NCAA Basketball: A 1-bid Pac-12, overrated Oklahoma, & more takeaways

NCAA Basketball: A one-bid Pac-12, overrated Oklahoma and more takeaways

By Brian Rauf | Dec 23, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts to a call during the second half of the championship game against the Utah State Aggies in the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona State won 87-82. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Myles Cale #22 and Myles Powell #13 of the Seton Hall Pirates reacts after Powell’s basket putting Seton Hall ahead of the Kentucky Wildcats in the final seconds of regulation of a college basketball game at Madison Square Garden on December 8, 2018 in New York City. Seton Hall defeated Kentucky 84-83 in overtime. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

8) Seton Hall is one of the big winners of non-conference play

There’s no denying that this year’s Seton Hall is worse than last year’s Seton Hall team. With the departed trio of Angel Delgado, Khadeem Carrington, and Desi Rodriguez, no one knew what to make of the Pirates coming into this year.

Often, programs facing similar circumstances opt for a lackluster non-conference schedule hoping to inflate their number of wins and ease their players into their new roles.

Head coach Chris Willard did the exact opposite and loaded up their non-conference schedule, hoping to challenge his team and potentially get a key victory or two that could make a difference on Selection Sunday.

Next. Updated field of 68 Bracketology. dark

That gamble has paid off for the Pirates. They close non-conference play with marquee wins over Kentucky and Maryland, putting themselves in a position where they can finish in the middle of the pack in the Big East and still make the Big Dance.

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