JP’s 5 Thoughts: Seton Hall tops Prairie View A&M

Quincy McKnight’s 25 points led Seton Hall as Pirates defeated Prairie View A&M. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

By Jason Guerette (@JPGuerette)

NEWARK, N.J. — The Seton Hall Pirates picked up their second straight win on Sunday at Prudential Center, overcoming a slow start to roll over Prairie View A&M, 75-55, and improve to 8-4 on the season.

The Pirates used a 21-2 run in the second half over seven-and-a-half minutes to pull away from the Panthers and notch the win in their final tuneup before Big East Conference play.

Quincy McKnight led Seton Hall with a season-high 25 points, while Anthony Nelson added 12 points and seven assists. Jared Rhoden also chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds, while freshman Tyrese Samuel finished with 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Here are the thoughts:

1. Tale Of Two Halves

With Seton Hall coming off an upset victory over No. 7 Maryland in Newark on Thursday, the first half was sloppy for the Pirates and Panthers, with the teams combining to shoot 34 percent (18-for-53) from the floor, along with 22 turnovers. But the Panthers had a 27-22 lead, thanks to a 10-5 edge in points off turnovers (despite both teams committing 11 in the half), as well as a plus-six margin on the glass, including nine offensive rebounds that led to nine second chance points.

But the Pirates turned it around in the second stanza, shooting 58 percent, turning the ball over just five times, and outrebounding the undersized Panthers by 10 en route to outscoring the visitors 53-28 after halftime. It shifted the atmosphere at the Rock from audible groans to relieved cheers by the end of the game.

2. Nelson On The Nice List

Prairie View came in averaging 17.4 turnovers forced per game and with 100 total steals, both of which ranked inside the Top 40 in the nation. Seton Hall initially did a good job of taking care of the ball in the first half, but faltered down the stretch into the half, allowing the Panthers to make their run. The Pirates came out of the break, and turned the ball over just once in the first 12 minutes in the second half. 

The difference? Anthony Nelson.

"Anthony Nelson kind of woke up and took control a little bit," head coach Kevin Willard said. "For him, it's his first time playing back-to-back (games of) 36 minutes, and it took him a little time to get going, but once Ant got going, he was able to get (Quincy) involved a little bit, and I think that was the biggest difference."

3. Samuel Steps Out

As good as Romaro Gill and Ike Obiagu were in the Maryland game, they just weren't as effective in this contest, likely due to the fact that the Panthers really didn't have any size where they could match up effectively. Enter Tyrese Samuel, who posted season-highs in points and rebounds, while also hitting the Pirates' only two three-pointers of the game and providing the highlight of the contest with a one-handed putback slam late in the second half.

"He's doing exactly what you hope talented freshmen do," Willard said. "And that's that they stay patient and keep working. He's going to continue to get better and better, and we're going to need him with all of the physicality that we're going to see (in the Big East)."

While McKnight and Nelson flourished down the stretch outside, it was Samuel and also Jared Rhoden who allowed the Pirates to pull away thanks to their production on both ends inside.

4. Powell Update- "Improving"

Maybe the most-encouraging thing to happen in this game was that Myles Powell was well enough to be on the Pirates' bench. He had missed the Maryland game due to needing to stay away from bright lights and loud noises in his recovery process from his concussion. 

"He just entered the concussion protocol the other day," Willard said. "I don't know what that is, it's too technical for me, but he's progressing. There's a shot he could play at DePaul, but it's a long shot, I still don't think that right now is a possibility. We're hoping to get him back to practice after this break, and then kind of work him in maybe for the Georgetown game. That's a realistic goal."

No two concussions are the same, and as we said before, you can't rush the recovery, so seeing Powell able to rejoin the team today is a definite positive sign, and about the best early Christmas present Pirate fans could have asked for.

5. Next Up: The Big East

The Pirates concluded their non-conference schedule with an 8-4 record, and considering the teams they've played, the injuries to their two best players, and all the travel they've had to do in what was without a doubt the toughest slate they've faced out of conference play since Willard took the job, you have to feel pretty good about it if you're a Pirate fan.

"My goal was 9-3," Willard commented. "I thought that was realistic with the amount of road games we had to play. We played three true road games, three neutral games...we've played the second-hardest schedule besides Kansas according to Kenpom (in the) Power 6. The Saint Louis win, I think, gets better and better as the days go on.”

"And to handle the injuries, when they happened so early in each game and on the road, we didn't handle them overly well at that time," he added. "Since then, we've had time to practice and come back. I'm really proud of where we are and the position going forward."

The Big East is no joke this year — Willard says it every year — but this season, we've seen DePaul rise up from the ashes a little bit, and each team in the conference having some good moments, capped off by a remarkable 11-0 combined finish league-wide to non-conference play. 

Buckle up, everyone: The true season is just about to begin.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Daly Dose of Hoops!