The Seton Hall Pirates and VCU Rams face off in an early season preview of a game that could be repeated in March. Who comes out on top in this one?
TV Schedule: Saturday, Dec. 9, 3:00 p.m. ET, Check Local Listings
Arena: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
After several seasons flying under the radar but still finding a way to make the NCAA Tournament, the Seton Hall Pirates are no longer under the radar.
Ranked No. 19, Seton Hall lost a disappointing game to the Rhode Island Rams and then promptly responded by defeating the then-No. 22 Texas Tech Red Raiders and then the No. 17 Louisville Cardinals. Desi Rodriguez can’t stop scoring and Angel Delgado is a double-double machine, making Seton Hall one of the most dangerous teams in college basketball.
Next up for the Pirates are the VCU Rams at home, a team that should provide a tough challenge for Seton Hall.
The real question is which VCU team is going to show up. Is it the one from last game against the Texas Longhorns that was able to “contain” Mo Bamba and Co. for just a four-point loss or is it the Rams’ team that got beat by 11 at the hands of Marquette?
VCU might have taken a back seat in terms of national hype to other mid-majors as of late, but this is still one of the best college basketball programs in the country. It is hard to rebuild after losing multiple coaches in a short amount of time, and the Rams are still talented and competitive. This team will get back on track sooner rather than later and the rest of the A-10 should watch out.
Seton Hall wins this game, but, if these two face off down the road in March, we might have a different outcome.
Prediction: Seton Hall 70, VCU 64