Inside The Enemy Ship: Butler Bulldogs – Home Edition

Welcome to the the latest edition of Inside the Enemy Ship, your exclusive look into the upcoming Seton Hall game through the lenses on the opponnet! This time, we have had the pleasure of talking to Grant Anschuetz! Check below for what he thinks about the upcoming game! [EDITOR’S NOTE: The following interview took place before #1 Villanova was upset by Marquette late last night, hence why they are referred to as undefeated in the interview]

BBA: What do you think of the team’s 17-3 record and #11 national ranking? Does it accurately reflect the team?
Anschuetz: Overall, I would say it does accurately reflect this team. Butler has proven time and time again this year they can win against solid opponents. They are 5-1 against ranked teams this year, including wins over Arizona and Villanova.

BBA: How did it feel going into overtime against DePaul after two straight wins?
Anschuetz: That game was the epitome of the saying that there are no off games in a conference like the Big East. The Bulldogs got off to such a poor start in the first half that I think there was a feeling of relief to make it to overtime and have a fresh five minutes after trailing for the majority of the game.

BBA: Who do you consider Butler’s biggest Big East rival?
Anschuetz: To me, Butler’s biggest Big East rival is Xavier. That answer is solely based off of how hostile the arena becomes whenever those two teams hit the floor, especially between fans.

BBA: Do you think the Big East has been a good home for Butler compared to the Horizon League?
Anschuetz: Yes. Although the change has led to tougher competition, the national exposure and ability to attract higher ranked recruits is a positive thing for the program.

BBA: How far do you now expect Butler to go into the NCAA Tournament?
Anschuetz: In this year’s NCAA Tournament, I believe Butler can realistically make it to the Elite Eight. With that being said, based on 2010-2011, a trip to the National Championship is not out of the question.

BBA: After last season’s early exit during the Big East tournament, what do you see the Bulldogs doing this year?
Anschuetz: I could see Butler making it at least one more round deeper into the Big East tournament. It is always hard to predict how hot a team is going to be down the stretch, but they should make it farther than last year.

BBA: Roosevelt Jones and Kellen Dunham played huge roles in making sure that Butler was the only Big East team that Seton Hall didn’t beat last season. Who is going to fill their roles?
Anschuetz: Kelan Martin, Kamar Baldwin and Kethan Savage have all performed well for the Bulldogs as of late. Senior Andrew Chrabascz is a crafty player down low and is also a great facilitator.

BBA: Which player should the Seton Hall Pirates be the most worried about meeting on the court? Why?
Anschuetz: The Pirates should be most worried about Kamar Baldwin. Specifically, the guards for Seton Hall because Baldwin is known for making big steals in big moments. His defensive presence is just as strong as his offensive presence.

BBA: Who do you consider the biggest challenge to Nova in the Big East this season? How about nationally? Butler is still the only team to beat them so far!*
Anschuetz:The biggest challenge to Villanova before the injury to Maurice Watson was Creighton. Now, I have to go with Butler since they are the highest ranked Big East team who has beaten them.

BBA: Which teams from the Big East will ultimately end up making the NCAA tournament?
Anschuetz: From the Big East, I believe Villanova, Butler, Creighton are basically locks at this point. Marquette, Xavier and Seton Hall all have a realistic chance to make it.

BBA: Final Score Prediction for the upcoming game?
Anschuetz: Final Score Prediction = Butler 72 Seton Hall 65

Once again, thanks to our new friend Grant Anschuetz for taking the time to talk to us! He can be found on twitter @Granschuetz and on Slump Sports!

Tip-off is tonight at The Rock at 8:30 PM! If you can’t make it there in person, it will be broadcast nationally on FS1. Be sure to check by later for the game recap, and as always Go Pirates and Hazard Zet Forward!

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Pirates Bounce Golden Bears

Photo Provided Courtesy Of Madeline Wilson

The Seton Hall Pirates were back in action on Wednesday in their final game of the Pearl Harbor Invitational against the California Golden Bears. The Pirates came in with a record of 6-2 while Cal came in with a record of 7-1. The Pirates wound up getting a much needed 60-57 victory.

This game was tight throughout its entirety. The Pirates and Golden Bears were very evenly matched especially early on. The largest lead of the half came after a Desi Rodriguez jumper gave Seton Hall a five point edge. The big match up in this game was Ivan Rabb vs Angel Delgado. The two did battle on a few occasions. The Pirates would head into halftime trailing 34-31.

