Setonia

Good Gonzo! Hall Tops Johnnies 59-50

2010-02-18T20:24:00.006-05:00

Last night was a night of uncertainties. Question marks if you will. With the Hall's senior captain and (walk-on?) point guard Eugene Harvey (see left) out with a bruised wrist, how would JT handle the pressures of being the primary ball handler? Would Stix's sticks be up for the increase in minutes? Would Ben's lineup that he's been clamoring for finally get time together on the court? Would we respond well to playing at the dreaded Carnesecca Arena...Gonzo's supposed "House of Horrors?"

Well, last night, I think Ben and I found our answer. Doing his best Allen Iverson impression, Jeff "Robblehead" Robinson continued to prove how invaluable he is to our beloved Pirates. When Jeremy Hazell went down with a gash in his shooting hand, we were left to wonder: "who are we going to follow?" We then watched as the mopboys (or men?) "followed (the blood of) Hazell" all over the hardwood, moping up drops Hansel and Gretyl style.

Fortunately, Jeff, like the beast he is, showed he was up to the challenge of leading the Pirates to victory. And, following in his man-child footsteps, was none other than crowd favorite Stixie Mitchell. Like two peas in a pod, Jeff and Stix combined for 31 of Seton Hall's 59 points and 14 of the 35 rebounds. Sounds like we got the right answer after all, Professor G!

Luckily, we were able to come up with some answers last night. Claiming our first BIG EAST road victory was certainly no easy task, especially against Metro rival St. Johns. Now that we passed our first test, how will we fare Saturday against West Virginia? That's the question...hopefully Gonzo can come up with the answer.

Hall Uses "Head" to Beat Depaul

2010-02-15T16:23:00.003-05:00

Seton Hall has been accused of not playing smart basketball this season. Well, we certainly used our head in this one!

Let's start with the racially ambiguous Bobby G bobblehead. Handed out to fans like x-mas presents in February, these must-haves really were quite shocking. Nothing like receiving a box adorned with a blonde-haired coach only to unwrap a figurine of SNL's Obama impersonation. Talk about change we can believe in! (A quick tip... If you pull the string on the back of Gonzo's suit, you can hear the bobblehead mutter "That's right, Fooch" while nodding furiously.)

But that wasn't the only head that got attention on Sunday. A slight modification to the halfcourt hardwood logo increased the size of the Pirate head by a significant magnitude. While a bit over-the-top for my liking, the gigantic Pirate head is a little better than the other proposed alteration... namely, a huge profile of Jeremy's dome marked with an X like a treasure map and the words "Follow Hazell" inscribed on each yellow-brick path.

Amidst it all, there was also some heady play. JRob had a smart game and was very efficient offensively. And even Gonzo used his head when he removed Pope late for foul shooting reasons. He also finally inserted the line-up we've been clamoring for: Theodore, Hazell, Stix, JRob, Pope. It was probably the best two minutes we've played all year. Overall, we rotated well and it was nice to see Fero get consistent minutes.

Well, let's hope we bring our A Brain against St. Johns, because that's a win we absolutely need.

Luck of the Pirates; Hall Wins 90-87

2010-02-12T14:23:00.003-05:00

Last night was a rather unusual night. Ben got stuck at work and had to literally swim his way through brands in order to find the door and I had the distinct pleasure of taking care of my fair lady after a bad spill on the ice yesterday morning (I keep telling her that if she is going to go in for the hip check, she should always wear a helmet...but she just doesnt want to listen). With that being said, there was abolutely zero Setonia coverage at a game that Seton Hall desperately needed.

Except, there was. Thanks in part to a series of texts from Vinman, subliminal messages from Gary Cohen and Wonderboy Popkin, and a well timed Jerry Walker leg extension to trip up Luke Harangody, Setonia was there in full force - represented well throughout the diverse cross-section of fans. And of course, last night's success would not have been possible if it weren't for Mike Lazardis and John McCain, co-founders of the modern day blackberry! Thanks JMac!

So thank you to all those who kept us in the loop and for playing your part in a much needed Seton Hall victory. Oh, and thank you to J'zell for getting hot at the right time and Nunu for showing your senior leadership. And to Gonzo for not getting any technical fouls. And to Tim Abromaitis and Carleton Scott for missing wide open three's at the end of the game...we definitely owe you guys one!

Maybe, after all, it's better to be lucky AND good than just plain old lucky. Now, on to Sunday and the race to see who can be the first in line to get the Bobby Gonzalez bobble head doll...

Out of Sight... Out of Mind

2010-02-10T22:28:00.002-05:00

Dave and I had quite the trip planned to Pittsburgh. We were going to tour abandoned steel factories. Wade in three rivers. Sip Heinz ketchup. But alas, it was not to be. White-out conditions made it impossible to get there.

So, how are we dealing with the thwarted trip? The same way we're dealing with the embarrassing loss to Pitt. We're whiting it out. It never happened. Like a Tower of Learning submerged in a snowbank, it simply doesn't exist.

Okay... let's beat Notre Dame!!

Nova Slap Chops Hall 81-71

2010-02-03T11:43:00.007-05:00

It was a night of infomercials. And what should have been a commercial for Seton Hall's chances to make a late season push for the NCAA tournament turned out to be a dud, reminiscent of the failed 1999 "Just For Feet" Super Bowl commercial. Rather than watching the Budweiser "Respect" commercial - or better yet, Justin Timberlake tearing off Janet Jackson's top - Ben and I were forced to sit through seemingly endless ads for cat hair removal, nose hair trimmers, Snuggies, and slap choppers. Ahh, the life of a Seton Hall basketball fan...

The Pirates travelled to the Pavillion Tuesday night to tackle newly anointed #2 Villa-no-fun. Everyone expected this old school Catholic school rivalry to be a great game; ESPNU brought in its big guns in Len Elmore and Dave O'Brien and Fortune 5,000 companies outbid each other for the highly coveted two minute infomercial slot. And, in typical Seton Hall fashion, the first thirty three minutes of the game were great.

J'zell had an unusually efficient game - nailing down jumpers as proficiently as a Slap Chop slices and dices carrots - and Gonzo even managed get Lil' El and Fero Hall off the bench for some quality playing time. And, in one of the more bizarre plays of the evening, Fero showed that he might have a future in Mens Volleyball after jumping through the roof to spike the basketball out of bounds. Nice kill, Fero! As usual, Keon and JT had outstanding defensive games, combining to more or less shut down Scottie "McBottie" Reynolds and Nova's dangerous guards for most of the game. Despite still struggling offensively, it is nice to see Neon contribute on the defensive side and be as much of a shutdown defender as we have.

However, despite all the lead changes and ties, it always felt like some pieces of the puzzle were missing. His Holy See got into foul trouble early and was a virtual non factor in the first half. Also, JRob and Keon saw more time on the bench than the hardwood in the first half leading Ben and I to wonder if our Holy Trinity had...gasp...transferred!?!? Scratching our collective heads as to where three of our best players were for the first half, Ben and I kept scratching (furiously) as the game wound down and our only offensive threat of the evening was sitting on the bench. Not seeing flagman that evening, had Gonzo chosen to wave the proverbial (blue and) white flag himself!? Was he simply trying to send J'zell a message? Whatever the case may be, our heads are still hurting two days later from all that scratching!

Another game and another disappointing loss, we decided to do the only thing two obsessive fanaticals would do...book the next flight to Pittsburgh! John and Gertrude Peterson wont know what hit them...

Holden Everything! Hall Loses (Innocence)

2010-01-29T17:51:00.002-05:00

Well, JD Salinger is dead. RIP. And lying right next to him, just faintly breathing, is our dream of a postseason berth.

In a way, it's a fitting tribute to one of the most captivating American authors of all time. SHU fans were riding high. We had just beaten Louisville. Just beaten Pitt. Dave and I were excited like little children, giggling in a field of poppies and Cinderella pumpkins.

But, you see, childhood can't last forever. And yesterday was our coming-of-age. With the ball dribbling off Mitchell's left Stick, and tears dribbling from my literal eyes, I watched as my innocence imploded. This loss truly took the "boost" out of us Boosters.

Can we come back? Sure. We match up well against Nova, and an upset isn't out of question. In my post-game FB chat with Keon, I told him I wanted at least 3 blocks against Reynolds. Can it happen? Maybe. But the truth remains: our wide-eyed optimism is gone.

Why did we lose? Too many reasons to mention. Admittedly, give USF credit for making some impossible shots. But, for STARTERS, why did we change ours?? The lineup was finally working, Gonzo! Why mess with a good thing?

Also, JROB was a beast in the first half. Why doesn't he see more time?

And Pope needs more rest -- it's unfathomable to expect him to play so hard for so long. Fero needs more touches!

And our offensive reverted back to its old ways. Out of synch, without much sense of purpose.

Perhaps Holden said it best:

"I don't even know what I was running for - I guess I just felt like it."

Well said, comrade. Well said.

Pirates Pinch Panthers 64-61

2010-01-25T10:22:00.003-05:00

We all knew we could compete. With heartwrenching losses against West Virginia, Syracuse and UConn that was never the question. The question was: could we win? Well, with consecutive home victories over Louisville and 9th ranked Pittsburgh, we are starting to see the answer. In both wins, the Hall controlled the game in convincing fashion, displaying a patience and determination - on both sides of the ball - that we havent seen all that much this year.

Are we the Princeton Tigers of the 1960s? No, nor do we really want to be. Is Gonzo the second coming of Peter Carril? Not exactly. Is Herb Pope a modern day Bill Bradley? Unfortunately not, despite his striking White House similarities. But, over the past few games, Seton Hall has been playing with a newfound sense of conviction and confidence, especially in half court sets - one that would make even Maybrey Forney blush!

What was so surprising, yet so encouraging, about this Seton Hall win was we did it in rather uncharacteristic fashion. With J'Zell picking up his third foul midway through the first half, the team was forced to play without its leading scorer and offensive threat. While the team could have easily folded and played the "blame the refs" game, we were able to share the ball more effectively and the players were allowed to play within themselves rather than simply giving the ball to Jeremy and watching with their mouths wide shut. His Holy See was a force to be reckoned with down in the low post and the combination of JT, Neon Keon, and Eugenius were spectacular. Plain and simple - we beat Pitt at their own game, without one of our best scorers.

This particular victory was especially sweet. Not only did we take down Jamie Dixon's 9th ranked Pittsburgh team. Not only was cult hero "Coach Gonzo" in the hizzy. But yesterday was the annual Seton Hall Booster Club dinner at Gabe Lopez's very own Don Pepes! The paella was delicious and the speakers were great. Below are a few highlights for all those who couldnt make it:

- Coach Gonzo: He always provides great fodder for the blogs, but unfortunately I dont think it would be appropriate to use most of it. He was obviously riding high after the game and was effusive in his praise of the team and the fan support.

- "Foooooooch": Ever the crowd pleaser, he spoke highly of Gonzo and kept referring to the now famous quote about our beloved coach, "He makes coffee nervous."

- Vince and Sal: The behind the scenes guys who put together this great event year in and year out. With two of the biggest wins in the last couple of years coming on the heels of the Booster Club Dinner, you guys might want to think about having the dinner before every home game! I sure wouldn't mind...

- Glen Mosley: He regaled us with stories of his Pirate days under Bill Raftery and keyed us in on the secrets of rebounding. He also mentioned that if asked he would love to help the Pirates become a better rebounding team. Is anyone friends with him on Facebook!?!?

- And last, but definitely not least, the Paella. Simply amazing.

Cardinal Caged! Hall Wins, Naughtily!

2010-01-22T13:51:00.003-05:00

With Naughty by Nature sitting courtside, the Hall won in dramatic fashion last night, sending Pitino back to Louisville with a scarlet "L." Jeff Robinson in particular seemed to feed off the energy of the 90's rap troupe, throwing down a couple absolutely naughty jams that even made Rich Eisen question his hasty departure from SportsCenter.

But the evening belonged to -- you guessed it -- Jordan Theodore. After months of Dave and me petitioning, calling Gonzo at all hours of the night, our coach finally got the message, giving the starting nod to the kid from Englewood. You see, it's not that Harvey is bad at all... He had some great passes last night! But this needs to be Theodore's team. And the time is now. It's the energy he brings, his charisma, his ability to drive at will, his incredible defense. Once he starts finishing consistently, he'll be unstoppable. BY NATURE!

Hazell scored a "free market"-like efficient 25 points, and Keon finally helped himself out of his funk. Score one for Libertarianism and Rugged Individualism! In fact, the entire starting 5 played beautifully... although I think Gonzo was right. We have 6 starters. They're just different than the ones we originally thought. They are:

Theodore
Lawrence
Hazell
Stix
Robinson
Pope

When we play a guard-dominant team that presses like Louisville, Stix should sit. We need the extra ball-handler in Keon.

When we play a post-dominant team like UCONN, Lawrence should sit. We need the added height and rebounding of Stix.

Overall, Gonzo did a job last night with the rotation. We finally played with some cohesion. Still, we have a couple critiques:

- Fero has to play a little more; give Pope some rest and get the kid some PT.

- Don't understand sitting Theodore in the final 2 minutes; you could tell JT didn't want to come out and was surprised that Gonzo was going with Harvey.

- Thought putting Pope back in with more than 4 minutes left was a bit early. Debatable, but I liked how Fero was playing.

Back to the entertaining stuff... here are a few things you might have missed last night:

- The old ref tripping on the sideline. Whoever stuck out an ankle -- so Naughty!

- Big Mel dancing in the huddle during the warm-up song.

- Harvey engaging the ref in a staring contest after Jerry Smith pushed off him. No blinking!!

In conclusion, great win. But Pitt is just as critical...

The "Hall" on Washington; Looking Ahead to Louisville

2010-01-19T16:38:00.007-05:00

After last week's crushing defeat to Georgetown, Dave and I did what any patriotic fans would do. We walked the mall of our nation's capitol, likening each building to a different player.

The Washington Monument -- Jeremy Hazell

At the center of it all, this one gets the most attention. Visible for miles, old Washington can be seen for a range that extends beyond even the arc of the Beltway. But might it also be the most one-dimensional??

The Jefferson Memorial -- Jeff Robinson

Jefferson Robinson, or JROB JR, is as much a renaissance man as he is beast. Even with only a few games under his Heavyweight belt, JROB has proven he can shoot, drive, post up, rebound, defend, pass, block -- a little bit of everything. And his breakaway dunks are enough to topple even Monticello.

The Lincoln Memorial -- Jordan Theodore

In a time of great crisis, Lincoln found a way to bring the union together. Well, as our own team confronts the constant threat of secession, Jordan is the guy to help us persevere and stick together. He's a strong leader, and his arms are more chiseled than Abe's chin.

Capitol Building -- Eugene Harvey

As our senior captain, Nunu gets a lot of attention. But we're just not sure how much is actually getting done. Some moments of brilliance mixed in with pork-barrel decision-making... Looks like Gonzo may be starting a filibuster.

The Smithsonian -- John Garcia / Mel Oliver

Gotta love the size, but it's a little overwhelming. Dave and I got lost in the prehistoric fish section for 3 hours! Would like to see this museum slim down a little and focus on more nimble exhibits.

WWII Memorial -- Keon Lawrence

This memorial is new to the mall, and really incredible, but it just doesn't fit in quite yet. Still, there's a ton of potential here, and in time it will be a critical piece.

The White House -- Herb Pope

Everything important begins and ends here. It's what makes the whole system run -- or not run. In these challenging times, we need leadership by example.

Columns of the Fed Building -- Stix's Legs

Skinny and narrow, these things literally support the weight of the tumbling economy. Tons of pressure without much thanks, Stix is willing to put this team on his back.

...

Okay, enough political chatter! Let's think about Louisville, shall we?

All eyes will be centered on -- you guessed it -- Mr. Rainmaker Hazell. It was his scoring outburst two years ago that defeated Pitino's Cardinals and thrust Hazell into the spotlight of YouTube. (Ahem... you're welcome.)

This game comes at a fascinating time for Jeremy. He'll no doubt be eager to put big numbers in front of a national audience against a team he owned last time at the Rock. On the other hand, he's been criticized for taking too many shots during the Hall's recent freefall. How will he respond? Will Gonzo bench him for such a Cardinal sin??

We will wait and see. In the meantime, if I may, this is the line-up I want to start. Everyone has an opinion; here's mine:

Theodore (Lincoln)
Hazell (Washington)
Stix (Fed Columns)
Robinson (Jefferson)
Pope (White House)

Hall Gets Mall-Ed, ID'd in Washington

2010-01-17T17:38:00.010-05:00

When the schedule came out last fall, Ben and I used our favorite Seton Hall magnet to pin it on our then condiment-overloaded-yet-otherwise-empty refrigerator and circled the January 14th matchup with Georgetown. With friends, family, and a bit of history awaiting, two words came to mind: Business Trip. Before long, our bags were packed and we were awaiting our bus that would literally bolt us down to our nation's capital to do exactly that...to take care of business.

Well, let's just say our business plans got a little derailed. With friends and family in the stands - even the YouTube sensation "Coach Gonzo" managed to sneak into the Verizon Center seemingly unnoticed - Ben and I were preparing ourselves for another thrilling and emotionally draining basketball game. Unfortunately, the Hall forget to show up, exhibiting the worst effort we've seen all year. Lacking any sense of identity and direction, we acted more like a bunch of Fat Cat politicians in the middle of a filibuster, making the Hoyas out to be a team full of James Carvilles.

Normally, this is where we would try to point out a few positives like Hazell making it

rain or Herb seeing double-double. Maybe Keon finally had his breakout game or Stickie got his groove back. However, Thursday night's fiasco left us speechless...a first for a bunch of Fat Cat politicos. There was, however, one revelation that came out of the Georgetown game: we are a team that lacks an identity.

