COMPLETE GAME NOTES
SETON HALL (9-3) at
SYRACUSE (12-1)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Carrier Dome - Syracuse, N.Y.
7:00 p.m. ET
SETON HALL STATUS:
Seton Hall got back into the win column after back-to-back losses with a convincing 101-70 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday. Sophomore Jeremy Hazell exploded for a game-high 35 points vs. FDU. The Pirates closed out the non-conference schedule with a respectable 9-3 record.
SYRACUSE STATUS:
Once again, Syracuse is one of the nation’s dominant schools. They open the BIG EAST schedule ranked in the Top-20 with a 12-1 record. Last year’s BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Year Jonny Flynn is leading the Orange with 17.5 points per game.
THE MATCHUP:
This is the 57th meeting all-time between Seton Hall and Syracuse, two charter members of the BIG EAST Conference. However, it’s only the second time that they’ve opened up the conference schedule with one another. Syracuse owns a 41-15 lead in the series, but is only 16-12 since 1992. The Orange won last year at Prudential Center, 85-73.
TV:
SNY
John Rooke & Bob Wenzel
Radio:
WABC 770 AM
Gary Cohen & Dave Popkin
WSOU 89.5 FM
Steve Faulks & Patrick McCabe
Web:
www.shupirates.com
Live Audio Stream
THIS WEEK IN THE FINAL FOUR SEASON OF 1988-89
(December 30, 1988 - January 5, 1989)
In their lone game this week, 10th-ranked Seton Hall upset 5th-ranked Georgetown, 94-86, before the largest crowd ever to attend a college basketball game at the Meadowlands. The 13-0 Pirates got strong performances from two seniors, Gerald Greene and Daryll Walker. Greene had 20 points and five assists, while Walker scored 20 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds. Seton Hall improved to 2-0 in BIG EAST play for the first time ever.
This season Seton Hall is celebrating its 20th Anniversary of the 1988-89 team’s magical run to the Final Four.
SCOUTING SYRACUSE
The Orange return four starters from a team that won 21 games and made it to the NIT quarterfinals last season. Their lone loss was forward Donte Greene, who jumped to the NBA. Syracuse enters Tuesday’s BIG EAST opener with a sparkling record of 12-1 and ranked in the nation’s Top-20. Five players are currently averaging in double-figures in scoring for a team that is averaging 81.2 points per game, but giving up only 67.2. Sophomore Jonny Flynn, last season’s BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Year, is leading the Orange with 17.5 points per game. Junior Paul Harris is averaging 13.6 points and a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game.
SETON HALL - SYRACUSE SERIES
This is the 57th meeting all-time between Seton Hall and Syracuse, two charter members of the BIG EAST Conference. Syracuse owns a 41-15 all-time record in the series, but only a 16-12 record since 1992. Seton Hall lost their last meeting with the Orange, 85-73, last season, but won their last game at the Carrier Dome, 68-61, on Jan. 29, 2006.
PIRATES THROTTLE FDU, 101-70
Seton Hall used a strong second half effort to romp Fairleigh Dickinson, 101-70, in their non-conference finale on Saturday. All 10 players on the active roster got into the action for the Pirates who had four players score in double-figures. Seton Hall shot 51.3% from the floor and grabbed a season-high 49 rebounds.
HAZELL DAZZLES
In Seton Hall’s comfortable victory over Fairleigh Dickinson, sophomore Jeremy Hazell scored a career-high 35 points on 15-for-26 shooting from the floor. Hazell was 5-for-11 from three-point range and also grabbed six rebounds. It is the third time this season he has topped the 30-point mark. Hazell’s 35 points are the most scored by a Pirates since Terry Dehere scored 41 vs. St. John’s on Feb. 17, 1993.
