USF at Seton Hall

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It?s a battle to escape the Big East cellar (USF, Seton Hall and DePaul are all tied for last place in the league at 1-4). ? Seton Hall leads the all-time series 8-2, but USF has won two of the last three meetings. ? USF broke a four-game losing streak in the Big East with Saturday night?s 61-58 home victory against Georgetown. The Bulls, who lost at Rutgers on Thursday night, are making their second trip to New Jersey in six days. ? The Bulls will be without senior guard Shaun Noriega (missed nine consecutive games with a stress fracture in his left foot) and sophomore guard Musa Abdul-Aleem (missed two games with back injury). USF coach Stan Heath isn?t certain when (or if) Noriega and Abdul-Aleem will return this season. Medical hardships are possibilities. ? Freshman JaVontae Hawkins, who had a career-high 12 points against Georgetown, is expected to make his fourth consecutive start. ? After beating DePaul 73-72 on Jan. 2, Seton Hall has dropped four straight games in the Big East.

 

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It's Getting Late Early for the Hall: USF Preview




If Seton Hall is going to make any type of a run at playing meaningful basketball this year, their best chance to make a move begins and ends this week. A home game against USF followed by a short trip to St. John?s at the Garden means the Hall can move up in a league where 4th and 14th are separated by just three games.




Seton Hall Preview

The Bulls enter the season at 10-7, and 1-4 in the Big East. They have some brutal pre-Thanksgiving losses against Central Florida and Western Michigan, but a solid win against Georgetown on Saturday.

Stan Heath?s squad brings one of the worst offenses in the Big East to Newark. USF averages just 62.4 points per game, and is near the league basement in FG%, offensive rebounds and assists. Their production begins with Anthony Collins, a 6?1 guard who is third in the league in Assist:Turnover ratio and is impossible to take the ball from due to his quick dribbles and low center of gravity. After Collins, the Bulls rely on their upperclassman-led frontcourt of Jawanza Polard (10.7PPG), Victor Rudd (11.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG), and Toarlyn Fitzpatrick (10.6 PPG).

South Florida plays above average defense. They hold opponents to 39.9% shooting overall and just 28.8% from the arc. Their length makes it difficult for teams to shoot, and to get the ball into the paint. In their win over Georgetown, South Florida held the Hoyas to 58 points, and even managed to hold Syracuse to a score in the fifties. If Seton Hall can find a way to get the ball through the Bulls? forwards and into Eugene Teague, he can have a field day around the basket. USF has no shotblocking threat on the inside.

What to Watch:

In order for Seton Hall to get its second win in the Big East, the Pirates have to be able to push the pace. If SHU can score in transition and get this game into the 70s, South Florida will struggle to find the firepower to hang around. Haralds Karlis has found some confidence in the last two games, and his energy could be a significant factor. Any contribution SHU can find from Geramipoor, Kevin Johnson or Brian Oliver is a bonus.