Providence at Seton Hall: College basketball game preview, TV schedule
The Providence Friars will travel to Newark to play the Seton Hall Pirates. Who will win this battle of top-half teams in the Big East Conference?
Date and time: Wednesday, January 31 at 7:00 p.m. ET
TV schedule: Fox Sports 1
Arena: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Providence and Seton Hall will square off with Big East positioning up for grabs. Both teams have 5-3 conference records but have taken far different paths to get to this point. The Friars were hampered by injuries throughout the non-conference which led to a disappointing 9-4 record, including an ugly loss at UMass.
After getting Kyron Cartwright and Alpha Diallo (their two best players) back from injury, they have looked like the team many envisioned in the preseason. Providence has won four of their last five games, with the only loss coming at Villanova. Wins over Xavier, Butler, and Creighton have helped push the Friars into the projected brackets.
Who are Seton Hall’s top players?
Seton Hall was ranked as high as No. 13 in the AP poll after a hot 3-0 start to conference play. They have since fallen out of the rankings entirely, even though they did not take a bad loss in conference. Losses at Marquette, at Creighton, and at home versus No. 6 Xavier are understandable but nevertheless has changed the national perception of the Pirates.
The Pirates rely heavily on their starters, or more specifically their big four. Khadeen Carrington and Myles Powell form one of the best scoring backcourts in college basketball. Carrington is a shifty left-handed guard who can get to the rim with ease while Powell is a knockdown perimeter shooter who has added to his overall offensive repertoire.
Angel Delgado is an elite center who controls the glass on a nightly basis. He ranks second in the nation with 12.0 rpg, but is also an underrated post player as he can score with his back to the basket or find open teammates with his good vision. Desi Rodriguez rounds out the big four and is a matchup nightmare on the wing. Rodriguez leads Seton Hall in scoring (17.4ppg) with his diverse skillset. He uses his size and strength to score over small defenders, can shoot from the perimeter, and can take bigger defenders off the dribble.
Related Story: Most recent Big East rankings
All four standouts are double-figure scorers and their production is essential to Seton Hall’s success. However, their fifth starter, Ishmael Sanogo, is equally important. Sanogo is a versatile defensive player who can change a game with his deflections and activity. He will likely be tasked with guarding Providence’s leading scorer, Rodney Bullock.
Who stands out for Providence?
The Friars need significant production from Bullock, their redshirt senior forward. Bullock is a talented offensive player who can knock down perimeter jump shots and can take his man into the post and score with a turnaround. He is averaging 16.0 ppg but could struggle with Sanogo’s defensive ability.
The most important Friar is their star point guard Kyron Cartwright because without him the offense is disjointed and ineffective. Cartwright is averaging 11.6 ppg and 6.4 apg but his impact goes way beyond the box score. His ability to get into the lane to hit tough runners and find open teammates is invaluable, as is his much-improved 3-point shooting stroke.
Providence has developed an identity with their long versatile wings as Alpha Diallo, Jalen Lindsey, and Isaiah Jackson have all emerged as key contributors. Diallo is the team’s second best player and, at 6’7’’, enjoys a size advantage over most shooting guards. He has an excellent mid-range game and is automatic when posting up smaller defenders.
Jalen Lindsey is the epitome of a 3-and-D player as his sharpshooting and strong defensive play add substantial value. Lindsey is shooting 48% from three and his length (6’7’’) makes life difficult for opposing wings. Isaiah Jackson is the sixth man and has provided a major boost both offensively and defensively.
The X-factors for Providence will be their pair of centers, Kalif Young and Nate Watson. Both players will have the unenviable task of keeping Angel Delgado off the offensive glass. Expect Young to see more minutes as he is the stronger rebounder. Providence’s small ball lineup, with Bullock at the five, has been very successful, but the Seton Hall’s aggressive rebounding could be a bad matchup.
Next: Most recent Bracketology field (Jan. 29)
Even though Seton Hall is playing at home, Providence may have a matchup advantage. Providence’s long athletic wings match up well with Seton Hall’s best offensive players and could slow them down. Rodriguez will not be able to overpower Lindsey like he can with most wings. The Pirates will have an advantage inside with Delgado against Young and Watson. If the two Providence centers do not bring sufficient energy, Seton Hall will dominate the offensive glass and send the Friars home with a loss. However, Young has rebounded and defended well in recent games which makes me think Providence will hold their own inside and pull off the upset.
Prediction: Providence 75, Seton Hall 73