Thursday: Seton Hall -6

[superbook]

YTD: 21-10-2

This is a match-up of two teams with similar records: Seton Hall (8-2) vs Rhode Island (10-2). Both teams have done well vs the spread: The Hall is 5-1 while the Rams are 5-2. Both are averaging approximately 77 for and 63 against.

And I like Jim Baron and I hate Louis Orr.

But I like Seton Hall in this spot for the following reasons:

1. Kelly Whitney is back for the Pirates; he missed the early part of the season due to academic ineligibility, he could practice but not play. In his first game back vs Ohio State he went 2-4 in 17 minutes. But now he's back in his starting role, playing 36 minutes vs DePaul but only 20 minutes in last outing due to foul trouble and because opponent Monmouth was down by 40 early in the 2H.

Whitney adds a lot to the inside game for Seton Hall. He gets a lot of easy looks under the basket; since the Ohio State game he has gone 7-9, 6-6 and 7-8 from the field. Last year he led SH shooting 53% FG and with 30 blocked shots and made the Big East all rookie team. He already has 10 blocked shots in his four games back.

And with Whitney in the middle, SH gets better outside shots. It's no coincidence that in all four games since Whitney is back SH has shot better than 50% from the field including 59% vs DePaul.

2. Back-up PG Copeland is back in the line-up after foot surgery to repair a stress fracture in early Nov. Copeland's presence in the line-up allows Barrett to move to two-guard. Copeland is coming back more slowly than Whitney but he played 15 mins in his last game.

3. Rams beat Seton Hall 61-60 in Kingston last March in the first round of the NIT. Seton Hall was up by 17 at one point in that game and with the exception of two technical FTS didn't score in the final 7 minutes to lose on a three in the final seconds. Revenge has to be a factor.

4. Seton Hall is awfully tough in East Rutherford: 12-0 going back to last year and 4-0 ATS this year at home. Both teams played Monday but the Rams have to make the road trip.

5. Rhode Island is shooting a respectable 34% from the arc but this stat is deceiving....take away their 10-14 performance vs Providence and the school record 13-18 in last Monday's game vs Vermont and they are just 24% from the arc...and the two games they shot well in were at home.

Seton Hall has a tough D and I look for a poor shooting day from RI.

Good luck.

- Jon

 

[Buckman]

Thanks for the early post SB

Happy New Year

Bucky

 

[spang]

Always enjoy your analysis. Interesting matchup here. RI does have some quality wins. They worked the Flashes over pretty well and ever since Kent has been on fire. The Pirates on the other hand, are a hot team as well. but I question their strength of schedule.

Interesting to see if this number moves at all in this battle of two very improved programs.

You have been on fire. keep it going!

 

[superbook]

Buckman -- no prob, I like using the overnight lines.

Spang -- been lucky of late...my initial thought when I saw this match-up was it would be a close game with a line of 2-3...but when I saw 6.5 I knew something was up and looked a lot closer...URI is a good team and has played well vs good teams...but then they're not off Vegas' radar screen so what's up?

As you know Home Court at Meadowlands is worth 4+...SH should get 7K+ there tonite.

I think Whitney will make the difference.


In case you missed this article from todays Providence Journal:

Men's basketball: URI has familiar foe in the Hall
The Rams ended the Pirates' season in the N.I.T. last year, and now both teams are on a streak and hoping to secure an invite to the NCAA Tournament this year.

01:00 AM EST on Thursday, January 1, 2004

BY PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writer


EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The last game arranged for the URI basketball team for this season has turned out to be one of the highlights of the nonleague schedule.

URI will play it tonight, visiting Continental Airlines Arena for a 6 o'clock contest with Seton Hall. The match is a good one for several reasons.

Both teams are good. Rhode Island is entering with a 10-2 record, including seven straight victories. The Pirates are 8-2 after winning their last five. Both are thinking about qualifying for the NCAA Tournament, which is another reason the game should be fun.

Last season, as both programs were being rebuilt, both teams qualified for the N.I.T. -- where they played each other. Seton Hall visited URI's Ryan Center and looked to be on the way to an easy victory. It led by as many as 17. But URI, in what was its pattern, charged back and won by one, 61-60, on a 3-pointer by Dawan Robinson with four seconds left.

The Pirates, understandably, will have revenge as one motivating factor tonight. The URI side knows it will be in for a major test.

"They definitely are on a good streak right now," said Rhody senior Brian Woodward. "It's going to be a hard game for us. It's at the Meadowlands and they're playing good ball right now. But we're playing good ball, also. It should be a good game."

"In my opinion, the two hottest teams in the Big East are Providence College and Seton Hall right now," said URI coach Jim Baron. "In my opinion, they're making a statement on missing out on the NCAA Tournament last year. They're a very good basketball team. Andre Barrett is one of the top point guards in the country. They've got some excellent seniors, some excellent depth."