STIX IN THE FLOW
The last two games may have been the best two of the season for junior Robert Mitchell. At James Madison, Mitchell matched a season-high with 23 points on only 9-of-16 shooting from the floor, while grabbing nine rebounds. Against FDU, he scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
BIG EAST OPENERS
Seton Hall has a record of 12-17 all-time in BIG EAST Conference openers. They’ve hosted 14-of-29 BIG EAST openers and own a record of 8-6 in those games. They’ve played Villanova nine times, more than any other team in BIG EAST openers. They’ve met St. John’s six times, but no other school more than twice. They’ve faced Syracuse in only one other opener. Seton Hall lost to the Orangemen, 79-74, in the BIG EAST opener of the 1983-84 season.
DOME OF HORRORS
Although Seton Hall has won four of their last nine trips to the Carrier Dome, the Pirates remain only 4-21 all-time in the building. Their lone non-Syracuse loss in the building came in the Sweet-16 of the 2000 NCAA Tournament when the Pirates lost to Oklahoma State. Seton Hall’s last victory came on Jan. 29, 2006.
GONZALEZ TO MISS GAME
Due to a one-game suspension, Seton Hall head coach Bobby Gonzalez will not coach against Syracuse on Tuesday. Assistant coach Dermon Player will assume Gonzalez’s duties during the game with close assistance by Kevin Murphy and Scott Adubato.
AGAINST THE RANKED
When Seton Hall faces Syracuse on Tuesday, they’ll be facing another ranked opponent. The Pirates are 1-1 this season against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top-25. They defeated #19 USC on Nov. 20 and lost to #12 Memphis on Nov. 21. Both games were a part of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off. All-time, Seton hall is 63-194 (.245) against teams ranked in the AP Top-25.
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
With 24 points and 10 rebounds against FDU, Robert Mitchell picked up his second double-double of the season. He ranks behind only John Garcia for the team lead. Garcia has three double-doubles this year and eight for his career. Eugene Harvey also has one double-double so far in 2008-09.
HARVEY JOINS 1,000-POINT CLUB
With his first basket of the second half against Cal-Baptist, junior Eugene Harvey became the 36th player in Seton Hall men’s basketball history to record 1,000 career points. The 6-foot guard finished the game with 25 points. Last season, Brian Laing and Jamar Nutter both eclipsed the milestone. Most impressively, Harvey is only the 20th player to accomplish the feat in less than three seasons.
KLEPTOMANIAC
Senior Paul Gause was up to his old trick again vs. Cal-Baptist. The Pittsgrove, N.J. native recorded a season-high seven steals in Seton Hall’s 92-80 victory. The Seton Hall single-game record is eight, which Gause has accomplished three times.
HAZELL HONORED AGAIN
For the second time this season, sophomore Jeremy Hazell was honored by the BIG EAST. The conference named him to their Weekly Honor Roll for his performances last week. In Seton Hall’s victory over California Baptist, Hazell tied Eugene Harvey with a team-high 25 points.
INSIDE THE STATS
Seton Hall had a huge statistical night in their victory over Fairleigh Dickinson. Sophomore Jeremy Hazell scored a career-high 35 points to boost his season average to 22.4. Junior Robert Mitchell recorded his second double-double of the year to push his averages to 15.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Senior Eugene Harvey upped his assists per game average to 4.5 with six assists vs. FDU. Paul Gause recorded only one steal on the night, but he still maintains a BIG EAST-leading 2.8 steals average.
GAUSE CLIMBING THEFT CHART
Senior Paul Gause is currently in fifth place all-time on the career steals list with 204. He trails the leader, Dan Callandrillo, by 56. Due to two injuries that caused him to miss 16 games last season, Gause was only able to collect 45 steals in 2007-08. But the prior year, 2006-07, he recorded a conference-leading 90 thefts which set a single-season record. If Gause duplicates that effort this year, he’ll set the all-time career record. Gause is also a member of the 500-Point Club. He currently has 645 career points which ranks him third on the active list (Harvey 1,058, Hazell 678).
