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Preview: No. 15 Seton Hall Hosts No. 22 Villanova in New Year's Day Classic

Date: January 1, 2022

By: Heaven Hill

The Seton Hall men's basketball team high fives during a home game.

Kayla Fonseca/WSOU Sports

Later today, the No. 15 Seton Hall men’s basketball team will “ring in the new year” as they return to the Prudential Center for another installment in the most intense rivalry in the Big East. It doesn’t get any bigger than their matchups with the No. 22 Villanova Wildcats, and despite two different casts, the intensity is still the same.

Seton Hall returned to action on Wednesday against Providence for their first game in 17 days, after COVID-19 complications resulted in their scheduled games against Iona, St. John’s and DePaul being canceled or postponed.

Hours before tip-off, it was revealed that the Pirates would be without breakout star junior Tyrese Samuel and defensive anchor Ike Obiagu, along with coaches Grant Billmeier and Duane Woodward as all four were in COVID-19 protocols, along with others.

The Pirates had only practiced twice in the last two weeks, and it showed throughout Wednesday’s game. Defensive rotations weren’t as crisp, shots weren’t falling like they usually would, and overall, Coach Willard’s squad didn’t really establish an identity offensively.

However, credit to Seton Hall, as they battled throughout the night against a ranked Friars team, cutting the lead down to one possession repeatedly in the second half. Nevertheless, the Pirates couldn’t get over the hump as they suffered their first loss in over a month.

Alexis Yetna and Jared Rhoden finished with double-doubles, and Tray Jackson and Bryce Aiken joined them in double figures with 10 and 11 points, respectively.

Villanova was scheduled to play on Wednesday as well, but their game against the Temple Owls was canceled due to COVID issues within Temple’s program. As a result, the Wildcats haven’t played a game since Dec. 21, which was a win over the Xavier Musketeers.

In the 71-58 comeback victory, Jay Wright’s club got major contributions throughout the rotation. Justin Moore finished with 17 points and three makes from behind the arc, Eric Dixon dominated on the interior with 15 points and eight boards, and star Collin Gillespie finished with a routine 15 points and four assists.

However, the star of the game was Caleb Daniels, as he chipped in 16 points off the pine to help the Wildcats pull off the second-half surge. Unfortunately for Villanova, Daniels will miss this afternoon’s matchup as he is also in COVID-19 protocols for the Wildcats.

So, both sides are missing integral pieces of the rotation. Nonetheless, Villanova, Seton Hall’s most frequently played opponent in program history, always brings the best out of the Pirates, no matter who’s on the court.

Over the last six games in this heated series, the average margin of victory is just four points. In a matchup between the two longest tenured coaches in the conference, bragging rights and Big East dominance is always on the line.

If the Pirates want to win this afternoon, they’ll have to limit the Wildcats on the glass. With the departure of leading rebounder Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to the NBA, Villanova’s weakness on the boards has been fairly apparent.

In their loss to Creighton, the Wildcats were outrebounded 41-29. In games where they win on the glass, Villanova is 7-0, in games where they lose, they’re 1-4, with the one win coming against Xavier. It’ll be a busy afternoon for Yetna and Rhoden in the paint yet again.

The Pirates look to pick up their first conference win, as they get set for their second ranked opponent in four days.

Be sure to start your year off right and tune into 89.5 FM WSOU at 1:30 p.m., as Liam Plate and Jonathan Heite will be on the call live from the Prudential Center, with Joe Matthews and Wilnir Louis providing the in-studio coverage.

Heaven Hill is the Sports Director at 89.5 FM WSOU and can be reached at wsou.sports@gmail.com.

Posted in: Game Previews, Men's Basketball, Sports

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