For years, Seton Hall teams have been out sized, outnumbered, and often out-talented. What we lacked in size and talent, we often made up for in heart and determination. We played a frenetic style of basketball that at times helped make up for our players playing out of position. Expectations were low, and when we occasionally exceeded them all was right in the world. We played with our backs against the wall and we loved every second of it. That was our identity.

Now, with this year being now, expectations were high and the pieces were seemingly in place for what could have been a successful season. Three transfers, improved returning players, and an emboldened head coach helped set the bar high for this year. Talk of the NCAA tournament was rampant and we were getting publicity from a myriad of sporting news outlets.

However, we forgot one thing. We are Seton Hall. A team that thrives when it is playing with its back against the wall and everyone has counted it out. A team that relies on creating chaos rather than relying on pure talent. The recent game against Georgetown featured a team we had not seen before. One that became complacent with its supposed talent level and forgot how to fight. One that lacked an identity.

Hopefully next Thursday the fight will be back.

Inman Continues; Use of Deer Metaphor!

2010-01-12T11:16:00.001-05:00

Jr Inman responds to critics:

Ok so it is obvious that many who read my notes feel as they need to respond on the message board with many negative comments. Let me clear up a couple of grey areas...

1. My Grammer. Facebook is a social website designed to enable people to communicate through informal means. Many readers insult my intellect stating that there might have been some errors that need correction. Well, I'm sorry I don't have a portable spell checker to travel with me and correct my vocabulary everytime I want to write a note down. Besides, how many CEO's in corporations even write there own documents. In fact, most corporate buisnesses have secretary's that review each and every document to make sure they're absolutely no mistakes. Besides, how many basketball players do you know of that can sit down and write any type of document without calling for the help of a tutor, girlfriend, or coach to do it for them.

2. Me being a "Thug". Wow when i read this one i couldn't stop laughing. I have never been called a thug but just so all of you know I come from an upper middle class neigboorhood in upstate New York. I wake up in the morning to the sound of birds chirping, and deer feasting from the plants in my mother's front yard. Does this imagery sound the least bit of the "Thug Life" I don't think so. If some of you were referring to how I say certain things let me educate you. I took a class my senior year at Rutgers called "Intercultural Communication". During this coarse we learned many things. One of the things that was very interesting to me was the topic of "Black English Vernacular". This phrase simply means that historically, in the African American household we are socialized to learn the English language alittle different than the traditional "American English" or "Old English". These differences do not mean that us African Americans are ignorant. It's simply a different form of how we communicate with each other. In today's society, America has labeled this form of english as "Ebonics". I do no subscribe to the use of this language as a formal way of communicating however, I do feel that it is important to understand the principles of our heritage.

3. My Time at RU... I Love Rutgers. I bleed scarlet. During my time at Rutgers I certaintly was no angel. I did many things that I am proud of as well as things that I am not. I am in know way, shape, or form blaming anyone for how my career turned out at Rutgers. Sometimes I think maybe I should have transfered when Coach Waters left. For those of you who are wondering why I didn't I will let you know. First of all, my parent's always told me once you start something you must finish. After I signed my letter of intent, i felt obligated to fullfill my contract. When Coach Waters was dismissed I told myself that know matter how tough things got, that I would finish. I wanted to earn my degree from an academically prostegious University. My Academics were always important to me. My Grandfather was a factory worker for over 25 years. he came home everyday smelling like oil and machinery. When my father tells me of his stories it motivates me everyday to use what God gave me which is a gift of knowledge and understanding. This is what motivated me to stay at Rutgers even after it was announced that Gary Waters would not be returing the following year. Even though, we did not have winning seasons my sophmore, junior and senior year i still overall enjoyed my experience. I took Lance Thomas around on his official visit at Rutgers. He loved the school, loved the players on the team. Among other reasons, his main reason for no coming to Rutgers was because his advisors did no like the way the Rutgers Administration handled the discharge of Gary Waters. Furthermore, I ran into Jeff Robinson (top 50 player in the nation out of highschool) in the back of the Rac one day and he two told me himself that he did no come to Rutgers because they fired Gary Waters. Eugene Harvey who is at Seton Hall, probably would have came to Rutgers if his fellow teammate Lance would have came. They visited RU together. Imagine a team featuring, Anthony Farmer,Mike Rosario, Jaron Griffin, Jeff Robinson, Eugene Harvey, Lance Thomas, Hamade(Forgive my spelling H), and myself, with the support of a few role players like Pat Jackson and so on. With an experienced Coach like Coach Waters directing our path I think we can all agree that we would have been an NCAA competitor.

3. My Suspension. Ok I will say it once more and once more only. I was suspended from competition for failing a drug test my Junior year at Rutgers. I used Marijuana to help me focus on my studies as well as block out all the negativity that was coming in from the media and other sources. I would sometimes study for hours after practice in my room and I felt as if weed helped me concentrate. This is no justification for my actions. It is simply an explanation. I am man enough to admit that I did the wrong thing so for that I am not angry that I was suspended. What anger's me was the fact and I quote from Fred Hill Himself that "9 others on my team failed at least 1 drug test that year". I will never call out names because the intention of this is not to embaress anybody. Does that seem fair to you? That out of 9 people, only two were accounted for (Jaron Griffin, and Jr Inman). If you have rules in place, than everyone should be accounted for not some. That is what made me the most salty.

4. Coach Fred Hill.
he is recieving a lot of pressure right now so i will take it easy on him. For the most part, his lack of success is not his fault. He was placed in a position to do something that he is incapable of doing. Someone tell me the last time you saw a rookie coach take over a program in the best conference in the country and succeed. that stuff does not happen. When your going up against the best coaches in the country every night, eventually experience and strategy start to wear you down. The criticism comes in with his lofty expectations he placed on himself and the program. i remember numerous times of Coach Hill speaking about winning a Big East Championship. This is when the problem arises. When you say those type of things publically people start to invision excactly what you say. When things don't turn out the way people think they should, than they start to critique. If Coach Hill would not have put hope in peoples eyes that he could be the person to turn the program around, than he wouldn't have had the extra pressure on him.

5. Coach Waters Vs. Coach Hill

Coach Waters was a stickler. He use to joke on his players and many times he would make you feel really small. That was just his style. On the other hand, he was a motivator and a God Fearing Man. When he was speaking to you, you really felt that he wanted the best for you. Ok so maybe we were not a top 25 team in the country during his reign but we were on our way.Give him an extra year or two and I promise you we would be looking at a different representation of Rutger's Men's basketball.

Coach Hill is a great recruiter cause he is a great bullshitter. He is extremely good at swindling his words to convince you that what he's saying is right. This will get player's there but after that everything else is down hill. He does not build relationships with his players off the court nor does he even try to. Ask any of the players that are currently playing for him what they think about there coach off the court. They will tell you, they don't even really know him. Coach Waters Coached me for 1 year, Coach Hill 3 years and I know far more things about Coach Waters Personality and life outside of basketball than I do Hill.

Well I gotta go I have a game in a few hours so to all my reviewers good and bad I love you. remember Negative Publicity is still publicity. Feel free to keep coming at me with your deplore comments on the RU Message Board.

With Peace, Love, and happiness,
Jr Inman

Inman Blasts Freddie!!!

2010-01-11T10:38:00.003-05:00

Allegedly, JR Inman -- former basketball player at RU -- posted this to his Facebook account. Cannot verify the source, but this is too good not to post. Apologies for any derogatory language here... don't jump-shoot the messenger. Enjoy!!

Ok people, so this is about to be the most controversial Note you've ever read. Everyone who knows me or anything about Rutgers Basketball knows that Me and the current Head Coach Fred Hill have our differences. What you guys don't know is just how much of a scum bag this guy really is and guess who's about to air his punk ass out. Me.3 years ago Fred Hill stole the Head Coaching Job from the Coach who recruited me to Rutgers Gary Waters. Since then the program has been in complete turmoil. Among many excuses Hill has been using to justify his lack of success, the biggest one was "Jr Inman". He black balled me from the NBA as he told General managers and coaches that I was a cancer and the focal point of all our negativity. Furthermore, He used my name as a persuasive recruiting mechanism to recruit players to come here. Johnathan Mitchel told me himself that when he transfered into Rutgers the coaches told him that I was a problem Child and that when I left things would be so much better. They gassed him up into believing that he was going to replace me(I averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds and 1 block a game for two years straight, Mitchel is averaging 10 points and 4 rebounds you do the math). I felt ultimately disrespected for many reasons. First off, out of everyone that was on the team at the time I was the most accomplished student athlete. (Freshman All-American, 1,000 point scorer, top 10 RU history in Block Shots and top 25 in rebounds). Scholastically, I graduated with a 2.7 GPA and majored in communications without recieving help from any boosters or tutors doing my work for me. Mr. Hill would constantly mother f*** me to death at practice. It became a point where I did no even want to go to practice anymore.My Junior year i was averaging 17 pointsd and 9 rebounds a game and on my way to earning first big east honors. After the Manhatten game that year I posted 16 points and 10 rebounds during that contest. A few days later he benched me saying that I don't rebound enough, and I break up the offense. Mind you at the time i was top 5 in the best conference in the country in rebounding. So i came of the bench for the rest of my junior year.Despite the hateration from this asswhole, i still got invited to enter the NBA draft my junior year in college. Ned Cohen was the name of the gentlemen who called my cellphone gaurrenting me that I would be a second round pick. I told Mr. Cohen that I wanted to come back for my senior year and earn my degree. Not knowing just how much of an asswhole Fred was going to be I came back my senior year. Coming off the bench every single game my senior year I still managed to score my 1,000th point against Marquette on January 2,2009.Some of you may be wondering why Fred did this to me. Well to his defense, I was apart the aftermath of Coach Gary Waters recruiting class the clast class that came to RU before he was constructively Discharged. When Fred got the Job he vowed to athletic Director Bob Mulcachy that as soon as FIG (Anthony Farmer, Jr Inman, and jaron Griffin) is gone he will turn the program around and win a Big East Championchip. So let's fast foraward into the Present.Since Fred (not coach hill but fred is his name) took over the job he has lost 3 times as many games as he has won. Five of his recruits have transfered (Earl Pettis, justin Softman, Greg Ech, Corey Chandler, and Christian Morris) and the ones that are currently thier want out (trust me). I feel bad for my fellow teammates that are still thier cause it is about to get really ugly.I don't want to put all of Fred's buisness out thier. I'm sure youll read about it in the Newspapers within the next couple of weeks but I just want the public to know one thing. "It took 3 years for Fred Hill to cook his steak of turmoil but the check for the dinner is coming due". As for me, I'm still Jr. Ballin in Japan right now in my own apartment with a balcany and a bachelors degree to fall back on. Only the strong survive and this one man Fred Hill has taught me more about life than you'll ever know. I hope he see's this post as will as that ass kisser Coach Jim Car.Overall I love my program. Coach Carter stay up and keep the faith. You will rise through all of this Bullshit. Coach Savino please leave. We bumped heads alittle bit but i always respected you at the end of the day. Coach Dyer please get a life. Stop trying to act black when you have blond hair and blue eyes. Can yall believe this fool actually goes around telling people he's black. OMG. we took a team trip to the Basketball Hall of Fame and this dick head was shooting around with a backwards Cap on his head. this grown as 40 year old man didn't even have the decency to take his hat off in a place that he couldn't even get a job being a hallway monitor in. He is Fred's Ass Kisser, well one of them in case yall are wondering who i'm referring two.I know yall may think i'm buggin or over stepping bounderies but after all I have been through at Rutgers all I can say is to all the Fred Hill supporters and anti Jr Inman credicts that bashed me for 3 years and nearly ruined my basketball Careeer. F*** YOU!!!!karma is a bitch and if my memory serves me correct Johnathan Mitchel had a interview on media day and was talking down the class that I came in with that consisted of me, jaron, and Ant. Mitch I'm no tmad at your comments you made against me griff and ant, but what i am mad at is that you let Freddy brainwash you into really thinking I was the problem. Don't think i'm talkin bad about you but all i'm saying is never let anyone turn you against those that rode witchu from the jump. I remember when you had your knee surgery. Who was thier to help you and cook you some food when we were in Rockoff. Me, not Freddy, not Jimmy, none of them. Mike Rosario is one of the teammates I hung out with the most at RU. Mah dude, do yourself a favor and continue to put up them numbers and at the end of the season either transfer or enter the draft.Fred can't do anything but hold you back. If anyone has a problem with this post you can see me. I aint never scared. I got the support of the Que Dogs, mah niggaz from Rocktown Enterprise, my family, my church family, and a bunch of die hard fans that love me. I wish Fred would call my cellphone talkin shit. If I was 30 years older, 10 inches shorter and a fag, I would go to the rac right now and punch Fred Right in his face.In closing, I want to thank all who are rady this note. To some it is an eye opener, to others it a document that is answering alot of unanswered questions. Initially I wanted to take Fred to court and sue for defamation of charecter. My senior year in college I took an employment in law class and we learned about that. During class I would sit there mesmorized realizing that everything we learned in class I have experienced first hand thanks to your boy Freddy. My close friends know how much I dreaded coming from practice because of Fred Hill. He literally turned me into a psycopathic disfunctional human being for my entire senior season. Long after I have retired I will always remember Fred Hill the Gift and the Curse. A gift because he opened my eyes to the real world and just how cruel it is. This prepared me to facfe anything. A curse because if it wasn't for him I would probably be helping the Knicks out right now cause God Damn their Bad. Please anyone who reads this feel free to comment.‬

Born Premature; Hazell Owns Lance

2010-01-10T14:08:00.003-05:00

With Dave off skiing the Colorado slopes with his lady love (soooo PAC 10!!) the burden falls on me alone this week to sum up last night's battle with Cincy. In short, it was a great game. Along with my trusty father filling in for my intrepid partner, we watched as the Hall finally came together to get a critical W in the Big East. Chest bump, JPurk Sr!!

There were a number of memorable offensive plays last night. After Stanley "The Manly" Robinson threw down thunderous alleyoops against us last week, the Hall flexed our own dunking muscle yesterday, with both Fero and Hazell pulling off some sweet fastbreak jams!! The Hazell dunk was particularly sweet, as Jeremy's feet got tangled up with a Cinci player's face. You could literally hear the Frenchmen in the audience shudder, recalling terrifying memories of Frederic Weis!!

Even more stunning, we executed offensively at the free throw line. Herb was cool as a cucumber, knocking down a clutch 1 and 1, and Jeff Robinson also hit some critical charity shots late. Nice to see the Beast getting fed.

But the best plays of the night came on the defensive end. With Adam Zagoria literally bricking his Wesleyan education to change Lance's every diaper during his recruitment, Jeremy Hazell reminded everyone why he's maybe even more talented. Last night, Hazell pretty much owned Lance, not just because he nailed some sick 3's in Lance's grill, but he prevented Lance from getting into a rhythm, or should I say, N Sync. In the second half, Lance played a little better, but it was great to see Hazell focus and win the defensive battle. A win for Backstreet!

Also, another great defensive effort from, you guessed it, Mr. Theodore. Vaughn had been literally raining down 3's like his long-lost cousin Jacques from Kansas when all of a sudden Jordan enters the game and contests his every shot. You just can't say enough about how Jordan impacted that game yesterday. Sorry, guys, don't want to stir the pot... but he sure looks like a starter to me.

Okay, well it's time to get packing! After Dave returns from his Chase Budinger-esque slalom vacation, we're heading down to DC for the Gtown game and a little Smithsonian gallivanting!!

Transition D-Isaster; Hall Loses 71-63

2010-01-07T10:38:00.005-05:00

Another game, another harrowing oh-so-close Seton Hall loss. The Pirates navigated the Appalachian Trail last night - only making a quick pit stop at Mohegan Sun - and journeyed their way through UConn territory, only to come up short once again, losing 71-63. Like the weary, and probably exhausted, explorer Ponce de Leon, we are still looking for our first victory to get us over the hump, still looking for that proverbial Fountain of Youth. Were we close to finding the fountain? You betcha. Heck, Ben and I even felt a few splashes last night as we watched in agony as our beloved Pirates fall short yet again.

However, all was not (Paradise) lost. His Holy See had yet another monster game on the boards, grabbing rebounds left and right and JT went toe-to-toe with "Friend 4 Life" UConn point guard Kemba Walker. On a side note - and no disrespect to Jordan - but don't you think he could get a little more of a "BIG EAST" tattoo than that? It sounds like something my little sister would get with her 14 year old BFFs from high school. LOL.

But the real star of the evening was Jeff Robinson. Living up to his father's - and Ben's - nickname, JRob proved to all who watched why he could easily become the Beast of the East. Pulling down 9 rebounds - including 4 offensive boards - and putting up 17 points on 60% shooting, Jeff clearly had his best game as a Pirate. He even went 3-4 from the line! So while JRob is becoming the player we knew he could be and Pope continues to be a force to be reckoned with, the last of the treacherous trio to fully live up to expectations has been Neon Keon. Although he got the start last night, "Sports Center" still seems like the 3:00am rerun rather than 11:00pm primetime showing. It's like he's still on Hannah Storm's level while we all want him to be side by side with Scott Van Pelt and Kenny Maine.

However, not all the blame can fall solely on George Bodenheimer. Although UConn is indeed a talented and quick team, we made them look like Jeff Gordon at the Daytona 500 as we simply watched UConn run up and down the floor scoring transition baskets at will. Another, albeit unusual, area of weakness for us last night was our inability to get to the foul line. All season long we have been complaining about our awful free throw shooting. Well, for the first time tonight, we simply could not get to the line enough! Brother John shot 2-2, JRob was 3-4, yet Jordan, Keon, Harvey, and Jeremy combined to go 1-2 from the line. On the opposite side of the court, Dyson and Walker combined to shoot 11-14.