NATIONAL ATTENTION
On Nov. 24, Seton Hall earned two points in the Associated Press Top-25 Poll. The Pirates caught the eyes of national writers with their victory over #19 USC on Nov. 20 and a win over ACC contender Virginia Tech on Nov. 23. The BIG EAST was well-represented in the poll as the conference occupied #2 (Connecticut), #3 (Louisville), #4 (Pittsburgh), #8 Notre Dame, #15 Marquette, #20 Villanova and #21 Georgetown. Syracuse and West Virginia joined Seton Hall in receiving votes.
NEWEST MEMBER OF 500 POINT CLUB
Seton Hall’s newest member of the 500-Point Club is sophomore Jeremy Hazell. The 6-foot-5 guard reached the milestone vs. Memphis on Nov. 21. Currently, Hazell ranks 70th all-time in scoring with 678 points.
SETON HALL PLACES THIRD IN PUERTO RICO
With the Pirates’ victory over Virginia Tech, Seton Hall placed third amongst the eight teams in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-off. Facing steep competition, the Pirates went 2-1 with victories over #19 USC and Virginia Tech. Their only setback was to #12 Memphis. Xavier won the tournament, defeating runner-up Memphis in the championship game.
HONORS FOR HAZELL: BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK/ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Sophomore Jeremy Hazell was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on 11/24, which is the first of the conference awards for the 2008-09 season and takes into consideration all of the teams’ games up to this point. Hazell was also named to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-off All-Tournament Team. Hazell averaged 23.3 points per game and hit the game-winning three-pointer in Seton Hall’s dramatic victory over #19 USC. In the Pirates’ only loss, Hazell fired a career-high 32 points. He completed his stellar tournament by leading Seton Hall with 23 points vs. Virginia Tech.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Seton Hall was one of eight teams participating in the 2008 O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nov. 20-23. The Pirates played three games against some of the best competition in the country. Other teams included Fairfield, Memphis, Missouri, USC, UT-Chattanooga, Virginia Tech and Xavier. Seton Hall faced #19 USC, #12 Memphis and Virginia Tech and earned two victories. All three games were televised nationally on ESPNU.
PLAYING IN PUERTO RICO
This is the second time the Seton Hall basketball program has played in San Juan, Puerto Rico. During the 1984-85 season, the Pirates participated in the Copa Navidad Classic. In two games, Seton Hall defeated North Carolina A&T, 73-67, and Tennessee State, 97-88. Seton Hall is now 4-1 all-time in Puerto Rico.
PIRATES FALL AFTER RALLY
Seton Hall rallied from a 21-point first half deficit to take the lead, but alas could not hold on and fell at James Madison, 70-64. Four Pirates scored in double-figures. The Pirates out-shot James Madison, 40.7%-to-39.6% and forced more turnovers, 15-to-10, but were out-rebounded, 41-to-28.
TALE OF TWO HALVES
The James Madison game may have featured Seton Hall’s worst half (first) and best half (second) of the season. In the first half, the Pirates were only 6-for-28 for 28.6% from the floor, were only 3-for-13 from three-point range and were outscored 40-to-22. In the second half, Seton Hall was 16-for-31 for 51.6% from the floor, was 5-for-13 from behind the three-point arc and outscored the Dukes, 42-to-30.
PRIME FROM THE LINE
As they have since the beginning of the Bobby Gonzalez era, the 2008-09 Pirates have shot remarkably well from the free throw line. Currently, they rank third in the conference with a .741 free throw percentage. Eugene Harvey, Jeremy Hazell and Robert Mitchell all rank within the BIG EAST’s Top-10 in individual free throw percentage.
TRENDS
Seton Hall is 9-1 when they commit fewer turnovers than their opponent. The Pirates are 5-0 when they shoot more free throws than their opponent and 4-0 when they out-rebound their opponent. An unusual stat shows that Seton Hall is 6-0 this season when they score the game’s first FG.
COMEBACK KIDS
In three of Seton Hall’s eight victories, the Pirates trailed by at least 11 points at some point throughout the matchup. They also trailed at the half in three victories. Showing remarkable resilience, Seton Hall trailed #19 USC by 15 at the half, but ended up winning by two. The Hall trailed Virginia Tech by 14, before eventually beating the Hokies by four. Most recently, the Pirates trailed Delaware by as many as 11, before rallying and defeating the Fightin’ Blue Hens by five. In Seton Hall’s loss at James Madison, were down 21 points in the first half before rallying and taking the lead.
