaukee to face the No. 16 Marquette Golden Eagles (19-6, 10-4), who have dropped three of their last four and look to regain momentum ahead of the BIG EAST Tournament.

These teams last met at the Prudential Center on Jan. 21, when Marquette dominated in a 76-59 victory. Led by Kam Jones’ 19 points, the Golden Eagles held Seton Hall to just one made 3-pointer. The Pirates were also greatly hindered by 24 turnovers in the first matchup, with Prince Aligbe, Scotty Middleton, and Isaiah Coleman each committing five.

Jones, who ranks second in the conference in scoring, averages 19.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, proving his status as one of the nation's top guards. The All-American candidate has played some of the best basketball of his career, scoring in double figures in every game this season. Shaheen Holloway will need to dive into the scouting report to slow down the Memphis, Tennessee, native.

Despite its struggles, Seton Hall has found a bright spot in Coleman, who is putting together a sophomore season worthy of an All-Big East selection. He scored a career-high 27 points in the previous meeting and is averaging 15.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. His efforts against UConn on Saturday earned him a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the third time this season.

Scotty Middleton and Godswill Erheriene also deserve credit for Seton Hall’s win over UConn. Middleton scored the game-winning basket in overtime, while Erheriene recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Seton Hall has won just once in its last seven meetings with Marquette, with the lone victory coming last season at The Rock. However, despite the odds being against them, the Pirates’ recent upset of UConn is something Marquette cannot overlook.

In what many believe is a lost season, Seton Hall is still a hungry team searching for a much-needed spark, and its win over UConn provides an opportunity to build confidence and momentum for another upset. The Pirates outplayed the Huskies with physicality, effort, and energy, while Marquette will look to avoid a similar fate.

Joe Morales and Mike Bellifemini will have the call from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 8:30 p.m. on WSOU, featuring analysis from Lauren Reese and Jack Pine.

Miguel Freire can be reached at miguel.freire@student.shu.edu. 

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