Saturday presents another opportunity for us to get over the hump against a talented Cincinnati team. And once we do, Ben and I will be jumping headfirst into that fountain.

No Cancun Do; Ha(ze)ll Loses Again

2010-01-05T17:29:00.003-05:00

Dave and I spent a long time debating what to write after the Va Tech debacle. At first, we wanted to pound the keyboard with a series of expletives. Then, we thought something more Zen-like would be better. Something to make sure Kwillett and the rest of the Boosters keep breathing. But after all that, we decided on something far more honest: straight-up literary realism. (Um... thank you, Borges.)

We're just not a good team yet. Is it the end of the world? No. But it does get a little disheartening to watch a team to which you've dedicated practically your entire life keep coming up short. Strike that. We're not yet a team. We're not even the Hall. We're Ha(ze)ll. A one-man show masquerading as a half-court set with our Eyes Wide Shut on defense.

Heck, should we blame Jeremy? No, not really. The guy makes unbelievable shots, and it's a pleasure to watch him hang in the air on his drives. What an athlete! He deserves our praise. And I actually don't think he's a selfish player. I just think others are too afraid to assert themselves, particularly late in games, and we don't have plays that effectively get them involved or rightly utilize their strengths. The result? The Nets led by Sam Cassell.

Is Gonzo coaching well? Honestly, no. But that's never why we liked him. He's a fiery, passionate, plain-old gonzo... well, Gonzo. He won't change being who he is now. Still, he needs to continue learning and improving just as his players must.

Listen: Dave and I fell in love with Seton Hall as a matter of choice. We didn't attend the school. We're not even Catholic! (Although technically, I'm half.) We chose to devote ourselves to the Hall because we love an underdog with heart. When a guy like Stix, who was barely recruited, takes a charge against Louisville. When a guy like Pope, who's faced more adversity than anyone should, rebounds from a tough upbringing by grabbing every opportunity in sight. And gets dirty doing it. It's about Jordan Theodore, one of the smaller guys in the Biggest of conferences, who makes up for it by working out in the gym till the lights turn off and the janitors need him out so they can sanitize the place with Purel.

It's about a bunch of guys working together because they can't do it alone. Sweating hard. Playing tough. Having fun.

That's the team we love. That's the Hall. It's not Ha(ze)ll.

UCONN on Wed.

Juice Goes Sour; Hall Loses 80-73

2009-12-30T09:43:00.009-05:00

Well, we should have known it was going to be a tough night when after literally sprinting to the Prudential Center, security officials kept Ben and me waiting outside in the all too Syracuse like weather conditions before letting the herds of t-shirt hungry fans into the building. We definitely thought we were in for it when it turned out that Little Miss Piggins was one of our three esteemed referees for the evening. Have I mentioned yet the dozens of family members and friends - so called Setonia supporters - turning against us to root for their "favorite team"? And I don't even want to think about the omen that was sent from above when Jerry Walker's plea to the Pirate fans was suddenly cut off because of technical difficulties. With seemingly thousands of soon-to-be unemployed Syracuse students descending upon the Prudential Dome, err Center, the Hall was in for one tough evening.

However, for one magical evening, it seemed like The Hall would finally be able to climb the never ending pile of obstacles and adversity in its way and claim its first BIG EAST victory. Or at least it seemed that way. It seemed that way when Joe from Montclair won the Shot Clock Challenge and a whopping $500 to the Seton Hall University Bookstore (Joe, you might want to check in with Kwillet - official school Postmaster - to see how to wisely spend all that money...be careful, they screw you on the shipping charges!). It sure seemed that way when Flagman tied a school record, making eight ovular laps around an increasingly injury ridden cheerleader squad. And oh, by the way, we had a 12 point lead at one point in the first half.

Well, for all you newcomers to the blog, welcome to the life of a Seton Hall Pirate basketball fan. While at times we were able to make Syracuse's famed 2-3 zone look like a block of Emmental, there were just as many times where our own bigs' hands resembled the Swiss product. And for all the "trans-fusion" that took place - did anyone else see the feed by Keon to Pope who threw down a thunderous dunk over, yep, you guessed it, JRob!?!? - we got hosed on a critical 10 second violation against Syracuse that wasn't called. So even though we went up 12 points towards the end of the first half, we were not able to squeeze that juice machine hard enough, allowing the Orangemen to close the half on a 14-2 run.

For every Keon pass to a cutting Hazell under the basket, just as many balls seemed to slip out of the grasp of Pope and Garcia, resulting in empty possessions and missed opportunities. Although Keon played arguably his best came since coming back from his suspension (5 pts, 5 rbs, 4 asts, and 4 steals) and Pope returned to seeing double-double, if it were not for another Herculean effort by Hazell (38 points, 6-15 from 3pt), we would have lost by 20 points....at least.

So, as the Hall prepares to take its battle south of the border to Cancun, Mexico, all we can do at Setonia is wish for one thing this New Year's...a Seton Hall Victory!! Oh, and fellas, bring me back a Senor Frogs wristband!

Happy New Year's!

To Pulp or Not to Pulp; SHU Preps for Cuse

2009-12-29T13:01:00.004-05:00

After dropping home games to Temple and WVU, Seton Hall is ready to take on tonight the nation's #5 best team: the Syracuse Orangemen.

Now, you might be asking yourself, how will we ever defeat the 'Cuse? Will it be our tenacious half-court defense? Wrong. Perhaps our FEROcious rebounding? Incorrect. Rather, we plan to beat them with our PRESS. Or, more precisely, our PRESS AND TWIST.

With walk-on Matt "Juice" Cajuste twiddling his citrusy mitts, we intend to grab Syracuse by their Beyonce-esque skin-fitting jerseys and juice the living crap out of them. How do I know this? SHU is giving away "Juice the Cuse" t-shirts to the first fans to arrive (i.e. Dave and myself).

Now, in all seriousness, I really do think the key to victory will be the pressure our guards can apply. Yet again, our advantage in this game is at the guard position, as it will be against most teams we face. If Harvey, Theodore, Hazell (& Gatling?!?!?) can turn over this inexperienced Syracuse backcourt, we just might have a chance. With just a little luck, and some serious torque of the wrist, we'll turn Scoop Jardine into Smush Parker.

And just in case you don't think this game is personal, remember that last year we almost came to blows with Syracuse in Madison Square Garden. Remember also that my college roommate is from Fayetteville (a suburb of Syracuse, if Syracuse can even be called an urb) and my cousin's husband went to Syracuse Law. Quick question, Jesse: While your command of our nation's justice system is no doubt formidable, was it worth freezing your oranges off for 3 years??

Okay, gotta run. It's after 1 pm, and Dave and I need to get those shirts... JUICE THE CUSE

Hall & Hazell Trigger Happy; Force OT against WVU

2009-12-27T18:30:00.005-05:00

When you drive to West Virginia, it seems like everyone and their mother has a gun. Nothing is more startling in fact than watching a basketball game in their campus arena when suddenly the Mountaineer mascot fires an actual civil-war musket in what has to be one of the most authoritative "SHOTGUN" calls of all time.

In other words, WVU knows a little bit about firepower. Still, I don't think they could've anticipated what SHU delivered yesterday.

Dave and I stood there, our jaws slack with awe and the memory of wisdom tooth extraction, as the Hall shot rounds and rounds of shots. True, the vast majority missed the mark. Especially our free throw shooting! Yes, Pope let loose round after round of blanks (1 of 10) and even Theodore and Harvey missed key opportunities at the stripe.

Even the SHU basketball operations team seemed to be misfiring. While it was clear the university was pumped to have CBS in attendance, and put forth quite an effort (e.g. balloon animal maker, blue & white pompoms) there were definitely some pre-game jitters. For example, there was a serious lane violation on the national anthem singer who started belting out "O Say Can You See" before the WVU team was even in sight. And while the CBS sports banners were quite aesthetically charming, did we have to present WVU's colors so prominently in our own building?? Lastly, could the mop guy please be a little more proactive?? Herb Pope was completing his 6th Scott Hamilton death spiral before we finally toweled up the sweat stains on the hardwood.

The refs also blew a couple big calls. Chief among them?? Cam Thoroughman camped out Mountaineer style in the paint for about 7 seconds on one possession. And the charge call on Jeff Robinson made my blood boil!!

Okay, those are the negatives. Here's the plus side: yesterday's game was one of the most exciting, most classic Seton Hall performances I've ever witnessed. Hazell was magical, and looked about as good as anyone can who shoots 4 of 19 from deep. He drove to the rim, hung in the air, and showed a national audience what makes him so special. Move aside Katie Couric!!

Another positive: Ferro Hall. If you listened closely, you could actually hear the Southern screams of joy from Tennessee as the freshman found himself in the game at the most pivotal moments. He even had a monster dunk in the last couple minutes of the game. Ummm.... MINT JULEP!!

Also, JROB. This guy is for real. Threw down some nasty dunks, and rebounds in traffic better than anyone.

Harvey did some great things too. A number of key layups and beautiful passes. That backdoor feed to Hazell was brilliant... just mishandled.

Bobby also coached a pretty good game I thought. Yeah, we probably should have fouled earlier on a couple possessions, and our offense looked a little cavalier at some critical points. But overall, we substituted very well, and I loved how involved Jamel and Ferro were in the offense. Our guys gave a superhuman effort against a very talented WVU squad. If we play that hard against the rest of the Big East, we should coast into the tournament.

Well, time to reload, because next we face the Orangemen. And I'll tell you one thing: Dave and I are definitely snagging some of those "Juice the Cuse" t-shirts.

Hall Victorious In Battle 94-56; Armed to Attack WVU

2009-12-24T12:28:00.002-05:00

Is it wrong that Ben and I felt a twinge of remorse as we watched our beloved Pirates squash Navy? I mean, after all, they do protect our fair shores, and SHU isn't that far from the Atlantic. Anyway, after taking a day of mourning to reflect on the loss of the Midshipmen, we decided it was OK to move full steam ahead and continue the insurgency against West Virginia. With Drill Seargent Gonzo - and trusty Captain1111 - at the helm, Seton Hall will roll into Saturday's critical matchup against West Virginia with all the ammo necessary...and hopefully a few bullet proof vests as well.

Now Ben and I have visited Morgantown. We've seen this WVU team up close and personal. And we've also hung out with Bob Huggins at the Morgantown Waterfront Hotel bar on the night before game day, securing his autograph on the back of our electronic room key. Thank God for Sharpies! But here's the point: this WVU team is good. They rebound at all positions and they're a good passing team.

For us to vanquish this squad, we'll depend heavily on our fastest fleet, i.e. Eugene, Theodore and Keon. Truck Bryant is good, but he doesn't scare us as much as Butler, Ebanks and Smith, who had his best game ever yesterday against Ole Miss. If we can distribute the ball from the point position, win the turnover battle, and penetrate from the corners, we just might make this one interesting. And of course, Herb will need to play his perfect game.

The question will be, can our players handle the big stage? CBS couldn't spell SHU with a Bob Huggins sharpie, so you can bet the announcers won't know Mel from Darnell. Our guys need to come out with that warrior spirit... they can't be tight.

Let's just call this one Operation Mountaineer.

Hall Loses in "Perfect Storm"

2009-12-20T10:28:00.002-05:00

Sure, Seton Hall had been perfect all season. But who had we beaten? Saturday's game against Temple would prove our first big test.

With tri-state meteorologists calling for white out conditions, Dave and I put our faith in NJ transit and rode into the Rock. Unfortunately, last night's weather was even worse than predicted.

It really was the perfect storm. With the debut of not one, but both of our prized transfers, Keon and JRob, we fans found ourselves cheering for a different team last night. Like a squall along the Eastern seaboard, it was easy to get disoriented as some of the typical central figures (Garcia, Stix, Theodore) seemed more like third-party electoral candidates, which is to say, not really important.

I had anticipated Keon and JRob would be nervous in their first game back. For the most part, they weren't. Keon flexed his mid-range game nicely and looked very steady in his jersey and out of the white Roger Rabbit suit. JRob forced a little bit offensively, but his athleticism was actually jaw-dropping, playing above the rim on a number of occasions.

No, our transfers weren't nervous. Our other guys, however, were. Theodore in particular played as if he was trying to prove he was still relevant with the new blizzard of talent. Ironically, it had the opposite effect, as he had a truly horrific stat line (0 of 3 from the field, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers, 0 assists). He also took a very bad shot in a critical situation -- down 3 with the ball, and Theodore doing his best Stevie Wonder rendition of "Let's Go Pirates" on the jumbotron, JT pressed A and B on his Xbox controller at the same time to result in an out-of-control 360 banker that was about the emptiest possession you could have.

Listen, I love JT and all our players. I don't want to be negative. But the truth is, one of the greatest aspects of our play to date has been our unselfishness and making the extra pass. Last night, there was none of that. JT has a 3-on-1 and gets called for an offensive foul? You gotta give that up, my man! Guys were trying to create by themselves (ineffectively) and generally looked threatened by the emergence of our two new snowcaps.

Now, is Temple good? Hard to say. I fear this loss will look worse in March than it does now. But by March, the snow will have melted and NJ transit will have no excuse to run 75 minutes behind schedule.

Pope's Resurrection

2009-12-14T16:32:00.004-05:00

Every once in a while, someone comes along who can capture Seton Hall basketball just slightly better than Ben and I can. This is one of those times.

"Pope's Resurrection," by Alejandro Danois

Hall Marches All Over VMI; Wins 134-107

2009-12-12T15:30:00.004-05:00

The weather reporters called for a cold, wintry afternoon. Well, how wrong they were. Seton Hall was hotter than ever and Lil' Mel and Hazell made it rain as they scored 40 and 33 points respectively, accounting for more than half of Seton Hall's 134 points.

Seton Hall exploded offensively, scoring the most points in school history. JJax also set a new school record for 3 pointers made, shooting an unconscionable 12 of 15 from deep. His Holiness recorded his fifth straight double-double, Big Mel scored eight of the softest points imaginable for a 400 pound man, and Sticky-Icky twirled in 3-Stixies around his defenders en route to 18 points.

On the other hand, freshman phenom Fero continued his athletic, yet somewhat spastic play, but might be developing a dangerous case of Mike Davis-itis as he struggles to control the basketball at times. And Gonzo showed that he has still not perfected his secret sign language to the players as he was seen practicing a series of odd, baby-like hand gestures to the crowd. If I understood him correctly, he was saying something to the effect of give the ball to Jeremy and Jamel and let the m shoot. Smart play calling, Bobby!

All in Hall, it was a rather exciting and memorable afternoon. We came out with the firepower of the Maccabee army, and continued shooting until the last missed three by Fero Hall. Just imagine how many points we would have scored with Keon and JRob in the game? I guess we'll just have to wait until next week to find out...

Hall Clenches Jaw; Laughs UMASS off the Court

2009-12-08T12:53:00.005-05:00

Offense has always been the Gonzo specialty. But last night, SHU gritted its teeth and played strong defense, rendering the Minutemen nothing more than a passing reference in a Missy Elliott jam.

But before the Hall clamped down, the night began with one of the best open-mouth performances I've ever heard. Dave and I could not believe it -- that girl who sung the anthem should belt it out every game. In fact, it was sung so beautifully, I nearly forgot the excruciating pain of having had my wisdom tooth extracted just a few hours before. Bring on the Gause pad!

Still, while the musical talent was lovely, the tap dance portion was sublime. Derek Kellogg, the UMASS head coach, did his best impression of Michael Scott meets Savion Glover, as he awkwardly stomped around the court until he literally slipped in a puddle of his own soggy Frosted Flakes. By comparison, Gonzo was calm, cool and collected.

But that didn't stop Little Miss Higgins from imposing his will on the game. Handing out technical fouls like lollipops at the dentist, Piggins simply does not know how to be invisible.

Last night's individual performances were extraordinary. JT and Harvey played great on both ends. Pope gave a superhuman effort, considering he was recovering from a stomach bug. And even Mel and lil' Mel (Jamel) got into the action!! Is it possible that Mel scored the prettiest reverse layup of the season?

I do, however, have to voice one frustration: with these kinds of blowouts, I'm not sure why we leave our starters in the game as long as we do. The game was getting chippy, the score was out of hand. So why use Garcia at all and risk injury?? Cajuste played actual game minutes last year against Providence and Nova -- why not use him in spurts besides the last 5 minutes? I realize that Gonzo wants to give his starters experience, but these are the games when you develop your bench and rest the guys you need down the road. Dave and I almost lost all our teeth when Garcia's knee twisted.

Overall, great, great win. Can I open my jaw now?

Aye, Aye Captain Dan

2009-12-07T13:50:00.004-05:00

Dan emailed Ben and I this afternoon and asked if we could post this on our blog to advertise the Pirate Blue Online Auction. So, mom and dad, happy reading...!

The Pirate Blue On-Line auction is open! The auction features once in a lifetime Pirate experiences, exclusive autographed Seton Hall memorabilia and much more. Here are just some of the great items available for auction:

- Dream Seats to the Pirates Home Games vs. Louisville and Notre Dame
- Courtside Seats to Pirates Home Games vs. Cincinnati and DePaul and many more!
- Seton Hall Radio/TV Sponsor Package
- Signed Pirates Memorabilia
- VIP Parking Passes for all Nine Big East Men's Home Games at the Prudential Center and much more....

Remember, the auction closes Thursday, December 17th so this is a perfect opportunity to get a great holiday present for that special Pirates fan! Check out the Pirate Blue Online Auction page for the full list of items!

