Credit: GR Productions
No Margin For Error as Seton Hall Faces Must-Win Contest Versus Xavier
Published: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
by Anthony Collins
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall Pirates (14-6, 4-5) have a chance to get their season back on track Wednesday night as they welcome in the Xavier Musketeers (11-9, 3-6) to the Prudential Center.
Both teams are coming off losses, with Xavier dropping a tough one to St. John’s, and the Pirates suffering arguably their worst loss of the season at DePaul. Moreover, Seton Hall's losing streak includes a bad loss to Butler at home, where in both of those games they were forced to dig themselves out of a hole in the first half due to a lack of offensive production early in those contests.
Seton Hall, a top ten defense in the country according to KenPom, sits 162nd in offensive efficiency and has clearly regressed on that end as the season has gone on. The Pirates will look to get their leading scorer AJ Staton-McCray back into the rhythm he had in Maui, where he was firing away threes with confidence.
The same goes for TJ Simpkins as his production has slowed down of late, who the Pirates have relied on to hit big threes late in games.
The Pirates will also need consistency from their big men, Stephon Payne and Najai Hines in this contest. Payne went 1-5 in the last game, and Hines did not attempt a single shot. The Pirates have kept the same starting lineup since opening night, but after dropping their fourth straight and falling from a projected 7-8 seed to now on the outside looking in, one may wonder if there will be any changes to their rotations going forward.
Richard Pitino and the Xavier Musketeers were counted out early as a bottom tier Big East team to start the season, but they have looked much better as the season has progressed, despite dropping a road battle versus Creighton and blowing a large halftime against St. John’s in a game where Richard coached against his father, Rick.
However, this team is not to be looked down on, especially with a star in their lineup like Tre Carroll, a 6’8” senior who put up an incredible 31-point performance vs St. John’s in their last game. Overall, Carroll is leading the Musketeers in scoring by a wide margin averaging 18 points per game and establishing himself as one of the better players in the BIG EAST.
For Seton Hall, look for Budd Clark to continue being a force on both ends after putting up 14 points, five assists, and four steals in their last game. Also, with Xavier bringing plenty of size with their forwards, the matchups with Payne and Hines working in the paint against 6’10” sophomore Jovan Milicevic (11.5 PPG) and 6’9” senior Filip Borovicanin (10.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG) should prove to be pivotal in this game.
The Pirates will need to hit outside shots and rediscover the rhythm they had early in the season if they want to turn this ship around and get back in the tournament picture. There is no margin for error now, and with a group that has shown the mentality to fight through it most of this season, they will have a prime opportunity to get back on track Wednesday night.
Tune into WSOU 89.5 FM for all the coverage, with tip off set for 7:30 p.m., with Joe Morales and Ryder Nuesell on the call.
Anthony Collins can be reached at anthony.collins@student.shu.edu.Posted in: sports,