Seton Hall Update, Vol. II

Since jd clearly wants more basketball on his site, here goes. The first ever public release of the RPI on thursday saw the Big East place 9 teams in the top 40, including Seton Hall. The Hall moved up from 84 to 37 in the NCAA's power rankings, well within the scope of NCAA consideration. Of course, there are 9 more games to play, but it is a good sign to see that the NCAA people recognize the strength and depth of the Big East. The Hall will play Rutgers on Super Sunday in another crucial game, then heads to Tampa to face South Florida before the road gets really bumpy. The Pirates will face UConn and West Virginia next, followed by Notre Dame. Don't let that 1-6 conference record fool you. The Big East is the best conference in the land, and ND has lost those six games by a combined total 26 points, including 2 OT losses. Their past three losses, all to ranked teams, have been by a total of 6 points (one point loss at W.Va, 2 point loss to Villanova, and 3 point loss to Georgetown). This is a hard luck team that plays good basketball. On Saturday, they face Louisville, who has also been unable to buy a Big East win, so one of them will have to pick up a W. Down the stretch, the Hall is on the road at St. John's and DePaul, then back to the Meadowlands for their final home game against Cincinatti, then finishes up the season at Pitt. This is one of the toughest home stretches I can remember for the Pirates. If they can maintain the intensity they have shown over the past two weeks, that tough schedule should serve them well in March, wherever they play.

Best chance for an upset: SHU over West Virginia

Best chance to be upset: ND over Seton Hall

Must win games: Rutgers, S. Florida, ND, DePaul, St. Johns