Hall Hits the High Notes, Wins 89-56

2009-12-04T09:13:00.004-05:00

In a game full of highlights and high notes, Seton Hall took care of business against Hartford last night, keeping their undefeated dreams alive. Eugene Harvey had a double-double and a career high 14 assists, JT dropped 17 points, Jamel Jackson continued giving us hard data for our soon to be formed field goal to three point attempt theoreom, and even crowd favorite Darnell Gatling registered his first career points! Nice job, mini-me!

While the game finished with a personal highlight for Darnell Gatling, the game couldn't have started any higher. Ben and I have been riding the SHU athletics department the last few years to have better in-game entertainment, and they appear to have accepted the challenge. Not only have they introduced a thundering intro video that would make Frank Capra blush, but they also managed to find the best eight year old falsetto singer in the country who gave us a rousing rendition of the national anthem. Take that Frankie Valli!

All in Hall, it was a great game and Seon Hall did what they needed to do...win. Maybe next game the Seton Hall mascot can do flips through a flaming hoop...? Hey, just a thought.

Hall Sends NJIT Back to the Lab; Win 93-53

2009-12-01T07:03:00.005-05:00

In my first game back from scouting the finest basketball talent in Europe, SHU sent the NJITechnicians back to the Highlands, dismantling them 93-53. Although the tryptophan was evidently still sitting heavy in the players' stomachs for the first few minutes, Theodore entered the game with a much needed shot of cranberry sauce. After that, it was all gravy.

Pope posted his fourth straight double double, Hazell added 21 points, and JJ is well on his way to creating a mathematical sequence that would make even Fibonacci blush. So far this season, Jackson is 11 of 25 from the field and - you might have guessed it - 11 of 24 from three point range. Although he's thrown in a few free throws here and there, Ben and I are sure that given more hard data we will be able to devise a Jackson theorem a la the Mel weight-minutes ratio. Stay tuned Mr. Blaskopf!

But there was more to being back than just watching basketball. It was also about reconnecting with family. It was about looking ahead to Cancun, hearing how tequila ferments in cactus fields in Mexico. It was about catching up on all the Cornell trip shenanigans. It was about hearing outlandish rumors about the players, recruits, and the coaches. Yes, it's good to be back.

Long Night for Long Island; Hall Cruises

2009-11-29T13:06:00.004-05:00

Last night was a battle between Pirates and the Downeaster Alexa. Let's just say the piano man isn't thrilled.

With the Long Island fishing industry still reeling, SHU delivered a crushing blow, sinking the LIU ship and catching all "stripers" in sight. Not only did the Hall sail on to victory with ease, but they did it in style!! For the first time in recent memory, a first mate within the cheerleading squad sang the national anthem! And finally a student won the SHU shotclock challenge, although his pants were down at his ankles while he did it -- better pull those up when you go to McLoones!

As the LIU players swam frantically like guppies, Pope soared high to grab every rebound in sight. Harvey was confident, feeding a gorgeous alleyoop pass to Hazell, and Stix used his legs like oars to beat down the opponent. Even Long Island-native Matt "Juice" Cajuste got into the game! It was a tough night for Fero, however, who found himself frequently pushed out of position, but we think he'll bounce back. Freshmen have nights like that.

But is there not always a twinge of sadness in every victory? Yes, while the Pirates looked buoyant last night, it might have been because they were carrying less weight. Due to poor academics, Mel has been asked to take a leave of absence from the team. It's bad news to say the least, since the Hall needs Mel come Big East time. His talent is undeniable... let's hope lack of discipline doesn't hold him back.

For now, let's enjoy the blow out. Sail on, Pirates!! Sail on... And Dave, if you're reading, bring me back some Moroccan couscous!!

Thanks to you, Seton Hall!!

2009-11-25T09:49:00.004-05:00

As Thanksgiving approaches, I would be remiss if I didn't express my gratitude. Pirates fans certainly have a lot to be thankful this year. So, with Dave still out of the country, grapevining with his lady across Europe like a young Dogus Balbay (did anyone watch him last night -- incredible!!) I figured it was time for a sincere, holiday-themed post. So here goes:

I'm thankful that we have two incredible point guards.

I'm thankful that our players desperately want to win, and have a coach who pushes them to achieve.

I'm thankful that we beat St. Peters, barely.

I'm thankful that John Garcia returned to play another year.

I'm thankful that Keon survived the car crash with his life, as did the other injured driver -- I'm hopeful that he learns to be more responsible as a result.

I'm thankful that Stix brings his best effort every night.

I'm thankful that the school awarded Professor Cajuste tenure.

I'm thankful that the Booster Club is such a welcoming community.

I'm thankful that Hazell continues to work hard on his game, rather than just resting on his laurels.

I'm thankful that our team plays in a first-class arena, although I wish it were on campus.

I'm thankful that Hall committed here, as his upside is huge.

I'm thankful that we have Herb Pope, because without him, we're not very good.

And lastly, I'm thankful for tomorrow's meal!! Which gets me thinking, how does our starting line-up compare with tomorrow's buffet menu?

Hazell: Definitely turkey. At the center of it all, goes with everything, best served piping hot (12 of 25), less good when served cold (0 of 10)

Stix: Mashed potatoes. Classic blue collar, roll up your sleeves, middle America. Oh you just finished gathering rebounds in a coal mine? Here, have some mashed potatoes. Love that guy.

Harvey: Gravy. Smooth, silky. An assist to any meal. May occasionally dribble onto the tablecloth - whoops!

Theodore: Cranberry Sauce. Sweet, tangy, and full of pep! Oh, wait, the tryptophan making you drowsy??? Here, have a shot of Cranberry Sauce!!

Pope/Garcia/Mel: Stuffing. Good, hearty, and clogs up your middle. Provides the necessary weight and size. Everything tastes better with stuffing!!

Fero: Pumpkin pie! What a treat! I wasn't even expecting dessert!! How thoughtful of you! And so versatile!

Well SHU nation, have a great holiday and remember the neediest!

Hall Makes Puree of Big Red!!

2009-11-22T13:23:00.004-05:00

After watching Theodore the last couple games, I knew he was due. With all the hard work in the offseason, he was bound to start producing. As predicted, JT played an incredible game last Friday, deflating the Cornell faithful and carrying the Hall to victory.

Though the Big Red got off to a solid start, our athleticism proved too much to handle, slicing and dicing them all over the court until they were nothing more than a delicious bowl of Taughannock Farms strawberry soup -- bold menu choice, RFS!! Yes, with the Booster Club there to support, our courageous Pirates couldn't be defeated.

There was however one big loser of the evening: SNY. While I'm appreciative of the opportunity to watch my beloved team from the literal comfort of my actual home, I can't say I was impressed with the broadcast. From the screaming accountant in the background who kept audibly yelling "WHERE WAS THE FOUL?!?!" to the play-by-play guy's incessant Freudian psychoanalysis of Harvey's bench posture, I was less than impressed. Also, the camerawork left a lot to be desired; alternatively, it might qualify for Golden Globe nomination, as I've never seen so many creative cuts and angles! WHAT, POPE IS GOING IN FOR A DUNK?? QUICK, LETS GET A SHOT OF GARCIA'S SHOELACES!!

Despite the Eyes Wide Shut cinematography, I did manage to make a few key game observations:

- We did a great job feeding the post. Unlike so many other games, we established Garcia and Pope on the inside, which opened things up for our perimeter players.

- Now that we have forwards who can dunk, we need to get better at the alleyoop pass. JT threw one a mile too high, and Harvey has missed a ton as well -- it's such an exciting play when executed properly.

- Can't say enough about Fero Hall. Like the endive at the Ithaca farmers' market, this kid is organically grown. Those Tennessee coaches really did a great job, because he has a very natural feel for the game.

- Jamel didn't play very much, but when on the floor, he didn't play very well. Missing two of three free throws isn't really acceptable as a reserve guard, nor is chucking up a 3 pointer with a second left and the game in hand.

- Stix is a junkyard dog, and I absolutely love it. Instead of diving for a loose ball, he chose to sit on a Cornell player's face. Fortunately, Stix only weighs 3.6 British stones.

Well, great win, and awesome defensive intensity. Proves that when we're pumped and prepared to play, we can be an extraordinary team. Also, thanks to Vinny for the Booster Club text updates!! Sorry Dave and I couldn't be there, fellas, but let's just say we're already picking out our hibiscus swim suits for the Virgin Islands!!

The Drive North!!

2009-11-20T13:43:00.004-05:00

With Dave jetting off to Spain -- his fair lady Lisa at his side -- and me stuck at work analyzing the Vegas lines, we've said goodbye to our Booster Club comrades who are now en route to Cornell's campus by bus. (Thanks to Vinny, we do have some inside info to share: the movie on the ride there was "Planes, Trains and Automobiles.")

Given the firepower of this Cornell squad, we could probably use an arsenal of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, not to mention a couple Tankers and Hydrogen-Powered Gorge-Bombers. As I've said, I expect SHU to win this game, but it will not be easy. Still, we've had an entire week to prepare -- a veritable "reading period" by Ivy League standards. Let's just hope Stix made some flash cards, because memorizing the opponent's offensive sets won't be easy; who's on this Cornell team again?

The big question remains: to Keon or not to Keon? Still no word as far as we know, but it's a very sensitive issue. Either way, you can bet those Cornell fans will be auditing his every move, on the bench or not.

PS. Apologies to any accountants who might have been offended by my earlier post. My uncle is a fantastic accountant! He went to Cornell.

Cornell: Scarier than the '96 Bulls?

2009-11-18T13:20:00.006-05:00

Sure, those Jordan teams were good. But if you believe the SHU message board hype, they were nothing compared to this year's terrifying Cornell squad!!

Now, when you think of Cornell, hoops might not be top of mind. First, their stellar international relations department. Second, gorges. But third, most definitely third: basketball dominance.

Gosh, if we lose by less than 50, let's consider it a victory! How could we ever hope to keep pace with such athleticism -- an entire Ivy roster full of Konchalski 5 AP Scorers!!

In all seriousness, Dave and I have been thinking quite a lot about this game, and we're not too worried. It's true, this Cornell squad plays solid ball, and away games are scary, but Ivy league fans aren't usually too rowdy -- think a gymnasium full of would-be accountants. And even though Big Red has a good outside shot, expect our own Big Mel and Garcia to clog up the inside like a gorge stuffed with municipal waste. "EPA caught napping on the backdoor feed!!"

Here's really the million dollar question: does Keon play? We have no inside information (damn that Facebook ban!!) but our instinct says no. Let's give him a couple games to resolve all off-the-court issues before re-inserting him in our up-tempo offense. Although we're certainly a stronger team when we have his mid-range game to round out the deep threat of Hazell and Jackson.

Prediction: SHU gets off to a strong start in this game after a dedicated week of practice. Theodore has an extraordinary performance after some sub-par numbers the last two games. Cajuste tours campus and moonlights as keynote lecturer at applied mathematics conference.

Final score: SHU 71 Championship Cornell 64

Cell Phone Earns 6th Man of the Year Award; Pirates win 87-72

2009-11-15T21:45:00.003-05:00

In the rare instance that Ben and I cant make a Seton Hall game (home or away), we usually sulk for a few minutes and begrudgingly turn on SNY to watch our beloved Pirates take the court. When the low budget OOC games aren't televised, we welcome the opportunity to listen to Gary Cohen and Dave "Wonderkid" Popkin do the play-by-play.

However, we were not entirely prepared to handle today's obstacle. For the first time in Seton Hall basketball history, neither Ben or I were able to watch or listen to the game! What were these two intrepid bloggers to do!?!? With literally dozens of avid followers around the world (hola Senor Garcia!), we knew we had to follow the game, one way or another.

Since both of us were returning from weekend commitments, we turned to the only device that we knew would keep us in touch with the game...our cell phones. Hitting refresh multiples times on our cellies, texting each other figurative fist pounds after every basket, and forwarding updates to our fellow booster Vinny, Ben and I were able to keep up with the virtually the entire game. The only thing we missed were Seton Hall's new road unis and a few Gonzo foot stamps.

While blackberrys dont necessarily provide the most colorful picture of the game, regardless of the model you have, it did seem like Hazell was able to find his shooting stroke and His Heighness, Herb Pope, put up one of the monster type games we are all expecting from him. Jackson appeared to light it up from deep when given the chance and the new kid on the block, Genghis Khan, had a solid all around game that will hopefully set the tone for a promising freshman year.

It wasn't ideal, but Ben and I were able to follow the game play by play, thanks to the miracle of the cell phone. Wouldn't Alexander Graham Bell be proud...?

Hall Completely Flat; NuNu Wins on a Prayer!!!

2009-11-13T22:28:00.004-05:00

We should've known. It was Friday the 13th. It was the first game of the year. And with my benevolent uncle driving Dave and me through Newark in his Nissan, it was destiny.

We had just sped past Don Pepe's, admiring the ornate window guards, when all of a sudden we heard something. Was it the sound of Gonzo foot stamping through the ironbound?? Was it the sound of Big Mel tricycling along the Pulaski?? WRONG! It was the sound of us getting a flat tire!! Hurray!

That tire was a metaphor for our team. In all our years of Hall fandom, never has the team looked flatter. The first half was truly atrocious -- but shockingly, the second half was just as bad. With Keon dressed as Dick Tracy in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, the team looked distracted by the intricate tattoo plumage of the St. Peters point guard.

Probably the most abysmal performance of the night was Hazell. Completely out of rhythm, Jeremy played a truly horrendous game. But there was good news!! He qualified for an honorary degree from the SHU Florence Nightingale School of Nursing, as he graciously reached down to massage Pope's cramped hammy. (Umm... don't we have professionals for that??) Hazell and Kwillett will both be receiving their degrees in a special ceremony before the Monmouth game.

But I digress... despite it all, Harvey found a way to win. After receiving tons of criticism for his handling of late game situations, Harvey put up a prayer, and it was answered. With 3 seconds on the clock, Harvey pushed the ball through the net from 25 feet out, giving the Hall the lead and preserving our NCAA dreams (delusions?) alive.

As we drove back into New York, we couldn't believe what we had witnessed. We just sat in the car, shaking and trembling. Even the car was shaking and trembling. It was missing a tire.

LOVE YOU FOREVER, SETONIA!!

Updated: Keon in Parkway Accident

2009-11-10T07:48:00.005-05:00

Dave and I usually try to find the humor in things. There's nothing funny about this story.

The Herald News is reporting that Keon Lawrence was in a serious car crash on the Garden State Parkway in Sayreville. Fortunately, Keon and others involved in the crash did not sustain life-threatening injuries. The details of the accident are still being gathered.

Here's a statement from Gonzo:

“As you may know, Keon Lawrence was involved in an automobile accident early Monday morning,” Gonzalez said. “First and foremost, we are relieved and gratified that all of the parties involved were not more seriously injured. We will respond accordingly when all of the facts of this matter have been collected. Effective immediately, Keon Lawrence has been suspended from the team indefinitely.”

Seton Hall 2.0

2009-11-06T16:13:00.002-05:00

While Ben and I are not the most technologically savvy bloggers out there, we have managed to navigate Blogspot with considerable ease (thanks Larry and Serge!). Ever since the first blog entry, we were able to figure out how to copy and paste ridiculous pictures from the internet, create polls to ask our "audience," and post hillarious pictures from our recent road trips.

Channeling our inner Lewis and Clark, we decided to push the envelope and venture into unchartered waters. Wondering what more there was to social media, we took the plunge and literally dribbled into the last frontier...Twitter!

Now you can get all your Seton Hall news bites 24 hours a day in 140 words or less! We're not sure exactly what will come of our twitter account, but be sure to check us out at @setoniablogspot! See you in cyperspace!

One Hall of a Weekend!

2009-11-03T19:58:00.006-05:00

Dave and I have dedicated our entire lives to Seton Hall basketball. But I'm not sure there's ever been a weekend that's tested our devotion more than this last one. I'm happy to say we passed with flying colors -- big ups to Robin Cunningham!!

After 4 NJ Transit round trip tickets, a couple generous carpool sessions up and down So. Orange Ave -- you know who you are!! -- Dave and I spent practically every hour shuttling back and forth from Manhattan to our beloved "almost mater." And was it ever worth it!!

The weekend started on Sabbath evening as our Pirates took on a team from Carlton University in an exhibition game. At first glance, I thought I was better than most players on Carlton. But I quickly realized that their forward Kevin "Timothy Leary" McCleery had more creative pivot moves than an actual 60's groove piper. Still, our Pirates prevailed handily.

The first half was full of energy, as Harvey and Theodore played great up-tempo basketball. Pope also completely took over the game at certain times, and Stix brought intensity that Canada hadn't seen since the French Indian War. Bonjour, Monsieur STIX!!

The only scare came when Mel was discovered to have blood on his jersey, and had to leave the game. It was okay though -- he came out for the second half wearing a fresh, clean jersey (women's petite) with a new number, which means that he must have changed uniforms in the locker room with the rest of the players during Gonzo's halftime speech. Umm... sorry coach, what were you saying about half-court defense??

Then, as if that wasn't enough, we found ourselves back on campus on Sunday to watch a little blue-white scrimmage. Now, as a Jefferson Lakes Day Camp alumnus actuallus, I can tell you, I've participated in the blue-white scrimmage: it takes place on the final day of color war, and it involves throwing eggs at counselors. This, however, was much different.

The team went a little light on each other, but the talents still shone bright as ever. JROB put on a dunk contest of one, and Hall had some athletic plays. But possibly the best moment of the day came when RFS scored us some sick bracelets, and we snuck into the meet-the-team party.

