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8pm ET
Notre Dame (8-2) at Seton Hall (8-3)
Recommended Play: Seton Hall PK
Preview courtesy of The Sports Network:
A pair of teams searching for their ninth win of the season tangle at Continental Airlines Arena tonight, as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the Seton Hall Pirates in the Big East Conference opener for each team. The Irish enter the game on a roll, as they have won four straight contests and five of their last six overall. The team was last in action on December 30th, when it handed Samford a 56-44 setback. With the win, Notre Dame improved to a solid 8-2 overall and 7-1 at home. As for Seton Hall, it played as recently as Monday, earning 70-57 triumph over Morgan State. The win was the Pirates' fourth in row, improving them to 8-3 overall and 6-2 at home. Tonight's game marks the 18th all-time meeting between Notre Dame and Seton Hall, with the Fighting Irish holding a 10-7 series advantage. The two schools met a year ago, with UND capturing a 71-68 victory.
Tough defense is the main reason for Notre Dame's early season success, as it is holding opponents to just 56.2 ppg and only 40.9 percent shooting from the floor. The team has also done a solid job on the boards, where it owns a +5.3 rebounding margin. Chris Thomas has done it all for the Irish this season, and he is averaging a team-best 14.6 ppg. He is also grabbing 5.1 rpg, in addition to leading the club in assists (72) and steals (28). Chris Quinn adds 12.7 ppg on 38.2 percent shooting from three-point land, while Dennis Latimore is contributing 10.7 ppg and 5.9 rpg for the Irish. In the team's last game, Thomas tallied 14 points and Russell Carter added 11 points off the bench, as Notre Dame outlasted Samford for a 12-point win. The Irish shot just 37.7 percent from the floor in the game, but made up for it by knocking down eight three-pointers. The team also won the battle on the boards, 36-25, including a 15-5 advantage on the offensive glass.
Much like Notre Dame, Seton Hall has thrived at the defensive end this season, limiting its opponents to a mere 59.3 ppg behind a dismal 38.9 percent shooting effort from the field. The Pirates have also done a sensational job on the glass, outrebounding their competitors by 7.2 rpg. Kelly Whitney has been mainly responsible for the domination on the boards, as he leads the team in rebounding with 7.2 ppg. He is also turning in a club-best 13.9 ppg behind 45.8 percent shooting from the floor. John Allen has performed well for the Pirates as well, contributing 11.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 3.3 apg. J.R. Morris rounds out the unit's double-figure scorers with 11.5 ppg and 5.6 rpg. In the squad's previous outing, Whitney poured in 19 points and ripped down eight caroms in a 13-point win over Morgan State. Morris added 14 points and six boards, while Allen turned in 13 points and six rebounds. The Pirates shot just 39.7 percent from the floor in the game, but converted 17-of-21 free- throw attempts. The team also controlled the boards, 43-30, including an 18-9 edge on the offensive glass.
Both teams are mirror images of each other, as each plays tough defense and crashes the boards as well as any team in the country. It should be a close game, but give the edge to Seton Hall, which the edge on the boards and is playing in front of the hometown faithful.
Good luck
Mike Thomas
Notre Dame (8-2) at Seton Hall (8-3)
Recommended Play: Seton Hall PK
Preview courtesy of The Sports Network:
A pair of teams searching for their ninth win of the season tangle at Continental Airlines Arena tonight, as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the Seton Hall Pirates in the Big East Conference opener for each team. The Irish enter the game on a roll, as they have won four straight contests and five of their last six overall. The team was last in action on December 30th, when it handed Samford a 56-44 setback. With the win, Notre Dame improved to a solid 8-2 overall and 7-1 at home. As for Seton Hall, it played as recently as Monday, earning 70-57 triumph over Morgan State. The win was the Pirates' fourth in row, improving them to 8-3 overall and 6-2 at home. Tonight's game marks the 18th all-time meeting between Notre Dame and Seton Hall, with the Fighting Irish holding a 10-7 series advantage. The two schools met a year ago, with UND capturing a 71-68 victory.
Tough defense is the main reason for Notre Dame's early season success, as it is holding opponents to just 56.2 ppg and only 40.9 percent shooting from the floor. The team has also done a solid job on the boards, where it owns a +5.3 rebounding margin. Chris Thomas has done it all for the Irish this season, and he is averaging a team-best 14.6 ppg. He is also grabbing 5.1 rpg, in addition to leading the club in assists (72) and steals (28). Chris Quinn adds 12.7 ppg on 38.2 percent shooting from three-point land, while Dennis Latimore is contributing 10.7 ppg and 5.9 rpg for the Irish. In the team's last game, Thomas tallied 14 points and Russell Carter added 11 points off the bench, as Notre Dame outlasted Samford for a 12-point win. The Irish shot just 37.7 percent from the floor in the game, but made up for it by knocking down eight three-pointers. The team also won the battle on the boards, 36-25, including a 15-5 advantage on the offensive glass.
Much like Notre Dame, Seton Hall has thrived at the defensive end this season, limiting its opponents to a mere 59.3 ppg behind a dismal 38.9 percent shooting effort from the field. The Pirates have also done a sensational job on the glass, outrebounding their competitors by 7.2 rpg. Kelly Whitney has been mainly responsible for the domination on the boards, as he leads the team in rebounding with 7.2 ppg. He is also turning in a club-best 13.9 ppg behind 45.8 percent shooting from the floor. John Allen has performed well for the Pirates as well, contributing 11.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 3.3 apg. J.R. Morris rounds out the unit's double-figure scorers with 11.5 ppg and 5.6 rpg. In the squad's previous outing, Whitney poured in 19 points and ripped down eight caroms in a 13-point win over Morgan State. Morris added 14 points and six boards, while Allen turned in 13 points and six rebounds. The Pirates shot just 39.7 percent from the floor in the game, but converted 17-of-21 free- throw attempts. The team also controlled the boards, 43-30, including an 18-9 edge on the offensive glass.
Both teams are mirror images of each other, as each plays tough defense and crashes the boards as well as any team in the country. It should be a close game, but give the edge to Seton Hall, which the edge on the boards and is playing in front of the hometown faithful.
Good luck
Mike Thomas