The Golden Bears were led by Jabari Bird in the first half. He had 12 points and 8 rebounds. Charlie Moore also scored in double figures with 10 points. Ivan Rabb was quiet in the first half with 4 points and 4 rebounds. Cal shot 52% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc in the first half.

Seton Hall was led by Khadeen Carrington who had 8 points and 2 assists in the first half. Desi Rodriguez also scored 8 points in the first half. Angel Delgado led the way on the boards with 6 rebounds and also had 6 points in the first half. The Pirates shot 48.3% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc in the first half.

Cal got out to a quick start in the second half as they took a 6 point lead. Seton Hall would score the next 6 points to tie the score at 40. The two teams went back and forth for the majority of the second half. The Pirates would build a 6 point lead though. One of the highlights was a sequence where a Desi Rodriguez dunk was answered by a Jabari Bird dunk. Despite a late charge from Cal, the Pirates would hold on for a 60-57 victory.

Cal was led by Jabari Bird who had 22 points and 9 rebounds. Charlie Moore was second on the team with 12 points. Ivan Rabb had a relatively quiet night with 8 points and 8 rebounds. The Golden Bears shot 43.4% from the field and 18.8% from beyond the arc.

Seton Hall was led by Angel Delgado who had another double double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Desi Rodriguez had 15 points on the night. Khadeen Carrington had a solid night with 14 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals. The Pirates shot 46.2% from the field and 27.3% from beyond the arc.

With the loss the Golden Bears fall to 7-2 on the season. They will head home to take on UC Davis on Saturday. The Pirates improve to 7-2 on the season with the victory. They will now travel to Madison Square Garden on Monday to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Check out the PPI below to see which players excelled. We will have full coverage of the South Carolina game on Monday. Until then, Hazard Zet Forward.

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Pirates Take Down Friars

The Seton Hall Pirates were back in action today at the Prudential Center as they took on the Providence College Friars. The Pirates were looking to get to the 20 win mark and solidify their place in the NCAA tournament field. The Pirates were coming off of a tight win over St. John’s and the Pirates were coming off of a loss to Xavier. The Pirates ultimately blew out the Friars in a 72-50 victory.

The Friars got on the board first on a Kris Dunn layup. The 2-0 lead was the only lead Providence would have in this game. A layup from Angel Delgado gave the Hall a 4-2 lead and they would never relinquish it. The Pirates never stretched the lead to double digits in the first half. A Ben Bentil layup cut the Seton Hall lead to 3 with 3:14 remaining in the first half. The Pirates increased the lead to 6, but the Friars would again cut the lead down to 4. However, with the clock winding down in the half, Isaiah Whitehead hit a three pointer to give the Pirates a 30-23 lead heading into halftime.

The Friars were led in the first half by Ben Bentil who had 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Kyron Cartwright added 5 points and 2 rebounds. Jalen Lindsey chipped in 2 points and led Providence with 6 rebounds. Kris Dunn was held to 4 points on 2-7 shooting while committing 3 turnovers. The Friars shot 27.% from the floor and did not make a 3 pointer.

The Pirates were led in the first half by Isaiah Whitehead with 16 points and 3 assists. Khadeen Carrington had 5 points and 2 rebounds. Angel Delgado and Michael Nzei each had 4 rebounds in the first half. Desi Rodriguez led the Pirates with 6 rebounds in the first half. The Pirates shot 37.9% from the field and 36.4% from beyond the arc.

The Pirates came out red hot to start the second half. Khadeen Carrington scored the first 5 points of the half to increase the lead to 12. Isaiah Whitehead would hit a three pointer a few minutes later to give the Pirates a 19 point lead. The Friars would go on a 6-0 run to cut the Pirates lead to 13. The Pirates would respond with a run of their own. With 11:16 to go in the half an Isaiah Whitehead free throw would give the Pirates a 53-32 lead. The Friars would storm back to cut the deficit to 7 with 4:56 remaining in the game. However, Ben Bentil would pick up a flagrant 2 and get ejected from the game. The Pirates would ultimately increase the lead and win 70-52.

The Friars were led in this one by Ben Bentil. He scored a game high 31 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Kris Dunn added 8 points and 4 rebounds. Kyron Cartwright had a solid game with 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Ryan Fazekas chipped in 4 rebounds for the Friars while Jalen Lindsey grabbed 7 boards. Providence shot 28.4% from the field and 16.7% from beyond the arc.

