The Prudential Center should be packed for a handful of non-conference and Big East games as Seton Hall basketball has a very intriguing home schedule.
5. Mar. 4: vs. Creighton
Encore, please!
Last season, the Pirates and Bluejays played one of the best games of the season, with Creighton winning in triple overtime.
This season, it’s one of the last games on the Pirates’ regular season slate and who knows how big of a game this could wind up being?
They might not have a big rivalry against each other, but the recent history speaks for itself and when you welcome one of the best teams in your conference to your house, it’s going to draw a large and lively crowd.
4. Dec. 8: vs. Oklahoma State
It’s a lighter-than-usual non-con slate for the Pirates whose marquee home game is Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys have some intrigue though, with Steve Lutz taking over as the new head coach. He’s never missed the NCAA Tournament in three years with two teams (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Western Kentucky).
Now he gets a big boy job in the Big 12 and one of Lutz’s first real tests will be in Newark against Seton Hall basketball. Meanwhile, the Pirates get to take on a proud program to try and earn a solid resume win in early December.
3. Feb. 26: vs. Villanova
Ever since Jay Wright and Kevin Willard retired and left, this rivalry has lost its steam. The Wildcats have failed to stay a top dog in the Big East and the Pirates haven’t had the same luster.
I still wouldn’t discount how much this means for both fanbases. The schools aren’t much more than an hour and a half apart, they have a long history of close games, and on Feb. 26, they’ll both probably be searching for crucial wins to boost the resume.
2. Feb. 15: vs. UConn
Each of the past four seasons, Seton Hall basketball has taken down the UConn Huskies, with most of those coming at home.
While UConn has been dominant on the national level, the Pirates continue to give them trouble in the Big East slate and that’s made these games some fun ones to watch.
Plus, with Dan Hurley’s connection to the Hall, that storyline is always present.
1. Jan. 18: vs. St. John’s
If there’s one game all Seton Hall basketball fans will circle for the upcoming season, it’s the home game against St. John’s.
Pirates great Kadary Richmond makes his return to the Pru Center with his new team, the rival St. John’s Red Storm.
As if Rick Pitino making a stop inside The Rock wasn’t a big enough of a story, Richmond makes this game one of the most anticipated in the entire Big East. He might not have been the generational player Myles Powell was, but for three seasons, Richmond worked his way up to become a star for SHU.
Now, he’s the enemy.