Seton Hall Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Pirates against Michigan State
By Brian Rauf
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.
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.