Pirates To Open Charleston Classic Against VCU

Published: Thursday, November 21, 2024

by Miguel Freire

The Seton Hall Pirates (2-2) will open the 2024 Charleston Classic with a first-round matchup against the VCU Rams (4-0) on Thursday night at TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Pirates are coming off a historic defensive performance against Wagner, allowing just 28 points. The game against Wagner marked their best defensive outing since 1947, when they defeated Rider 32-20. They currently lead Division I in scoring defense, allowing only 46.8 points per game.

While their defense has been stellar, the Pirates' offense has raised concerns following losses to Fordham and Hofstra. To compete in South Carolina, they'll need to execute on both ends of the floor as they chase their first Thanksgiving tournament title since the 2018 Wooden Legacy.

The VCU Rams are off to a strong 4-0 start this season, averaging 77.5 points per game. They lead the A-10 in scoring defense, allowing just 54.8 points per game, and boast the conference's second-highest margin of victory at +22.8.

This game marks the third meeting between Seton Hall and VCU, with the Pirates leading the series 2-0. Their most recent matchup was a 90-67 Seton Hall victory in 2017. The teams also faced off in the 2011 Charleston Classic, where Seton Hall prevailed 69-54.

Seton Hall has yet to surpass 60 points in any of its first four games, a trend that must change if the Pirates are to secure quality wins this week. The lack of offensive firepower has been a key concern, but Chaunce Jenkins has stepped up as the team’s primary scorer. He is expected to pair with graduate student Dylan Addae-Wusu in the backcourt.

Jenkins leads the Pirates in scoring with 14.8 points per game but is the only player averaging double figures this season. The Old Dominion transfer will need more support for Seton Hall to make a tournament run. Other transfers, including Scotty Middleton and Yacine Toumi, have shown offensive flashes this season and will need to deliver at their best starting tonight.

The Charleston Classic offers Seton Hall a chance to face strong competition as they look to climb above .500 and reset their season. The winner of the Seton Hall-VCU matchup will face the winner of Vanderbilt vs. Nevada in Friday's semifinals. The Pirates tip-off against VCU at 5 p.m., with coverage starting at 4:45. Michael Bellifemini and Joe Morales will be on the call.

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

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