The Pirates were led by Isaiah Whitehead who scored 25 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 9 assists. He also added 4 blocks and a steal. Angel Delgado added a double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Khadeen Carrington chipped in 12 points and 7 rebounds. Desi Rodriguez also scored in double figures with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Seton Hall shot 45.6% from the field and 38.9% from beyond the arc.

With the loss the Friars fall to 19-9 overall and 7-8 in the Big East. With the victory the Pirates improve to 20-7 and 10-5 in Big East play. The Friars will now head home to take on the DePaul Blue Demons on Saturday. The Pirates will take on the Xavier Musketeers at the Prudential Center on Sunday.

We will talk to our friend Shannon Russell before the game on Sunday. The Musketeers are coming off of a huge win over #1 ranked Villanova. Check out the PPI below to see which players stood out in the big win. We will have full coverage of the Xavier game on Sunday. Until then, Hazard Zet Forward.

PPI vs Providence (2)

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How Sweep It is

The Seton Hall Pirates were back in action today as they took on the Georgetown Hoyas in Washington, D.C. The Pirates were looking to complete the season sweep against the Hoyas. The first meeting was a 69-61 victory for the Hall back on February 6. Before the game we had the pleasure of speaking to Chris Haines from Georgetown’s SB Nation page. He provided some excellent insight which can be seen in our previous post. He predicted a Georgetown win, but the Pirates would ultimately prevail 72-64.

The first few minutes were back and forth until the Pirates took the lead with 15:59 remaining in the first half on an Angel Delgado layup. From there, the Pirates would lead the rest of the game. Desi Rodriguez jammed home several alley oops in the first half. The Pirates would lead by as much as 11 in the first half. With 1:22 remaining in the half, L.J. Peak would hit two free throws to cut the lead to 1. However, the Pirates would score 7 straight points to go into halftime with a 36-28 lead.

The Hoyas were led in the first half by Jessie Govan with 9 points. D’Vauntes Smith Rivera added 7 points for the Hoyas. L.J. Peak chipped in 6 points. Marcus Derrickson led Georgetown on the boards with 6 rebounds. Smith-Rivera led the Hoyas with 2 assists in the first half. The Hoyas shot 38.5% from the field and 14.3% from beyond the arc in the first half.

The Pirates were led by Isaiah Whitehead with 11 points and 5 assists in the first half. Angel Delgado led the way on the boards with 7 rebounds in the first half. Khadeen Carrington chipped in 7 points, and Desi Rodriguez added 8 for the Pirates. The Pirates shot 43.8% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc in the first half.

The Pirates led throughout the second half, but still had to fend off several Georgetown surges. With 13:33 remaining in the second half, Angel Delgado knocked down a free throw to give the Pirates a 16 point lead. This would be the largest lead of the night for the Hall. The Hoyas would trim the lead to 6 with 9:36 to go in the second half. The Pirates did not make a field goal for the final 14 minutes of the game, getting all of their points from free throws. The Pirates proved to be the more resilient team and wound up coming away with a 72-64 win.

The Hoyas were led by Jessie Govan who scored 27 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera added 18 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists. Marcus Derrickson also grabbed 7 rebounds for the Hoyas. L.J. Peak chipped in 10 points and Tre Campbell led the Hoyas with 5 assists. The Hoyas shot 37.7% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc.

The Pirates were led by Isaiah Whitehead who scored 22 points and dished out 6 assists. Khadeen Carrington added 18 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Desi Rodriguez chipped in 17 points and Angel Delgado grabbed 11 rebounds. The Pirates shot 38.5% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.

With the loss the Hoyas fall to 14-13 overall and 7-7 in the Big East. With the victory the Pirates improve to 18-7 overall and 8-5 in the Big East. The Hoyas will take on the Xavier Musketeers on Saturday. The Pirates will travel to Madison Square Garden on Sunday to take on the St. John’s Red Storm.

We would like to again thank Chris Haines for his insight on the Hoyas. He can be found on twitter @chrismchaines. Give him a follow, he is a fantastic journalist! Check out the PPI below to see which Pirates excelled today. We will have full coverage of the St. John’s game on Sunday. Until then, Hazard Zet Forward.

PPI vs Georgetown (2)

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