As I was busy sampling various Cabot cheeses at a forlorn booth beside the Pirate Blue ticket desk (umm, in case you're wondering, horseradish cheddar by a mile) Dave was focused on cutting a line of tweens to win some sweet autographs. Probably the best moment was when JROB voiced his frustration that Stixie had signed in what he claimed was "his spot" on the poster. Comedian that he is, JROB then decided to pen his siggy right on Stix's face -- burn!!

So yes, this is a team with lots of talent, and yes, they're already fighting for their respective spots. But at least they have a sense of humor about it??

See you soon, SHU!!

A Romarsi Feast

2009-10-29T21:36:00.008-04:00

Sitting through the raffle drawing at the booster club preseason dinner a few weeks ago, there was only one thing I set my eyes on winning. No, not the team autographed basketball. No, not the "Dream Seats" to an upcoming out of conference game. And no, not even a free lunch at Bunny's with Gonzo and the coaching staff. Rather, the one thing, and one thing only, that I set my eyes on was Romarsi's famed basil sauce and olive tapenade. So when Vince announced my name as the winner of the Grand Prize, I could not believe my luck!

Then, it occurred to me. What better way than to kick off the season than to have Ben over to my new apartment for a Romarsi feast? As the first guest to eat at my newly assembled Ikea dining room table, Ben and I chowed down on some gnocchi with basil sauce and olive chabatta bread with the olive tapenade, reminiscing about our apartment, fine Italian specialty foods, and, of course, Wawa.

After briefly discussing how a simple basil leaf could produce such an amazing sauce, the conversation quickly turned to tomorrow night's exhibition game against Carlton and the upcoming season. What would the starting five be? How many minutes would Big Mel play? Would Garcia get through the game with both knees intact? With Lisa subconsciously writing the name and number of her new favorite player in her dinner plate, Ben and I could not be happier. We were finally back in our element, discussing the ins and outs of Seton Hall basketball and, perhaps just as importantly, how we would get out to the game tomorrow night.

While the mystery of the basil leaf is still unresolved, one thing is for sure. Tomorrow marks the first game of what should be an unbelievable season. With all the prep work done, it's finally time for the games to begin. All the waiting is done. The curtains are drawn.

See you tomorrow night.

Gonzo Appeals to Clearinghouse; Wants 6 Starters

2009-10-26T15:22:00.003-04:00

Over the past few years, SHU has been something of a household name at the NCAA (Publisher's) Clearinghouse. Just like "Kleenex" or "Burlington Coat Factory." So they must have cringed at little on Sunday when Bobby announced that this year's squad would actually have 6 starters: Harvey, Hazell, Lawrence, Stix, Pope, and Garcia.

Now as even Dave's girlfriend could tell you, basketball is played with only 5 players. So Gonzo's request must have raised quite the proverbial eyebrow.

In truth, it's a testament to the depth of our squad. Everyone had relegated Stix to the bench, until he literally put on a clinic at the actual SHU Clinic, proving to booster club luminaries that he deserved a spot. You're my boy, STIXIE!!

At Setonia, we couldn't be more excited about the caliber of our team this year. And even though we don't expect the Clearinghouse to grant us that 6th starting spot on the floor -- those damned traditionalists!! -- we've got our fingers crossed that good things will befall the Hall.

New Cereal: Cap'n Stix

2009-10-21T10:32:00.002-04:00

We just received word that a 3rd captain has been added!! None other than Cap'n Stix!!

At Setonia we feel this is a great choice. Not only is Cap'n Stix high in rich nutrients like teamwork and unselfishness, but it's also a great balance for the two other popular cereal options: Honey Nut Nunu's and Garcia Bone-Flakes.

As his first power move as captain, Stix very graciously volunteered that Herb Pope take his place at Big East Media "My name is Adam Zagoria and I'm suddenly important today" Day. Given all of Herb's off-the-court battles and hard work, Stix thought he deserved to represent the team. You just can't say enough about Sticky Icky.

New Kids on the Block

2009-10-19T11:38:00.003-04:00

No, this isn't Step by Step or Hangin' Tough, but Seton Hall is doing it's best Marky Mark impersonation and recently received verbal commitments from two highly touted high school recruits.

DaShaun Wiggins, a 6'2 wing guard from Brewster Academy, and Jesse Morgan, a 6'4 shooting guard from South Kent Prep, are the Hall's latest additions to its proverbial boy band. Wiggins, not to be confused with the much beloved BIG EAST referee Tim Higgins, will do his best to model his game after "Neon" Keon Lawrence and Morgan, who is known by some as "The Takeover," will officially be known from here on out as "Full House."

Looking forward to seeing these newbies at the exhibition game and listening to their falsetto during the national anthem.

WE'RE BAAAAACK, BABY!!

2009-10-12T22:02:00.004-04:00

By the end of last season, Dave and I were exhausted. We knew we needed to take a break from our beloved blog.

After an entire summer of R & R, our literal lithium batteries are now fully recharged and we're pumped for the year ahead!! So much has changed in the world of SHU basketball... For starters, all of a sudden we're a good team! With the addition of Farrakahn "Genghis" Kahn, Jamel "King of Stop n' Pop" Jackson, plus our well-dressed transfers, and the subtraction of 40 pounds of Mel, we should contend with the big boys of the Big East.

We've signed two Hazell-wannabes in Kung Fuquan Edwin and Jesse "Full House" Morgan. Welcome to you both!

We've given Gonzo an extension and salary raise. "What's that, Kim?? A new living room??"

Of course, there have been updates in our personal lives as well. Summer is the season of love, and Dave succumbed. Leaving me high and dry like a washed out hall-of-fame jersey in the rafters, Dave recently chose to move in with his girlfriend (Lisa) while I found a new apartment for me and my girlfriend (blog).

While the separation has been difficult, we've decided that nothing can come between us and our first passion du' vie: Setonia!! It was in that spirit that we attended last month's incredible Booster Club dinner in South Orange.

Now, these events are great as a way to rekindle friendships. It was a blast seeing Vinny, Dick, Dan, Vince, Professor Ed, Paul, the whole gang! (We'll be starting a SHU Fan of the Month series soon... Stay tuned!!) But perhaps the most surprising aspect of the evening? THE FOOD!!

After three delicious heapings of chicken "Kevin" murphy, as we rode Dr. Adubato's coattails to the front of the line, I thought I was stuffed. Then came the auction!! And wouldn't you know it, Dave won the best prize of all: Romarsi's Basil Sauce!

At first, you might ask yourself, why is Basil Sauce being auctioned at a SHU Booster Club event? Secondly you might ask yourself, what's Basil Sauce if not pesto? The answer? Who knows. But I can tell you this -- Dave and I have been pouring the stuff on everything from Wheaties to Linguini, and it's absolutely delicious.

So, blog, I hope you have enjoyed this nourishment. This season will prove to be another adventure for us two intrepid fans. May the journey begin...

International Trip Unsuccessful; Will Try Again

2009-06-09T10:04:00.005-04:00

We all know that basketball has become an international phenomenon. Dirk Nowitzki. Pau Gasol. Yao Ming. Vlade "Dade-He Like to Party-He Dont Hurt Nobody" Divac. Steve Nash. Just to name a few.

With Seton Hall's own international star already come and gone - Nigeria's great Augustin Okosun - I took it upon myself to travel the world and find the next great rising international star, a la Kevin Bacon in "The Air Up There."

With the secret already out in China, South America, and much of Eastern Europe, I thought I would go where no basketball scout has gone before...Bangkok, Thailand. For the last two weeks, Setonia's own version of Head Coach Bobby Gonzalez and I travelled the depths of Thailand in search of the next (or first) great Thai basketball star.

What we found instead were Buddhist temples, pad thai food carts, elephants, and a plethora of massage parlors. However, there is no shame in trying and we left with our heads held high. Next stop: Papa New Guinea.

What's in a Name: Farrakhan Hall

2009-05-02T19:02:00.002-04:00

With Ben currently in London on a recon mission scouting the very best Euro-trash talent and studying the history of our very own English language, I figured it was time for Setonia' second installation of "What's in a Name." The first installation proved to be an in-depth analysis of Gonzo journalism, researching the similarities between Hunter S. Thompson's writing style and our very own Head Coach Bobby Gonzalez. In an effort to honor the Hall's most recent recruit, this "What's in a Name" will explore the peculiarities and uniqueness of the name Farrakhan Hall.

First things first, lets begin with Hall's first name. The name Farrakhan has undoubtedly become synonymous in recent years with the controversial figure, Louis Farrakhan. However, a closer look at the name Farrakhan reveals the Central Asian term for "king" or "ruler" - i.e the long lost brothers, Genghis and Kublai. Putting aside the controversial Louis Farrakhan, if Hall can somehow tap into his Central Asian roots and learn from his ancient ancestors, I'd welcome his leadership and sovereignty with open arms.

Now, for the obvious part. Farrakhan has the distinct pleasure in being named for his future school...or is the other way around? One can only wonder how much of an impact having the same name as the school he was being recruited by had on his eventual decision to come to Seton Hall. Or, you can only wonder what was going through Derm's mind when he was scouring Konchalski's ratings and noticed Farrakhan Hall's name. Can you say love at first sight?

Whatever it is - his royal roots or eerily similar last name - I'd like to welcome Farrakhan Hall aboard this great Pirate ship. Just dont go pulling any stunts and name your children Setonia....

One Good Hall Deserves Another

2009-04-24T18:16:00.003-04:00

Recruiting is a funny game. Despite all the hearsay, you never really know why kids end up where they do. Is it the promise of playing time? A school's academic reputation?

Is it the co-ed betties strategically placed throughout campus in tennis skirts during the official visit?

Is it Dr. Adubato Roboto hiding in the bushes, whispering words of encouragement, waiting with (Epi)pen in hand?

In this case, however, the answer was clear. On Wednesday at 1:30 pm, Ferrakohn Hall declared his intent to attend Seton Hall and it was obvious that the name of the school was a leading factor. Much as Aeneas proved unable to escape his destiny, Ferrakohn decided to accept his fate and choose a university with matching surname. Yes, truly this was a signing written in the stars.

Now, I know what you're thinking. Isn't this incest? Perhaps. But the bottom line is that everyone connected to the SHU program is so excited, nothing else really matters. As an academically strong, top high school prospect from Memphis, Ferrakohn is exactly what the Doctor Roboto ordered. With any bit of luck, he'll blossom into a very solid power forward and go on to a great 4-year career.

So, Ferrakohn, I hope you're listening. We welcome you with open arms.

(Note: the recruitment of Ferrakohn Hall opens the door for Dave's next installment of his "What's in a Name?" series. Stay tuned in the coming weeks.)

2 o'clock today!

2009-04-20T10:51:00.002-04:00

This afternoon in Walsh gymnasium, prized JUCO recruit Cliff Dixon -- the brother's mother-in-law second cousin best friend forever twice removed of Kevin Durant -- will be balling it up with the SHU team. Dave and I can't be there, as hard-working adults, but if you're going to be on campus today, you should go. Show Cliff some love by snapping some shots... If you send them to Dave and myself, we'll post them here for all the world to see.

Kentucky: Unbridled Spirit

2009-04-19T21:55:00.003-04:00

With the Kentucky Derby less than two weeks away, Ben and I thought it was about time we post some pictures from our trip to Kentucky and Ohio last month.

Click on the link below to get a small flavor of what the trip was like, what we saw and where we went.

http://picasaweb.google.com/drattner07/KentuckyTrip#

Vince, please feel free to use the slideshow as some sort of photo montage to the team during the Basketball Banquet on Wednesday....

Formula Solved!! Also, Is Mitts Davis on the Move?

2009-04-10T20:33:00.008-04:00

Coming off a season with a mere 8 scholarship players, it would be easy to let your mathematical skills atrophy. This, of course, makes the achievements of our two winners all the more impressive.

Congratulations to two of SHU's biggest fans, SPK and Merge, for cracking our mathematical puzzle below!

Based on the projections of HallDan and other assorted Hall experts, Dave and I derived this formula while trying to hang a clock above our toilet a la Doc Emmett Brown. And just like the flux capacitor, this formula offers us a glimpse into the possibilities of the future -- as well as the past?!?!

We estimate that if Big Mel weighs in at 360 next season, that roughly would mean:

40 - 360/12 = 10 minutes per game

If he's able to cut down to 324, however, he's looking at more time:

40 - 324/12 = 13 minutes per game

Mel, think about it: 3 extra minutes. That's a lifetime for some insects. That's 3 servings of minute rice.

In all seriousness though, I want this kid to succeed so badly. From everything I hear, he's a really warm, kindhearted guy with the softest pair of mitts you've ever seen. So, Mel, if you're listening, work hard for the trainer and use this offseason to get yourself in the best shape of your life. Because losing those extra pounds won't just mean you'll play better on the court -- it also means you'll get more minutes on it. Not to mention the lifelong health benefit.

In your honor, I pledge to go the gym more often this summer. Because even though my bicep definition is mildly respectable (see video on right) my abs are still completely non-existent.

Secondly, on a separate note, Goodman of FoxSports is reporting that Mike Davis is looking to transfer. While it's not surprising news for anyone who follows the team, we can't confirm anything at this point. All I'll say is that Mike is one of my favorite guys on the squad, on-court struggles aside.

Formula... For Success??

2009-04-07T21:21:00.007-04:00

At Setonia.blogspot.com, Dave and I understand that college basketball is all about student-athletes. While it's easy to focus only on what happens on the basketball court, one can't underestimate the value of walking into the library, sharpening your pencil, and writing a term paper with your very own mitts. It's the very essence of the undergraduate experience.

And while Dave and I tend to be more humanities-focused, given our penchant for exquisitely written blog entries, we recognize that mathematics is also a very important discipline. For that reason, we've cooked up a little mathematical challenge a la "Good Will Hunting" in the hopes that a genius janitor somewhere will rise to the occasion.

With that, we give you the intentionally ambiguously titled Formula For Success:

40 - x/12 = y ; where 250 < x < 400

In this formula, what's x and what's y?

So, any guesses????

We will provide hints as necessary.

Looking toward next year

2009-03-31T13:32:00.003-04:00

After an entire season of looking ahead to next year, we now do the only thing left to do: look ahead toward next year.

The expectations are high, both for us and the team. Will Herb Pope be the inside presence we've been desperately waiting for? Will I be able to maintain this furious blogging pace while assuring the same literary standard of excellence? Will Keon Lawrence be the same electric scorer that earned him the title of "Neon Pogo Stick." Will Dave ever successfully talk to a woman?

Yes, questions abound. And there are no certainties in life. But this much is clear: next year should be another wild ride.

Why, you ask??

Oh, just a few reasons...

1) With Big Mel now poised to join the team, Dr. Roboto and Skin will be working around the clock to recruit a tailor skilled enough to create an XXXXXL jersey and matching shorts. And while you're at it, throw in a pair of blue leather driving mitts!

2) Now that Gonzo's been around for a couple years, the fan base is itching for some serious results. Nothing more fun than a little added pressure!

3) With our incoming triumvirate of transfers, what's the impact to our starting lineup? According to John Nash's game theory principles, is it possible that Keon, Harvey and Theodore all cancel each other out, opening the door for the Falcon to swoop in and claim what's rightfully his??

4) Now that the senior cheerleader of my dreams has graduated, who will fill the void? And what about flagman?

5) Last year's November trip meant a Puerto Rico vacation. Don't forget the suntan this time, Brett -- here we come, Alaska shootout!

6) With a number of high-profile Big East stars leaving for the NBDL, is the time poised for Seton Hall to regain its former glory?!?!? Onward Setonia!!!

Yes, it should be a wild, wild ride.

Seton Hall: An Extended Portrait

2009-03-13T09:44:00.006-04:00

It was midnight. Dave and I were mentally and physically exhausted. We were standing on the corner of 33rd St and 8th Ave, shivering cold. Mike Davis was towering over a hot dog stand. Pete and Matt were chilling on the sidewalk(on?). Stix was hunched over by the Penn Station entrance, his face beaten and worn as a catcher's leathery mitt.

After pretty much every single game, Gonzo says the same exact thing: "a scratch-and-claw, fight-all-the-way, grind-it-out, physically demanding, character-building, typical Big East battle." Well, on this night, it was true.

Facing a tough Syracuse team, which would later knock off UConn in a truly epic contest, we gave it everything we had. Overcoming a double digit deficit, we actually managed to take the lead for a brief moment. Then, everything went Jerry Springer.

Garcia got into a shoving match. Brandon "Jennie Finch" Walters delivered a slider strike to the chest of the Orangemen's streaking Euro. Harvey gave Devendorf the old two-finger salute to the throat.

Amidst thousands of screaming Syracuse fans, the vast majority of whom appeared to be slightly inebriated, highly obnoxious, upper-middle class dentists and assorted trade professionals, we knew then the game was over. With a number of technicals assessed, our shorthanded squad of valiant warriors became even more depleted.

But suddenly, a strange calm came over me. As Devendorf rained threes, his tattoos flexing with each arm extension, I realized something. This is why I love the Hall. It's not because they win. If I wanted a perennial winner, I'd root for UConn. It's because they fight. Every night.

Our team seriously lacks discipline. We take bad shots, overall -- late in the game, early in the count, at the refs, at the opposing team. Constantly, we lose our temper, and lose control as a result.

But not unlike the classic Shakespearean tragic hero, it's exactly this flaw that makes our team so heart-wrenchingly compelling.

Dave and I have led a fairly comfortable existence. We've been lucky -- we were raised in a world that largely provided for us. Perhaps this explains in part our unending admiration for the sacrifice our players make on a routine basis, many of whom have had to fight their entire lives. It's their sacrifice that makes ours seem so trivial by comparison: the long drive to Cincinnati, the vacation days from work.

