Seton Hall ousted by Louisville
Louisville's Peyton Siva (3) drives past Seton Hall's Herb Pope (15) in the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball game at the Big East tournament. (March 7, 2012) Credit: AP
Seton Hall is a classic throwback, and not just because its offensive output was a reminder of the peach basket era (22 points at halftime, on 25-percent shooting).
What the Pirates reflected was the original days of postseason college tournaments, when the idea was for every team to try desperately to keep its season going. Unlike the eight or so other Big East teams that are likely to reach the NCAA Tournament, Seton Hall had to win its way in. Some people figured it needed at least two victories at the Garden, and Wednesday night was game No. 2.
Now the Pirates must hope that those people are wrong. Seton Hall chopped away late in a choppy game, but lost, 61-55, to Louisville in the second round of the Big East Tournament. Whether or not Seton Hall (20-12) is a good bet for the Big Dance is in the eye of the beholder, but the certain part is that they can do nothing about it now. Well, almost nothing.
"I'm just going to go to the gym and get better," said Jordan Theodore, who had a game-high 17 points, "and just pray."
Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard never did buy into the win-or-else theory, and he wasn't espousing it after he lost to a 23-9 opponent coached by longtime friend Rick Pitino. "I've always been of the belief that it's the total year. Our total resume is as good as anyone's," Willard said.
He went on to list what he saw as the Pirates' qualifications: 20 wins while playing in a tough conference, having a non-conference schedule ranked 15th-toughest in the nation, three wins in a row on the road. "Yeah, I believe this team deserves to be playing and [have] its name called on Sunday," he said.
Still, it remains to be seen if Seton Hall has done enough to keep the selection committee from focusing on a late six-game losing streak. It was so bad that the coach received two encouraging phone calls from Pitino, who went to St. Dominic in Oyster Bay, where young Willard got his start as a ballboy while his dad, Ralph, was coaching there. Both Willards eventually worked for Pitino, Kevin spending 10 years as a staffer with the Celtics and Louisville.
Louisville, which will play Marquette in the quarterfinal round Thursday night, withstood a second half in which 29 fouls were called. Point guard Peyton Siva led the winners with 14 points.
Pitino was impressed by the losing side. "You're all going to say, 'He loves Kevin Willard like a son,' " the Louisville coach said. "I think Seton Hall is worthy to get in."