"But I tell you what, we're looking forward to it, too," Baron added, "because it's a great opportunity to play in the Meadowlands, play another good Big East team."

The game was arranged last spring only as a last resort, at the last minute.

At the time, URI still had one opening on its schedule, one it did not appear it would be able to fill. The Rams were not desperate. Because they were going to compete in the Las Vegas Invitational, where they played four games that count only as one toward the maximum allowed (and won the tournament title), URI was willing to go with what it had. But since it did have one opening, it was willing to fill it -- if it could find the right opponent.

"We were looking for a series against a good school, a game that we could get back," Baron said. Because it had a strong home schedule, URI was willing to go on the road. But it wanted the game returned next season. Seton Hall, meanwhile, had an opening it very much wanted to fill for this year.

"My former assistant, Brian Nash, is an assistant there," Baron said. "We have a very good relationship. Louis [Orr, the Pirates head coach] is a great guy."

Seton Hall was willing to sign for a home-and-home as long as it got to host this season. Everyone was happy.

"We get the game back next year which will be great for us to have a Big East team, a good Big East team, come to Ryan Center again next year," Baron said. "We had PC this year. We had Pitt last year. Now we'll have Seton Hall next year."

While both teams are strong, the most interesting match tonight will be at the point. Barrett, Seton Hall's floor leader, is one of the best. He is outstanding both as a scorer and distributor.

"He's a tremendous player," Baron said. Robinson is the new guy pushing for recognition. In his second year, Robinson has moved from his natural off-guard spot to the point and is rapidly emerging as a first-rate star. He is averaging 16 points, playing terrific defense and has added an outside shot -- albeit an unusual set shot in which he barely leaves the floor -- to his repertoire. He is 16-for-25 on 3-pointers in his last five games.

Still, the number Baron liked best from Tuesday's rout over Vermont was that Robinson had seven assists and only one turnover.

"It all starts with Dawan. Our goal is to have 18-20 assists every game. We had 20 [against Vermont]. It all starts with this guy right here," Baron said, motioning to Robinson.

Robinson is happy not only to get the chance to test himself against Barrett; he is also pleased the game is close to his Philadelphia home. He expects many family and friends to be there to see him. Robinson says he is ready for it.

"They've got a great point guard, they've got a great head coach, a great system there," he said of the Pirates. "But we're just going to try to come out and get a victory, play hard and scrappy like we've been doing."

 

[Bigboss3114]

GOIN TO THE GAME TONIGHT!!!I HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU ON THE SPREAD.I WAS THINKING 2-3 AT BEST.WOULD HAVE LIKED THE HALL,BUT NOW AT 7 AT WALLSTREETAND RI HAS PLAYED VERY WELL ON THE RD.SETON HALL ALSO A TAD BETTER FROM THE FOUL LINE.TOUGH ONE !!!ANYWAY GOIN TO THE GAME AND ILL HAVE A FEW BEERS AND WHATEVER HAPPENS --HAPPENS


BEST OF LUCK TO ALL

 

[superbook]

Big Boss -- enjoy the game...do they serve beer at college games at the Meadowlands now?

- Jon

 

[Bigboss3114]

does it really matter-i go evreywhere with a twelve pack in trunkLMAO-I GUESS IM WHITE TRASH.MY OLDEST SON AND MYSELF.TAILGATE--HIS FIRST GAME. NOW ON THE SUBJECT OF BEER AT MEAOWLANDS.I GOTTA BE HONEST AND HAVENT BEEN TO SETON HALL GAME SINCE 1985.THEN THEY SERVED BEER. I GUESS I WAS JUST HOPIN!!!! :shrug:

 

[spang]

It is my belief that beer can be served at NCAA events as long as they are not being played at an NCAA venue.

I know that it is served at the GUND at the MAC tourney.

 

[Bigboss3114]

HOPEFULLY YOUR RIGHT!!!!THAT BRINGS A SMILE TO MY FACE!!!!

 

[superbook]

Spang -- thanks for clarifying.

Big Boss -- enjoy :drinky:

 

[Box and one]

nice writeup superbook.GL.

 

[winw]

Superbook, thanks for the play.
Congratulations and continued success.

 

[gman2]

good job buddy. nice start for the new year

 

[superbook]

Thanks for the props guys.

On a bit of a lucky streak of late which has been good to my BR.

No plays for Friday, I'm already looking at Saturdays games:

Niagara @ St Johns

Manhattan @ Siena

Harvard @ Dartmouth

Back Friday night with the pick.

- Jon

 

[Bigboss3114]

GREAT CALL YESTERDAY!!!!!!!AND IT WAS GREAT TO BE THER LIVE!!!BUT I HAVE TO SAY "NO BEER AT THE MEADOWLANDS ARENA" YEA I NO BUT IT WAS STILL A GOOD GAME!!!!!:shrug:

 

[bej0101]

sweet