Over the next few weeks and months, Dave and I will continue to post about the past season. We'll upload more photos from Kentucky... Forthcoming Facebook interviews with the Falcon... Who knows, maybe even another video? We'll look ahead to next year, and stay hot on the recruiting trail. And you can bet we'll be hosting a NIT "wishful thinking" dance party!

But as we celebrate this team, and everything they've overachieved, let's not forget the importance of a critical eye. To learn from this season, and grow as a team, we must learn from our mistakes.

By most measures, Gonzo has had a good season. He is a better coach than he was last year, and he continues to get the most of out his players. Given the limitations of his roster, most of which fall on him, he has responded triumphantly. However, there is one player with which I do question his judgement.

Perhaps no player on our team has had to fight more in his life than Mike Davis. And while he struggled mightily on the court for the vast majority of the season, battling a severe case of stone mitts, it was frequently frustrating to watch as Gonzo would pull him from the game after only a few seconds of game-time. (In one particularly uncomfortable moment against Syracuse, Gonzo sent Mike to the scorer's table, only to call him back to the bench.)

At the beginning of this season, most everyone agreed that Mike would be the key. Now, we have a number of high-profile transfers coming. But I would argue that Mike is still critical to our future success.

If you're listening Mike, I know you must be discouraged. But all I can say is this: Keep fighting. Keep working hard. Keep battling.

Because if you keep fighting every day, and maybe cut down a little on the hot dogs, you'll become the player we all know you can be.

Channeling Mason, Hall Beats USF

2009-03-11T00:13:00.002-04:00

In the same arena where Anthony Mason once played with messages shaved into his head, our gritty Hall team advanced tonight with a strong victory. With Stix and Hazell both rocking the Arsenio "Hall" look, with a few subtle grill-lines above the ears, our team fought hard to hold on to this one. Jordan and Eugene played strong at the point, and Dave did an admirable job filling in for flagman. (The school would have payed for him to come, but the flag would have been an extra ticket on the PATH.)

All in all, great win. Maybe enough to secure an NIT bid? Now, we get ready for tomorrow night's battle with the Cuse...

Hall Escapes Fifth Third With a Win

2009-03-07T16:59:00.003-05:00

Dave and I expect the very best from our players. We want them to give 110% every time.

On this particular day, however, 110% would not be enough. Given that it was senior day on Cincinnati's home floor, we would need at the very least 5/3 effort, or 166.67%. (Go ahead, check my math, Pete!!)

Yes, that's correct. It took overtime, but our team battled and battled to leave Ohio's famous Fifth Third Arena with a win. Now, it wasn't easy, and even getting to the game proved a challenge.

After sleeping through our alarm, Dave and I had to high-tail it out of Kentucky. Stopping by Sonic for a little fast food on the way, along with a quick thirty second reenactment of our favorite "reality-style" commercials, we pulled into the arena parking lot just in time.

You can only imagine our exhilaration when we picked up our tickets at Will Call to find we would be sitting on the floor directly behind the bench!! Yes, there is a God!

I can say with some certainty we were a part of the team today. When Paul Gause ran out of bounds, chasing a loose ball, Dave was there to give him a high-five. When John Garcia tossed his dirty sweat rag during a time-out, I was there to catch it in my expectant mitts.

The game was a classic thriller, with a number of blown lay-ups later redeemed with clutch free throws. And while Dave and I were drastically outnumbered, there were a couple other Hall fans in attendance, most notably Sister Stix. Let's just say it's genetic!

For those of you who couldn't make it to arena, here a couple things you might have missed:

- Pistol Pete stands up and claps all the time. So much so that the UC student section would actually scream "Sit down Pete!!" Falcon, if they're calling your name, you must be doing something right!!

- After Stix missed a critical open lay-up at the start of overtime, Coach Bobby G very calmly and soothingly screamed in a earth-shattering voice "RELAX!!!!" Psychology students, this is what we might call a textbook case of the double bind.

- Although the crowd got very noisy towards the end, it was actually a pretty poor showing. Lots of empty seats.

- Nunu missed a couple of shots driving the hoop when it was very clear he was fouled. (From where we were sitting, we could hear the slaps.) Just showin' Eu some love...

All in all, a lot of heart. Okay, well soon our roadtrip adventure will draw to a close, as we prepare for a Big East tourney matchup with South Florida. But not before Dave and I hit up Ohio's famous Camp Washington for the world's best chili.

America: A Literal Treasure Trove

2009-03-07T00:37:00.004-05:00

Well, many of you are probably wondering what Ben and I have been up to since Seton Hall's loss to Lou-al-ville Wednesday night (hi mom and dad!). Realizing that we still had two days in this glorious state of Kentucky before we head to Cincinnati, Ben and I jumped in our rented Chevy Aveo and did the only thing we knew how to do; we Hazarded. Below is our own highlight reel of our last two days in Kentucky:

- After grabbing a quick morning brew at a local cafe, Ben and I decided to try and wind our way to Fort Knox in an effort to take some gold souvenirs back home. Wondering why none of the people we met ever suggested we go to Fort Knox, we soon figured out why as 3 armed guards quickly descended upon our Aveo as we entered the post. Seizing our camera, cardinal head and Gonzo bobble head doll, the guards continued to question us as to why two guys from Jersey would be wondering around Fort Knox. The only two words we could muster were: Seton Hall.

- Although razzled, the Fort Knox disaster did not deter us and we quickly continued to Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system in the world. Apparently there are other idiots like us and we even ran into a group of college students on spring break who were taking a road trip exploring caves throughout the midwest...who needs Cancun!?!?

- Starving after exploring the caves, we travelled off the beaten path a bit and ended up in Glendale, KY, population - 300. You know you're somewhere special when the ice cream parlor doubles as the town's visitor center.

- Now we all know a Seton Hall trip wouldnt be complete without some sort of gambling, so Ben and I naturally found ourselves at the Horshoe Casino Riverboat in Indiana. Wawa's number came up big for Ben, obviously still riding the high of the previous night's game. Dont worry Vince, the Ritz Casino was ten times better.

- We made a quick stop back to the hotel to freshen up before meeting up with Aimee, the hotel front desk worker who agreed to serve as our tour guide for the night. Riding in her Mitts-ubishi, top down, she took us to the entertainment district of Louisville. Good times were had by all.

- With today being our last day in Kentucky, we knew it had to be jam packed. Starting the day off at the Louisville Slugger Museum was the only way we knew how to get started.

- Naturally, a trip to Kentucky wouldnt be complete without paying our respects to Daniel and Rebecca Boone in Frankfort. Little did we expect, but we also wound up in a State Senate hearing on energy conservation and the use natural resources. Lets just hope they heard our suggestions from the balcony.

- In a desperate attempt to relive our college years, we continued on to the University of Kentucky in a vain attempt to find the loves of our lives. We found Rupp Arena instead, which was completely taken over by 605 UK college students who were participating in a 24 hour dance marathon fundraiser. Much to our dismay, Jodie Meeks was no where to be found. Disappointed, but not discouraged, we decided to give it one last go and wound up at a fraternity Beach Party at a local University of Louisville bar. Unfortunately, I forgot my trunks.

Well, that's basically what we've been up to. We'll have a report up tomorrow after our post game interview with a random security guard.

We Made It!!

2009-03-04T22:40:00.004-05:00

After waking up at 4 am this morning to catch the Newark airport monorail, we finally arrived at Dayton, OH, and then drove into Kentucky just in time for today's epic matchup with the Cardinals of Louisville. Still smarting from last season's upset, along with the salt in the wounds of our internet sensation YouTube video, Dave and I were prepared for a tough battle. We could have never expected this, however.

First of all, if you've never been to Kentucky, here are a couple things you should know.

1. Everyone is incredibly nice. During tonight's game, Dave and I were bedazzled in our blue Booster Club fleeces, amidst an entire sea of red. Still, the Louisville fans embraced us with open wings, inquiring about our journey not unlike when Greek heroes of yore recited tales from sea. We dined on beef dogs and ice cream... Talked country music... Simply incredible.

2. They LOVE their basketball down here. Freedom Hall was absolutely rocking tonight, including the Farm equipment exhibition warehouse that connects to it, and the fans showed tremendous love for their graduating players. Most remarkable was the pregame video of Louisville's seniors, which featured T-Will singing a tribute to Louisville a la Tom Cruise from Risky Business.

Tomorrow, we've got a big day planned... We'll take a tour of the Louisville Slugger museum, visit a couple Whiskey distilleries, ogle the thousands of blonde girls, etc. It should be great!

But here's a quick couple thoughts from the game, that you might have missed watching the game on TV:

- From where we were sitting, we had a great view of the court, and it was clear that Walters was a man possessed tonight. After Pitino called a timeout, Walters actually stared him down and brought out his patented walrus-clap as an intimidating gesture. Classic!

- During every stoppage of play, there's a blimp in Freedom Hall that circulates the arena, dropping coupons redeemable for free chocolate milk. Suffice it to say, it makes game action feel like a let-down.

- Not sure if it was clear on TV, but the Louisville team was having a lot of fun tonight, really soaking in the moment, making extra (sometimes unnecessary) passes. We, on the other hand, just looked very tired.

- Early in the game, as Seton Hall was making shots, and got off to an early lead, you could very clearly hear Pitino turn to his bench and say, "Tonight is our pay back." It was clear he was referencing last year's Hazell crush-fest.

- After the game, T-Will addressed the crowd for about a half hour with some very moving sentiments. The highlight came when he thanked all the assistant coaches, including "Little Rick."

Well, phew... I'm exhausted. Thank you to all who have supported us thus far, helping us along this journey. Special thanks to HallDan and the SHU coaching staff who do everything possible to make us feel a part of this great team.

More updates tomorrow on our Kentuckian adventures!

My Love

2009-03-02T22:04:00.003-05:00

Love and basketball - two peas in a pod that seem to go together even beyond its famed movie title. Just as Seton Hall is always trying to recruit the best players to join their team for the following season, I am also always trying to court the best local prospects in an attempt to join forces with them for my own future.

Upon sending a text message to my top recruit letting her know that I will be in Kentucky until Sunday, I received the following response:

"Oh my god I cant believe it's already Kentucky. You and Ben must be flipping out. I hope that hezel guys hits his threes and gets the foul call...And that sticks performs and that garcias legs stay strong. And who knows maybe Davis wont foul out in two minutes and actually grab a rebound or two. Go shu!"

What do you think? Does she pass the test? Sure, there were some typos, but who ever said love was perfect?

Hall Loses to Pitt, Technically

2009-03-01T11:21:00.005-05:00

We should have known.

As we waited outside the arena at 7:27, left in the freezing cold by security guards who seemed not to understand the enormity of the night ahead, it was clear this was not going to be easy. As expected, the ceremony for Paul was very nice, and the fans responded with a standing ovation.

By the end of the night, however, we couldn't help but scratch our mitts in confusion. How did we receive three technical fouls, all coming as a result of comments directed to one zebra? How was it possible for our own home court statistician to award 5 steals in the first half to Harvey, but only one to hero-de-noir Paul Gause, who is chasing Seton Hall's all-time theft record?

At one time, the game had looked tantalizingly within reach, but in an instant it became a blow-out. Sam "Forever" Young, with his age-worn visage and leathery mitts, threw down thunderous mid-range jumper after mid-range jumper, paying homage to our own former Pirate great, Brian Laing.

After the game, it was a different story. With everyone gathered in the Ice Lounge, clamoring for a spot near the SNY camera, the atmosphere was electric. Then the players showed up. Garcia and I chilled, discussing our forthcoming trip to KY. Dave and Pete hung out, reviewing calculus problem sets and exchanging Aeropostale coupons. Overall, it was a great opportunity to be with the guys.

So, yes, technically we lost. On three technical fouls.

But in another way, it was a victory. We went down fighting and kicking (and jawing) as usual, just as Paul would have liked.

Gause: The Legend

2009-02-28T15:13:00.002-05:00

Tonight is going to be emotional for Dave and myself. Tonight we say goodbye to a legendary Pirate.

Paul Gause is the epitome of what makes Seton Hall basketball great. He gives everything he has, running around the court like a madman, swiping at the ball every chance he gets. In many ways, he's the perfect guard for Gonzo's "system."

But that's Paul the player. What you may not know is Paul the friend.

Dave and I first "friended" Paul on Facebook simultaneously about a year ago. Since then, we've been privileged to receive frequent status updates, everything from "Paul just added new photos..." to "Paul just changed his profile picture." But while his picture may change, I assure you he is as steady a man you'll ever meet. His relationship with Amelia is a model of respect and intimacy, and I can only hope to maintain myself with such dignity in my personal affairs.

Paul, what can I say? What haven't I already said?

We are like brothers. We travelled to West Virginia, Puerto Rico... and soon we'll see you in Kentucky.

Play your heart out tonight kid. Go beat Pitt.

And The Winner Is...

2009-02-26T14:21:00.002-05:00

….Seton Hall!! After coming away empty handed from last night’s film festival, Ben and I were comforted in the fact that the true winners of the night were appropriately rewarded with a 75-60 victory over USF. While some hardware would have been nice, Ben and I would gladly trade a miniature statue for a victory any day of the week. However, I can’t help but wonder…was the lighting too dim? The music too loud? The choreography not timed correctly? The Hazell flop not emphatic enough?...Oh well, there’s always the next one.

Last night’s game against USF was a throw back to the Seton Hall of old. Eugene Harvey returned to the court after missing last Sunday’s St. John’s game. While Ben and I failed to win any awards, Nunu earned himself Setonia’s P.O.G award. Congrats Nunu! Jeremy Hazell, despite battling an apparent chest cold, was back to making shots he shouldn’t be taking and nailing 3 pointers (4-9 from the arc). And, in classic Seton Hall form, we got absolutely murdered in the paint in the first half. While the second half offset some of the statistics, it was an absolute bloodbath down there for the first twenty minutes. If South Florida’s “Nobody #1” and “Nobody #2” can dominate us down low like that, imagine what will happen Saturday night when big, bad Pittsburgh comes to town?

Speaking upcoming games, we here at Setonia would like to make an announcement (Hear ye, Hear ye!). After the Saturday night game against Pitt, Ben and I will be stuffing our life possessions into whatever rental car we can get our mitts on and making the long trek out to Louisville, Kentucky. Why, you may ask? To see the Louisville game, duh! Realizing that the Hall’s only chance of beating Louisville is to bring the Cardinal mascot head to Kentucky, the three of us (Ben, myself and Cardinal) will be sitting courtside at Freedom Hall, using the Cardinal head as some sort of voodoo doll to cast evil spirits upon Rick Pitino and his Louisville team. After successfully casting spells upon Earl Clark and Terrence Williams, we will travel north several days later to do the same to Deonta Vaughn and his Cincinnati Bearcats team.

It should be the trip of a lifetime and stay tuned for more details.

We'd like to thank the academy...

2009-02-24T20:41:00.003-05:00

Dave and I have been pretty taken with the Oscars this season. Between the success of "mid-majors" like Slumdog Millionaire, and the compelling performances of Kate "Cinderella" Winslet, we've had Hollywood on our minds. For that reason, we decided to enter our acclaimed YouTube video in a film festival.

Now, it's true, we're not exactly your artsy types. Our idea of a fun afternoon is an over-priced slice of La Famiglia Pizza, watching a nail-biter against Delaware. But if it means more people will watch our tribute to Seton Hall, we'll do anything.

The festival will take place in the Crooked Knife bar between Madison and Park on 30th street. Our video will be shown at around 11pm on Wednesday, if any fellow filmophiles would like to stop by. We'll be rushing to get there after the USF game, with our black berets in tow.

We've already been nominated for a number of categories:

1. Best Cardinal in a Supporting Role

and

2. Best Coaching Antics to a Kanye West Solo

Deja Vu All Over Again, Hall Loses 70-65

2009-02-23T09:33:00.004-05:00

Even more destructive than Seton Hall's trips to Marquette has been the Hall's recent trips to Carnesecca Arena in Queens to take on local rival St. John's. While it would have been nearly impossible to replicate last year's heartwrenching loss to the Johnnies, SHU managed to come close, losing this year 70-65. Other than the first 5 minutes of the game in which the Hall was 4-5 from the arc, this contest was a heated battle between two schools fighting to save face.

Carnesecca Arena, a throw back gymnasium with supposedly fewer seats than our own Vinman's high school gym, creates a great environment to watch a game and makes for a true home court feel - something that MSG nor the Prudential Center offers. With the student section bumping and Lou Carnesecca's imprint literally everywhere, St. John's was definitely fueled by the crowd's boisterous support and inspired by its own Senior Night. However, this is no excuse for our sloppy play, failure to box out and general lackluster effort.

In a game mired by turnovers and missed rebounds, there was one bright spot on the evening. After being disciplined during the Marquette game, Mike Davis used the extra time to soften up his mitts and came out strong against St. John's, having his best BIG EAST game of the season. While he only had 5 points, Mike grabbed 7 rebounds and helped anchor Seton Hall's best lineup of the season - featuring Garcia, Stix, Hazell, Theodore and Mitts of Stone himself. Hopefully this will give him an added boost of confidence as we finish up the season and head into the BE Tournament.

******

In more positive news, congratulations to Jeremy Hazell on becoming the 37th player to reach 1,000 career points. Only a sophmore, we at Setonia would love to see Jeremy reach 2,000 points. Only 1,000 more to go big guy - see you at the finish line!