OVERTIME
Seton Hall’s victory over in Monmouth last season’s opener marked the first time they opened the season with an overtime game since they defeated Catholic, 69-67, to start the 1963-64 campaign. The Pirates’ victory over RMU marked the first time in the history of the program that they’ve started the season with two straight overtime games. In all, Seton Hall set a record with five overtime games last year. In 2007-08, Seton Hall played four overtime games against non-conference opponents, but has yet to have an overtime game this year with the non-conference slate complete.
STIX FINALLY GETS HIS CHANCE
After sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer regulations, Robert Mitchell has finally suited up for the Pirates. In Seton Hall’s season-opener, Mitchell scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds. In 2006-07 at Duquesne, Mitchell led the team in scoring with a 16.4 points per game average, which ranked ninth in the nation among Division I freshmen. He made 18 starts and pulled down 5.4 rebounds per game. Mitchell was named Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Week five times en route to being ultimately named Rookie of the Year by the conference.
LAING, NUTTER SIGN OVERSEAS
Former Seton Hall men’s basketball players Brian Laing and Jamar Nutter have signed professional contracts to play basketball in Europe this year. Laing has signed with STB Le Havre of France, while Nutter signed with Bakken of Denmark. Saint Thomas Basket Le Havre plays in France’s “A” league, which is considered the top French professional league. Laing will be reunited with former BIG EAST foe Kentrell Gransberry. STB Le Havre signed the former USF center earlier this summer. Meanwhile, Nutter will attempt to lead his Bakken Bears to a third consecutive Danish League championship.
KAZIMIR, RHODES JOIN PIRATES’ STAFF
During the summer, head coach Bobby Gonzalez added two to his staff. Dennis Kazimir was hired as Director of Basketball Operations, while Rodrick Rhodes was named Administrative Assistant. A former assistant coach at Tiffin and Wright State, Kazimir replaces Stephen Sauers. A five-year NBA veteran and UMass administrator, Rhodes replaces Elvis Valcarcel.
904 POINTS IN TWO SEASONS
Harvey’s 904 points is the eighth highest total in a players’ first two seasons all-time at Seton Hall. This season, Harvey became the 36th player overall to record 1,000 career points.
GARY & DAVE RETURN
The broadcast team of Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will be back for their sixth season covering Seton Hall on the Pirates’ radio flagship station, 77WABC. For the second straight year, all Seton Hall broadcasts will be heard on 77WABC. The 2008-09 season marks the 20th season for radio engineer Mike Infantino.
LIVE AUDIO STREAM
Go to www.shupirates.com to listen to all of Seton Hall’s home and away games as a part of the Hall Pass. Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will bring you all the action. Get the HALL PASS Today!
TV EXPOSURE
All 18 of the Pirates’ BIG EAST match-ups will be televised either nationally or regionally this season. Additionally, all three Seton Hall games at the 2008 O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off will be televised nationally on ESPNU or ESPN2. Collectively, the Pirates will get the nation’s attention 10 times with at least three broadcasts on either ESPN or ESPN2 (vs. Rutgers on Jan. 29, vs. St. John’s on Feb. 5 and the BIG EAST Championship), six on ESPNU (three in Puerto Rico, vs. Providence on Jan. 22, at Rutgers on Feb. 8 and at DePaul on Feb. 10) and one on ESPN360 (at Cincinnati on March 7). The remaining 12 conference games will be BIG EAST Network local telecasts with 11 being broadcasted on SNY and one be shown on MSG. The Pirates’ game vs. Connecticut on February 14 is the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week.
CENTURY MARK
Seton Hall’s 101-78 victory over Monmouth marked the 59th time in school history the Pirates have scored at least 100 points in a game. It’s the third time in the Bobby Gonzalez era. Last season, Seton Hall defeated Robert Morris, 111-107, and James Madison, 112-110.
BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP EXPANDS TO ALL 16
In 2009, the BIG EAST will invite all 16 teams to its men’s and women’s championship tournaments. The men’s tournament begins Tuesday, March 10 and continues through the championship game, which will be played Saturday, March 14. All games will be played at Madison Square Garden. The top four teams will receive byes in the first two rounds of tournament play, while seeds 5-8 will receive byes in the first round.
BIG EAST PREDICTIONS
Seton Hall was predicted to finish 13th in the 16-team BIG EAST Conference for the second consecutive season. Connecticut is the favorite to win the regular-season title in the 2008-09 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody has been picked to repeat as Player of the Year. Georgetown’s Greg Monroe and Louisville’s Samardo Samuels were selected BIG EAST Co-Rookies of the Year. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
MARINATTO TO BE NEXT BIG EAST COMMISH
John Marinatto, who has served as senior associate commissioner of The BIG EAST Conference since 2002, has been named Commissioner of the conference. The appointment was made by a unanimous vote of the league’s Chancellors and Presidents. Marinatto will succeed Mike Tranghese, who is stepping down as Commissioner in June 2009. Marinatto will assume Commissioner’s duties on July 1, 2009.
BIG EAST GOES 2-2 IN SEC/BIG EAST INVITATIONAL
Cincinnati and No. 9 Louisville claimed a pair of wins to earn a 2-2 split for the BIG EAST in the four-game SEC/BIG EAST Invitational on Thursday in Cincinnati, Ohio. Vanderbilt beat USF and No. 16 Tennessee beat No. 24 Marquette in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday.
SNY - HOME OF THE BIG EAST
SNY, the television home of the New York Mets, Jets and BIG EAST Conference, in conjunction with ESPN Regional Television announced the network’s comprehensive, multi-platform coverage of the 2008-09 BIG EAST basketball season. Featuring more than 500 hours of BIG EAST basketball, SNY’s all-access conference pass will showcase more than 110 BIG EAST basketball games, including the BIG EAST “Game of the Week”. With seven of the BIG EAST schools ranked in the 2008 USA Today/ESPN top 25 preseason coaches’ poll, fans can tune to SNY for exclusive, in-depth game coverage as the network will produce inclusive pre-game, halftime and post-game shows surrounding all intra-conference primetime basketball match-ups. In addition to featuring every basketball team from the BIG EAST Conference, key match-ups that will air on SNY throughout the season include Syracuse vs. Louisville, Georgetown vs. Rutgers, Seton Hall vs. UConn, West Virginia vs. Notre Dame and Pittsburgh vs. St. John’s.
BIG EAST WELL-REPRESENTED IN PRESEASON POLL
The preseason excitement that has swirled around The BIG EAST Conference received a stamp of validation when the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 preseason coaches’ poll was released Oct. 30. It shows a record seven BIG EAST teams, including four among the top nine. Connecticut is No. 2 with Louisville at No. 3. Pittsburgh is sixth and Notre Dame ninth. The BIG EAST has never had four teams in the top 10 in a national preseason poll. Marquette was tabbed 17th with Georgetown 18th. Villanova placed 25th. Syracuse and West Virginia were among teams also receiving votes.
STEALS LEADER
For the third straight year, Seton Hall is towards the top of the BIG EAST Conference in steals per game average. Through 12 games, the Pirates are averaging 9.8 steals per game which is best in the conference. Seton Hall finished the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons as the BIG EAST steals leader as well.
OFF TO A HOT START
With eight wins in their first nine games, Seton Hall is off to their best start of the Bobby Gonzalez era and best overall start since they were 14-1 to begin the 1992-93 season. That year, Seton Hall won the BIG EAST Tournament. This season also marks the third consecutive campaign that Seton Hall has begun the year with six wins in their first seven games. Under Gonzalez, the Pirates are 14-2 in November.
