Community Picks: Gonzaga 0% vs Seton Hall 0%

NEW YORK — The period of time between Isaiah Whitehead’s lay-up hitting the rim and the moment it finally fell through provided time for ample reflection. Time for the whistle to blow, a foul on Villanova’s Kris Jenkins, who had been fantastic all second half. There was time for Wildcat fans to hold their breath, wondering if their furious rally that had earned them a two-point lead would be for naught. There was time for Seton Hall fans to reflect on the twenty-odd years that had passed since the last time they had claimed a Big East Tournament title. When the clock unstuck, the ball dropped and Madison Square Garden lost its mind. When Whitehead hit the free throw to push Seton Hall ahead, it got even louder, the go-ahead point in the Pirates’ 69-67 victory. “This is one of the main reasons I chose to stay home," said Whitehead after the game. "Just so my friends and family could see me play as much as possible and having them in the crowd and really cheering me on and seeing me hold up the trophy at the end. It's like picture-perfect." It was Whitehead’s show from the start. The sophomore guard had been sensational all season and all tournament, but Saturday night was another level. He finished with 26 points, assaulting the No. 3 Wildcats with pull-ups and floaters, his crossover unbuckling the Villanova defense time after time. It’s not a surprise that Seton Hall fans in the building chanted “One more year” as the Brooklyn native accepted his Most Outstanding Player award, another accolade from a season that saw him named as a unanimous selection to the All-Big East team. But Whitehead is solely focused on doing more March damage, as Seton Hall returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006. “Whoever we play just better watch out," said Whitehead when asked what his team was capable of in the NCAA Tournament. "We really defend at a high level. When we get on the break, it's hard to stop us. It really doesn't matter who we play, we're up for the challenge." It wasn’t easy for Kevin Willard’s Pirates. They led by as many as 13 early in the second half, but then Jenkins went to work, scoring 16 of his 23 points in the second half. To complement Jenkins, the Wildcats defense turned up the pressure, throwing different looks at Whitehead that contributed to his eight turnovers. But down the stretch, there was no stopping Seton Hall’s leader. He broke the tie at 55-all, and again at 62-all. When Jenkins hit a three to put the Wildcats up 67-64 with just 52 seconds remaining, it was Whitehead who pulled them back ahead, splitting a pair of free throws then completing the and-one. Willard’s reaction to Whitehead’s shot – one that will be replayed for as long as Seton Hall has a basketball program – tells the whole story. The Wildcats got two cracks at taking the lead after that point. Jenkins missed a three, then Josh Hart’s putback attempt (which perhaps should have drawn a whistle) didn’t fall. After a Seton Hall free throw, a game-winning three attempt by senior Ryan Arcidiacano fell short at the buzzer. Seton Hall’s youth movement – all five starters are sophomores – got a boost in the arm by the man forward Ismael Sanogo called an “older brother,” as senior Derrick Gordon, the only upper classman in the rotation, chipped in 10 timely points, including a pair of threes. Gordon, a transfer from UMass, will also be the first openly gay player to participate in the NCAA Tournament . "He's there to calm us down in troubling times," said Sanogo, a Newark native who was named to the All-Tournament team after a masterful defensive effort Saturday night. "When the game is getting out of hand, he comes in and calms us down." When asked if there was a game where he knew this team was destined for greatness, he looked back even further than any contest this season. “May 19, that’s when I knew. Grant Billmeier reminded me of something. When I rehired Grant, I told, I said 'Grant, I know things look shaky, but I’m telling you man, these kids are special.' And after about a month of Grant being around them, he came up to me and said, 'You're right.'” Willard, who also participated in this tournament as a player, had a message for those who questioned the viability of the Big East’s postseason. "I'm going to get in trouble for saying this, but I don't care: You know, everyone always asks questions about is this tournament in trouble. The ACC and the Big 10, they want come in to New York. The Big East? This is home. We are the home. We will always be the home. They are going to be tourists. I've said it before, they're going to come in, they're going to get a slice of pizza...and then they're going to leave. But at the end of the day, the Big East will still be here." His counterpart on the Wildcats agreed. “If you’re a basketball purist,” said Jay Wright after the game, “there’s nowhere you would rather coach or play than in this conference or you would rather play your tournament than in Madison Square Garden. You just saw tonight that’s what it is.” “Everything we do is basketball. We play in the Mecca. Madison Square Garden. Great traditional basketball schools. All the alumni from these schools, this is what they live for. No football weekends. No homecoming football games. This is what they live for. This was awesome.” It’s a bitter result for Villanova, who had finally broken though last year to win their first Big East Tournament in 20 years, but they have a chance for further March redemption. The Wildcats have failed to make the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament since their Final Four appearance in 2009, despite earning No. 1 and No. 2 seeds the last two postseasons. Depending on how the brackets shake out they’ll be either a No. 1 and No. 2 seed this year as well. “We definitely let down the Big East last year,” said Wright after Thursday’s quarterfinal victory over Georgetown. “We were a good enough team to advance, we didn’t do it. And we take responsibility for that.” “I really would like us to get to a Final Four for the Big East as much as for these guys,” he continued. “I really would we. Because we love this league, and we want this league to get respect. But if we don’t do it, I would love Xavier or Providence or Seton Hall, I would love them to do it. I really would.” The biggest wildcard in the Wildcats' further March prospects is the health of senior forward Daniel Ochefu. The interior force for Villanova injured his ankle in practice Tuesday and has been limited since. He's come off the bench the last two games,  and after the game Wright said that Ochefu had continued to struggle with the injury . Continue to Article

March 12, 2016 9:19:pm EST

Seton Hall's Angel Delgado muscled the ball through the basket to set up a three-point play, and then kissed his biceps in celebration. The Pirates were too strong for fifth-ranked Xavier on Friday in their 87-83 victory in the Big East Tournament semifinals. Khadeen Carrington had 23 points and seven rebounds and fellow sophomore Isaiah Whitehead added 20 points and eight assists as third-seeded Seton Hall beat the Musketeers for the second time in less than two weeks. Continue to Article

March 12, 2016 12:50:am EST