Marquette ahead Justin Lewis drives to the basket on Seton Corridor guard Myles Cale.
Invoice Kostroun
Seton Corridor can level to the prolonged COVID-19 pause that interrupted what had been a robust season. The Pirates can also single out the current damage to Bryce Aiken or numerous different unlucky components.
However as February nears, this isn’t the identical staff that was a Prime-25 fixture just some weeks in the past. Seton Corridor is trending again in the direction of the NCAA Match bubble, getting worse as an alternative of higher.
Two days after getting whipped by St. John’s, the Pirates weren’t a lot better in opposition to No. 22 Marquette, they usually have been overwhelmed soundly Wednesday night time, 73-63, at Prudential Middle in Newark.
The Pirates trailed by 20 factors early within the second half, couldn’t maintain a quick run and have been by no means actually in it down the stretch. Seton Corridor (12-7, 3-6 Huge East) has now dropped 4 of its previous 5 video games and heard boos at house for the primary time since 2016.
“Properly-deserved,” coach Kevin Willard mentioned.
Marquette (15-6, 7-3) stifled Seton Corridor’s offense across the basket, whereas the Pirates’ protection was inconsistent and missing focus.
Aiken’s continued absence, following a concussion within the first assembly in opposition to Marquette on Jan. 15, has shined a light-weight on Seton Corridor’s offensive limitations. It has compelled main minutes upon Kadary Richmond, the Syracuse switch, who dedicated six turnovers on Wednesday and has 17 in his final three video games whereas taking pictures 7-for-36 from the sector. Senior star Jared Rhoden hasn’t stepped up, both. He was restricted to 14 factors on 5-for-17 taking pictures in opposition to the Golden Eagles and handed up a number of pictures from past the 3-point arc. And Rhoden wasn’t the one offender.
“I’m nonetheless a little bit mystified about why we’re ball-faking some open pictures,” Willard mentioned. “It’s been a part of our struggles. After we’ve had open pictures, we’re ball-faking and we’re driving into robust pictures. … We’re not flowing into offense fairly as properly as we had been earlier within the yr, and that’s one thing I’ve bought to repair. I’m not placing these guys in superb positions proper now.”
The Pirates didn’t have a solution for Marquette star Justin Lewis, who poured in 33 factors because the Golden Eagles gained their seventh straight. One optimistic for Seton Corridor was Jamir Harris, a switch from American, who scored 16 factors off the bench, offering a wanted spark.
When requested if the senior guard must play extra, Willard mentioned: “I’ve bought to determine lots of stuff out, and that’s one in all them.”
An ominous tone was set on the sport’s opening possession. Ike Obiagu slipped to the basket for what regarded like an open dunk. However Kur Kuath sprinted over to reject the 7-foot-2 middle’s shot. Kuath had 4 blocks by the primary media timeout, and Marquette was on its strategy to constructing an enormous lead.
Seton Corridor began by lacking 19 of its first 23 pictures, and located itself down 26-10 with 7:27 left within the first half. Rhoden started 0-for-8 earlier than snapping his taking pictures drought with a jumper within the lane. He had been 0-for-13 going again to the loss Monday to St. John’s. Within the span of simply over a minute, Willard referred to as two timeouts because the deficit continued to widen.
The timeouts didn’t repair any issues. Marquette led 38-21 on the break, and shortly the lead ballooned to twenty. The outcome was by no means doubtful and the gang let Seton Corridor learn about it.
Not less than the Pirates have every week off now earlier than visiting Huge East basement-occupant Georgetown. They want time to repair their many issues.
“I believe there’s lots of issues we have to work out, extra than simply conversations,” Rhoden mentioned. “and we’re going to get to it.”
Obiagu set the Seton Corridor file for profession blocked pictures with 4 rejections. That provides him 169 blocks. Samuel Dalembert held the earlier file with 167.
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