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Seton Hall Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Pirates against Michigan State

By Brian Rauf

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - NOVEMBER 05: Quincy McKnight #0 of the Seton Hall Pirates attempts a shot as Curtis Cobb #33 and Will Martinez #11 of the Wagner Seahawks defend during the first half of a college basketball game at Walsh Gym on November 5, 2019 in South Orange, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - NOVEMBER 05: Quincy McKnight #0 of the Seton Hall Pirates attempts a shot as Curtis Cobb #33 and Will Martinez #11 of the Wagner Seahawks defend during the first half of a college basketball game at Walsh Gym on November 5, 2019 in South Orange, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – NOVEMBER 05: Jared Rhoden #14 of the Seton Hall Pirates dunks against the Wagner Seahawks during the second half of a college basketball game at Walsh Gym on November 5, 2019 in South Orange, New Jersey. Seton Hall defeated Wagner 105-71. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – NOVEMBER 05: Jared Rhoden #14 of the Seton Hall Pirates dunks against the Wagner Seahawks during the second half of a college basketball game at Walsh Gym on November 5, 2019 in South Orange, New Jersey. Seton Hall defeated Wagner 105-71. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

3) Utilize size advantage

So we’ve talked a lot about Seton Hall’s size advantage already, and for good reason – it’s the most distinct advantage they have against a quality Spartans group. It’s not like Michigan State is a small team but they have only consistently played three big men in their rotation and only one of them (Marcus Bingham Jr.) is over 6-8.

On the flip side, the Pirates play two centers that are both listed at 7-2 in Ike Obiagu and Romaro Gill, and they complement the 6-11 Mamukelashvili. All three of them average at least a block per game, too.

Michigan State doesn’t shoot threes very well at all, as they rank just 301st in the country in three-point shooting (23.5 percent). They rely on getting most of their points on the interior, an area Seton Hall is equipped to defend extremely well with their size. And, if Powell is unable to play, having that size advantage could make Mamukelashvili even more effective on the offensive end.

What we learned from season's opening days. dark. Next

Obviously, there’s a lot more to the game than simply being taller than your opponent, but having size does give a team some distinct advantages inside and on the defensive end. Seton Hall will need to find an edge if Powell can’t take the court and they can find it here. Expect them to exploit it as much as they can.

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