3 keys for Seton Hall Basketball to upset Xavier Musketeers in Big East clash

Box out and rebound!

The Xavier Musketeers are one of the best rebounding teams in the Big East. They have five players on the roster who average four rebounds or more per game, with Senior Zach Freemantle leading the way at 8.1 boards per contest. In contrast, the Seton Hall Pirates’ leading rebounder Senior Tyrese Samuel, is averaging 5.8 rebounds per game; there are several players in Xavier’s program surpassing that mark.

Even though Freemantle is out, who has become an integral part of the Musketeers’ attack, Xavier also boasts two 7-footers. They are Senior Jack Nunge and Junior Dieonte Miles. Most college programs do not have any 7-footers on the roster; having two creates a big interior advantage that makes it tough for other teams to compete on the glass. If Seton Hall wants to avoid being dominated due to offensive rebounds and second-chance points, they are going to have to box out by committee. Any time a shot goes into the air they must all be dedicated to boxing out the nearest man, regardless of whether or not he is their defensive assignment.

A closer look at Seton Hall’s recent stretch of poor play further illustrates the point. The Pirates have been outrebounded in three out of their last four games. Consequently, they have also lost three out of their last four games. Two of those contests featured egregious disparities on the glass that could cause even a mild-mannered coach to throw down his clipboard in disgust. On February 8th, the Pirates were outperformed by 21 rebounds in a loss to the Creighton University Bluejays. On February 18th, they were outclassed by 14 rebounds in a loss to the UConn Huskies. If they allow similar disparities against Xavier on Friday, another loss is all but guaranteed.