PIRATES SHOCK #19 USC, 63-61
Seton Hall rallied from a 15-point deficit to defeat #19 USC, 63-61, in their quarterfinal game of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-off. Seton Hall trailed 43-28 at the half, but outscored the Trojans 35-to-18 in the second frame. USC shot 62.% from the floor in the first half compared to a paltry 24.1% in the second. Three Pirates scored in double-figures and were led by Eugene Harvey who scored 18 points to go with five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
RIPPING THE RANKED
The Pirates’ victory over #19 USC is Seton Hall’s second victory over a ranked team in the Bobby Gonzalez era. Last year, the Pirates defeated #23 Virginia to win the Philly Hoop Group Classic. All-time, the Pirates are 63-194 (.245) against the Associated Press Top-25. Seton Hall is 5-6 all-time against teams ranked #19. Seton Hall faced #12 Memphis on Nov. 21 and lost, 84-70. The Pirates are now only 1-7 all-time against a #12 team.
PIRATES SET FOR YEAR TWO IN PRUDENTIAL CENTER
Last season the Pirates opened their new home, Prudential Center, and the state-of-the-art facility drew raves from the scores of Seton Hall fans. Seton Hall recorded five sellout crowds in the building’s inaugural season. This year, Seton Hall has 16 home games including marquee matchups against Georgetown and Pittsburgh as well as local rivals Rutgers, St. John’s and Connecticut.
AIR JORDAN LANDS IN SOUTH ORANGE
Freshman guard Jordan Theodore is a key member of Bobby Gonzalez’s 2008-09 recruiting class. Theodore averaged 16.9 points, 6.7 assists and 4.6 steals per game as a junior at Paterson Catholic. He helped lead them to an 18-8 record and scored a career-high 31 points vs. DePaul in the county final. Additionally, he was the point guard for the #1 rated summer AAU basketball team, the New York Gauchos. Recently, Theodore was named a Preseason All-Freshman Team Honorable Mention by CollegeHoops.net.
LAWRENCE, POPE TRANSFER IN
Over the summer, head coach Bobby Gonzalez acquired two impact transfers, Keon Lawrence and Herb Pope. Lawrence played basketball the last two seasons at the University of Missouri. Last season, he played in all 32 games and averaged a team-high 29.2 minutes per game. He led the team in field goal attempts and averaged 11.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while making 20 starts. Pope played basketball last season at New Mexico State University. Last season, he appeared in 16 games and made 12 starts. A native of Aliquippa, Pa., he averaged 11.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Named to the 2008 All-WAC Newcomer Team, Pope’s two best performances came in the WAC Tournament. As of today, both players will sit out the 2008-09 season due to NCAA transfer regulations.
ALL-TIME 1,000-POINT MILESTONES
With Laing and Nutter reaching the 1,000-point plateau last season, it marked the eighth time that two players reached the milestone in the same season. Most recently, Donnell Williams and Levell Sanders reached it during the 1997-98 season. In 1988-89, three players reached the mark, John Morton, Ramon Ramos and Darryl Walker. This season, junior Eugene Harvey (1,058) and sophomore Jeremy Hazell (678) have an outside chance at joining this exclusive club.
LOOKING AHEAD
WEST VIRGINIA
Saturday, January 3, 2009
4:00 p.m. ET
Prudential Center
Newark, N.J.
TV: SNY
Live Audio Stream: www.shupirates.com
Radio: WABC 770 AM / WSOU 89.5 FM
NOTEBOOK: Seton Hall will return to the Prudential Center for their first home BIG EAST game of the year when they host West Virginia on Saturday, January 3. The Pirates have lost three straight to the Mountaineers including their most recent battle, an 89-68 loss in Morgantown last season. However, Seton Hall has won three of their last four home games against West Virginia.
The Mountaineers return two starters from a team that went 26-11 and made it to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet-16 last season. This season, West Virginia has won nine of their first 11 games and has leaned on senior Alex Ruoff who has led the team with 17.0 PPG.
Courtesy: Seton Hall Athletic Communications
