Seton Hall Basketball: 2 takeaways from Pirates OT win over Penn State
By Joe Casey
Free Throws
In their first game against Louisville, Takal Molson missed his final free throw of the game after having a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime. That shot and many others over the last five games were free. Free throws are one of the most important aspects of the game and it can’t be overstated how poorly Seton Hall has been at the stripe this season, especially in crunch time.
The Pirates’ three-point shooting, which has been a surprising bright spot, and their defense has put them in a position to win games even if they fall behind. However, the team as a whole has struggled at the line this season and has cost them at least one if not two wins in their first five games and could have cost them the game against Penn State as well.
The team was 23/35 from the line tonight for a deceiving 66%. Even though 66% is not an eye-popping number, overtime fouls and garbage-time free throws helped increase the team’s overall percentage before the game went final. In the second half, Obiagu, Molson, and Mamukelashvili missed essential free throws that could have allowed the Pirates to take the lead and secure a win in regulation.
After missing a total of twelve free throws in this game and ten free throws in the Rhode Island matchup it is clear that the team has to improve from the stripe if they are going to compete in the Big East.
Seton Hall has always seemed to struggle from the line, regardless of who was on the team. On a team full of veterans the Pirates have no problem getting to the line they just need to make sure that teams pay for fouling them around the basket. If they are unable to improve at the free throw line it could spell disaster for the team in close games.
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As the Pirates continue to adjust after the departure of Myles Powell, the team needs to improve on these two holes in their game. If they are able to convert at the free throw line and limit playing from behind by double digits, Seton Hall is poised to go on a win streak in the future. If these issues are still glaring moving forward the team may be in jeopardy of missing March for the first time in five years.