(PHOTO COURTESY OF DALY DOSE OF HOOPS, BOB DEA)
With March fast approaching, and the Seton Hall Pirates (16-9, 7-8 Big East) battling for a spot in a Thursday matchup in the Big East Tournament, they couldn’t afford to get swept by the DePaul Blue Demons (12-14, 3-13 Big East). For their sake, they were able to stave off the opposition inside the Prudential Center on Saturday night by a score of 66-64.
It wasn’t pretty at the beginning of the contest, and mainly in the second half. But with timely shots and a pair of quality stops by the star of the show in Jared Rhoden, you knew who you were able to count on down the stretch.
Both the Pirates and the Blue Demons were off to horrific starts. Still, the eyes were not only on Rhoden but also on the defensive efforts of Myles Cale on DePaul’s best player named Javon Freeman-Liberty, who was able to hold the guard to 0-for-8 shooting in the first half.
During the ugly start, both Seton Hall and DePaul combined for a total of three buckets in 23 combined attempts through the first seven minutes. But, Rhoden would grab seven rebounds in the short amount of time to stuff the stat sheet early on.
As mentioned earlier, in the latter parts of eight minutes in, guard Kadary Richmond started with a back-door feed to Rhoden.
Then, the flood gates open, sort of.
The Pirates were beginning to feel it from all parts of the floor, with Jamir Harris hitting a contested three-pointer to extend the Seton Hall run to eight.
Richmond kept it going with a massive throw-down that would force a DePaul timeout. The Pirates would keep the pedal to the medal as they held the Blue Demons to just five points for a good chunk of the first half before they turned on its jets and put the Pirates on notice.
All the way to the rim 😤 @KadaryRichmond3 with authority for @SetonHallMBB pic.twitter.com/WOZ5UfqhnB
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 20, 2022
In the first half, the Pirates converted 12-of-31 from the floor, with eight points and 13 critical rebounds by Jared Rhoden. He surpassed his previous season-high of 12, which was set against St. John’s in the not-so-memorable Walsh Gymnasium game on January 24, 2022.
Seton Hall, and more specifically, Myles Cale, who was assigned to guard Javon Freeman-Liberty for much of the game, was held to eight shots, all unconverted, and just a pair of points from the charity stripe.
In the second half, DePaul and head coach Tony Stubblefield came out firing on all cylinders led by Freeman-Liberty, who helped fire off eight straight points and narrow the Pirates’ lead to just one at 40-39, prompting a Kevin Willard chat.
The Blue Demons kept the engines roaring with another seven straight points with a steal and put back for Freeman-Liberty, who was at a game-high 20 points. Keep in mind that he was kept to just two points and no field goals for the senior guard.
Back and forth play would eventually lead to a 53-52 DePaul lead following three free-throws from center Nick Ongenda after a foul from Obiagu (and some extra circular yelling from the crowd).
The Blue Demons kept it going with another four straight points from Freeman-Liberty from the charity stripe, and while creating a lane, respectively to put DePaul up by as much as five points.
Jamir Harris had other ideas, with a contested triple off an Ongenda turnover to bring the Pirates back within a bucket.
In the final 90 seconds, the Pirates and Blue Demons traded fouls and missed free throws. At 40 seconds remaining, Richmond would make a contested lay-up to put the Pirates in front 65-64.
On the next possession, with 7 seconds remaining in regulation, Rhoden drew the assignment of guarding the Blue Demons’ best player, Freeman-Liberty, since Cale fouled out with five minutes. Freeman-Liberty would force up a three-point ball that looked to be tipped, or at least touched in the slightest.
After Stubblefield called a 30-second timeout, the ensuing possession featured a foul on Terry, who sent Jamir Harris to the line, where he converted one-of-two to make it a 66-64 game.
With two whole seconds left, the DePaul game-plan was for…none other than…Freeman-Liberty. On the defensive assignment was Rhoden and eventually turned to Yetna, where they would force the Blue Demons’ best shooter to miss.
The Pirates escaped a brutal loss, which would have been a season sweep against DePaul if the scenario was to occur.
Take a deep breath 😎#HALLin 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/aNaJrnBe9f
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) February 20, 2022
Following the game, head coach Kevin Willard announced that point guard Kadary Richmond was receiving an IV during pregame warmups, which was why he was not in sight of the media. Richmond woke up on Thursday morning with a 102 fever and slowly would feel better as the following days went on, but did not practice either Thursday or Friday or appear in the walk-through this morning.
Something to keep an eye out on. Per source, Kadary Richmond hasn't been seen during warmups. I can't spot him either.#HALLin
— Joey Jarzynka (@realJoeyJazz) February 20, 2022
According to the Big East Conference, Jared Rhoden’s 18 rebounds (new career-high) was the most by a conference player this season, surpassing UConn’s Adama Sanogo, who previously held the 2021-22 season-high with 16, obtained against St. John’s on January 12, 2022.
Seton Hall’s next assignment comes on Wednesday, February 23, for an 8:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) opening tip against the Butler Bulldogs, inside the Prudential Center.