SHU Forgets to Get Off Plane; Loses 79-67

2009-02-17T22:25:00.006-05:00

Playing Marquette has turned into an ugly affair for the apartment Ben and I currently rent to run our Setonia blog operation. For the second straight away game vs. Marquette, yet another poster was devastatingly ripped from our Ikea-laden apartment, signaling a sense of frustration that one only experiences after being "oh-so-close."

After playing subpar basketball for the first 20 minutes yet still somehow leading 37-34, the team managed to somehow revert to playing at an 8th grade level and was outscored 45-30 in the second half. Were it not for a couple of Hazell rainmakers in the last several minutes of the game, the score would have been even more lopsided.

What happened in the second half of tonight's basketball game will probably be studied by scientists (Dr. Adubato), dermatologists (Derm) and economists (Kaz) for years to come. Why was it that senior co-captain Paul Gause and rookie sensation Jordan Theodore were the only two players to show up to tonight's game? Well, I'm going to try and answer that question the only way I know how...by asking more questions...

- Why was Jeremy Hazell so reluctant to drive to the hoop the way he had been doing so all seasion? Was his neck still bothering him?

- Where was Stix Mitchell tonight? Did he forget his legs in the plane's overhead compartment?

- Why did Mike Davis not play one single minute? Can he really be any worse than Wawa?

- With 5 minutes left and Marquette up 25 pts, why did Gonzo pull fan favorite Matt Cajuste in favor of Wawa? Wawa had yet to register a single positive statistic in the box score and Cajuste had just blocked a shot...

- After another solid effort by Jordan Theodore and another mental vacation for Eugene Harvey, do we see the freshman get the start against St. John's this coming Sunday?

Those were just a few of the questions Ben and I had as we watched our beloved Pirates get brought back down to earth by the Golden Eagles. Hopefully on Sunday there will be some answers.

Heroes Fall to UConn; Garcia Exclusive

2009-02-14T22:05:00.003-05:00

After watching today's game, one word comes to mind: "heroes." Even though we shot the ball terribly, and were outmuscled by arguably the most dominant Big East defensive college center in years, we battled hard. We fought. We showed heart.

And on this particular Valentine's Day, no player showed more heart than John Garcia. With my fingers trembling on the keyboard, I couldn't help but send John a quick chat message after today's contest. (The trembling accounts for my slightly premature tap on the "enter" key, placing the "e" on its own line.) Still, John took my grammatical snafu in stride. Hobbling along as ever, John was undaunted, responding with his characteristic humility and grace: "Thanx alot," the hero answered.

Sure, our guards struggled. But one guard shone. Literally. And that guard was Missouri-transfer Keon Neon. Wearing a radioactive green collared shirt, and matching tie, Keon was cheering everyone on the floor as if his life depended on it. But it's clear he does have some favorites. For starters, the Flagman!!

As Flagman was performing his usual couple laps, Neon got in his face and started clapping. With Neon's radioactive powers, Flagman then went on to unleash an unbelievable 5 more laps!! Take that, Michael Phelps!

In the end, everyone on that floor for SHU was a hero today. But as Dave and I were riding the Path train back into New York, traveling its unnecessarily circuitous weekend route back through Hoboken, we couldn't help but wonder if we fans had been up to the challenge. Could we have been louder? Could we have done more to drown out those obnoxious UConn fans? Could we have invited more of our friends to the arena to occupy those couple empty seats? Could we have done more to give our team a real home team advantage?

As a team, as a school, as a COMMUNITY, let's be heroes. Let's show the world how much we love this team.

PS. Also, a big-time shout out to Kevin Willet. Upon learning that SHU was considering cutting the budget to allow for the cheerleaders and band to travel across the Hudson for the Big East tourney, Kevin has started a Facebook group to draw attention to this issue. Great work, Kevin. We support you, and will do everything we can to make sure these special members of our community are able to take part as they should. (If bus transport is too expensive, I say we construct some sort of aerodynamic flying device using Flagman and Keon's green shirt as fuel.)

What Does It Take To Be... #1?

2009-02-14T10:03:00.000-05:00

Today we find out. Let's go Hall.

Beat those Huskies!!!

5-Game Win Streak; SHU Wins By $19.99!!

2009-02-11T12:04:00.004-05:00

Sometimes Dave and I forget that we are part of a fringe community. We can't imagine that the rest of the world would not be as tuned in to our devoted Pirates as we are. Never was there a clearer reminder, however, then last night's ESPNU broadcast of SHU vs. Depaul.

Filled with the sort of low-cost informercial programming one might expect to see at 4 am on a cooking network, Dave and I were treated to a litany of commercials promoting a wide range of products one might reasonably consider shams. One product was actually named, "The Shamwow!" With an absorbing power inversely proportional to Mike Davis' mitts, this piece of cloth grabbed everything in sight! Cola on the carpet? Loose ball off the iron? Use the Shamwow! to pull everything in.

Another highlight had to be the Pro-Caulk. With its octogonal poker chip design, the Pro-Caulk is effectively a glorified piece of plastic used to wipe away excess caulk, creating perfectly straight lines. It also has another use: Dr. Adubato Roboto likes the Pro-Caulk for pinstriping his power suits!

Yes, there were a great many absurd advertisements, including the Montel Williams / Barack Obama Commemorative Series, a Renaissance Fair themed Free Credit Report.Com spot, and a true favorite, the Snuggie: a monk-designed piece of fabric meant to restrict mobility.

But while these Super Bowl caliber ads were entertaining, the game was actually even better. What team basketball!! What heart!!

Harvey played some of his best basketball of the season, and everyone contributed to this one. Standing on one leg, Garcia in particular had a number of "Shamwow!" moments, skying over the competition to grab board after board. Also humorous was the announcer's actually uncomfortable obsession with Stix's legs. Enough with the close-ups, already!!

All-in-all, Dave and I were pleasantly surprised. This had "trap game" written all over it, but our boys came through to shock the world.

In a word: SHAMWOW!!

Super Sunday; SHU tops RU 65-60

2009-02-08T16:14:00.004-05:00

As someone who makes every effort to catch every Seton Hall game possible - whether they be at the Rock, Walsh Gymnasium, a local away game, Puerto Rico or simply on TV or radio - not being able to watch my beloved Pirates was excruciating. I had to work on this glorious Sunday afternoon and therefore missed my first Seton Hall game in over a year. Yes, it was heart wrenching. But fortunately, I was able to get almost live text updates from my trusted associate, Ben. Through a series of accepted 21st century "text-isms," I was able to get a pretty good feel for the game. As a tribute to Ben, and a big shoutout to the late great Alexander Graham Bell, below is the live thread I was receiving, starting at halftime:

32-32 at half

up 3. all jt

jt hits a 3

hill is using bigs to guard Harvey

tied

garcia has 10

13 for garcia

54 to 51. 8 min left

ru up 1

nunu awful

lane violation on garcia. lol

tied w 5 left

harvey 1 of 10 fg

up 2

3 min left. played sports all through high school

hazell lazy TO

ru up 1

tied at 60

146 left

both teams so ugly

killed on boards

hazell dunk off gause steal

up 62 60. harvey shooting 1 n 1. missed first

ru ball. 40 sec left. hall up 2

gause finally gets board. fouled with 19 sec left

missed first

good

63 60. ru ball

win!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. Thank you, Ben! And nice win SHU, however ugly it may have been. A win is a win and now the state of New Jersey is rightfully ours.

Hall "Blues Out" St. John's; Irving Photo

2009-02-07T15:44:00.003-05:00

Seton Hall has not had a single comfortable win against a Big East program in a long, long time. This game came close.

With the arena buzzing, and a "blue out" declared, the fans had a lot to cheer about. Unfortunately, while the night was a great success, there were a couple minor mistakes by the Seton Hall organizers.

A couple tips for the next "blue out:"

1. If you're the guy handing out blue t-shirts to the people sitting courtside, maybe the guy wearing all red with a St. Johns' hat doesn't deserve one.

2. At the Trivia stand, there was a man handing out white Seton Hall t-shirts. At the blue out.

3. The impact of the blue out is a little diminished when the entrance to the Prudential Center is illuminated with 1,000 watt red light bulbs.

But these are just little peccadilloes. On the whole, Dave and I had a great time. He wore blue war paint, and I had a balloon pirate sword. It was the best day of a 7 year old's life.

The game was also quite interesting. Putting aside the player performances, clearly Flagman was inspired by our poll question, as he set a record 8 laps!! Our options only went up to 7, big guy!! Take it easy!! Even though that flagpole is about as skinny as a Mitchell tibia, you know it's got to weigh a lot.

On the court, Garcia played a great first half, moving up and down the floor with relative agility, and even blocking a lot of shots. Hazell had a great shooting night, and Theodore gave a great spark off the bench.

It was also nice to see Kyrie Irving in attendance. One of the Hall's top recruits, Irving sat in the section next to us, and seemed to enjoy the game. Forgetting the fact that he formerly attended MKA, and Dave and I both graduated from rival high school Newark Academy, rest assured that we would happily "squash the beef" between our respective alma matria just to let this kid play the point.

I snapped this shot of Irving after the game, heading into the locker room, where he would surely be greeted with a sweaty hug from Gonzo and a cool handshake from SYMS fashion model, Adubato Roboto.

Check it out!

100th Blog Entry!! Yay!

2009-02-02T22:31:00.005-05:00

Life is a series of accomplishments. Some are big. (Eugene scoring his 1000th point.) Some are small. (Mike Davis catching a rebound with his pillowy mitts.) And then some are absolutely freaking huge.

It was little over a year ago when Dave and I decided to start this blog. At the time, many said it could never be done. But we have proved the naysayers wrong! We have made our personal and professional lives an afterthought, and poured our heart and soul (and minds?!?) to making Setonia.blogspot everyone's favorite website. For some, even homepage. (That's for you, Verizon Tom!!)

Of course, the success we have enjoyed -- the fame, the glory, the ad revenue, which is barely anything -- is a testament to the wonderful support we have received. It's not just me and Dave who make this blog work. We have a working team of thousands, all living in India. But there are also many people in the States who are helping. In this entry, we say thank you.

Thank you...

To our parents, for their undying love and loyal readership. Even when no one knew we existed, you were still clicking on ads.

To our friends, who think our obsession with Seton Hall is strange, yet are jealous nonetheless. We promise to find you guys a part in our next video.

To the players, who respond to our Facebook messages and give their all on the floor, night in and night out. A particular thanks to Pete Peregrin for taking valuable time away from your Calculus homework in the San Juan airport to say hello.

To Gonzo, Skin, and Dr. Adubato, for your wisdom, recruiting, and complementary donuts at the Seton Hall day practice.

To HallDan, master of the Rivals universe, for encouraging a couple young upstarts in the dog-eat-dog world of the blogosphere.

To Vinman, for recognizing our talents at the Booster Club preseason dinner in the VFW Hall, and giving us the inspiration to make Setonia the institution it is today. Seriously Vinny, we love you.

To Vinman Jr., the son of Vinman, aka. VinLittleMan, whose knowledge of the game far exceeds any other preschooler.

To Jerry, acclaimed WSOU radio personality, who has always treated us exactly as we've asked to be treated: as dignified members of the Seton Hall media community.

To Rosa, the customer service representative at the San Juan Ritz Carleton, who managed to deliver free polo shirts to our hotel room.

To UConnia - whoever you might be. I feel like a proud father when I look at your own marvelous blog.

To Mr. Burke, a long-time family friend, who has provided us with free tickets to watch our beloved Hall when we could not have afforded to otherwise.

To Tim HIggins, whose refusal to go quietly into that dark night we call retirement has provided both of us with added inspiration as we endure a difficult job market.

To "Governor" Codey, whose leadership of our state is only rivaled by his hospitality at his burger restaurant in Newark.

To Gonzo's little sister, who gave Dave a ride to Don Pepe's after the big Georgetown victory.

To Flagman, who gives his heart every night to circle around a bunch of cheerleaders who probably walk right past him in the cafeteria.

To Jeb, who filmed and produced our critically acclaimed YouTube video, and Ref, Gonzo and the Cardinal for dealing with two obsessive compulsive directors and believing in us when noone else did.

To Bob Huggins, coach of West Virginia, who greeted us so warmly at 3 am in the lobby of the Morgantown Waterfront Hotel the night before pummeling Seton Hall by 30 points.

To "Fox," whose real name is __________. You mean more to us than you know.

To Vince, our intrepid Booster Club travel coordinator, who finds wonderful places for us to stay at wholesale prices.

To Carl, the man who works at the Abracadabra Halloween Store in lower Manhattan who sold me the Louisville Cardinal head at a great discount. Carl, the movie would've sucked without you!!

To "Cray," our late crayfish. RIP.

To Joe Quinlan, for your quiet, almost comatose disposition at games. In all seriousness though, it's a nice balance with Gonzo.

To Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin, for talking to us sometimes.

To Brian Laing and Jamar Nutter, former Pirate greats, whom we miss terribly. Next time we go backpacking across the Pyrenees, my friends, expect a text message!

To St. Ausgustine Okosun. You are gone but not forgotten. "The Gazelle" lives on.

To Jarrid Famous's father, it was a pleasure meeting you in the Ice lounge. If we had schollie, we would give it to you.

Well, I think that's it. As you can see, Dave and I may be the "faces" of this blog, but there are many people behind the scenes who you never read about.

Thanks everyone!! Happy 100th!

Famous Amos as Good as Advertised

2009-02-01T13:43:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, a small group of dedicated Seton Hall basketball fans traveled to St. Francis College in Brooklyn to watch the Westchester Community College Westcos and SHU's prized recruit Jarrid Famous play powerhouse ASA College.

An odd combination of St. Augustine Okosun and Greg Oden, Famous lived up to much of the hype he has received. Physically gifted, Famous is a tall, but muscular, imposing figure on the court. While he can definitely stand to put on a good 20 pounds of muscle, he was not as "Sticky" as I thought he was going to be. With good post moves and confidence in his outside shot (he still needs to work on going left, but Im sure Brandon Walters will be able to help him with that), Jarrid's offensive game is BIG EAST ready. Also, on another positive note, Famous must have those hand incubators cranked up to the highest level as his mitts are as soft as a she-mouses's belly! Oh, and did I mention that he can rebound!?!?

All in all it was a great way to spend a Saturday afernoon and I think the 15 people or so we had donned in their favorite blue and white apparel sent a powerful message to Jarrid and the original Famous, Amos. Too bad we werent able to get a trip out to watch Okosun in Nigeria...

Hall Saves Face; Wins 70-67

2009-01-30T14:36:00.001-05:00

And the winner is….(drumroll please)…Exit 15W!!! In a battle for the Garden State, Seton Hall beat archrival Rutgers University last night 70-67, settling the age old debate as to which exit is better.

The game last night was a heated battle between two schools whose programs are very much looking to the future. Seton Hall’s freshman Jordan Theodore contributed mightily on the defensive end last night and created plays out of nothing on the offensive side. Even super-hero character Mitts of Stone (Mike Davis) softened up those mitts and added 4 points and 5 rebounds in a mere 12 minutes of play. It looks like those hand incubators are working Mike…keep up the good work! However, Rutgers was able to counter with their own freshman phenoms Mike Rosario and Greg Echenique, both of whom were Rutgers’ go to players towards the end of the game.

Despite the extraordinary play of JT, M.O.S and a resurgent John Garcia, it was Jeremy Hazell who stole the show. Dropping 35 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, Hazell had a mini coming out party on a nationally televised ESPN2 game. Hazell scored the majority of his points in the second half, hitting a couple of 3 point daggers and nailing his foul shots to seal the deal for the Hall.

However, even though Hazell was in the spotlight for most of the night, we at Setonia would be remiss if we failed to mention the hero of the evening – Eugene the Cafeteria Guy! In his first basketball game ever, Eugene received a standing applause from the near sold out crowd, especially from former player Luther Wright who seems to have had his fair share of Eugene’s specialties.

After the big Georgetown win on Sunday, it was important for Seton Hall to come out strong and come away with a victory against Rutgers, who is still hungry for their first BE win. Now, we have won two games in a row, are on a mini winning streak and have a week off before next Thursday’s Blue out at the Pru.

Onnnnward Setonia!

Player Profile: Robert Mitchell

2009-01-27T22:59:00.002-05:00

At 6'5'' and 185 lbs, Mitchell may be our most tenacious rebounder! His feel for the game is extraordinary, and he makes the most of his size. Yes, Robert Mitchell is truly one of a kind!! Except, of course, he's not. In fact, "Robert Mitchell" may be the most common name in the Anglo-Saxon tradition.

In honor of Stix and his incredible play of late, we'd like to spotlight Robert Mitchell #845.

From Wikipedia:

Robert Mitchell (14 December 1913 – November 1996) was a British water polo player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. He was part of the British team which finished eighth in the 1936 tournament. He played all seven matches.
Twelve years later at the 1948 Summer Olympics he was a reserve player and did not participate in a match during the 1948 tournament. He was later a member of the Greater London Council (1964-86).

What a Day

2009-01-26T11:51:00.004-05:00

Wow...what a day. If Seton Hall had only beaten nationally ranked Georgetown - it would have been enough. If PJ Carlesimo and the rest of the 1989 Final Four team had only given a bone chilling halftime presentation - it would have been enough. And if only the annual Seton Hall Booster Club dinner was held last night - it would have been enough. But for all three events to happen on the same, glorious Sunday...what a day!

After a thrilling upset over the (Hoya) Rocks of Georgetown, the Seton Hall faithful made the cross-town journey to Don Pepe's restaurant for the annual Seton Hall Booster Club dinner. I had the fortune of riding shotgun to the dinner with two Seton Hall gurus - the mastermind of the Rivals website and Head Coach Bobby Gonzalez's younger sister. You can only imagine what a thrill it was for a younger blogger like myself to be in the presence of such greatness.

