For the first time since 2015, the NC State men’s basketball team is bound for the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Kevin Keatts and the Wolfpack are a nine seed and will take on eight seed Seton Hall in Wichita, Kansas on Thursday. Technician spoke with Sports Editor Elizabeth Swinton to break down the Pack’s Big Dance opener against the Pirates.
1. What kind of year has Seton Hall had?
In terms of preseason expectations, Seton Hall has not lived up to them. The Pirates were listed at No. 23 in the first AP Top 25 Poll of the season and rose to as high as No. 13, but dropped out and stayed out after that. The team has lost six of its last 10 games including a four-game losing streak, but two of those losses came on the road to now No. 1 seeds Villanova and Xavier.
Seton Hall had a strong non-conference run but struggled a bit on the road in Big East play. The team finished tied for third in the Big East, but coming off player injuries, a Big East Tournament quarterfinal exit and receiving a lower NCAA Tournament than expected, the Pirates have a lot to prove.
2. What style of basketball do the Pirates play?
The Pirates are gritty. There are many New York players on the team, so they play N.Y. style basketball – making defenders work. They have good spot-up shooters but also have paint presence from Angel Delgado, who is a rebounding machine. Certain role players are known to slump at times, but Pirate fans have also seen the team at full strength. The Pirates’ defense has also had lapses, but they are at their best when Delgado has the advantage down low and can pass out to his teammates on the perimeter.
3. Who are some key players Wolfpack fans should have their eyes on?
Delgado will be a threat in the paint, but Seton Hall’s secret weapon is Myles Powell. The sophomore has serious range along with a constant green light. He is the Big East’s Most Improved Player of the Year, and it shows in his confidence to both shoot the ball and drive the lane. Powell has been in a shooting slump recently, so he is due for a good game.
4. In what areas does each team have the advantage?
Seton Hall has an edge in experience. This is the third straight season Seton Hall’s four seniors will head to the NCAA Tournament, and they are hoping their lessons learned from the past two losses, and comfort with each other, will amount to the adjustments needed to get a win.
On the other side, NC State’s tempo might cause Seton Hall to get sloppy with the ball. The Pirates like to push the ball, but a full-court press may take them a bit out of their comfort zone. If NC State can capitalize on points in transition, it might wear Seton Hall down.
5. How does Seton Hall match up with NC State?
While NC State sports a guard-heavy lineup, Seton Hall is more balanced with effective guards and forwards. Ismael Sanogo and Desi Rodriguez work well to stretch the floor, both having focuses on offense and defense. Rodriguez takes advantage of mismatches with his three-point shot and driving power, but he has yet to get back to full form after spraining his ankle on a slippery court at Providence.
It will be interesting to see how Delgado matches up with Omer Yurtseven at center, a big man who poses a shooting threat. Seton Hall will have to be at its best defensively against NC State’s facilitators, and paying close attention to Yurtseven is no different.
6. What is your prediction for this game?
I think it will be close. Seton Hall has struggled with getting off to strong starts but has turned that around lately. If Seton Hall can avoid offensive slumps and do its part on defense, I give the Pirates the edge over the Wolfpack. The game will either go down to the wire and result in a win for the Pirates, or they will lose by a multiple-possession margin.
7. How does Seton Hall, having so many seniors and wanting to win for them, have an impact on the way the Pirates will play in this tournament?
Khadeen Carrington, Delgado, Rodriguez and Sanogo have put Seton Hall basketball back on the map. With the help of current Brooklyn Net Isaiah Whitehead, who left Seton Hall after his sophomore season for the NBA Draft, the class brought South Orange, N.J. a Big East Championship and three straight NCAA Tournament berths. After an emotional Senior Day celebration on March 3 where the seniors said goodbye to the home fans, they have one thing left to check off their list and give the fans, and that is an NCAA Tournament win. They do not want to end their college careers on Thursday, and that will drive them to get the job done against NC State.
8. Do you think either team can get past Kansas?
Kansas has been upset by some unexpected teams this season, but I think the team is too much of a powerhouse for either Seton Hall or NC State. Behind a strong home crowd, the Jayhawks will be tough to beat.
