Seton Hall basketball fans waited a full week to see their Pirates take the floor again, but it was the return of Kadary Richmond to their starting lineup which was the true sight for sore eyes.
The all-Big East shoo-in guard, who hadn’t started a game since January 20 in a 3OT loss to Creighton, returned after missing two games and coming off the bench in a third to help Seton Hall to a hard-fought 76-70 win over Georgetown Wednesday night in at Prudential Center in Newark.
The true star for the Pirates, however, was senior Dre Davis, who put up a career-high 25 points in a masterful performance, which saw him add 10 rebounds and shoot 11-19 from the floor.
The win gives Seton Hall two straight after a three-game losing streak, building momentum as the team enters a crucial stretch with their NCAA tournament hopes likely at stake.
Takeaway #1: Dre Day
Dre Davis has been a steady hand for the Pirates all season long, offering both leadership and a calming presence with his propensity to take and make good shots.
Tonight, those shots would not stop falling, as Davis found his way on the scoresheet in every manner, from dunks to putbacks to the post and even to the outside.
“I think it’s a credit to the work he’s been doing every day,” head coach Shaheen Holloway said of Davis. “He’s one of those guys that’s an everyday guy. He’s been an everyday guy since he’s been here. Last year he had some knee stuff. This year he’s taking care of his body and coming in and he’s been our workhorse.
Davis has now scored in double figures in 13 straight games for Seton Hall.
Kadary Richmond’s return to The Rock saw him fill up the box score as he normally does, finishing with 20 points thanks to a 13-16 clip from the free-throw line. He added seven rebounds and eight assists to continue his charge as the Big East’s premier stat-sheet-stuffer.
The play of reserve big man Elijah Hutchins-Everett continues to be a bright spot for The Hall, as he mustered 9 points and 7 rebounds on 3-4 shooting in extended minutes while Jaden Bediako was on the bench with foul trouble.
For Georgetown, star guard Jayden Epps finished with 15 points but could not get it going from the floor, shooting 6-19 and 3-13 from three. The Hoyas were paced by Dontrez Styles and Supreme Cook with 20 points each.
Takeaway #2: Missed opportunity for Georgetown
Ed Cooley’s first year at Georgetown has seen tumult off the court (and in the annals of the internet) along with another lost season in the record books. Between the lines, however, the Hoyas have punched above their weight on a number of occasions, and despite falling to 1-10 in the Big East and 8-14 overall, Cooley sees his program slowly getting to where it needs to be.
“I was really proud of how our men played,” Cooley said. “I thought we played hard. I thought we were connected offensively. I wish we didn’t take some of the bad shots. I thought our bad shots created transition baskets for them. But I was I was proud of our fight. Playing on the road in any league, let alone the Big East, it’s tough.”
The Hoyas were done in by their 4-22 shooting from three in the second half, even as they cut the Pirate lead to one possession on a number of occasions. Georgetown never led in the game.
The free-throw discrepancy played a key role, with the Hoyas settling from the outside and shooting 40 total threes. Seton Hall shot only 19 threes, but outscored Georgetown 20-6 from the line. Richmond was responsible for 13 of the 20 free throws, while big man Supreme Cook struggled from the line at 4-10.
The inability of Epps to find a rhyme also played a crucial role. The Big East’s third-leading scorer had 30 in the first meeting between the teams in Washington but struggled from outside throughout the night.
Cooley says despite another missed opportunity at a win, his team will learn from experiences like this.
“A team that’s been together that knows how to win, versus a team that’s learning and hopefully growing on how to win,” Cooley said when asked what the difference in the game was. “Our players are trying to learn how to win, and I want to make sure our players stay confident, keep their composure and continue to battle. I know what I signed up for. It’s not where we’re starting today or even this year. We’ll be alright.”
Georgetown has now lost 9 straight games at Prudential Center, and are 2-12 overall in the Brick City against the Pirates.
Takeaway #3: Crucial stretch for Seton Hall
Seton Hall needed tonight’s win to avoid a Quad 4 loss but now enters a stretch where it needs to pick up wins against the middle of the Big East pack in order to remain viable for an NCAA tournament bid.
The team’s next four games sees them go to Philadelphia Sunday to take on a sliding Villanova team, followed by a home date with Xavier, a “road” game against St. John’s at UBS Arena, and a home game against Butler.
With Butler and St. John’s firmly on the bubble, and Xavier and Villanova not too far off, this stretch could end up deciding the Pirates’ March fate.
Next game for Seton Hall: at Villanova (Sun., Feb. 11 – Noon)
Next game for Georgetown: vs. UConn (Sat., Feb. 10 – Noon)