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Preview: Pirates Move Ahead in ESPN Events Invitational to Face Oklahoma Sooners

Date: November 26, 2022

By: Andrew Raccuglia

This Article was originally written on Nov. 25, 2022

Al-Amir Dawes and the Pirates get ready to duel with the Sooners on Friday.

Seton Hall Athletics

The Seton Hall men’s basketball team’s (4-1) insane game-winner against Memphis on Thanksgiving night puts them one step closer to the ESPN Events Invitational Championship game. But first, they have to face the Oklahoma Sooners (4-1) in the semifinal round on Friday night.

The Pirates arguably had the toughest matchup of the whole tournament in only the first round, and they will have to prove themselves again against the Sooners, who took care of business against the Nebraska Cornhuskers right before the Pirates and the Tigers took the court on Thursday night.

Oklahoma remained in control for almost the entire quarterfinal round, never trailing after the seven minutes and 34 seconds of the first half. They won the game 69-56, boosted primarily by their own set of brothers of the team, Jacob Groves and Tanner Groves, who combined for 33 points.

The two senior forwards, Jacob and Tanner, scored 16 and 17 points, respectively, and Tanner’s was a season high. He also earned five rebounds and one assist (11.4 points per game, nine rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game), while Jacob also earned six rebounds and two assists (8.6 PPG, 3 RPG, 1.2 APG). Tanner, who is 27.8% from behind the arc, went a perfect 3-for-3 from distance.

The Tanner brothers were not the only big contributors to their Thanksgiving win. Senior forward Jalen Hill scored 13 points with four rebounds and four assists (8.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.0 APG), and senior guard Grant Sherfield earned 10 points and eight assists (14.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 5.4 APG).

The Sooners as a whole are now averaging 64.8 PPG, 34.4 RPG, 13.6 APG, 4.2 steals per game, 4.6 blocks per game, and 12.8 turnovers per game. They are achieving these stats on 46.8% from the field, 32.3% from long distance, and 71.4% in free throw shooting.

Later that evening, the Pirates got a much-needed win against coach Penny Hardaway’s Memphis squad, clawing back to win it at the buzzer, 70-69, after trailing for nearly the entire second half.

Senior forward Tyrese Samuel, who made the game-winning three-point buzzer-beater as well as their last seven points, finished with a team-high 14 points, 11 rebounds, and one assist (11.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.4 APG).

Junior guard Dre Davis, finished with 13 points, three rebounds and two steals (11.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.0 APG) while senior forward Tray Jackson also earned 10 points and three rebounds (10.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.4 APG). Graduate forward KC Ndefo made eight points, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks (7.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 0.6 ASG).

It was a game where the Pirates struggled from both three-point range (7-of-24, 29.2%) and from the line (21-of-30, 70.0%), but a stout defense and critical layups, as well as similar errors and mishaps from the Tigers, kept them within striking distance to make their incredible comeback win possible.

The Pirates are now averaging 75.6 PPG, 40.6 RPG, 12.8 APG, 8.4 SPG, 4.6 BPG, 16.2 TOs, on a 44.6 FG%, 36.8% from three, and 70.2% from the line.

It is an improvement over the Sooners’ 64.8 points, 34.4 rebounds, 4.2 steals, and three-point shooting, but even in blocks and beneath their 13.6 assists, 12.8 turnovers, 46.8% field shooting and 71.4% in free throws.

Oklahoma is now on a four-game winning streak against AR-Pine Bluff, UNC Wilmington, South Alabama, and the Cornhuskers, following a rough 52-51 home-opener loss against Sam Houston.

Their Nebraska win was a game where everything seemed to go right, making 29 of their 57 field goal attempts (50.9%), nine of their 20 long-range shots (45.0%), but 2 out of only three free throws across the entire game.

If the Pirates are looking for an advantage heading into Friday’s matchup, they need to focus a lot of effort on their free throw shooting and making sure Tanner Davis, nor anyone else, is hotter than them from three-point range.

Seton Hall also struggled from three-point range on Thursday, with Samuel’s game-starting and game-ending long-range shots being the Pirates’ only perfect record from distance that night. Only Jamir Harris, Al-Amir Dawes, and Tae Davis were able to back him up from behind the arc.

Also of note is that the Sooners gave the Cornhuskers 19 free throw attempts (who only made 11), proving that they are very foul-heavy and physical to a level that Nebraska never was. Statistically even free throw difficulties proved the difference for the Pirates against Memphis, but The Hall could end up on the wrong side of the column if that continues tonight.

Looking ahead, the winner and loser of tonight’s semifinal round will faceoff between the Siena Saints of the MAAC or the Mississippi Rebels of the SEC on Sunday.

The winner of Friday’s game will face the winner of the Siena/Ole Miss matchup in the ESPN Events Invitational Championship game at 1:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, and the losers will play in the 3rd Place game at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Jonathan Heite and Joe Matthews will return to the call for against Oklahoma, with 89.5 FM WSOU’s coverage beginning at 7:45 p.m. before the 8:00 p.m. tipoff.  

Andrew Raccuglia can be reached at andrew.racuglia@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Previews, Sports, Men's Basketball

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