The restaurant was set up beautifully with 130 people or so patiently awaiting the hero of the day – Head Coach Bobby Gonzalez. In the meantime, we were treated to inspiring, and amusing, speeches from our fearless leader Vince Zingara, Monsignor Sheeran, Fooch and track-star-and-band-leader turned reporter, Jerry Carino. Not even an obnoxious comment from one of the guests regarding our beloved Athletic Director could spoil this magical evening. In fact, the only thing missing was a personal welcome from Gabe Lopez and his family.

After enjoying some fine sangria, the man of the hour, Bobby Gonzalez, finally arrived. Followed closely by his traveling entourage of Dr. Roboto, Skin and the Kazman, Gonzo gave one of his patented, loquacious speeches – making sure to point out repeatedly special guests Mr. Robinson (the original) and Mr. Famous (Amos).

However, one of the highlights of the evening was sitting next to a devoted Setonia follower's 5 year old son and listening to him recite every players' number, watching him reenact Jeremy Hazell and Paul Gause's in-game antics and hearing his esteemed opinion on the future of the sporting industry in the recent economic downturn. It seems as though we have a Bill James in the making on our hands!!

After sharing some wonderful Spanish cuisine with the who’s who of Seton Hall basketball, the evening ended in absolute euphoria – it turns out Bobby Gonzalez wants a (signed) copy of the Seton Hall music video. Not a problem Bobby…coming right up!!

Nostalgia Triumphs; Hall Edges GTown

2009-01-25T19:49:00.003-05:00

With a little help from Doc Brown and his flux capacitor, SHU turned back the clock on Sunday to beat #14 Georgetown at home. After honoring the 1989 national runner-up team at halftime and an inspirational speech from former coach PJ Carlesimo, our beloved Pirates came out with a strong last 20 minutes to steal a victory against one of the country's elite teams.

Now, as you all know at this point, Dave and I were pretty moved by last year's Louisville victory. In fact, it launched our movie career. But in all honesty, this win may have been more impressive. Whereas the UL game was the result of Hazell's individual performance, today was more a team effort. Stix and Garcia passed the ball brilliantly, and JT and Gause created havoc with the press. Even Matt "The Juice" Cajuste got into the act!! Take that, Greg "Monroe Doctrine"!!

On a day when SHU didn't hit a single three pointer, the offense still looked beautifully in sync. And even though GTown missed a number of open shots, our zone was very active.

For one day, it wasn't 2009 anymore. For one day, a gallon of gas was under 90 cents. And Madonna was still a virgin.

For one day, it was 1989. And Seton Hall reclaimed its title as a powerhouse program.

Dave will have more updates from the Booster Club dinner at Don Pepe's... stay tuned!!

The Dark Knight Returns

2009-01-19T21:13:00.004-05:00

Well, it wasn't easy, but someone had to do it. This past weekend, this intrepid investigative journalist returned from Connecticut after attending yet another seamlessly run Booster Club trip. Unfortunately, Ben was unable to attend this most recent excursion so I had to brave the bitter cold, and even fiercer opponent, myself. However, thanks in large part to what one prominent Booster Club member declared the "fellowship of brotherhood," I was able to survive the long, arduous journey despite the conspicuous absence of my co-blogger.

While the outcome of the game against UConn was not what we had hoped for, the experience of traveling with 70 other die-hard fans was more fulfilling than I could have ever imagined. After struggling to make it out to New Jersey at 9am, I was graciously picked up from the South Orange train station by a fellow Seton Hall fan and soon to be brother-in-arms. Once we were settled in on our bus, we were confronted with our first major decision of the trip - which movie would we watch on the way to Connecticut and which movie would we watch on the way back?!?! Would "Ironman", the blockbuster story of an arrogant, egotistical weapons tycoon turned superhero be our first film? Or would "Batman: The Dark Knight" prove victorious due to Heath Ledger's magnificent, yet unfortunately post-humus, performance?? Alas, "Ironman" won, putting all speculation to bay.

After sipping on Yoo-Hoo and Famous Amos cookies (an odd homage to my favorite after-school snack, not to mention former Governor Codey's nickname for prized recruit Jarrid Famous' father) and having similar success to Seton Hall at Foxwoods Casino, we arrived to a picturesque Bed and Breakfast in the rolling hills of historic Avon, CT. Our fearless leadership quickly assembled quite the hospitality suite and before we knew it we were watching college basketball and snacking on goldfish...what more could a man possibly hope for? The next morning's brunch featured the booster club raffle which included coveted SHU paraphernalia such as tee-shirts, windbreakers, tank tops and the odd Iowa Buckeyes inspired yellow and black Seton Hall athletic shirt. Much to my chagrin, I failed to come away with the tanktop...oh well, there's always next time.

A brief stop at the XL Center in downtown Hartford (apparently there was some basketball game there) and we were back on the road, sipping juice boxes. So after nearly 48 hours of bus rides, superhero movies, juice boxes, snack food, gambling, stock tips and a little college basketball interspersed, this Dark Knight was ready to return to the place he really belongs - the Seton Hall campus.

Pep Talk Not Enough; Caps Lock Falls Short

2009-01-18T23:41:00.004-05:00

I really thought we had a chance to beat UConn today. Even though unfortunate circumstances prevented me from joining my brothers in the Booster Club, I felt like I was there in spirit, cheering on the team. Also, I figured Dave would be cheering extra loud in my absence.

It was this confidence that led me to initiate a "chat" with star sophomore Jeremy Hazell before the game.

I wanted to tell him my thoughts about beating the box and 1. I wanted to tell him about potential improvements to his defensive game. I wanted to tell him I loved him. But instead all I could muster was this simple injunction: "play tough play smart." Jeremy, perhaps a bit overzealous with the caps lock button, responded with a screaming "YEA." Sadly, he was just as trigger happy on the court as he was on the keyboard, launching a number of ill-advised three pointers in the first. He did, however, play a very strong second half, prompting me to believe that Coach Gonzo must have delivered a rather caps lock speech in the locker room at halftime.

Well, I guess that's why he's the coach.

Pittsnoggle is America

2009-01-16T09:53:00.004-05:00

While Seton Hall is now my one and only love in the college basketball world, I must admit it didn't start out that way. It began in a college dorm room, during a different era. Adidas was at the height of its popularity. Radiohead was still on the radio, and Pandora was just a hatchling in the brain of some computer nerd. It began watching Pitts.

My love of the Big East, and more specifically, WVU basketball was something unexpected. But watching this tattoo-covered big man stroke it from deep in an offensive system that brought tears to your eyes during tournament game after tournament game, I couldn't help but feel a part of Mountaineer nation.

Regional affiliation combined with an endless desire to support the underdog has led Dave and myself to the Hall, and we couldn't be happier. But Pittsnoggle will always have a special place in my heart. As the description from the Facebook Group I created in 2006 "More PT for Pitts" reads: "Pittsnoggle remains the greatest American athlete in the last decade."

Read this story and you'll see why:

NY times article on Pitts

Coo Coo Cachoo, Mr. Robinson!!!

2009-01-14T21:46:00.005-05:00

The Seton Hall family just welcomed its newest member, 6'5 transfer Jeff Robinson from the University of Memphis. Robinson, a product of one of New Jersey's finest - St. Patrick's High School Academy - will be a critical puzzle piece (the corner?) added to the team for next year and will be playing in front of his friends and family literally a few miles away from where he grew up.

Robinson, an athletic freak of nature, will be expected to rotate in and out with sophmore sensation Jeremy Hazell and recent transfer Robert "Stix" Mitchell. While Mr. Robinson's baseball skills may not quite matchup with Joe Dimaggio's, his basketball skills should hopefully help catapult next year's Seton Hall squad into the top half of the BIG EAST.

The additions of DeAndre Kane, Jeff Robinson, Herb Pope, Keon Lawrence and Big Mel Oliver (anyone else is welcome to join... sign-up sheet is posted outside Walsh) to a team that is only losing one (super)man will force Gonzo to do something he has yet to have the luxury to do: coach a team with depth at every posiiton. We are all looking forward to seeing Mr. Robinson play next year and, dont forget, the Pirates love you more than you will know!!

Digger Myself a Hole

2009-01-10T11:29:00.002-05:00

Today, SHU travels to play Notre Dame, a team formerly coached by ESPN commentator and Dick Vitale shoe-shiner, Digger Phelps. If you look at the matchup on paper, you'll find that Notre Dame should pose terrible problems for our beloved Pirates. The Irish lead the league in the 3 point percentage, and their assist-turnover ratio is outstanding. Considering that our perimeter defense is very poor, and our only way to win games is to force turnovers, you might logically conclude that this game will be a disaster.

Still, something tells me SHU might get lucky on this one. With Keon now once and for all relegated to his position as team cheerleader and fashionista -- love the untucked slim-fitting white oxford!! -- this team of 8 scholarship players, plus JUICE, should be able to move ahead more determined and focused. Also, it's not like Notre Dame is unbeatable... they've already lost to St. John's, proving that Norm "McDonald" Roberts is not quite the Saturday Night Live "comedy routine" some have made him out to be.

So, what am I saying? Do I actually think SHU might upset Notre Dame today? For some unthinkable reason, yes. Yes, I do.

Player to watch: Theodore. After a few sub-par games, JT picked it up against Villanova. I would love the kid to have a big game, slashing and drawing fouls against Big Luke in the middle.

To Be Expected

2009-01-07T15:22:00.005-05:00

There are several things one can expect when attending a Seton Hall Basketball:

1) Jeremy Hazell will fall down at least once while attemping a 3-pointer.

2) Mike "Stones" Davis will spike the ball out of bounds in an attempt to grab a rebound.

3) "Stix" will try to take a charge on defense.

4) No matter the matchup, Seton Hall will take you on an emotional roller coaster...

...And that is exactly what happened in last night's OT loss to 17th ranked Villanova. In a matchup of superstar guards, Seton Hall (Jeremy Hazell) battled 'Nova (Scottie Reynolds) to the wire, eventually losing 89-85. Hazell's bank 3 pointer (dont worry, I heard him call it) at the end of regulation forced overtime but it wasn't enough to offset "Teflon" Reynolds' 40 point night.

Playing their best game since Puerto Rico, SHU looked once again like a team to be reckoned with in the BIG EAST. With pesky defense and miraculous drives to the basket, Seton Hall went step for step with Nova all night long. John Garcia looked stronger than his last game against WVU and even walk on sensation Matt "Juste" Cajuste contributed some valuable minutes, grabbing 4 boards and robbing Nova twice. For all of you who are wondering, yes, Ben and I are in the process of making "Juste" t-shirts...please be patient.

Additionally, it was good to see some emotion from the fans last night. It was a pleasant reminder that the Hall does play in front of a live crowd, although there were way too many Villanova fans for my taste. Hopefully last night's game will remind our local fan base that we do still have a basketball team and we can still compete with the best in the BIG EAST.

One last note - a big thank you to the mystery man Ben and I met on the PATH train returning to the city last night. A SHU senior and die-hard basketball fan, we asked if he had seen the Seton Hall music video. When we revealed ourselves as the two stars behind the video, his jaw dropped and he continued to praise us for our efforts, telling us how the video has made serious inroads into the Seton Hall student body. Wow...I have never before felt like a celebrity, but now I know how it feels. But dont worry, I'm not going to start jumping on any couches any time soon.

Thanks mystery man! See you at Brick City before the Providence game!

Hall Falls to WVU, Fashionably

2009-01-04T20:07:00.006-05:00

In some ways, this weekend's loss to West Virginia was pretty much like any other Seton Hall loss. Poor interior rebounding and weak outside defense proved, yet again, a failing combination, as the Hall squad wasted a fantastic offensive performance by Jeremy Hazell. In other ways, however, this game was very unique, with a number of unusual moments.

Rather than recap the action on the court, Dave and I wanted to point out some of the more eye-catching events on Saturday:

Mike Davis: The Next David Beckham

In what could be described as the strangest jumbo-tron player interview of the season, Mike Davis admitted to having a rather unlikely sports hero: fashion-icon and soccer diva, not to mention L.A. Galaxy sensation, David "Bexx" Beckham. Why, you might ask? Because of "his work ethic." Umm... I like soccer as much as the next guy, but that had to be one of the most unexpected responses in the history of America's general distaste for futbol. It's okay though... Davis knocked it out of the park with his answers to the food questions. Doritos and vanilla ice cream with sprinkles -- I hear ya, big guy!!

Flagman Goes For 5

When the team is losing by 8 late in the game, who can they turn to? The fans? The band? The middle cheerleader, who is extremely attractive and flexible? No. They depend on Flagman. And on this day, the man with the 30 foot pole showed up big time. Unfortunately, his record-setting 5 laps still was not enough to rouse the Pirates. Can anyone say half a dozen?!?!?!

The Gonzo Phantom Technical

Sure, say what you want about Coach Gonzo. Occasionally, his mouth gets him in trouble. But against WVU on Saturday, the SHU coach was hit with a technical without real cause. In an innocent move he lifted straight from our Youtube video, coach Gonzo was displeased with a blocking foul call, and responded by putting his hand behind his head, indicating he thought it was a charge. The ref proceeded to then "t" up the coach, again mimicking exactly the video. I guess it's true what they say: life imitates art.

Sign of Solidarity

2009-01-02T16:49:00.005-05:00

After a tough loss against Syracuse, I decided that Seton Hall needed my help and support now more than ever. Should I write yet another post on Rivals or should I try and write a post on Setonia? Should I drive out to South Orange and see if John Garcia needs any more ice for his leg or should I spend some more time in the gym with Wawa and Mike Davis helping soften their mitts?

No, that simply would not do it. They needed something more. The team needed to know that despite their poor performance against Syracuse and their terrifying upcoming stretch of games against West Virginia, Notre Dame and UConn, Ben and I are with them...in every sense of the word. That's why I did the only thing I thought would show our absolute, unrelenting, borderline obsessive support for the Hall - give myself a pho-hawk.

As sign of solidarity, and as a tribute to Jeremy Hazell, Ben shaved a pho-hawk into my already natural faux-ish hair. There were some inherent complications with the haircut, most notably my lack of hair to begin with. However, we worked with what we had and managed to shave a rather symetrical line into my head...needless to say, I was the hit of my New Year's Party!!

In these difficult times, this is the kind of support we all need to show the Hall. Whether you choose the foo-man choo that Wawa so elegantly sports, the ski jump that Pistol Pete has brought back from the dead or the riskier pho-hawk that Jeremy and yours truly I think it is important for all of us to stand behind this Pirates team. And who knows, maybe one of the players will model their hairstyle after you!!

They Are Who We Thought They Were

2008-12-30T21:07:00.003-05:00

Seton Hall traveled north tonight to take on Syracuse in the first BIG EAST game this season but they probably wished they had stayed home. With John Garcia missing his fourth straight game with a knee injury and Head Coach Bobby Gonzalez serving his one game suspension handed down by Czar Quinlan, Seton Hall lost 100-76.

Syracuse proved why they are the 1th ranked team in the country, shooting lights out against the outsized, outmanned Pirates squad. Canadian Mountie Andy Routins shot an unconscious 7-10 from 3pt range, leading a Syracuse team that shot 12-22 from 3. Contrast that with Seton Hall's abysmal 2-27 shooting from the arc and now you can get an idea as to why the Hall lost by 24 points.

Robert Mitchell continued his stellar play grabbing 12 rebounds (5 offensive) and putting up 22 points thereby earning himself Setonia's first Player of the Game award. However, that was the only higlight for the Hall. Brandon "Wawa" Walters almost created his own highlight film with a ridiculous one-handed put back dunk, but like most things tonight for Seton Hall, that came up short as well. In further disappointing news, Jordan Theodore continued his downward spiral as he too often looked lost on the floor, forcing too many bad passes and therefore committing too many turnovers.

Even with John Garcia and Gonzo at the helm, it would have been a tough night. Regardless, I think there were two factors that would have been against the Hall even if we had a fully healthy team. In looking at the box score, one thing sticks out like a sore thumb - Syracuse had 8 players come off the bench, the exact number of scholarship players on our entire team. Wow. On another note, on a cold Monday night the day before New Years in the middle of winter break, Syracuse had 23,000 plus at their game creating a raucus home crowd. Imagine what it would have been like if it was the middle of the semester and the students were there...?

Hall Stylin'

2008-12-29T21:43:00.004-05:00

With the economic crisis continuing to worsen and war raging in the Middle East, it's clear there's one thing on everybody's mind: fashion. For that reason, Dave and I felt compelled to highlight some of the more creative styles of this year's debonair squad.

Jeremy Hazell: The landing strip pho-hawk

If you ask a person from middle America, hey, have you ever heard of Newark?? Usually, they respond with "No." Or, depending on your gender, "No'm." Occasionally, you'll meet somebody who has heard of Newark Airport.

This was no doubt in mind when sophomore shooting stud Jeremy Hazell recently decided to shave both sides of his head, leaving a perfect landing strip of hawk down the middle of his dome. Taking after a star power forward from UConn, the Hazell pho-hawk adds another layer of intensity and makes his screaming during inbounds defense all the more feral.

Fashion Police Score: 9.4

Brandon Wawa: The blue collar goatee

In America nowadays times are tough. From the union auto worker who just lost his pension, to the toll taker made obsolete because of EZ Pass, the tough guys on the street are the ones feeling it most.

As a show of solidarity, Wawa -- whose nickname happens to coincide with a struggling convenient store chain along the outskirts of the rust belt -- has decided to sport the manliest of facial hair: the working man's goat. While Wawa can definitely get a little fancy sometimes out on the court, make no mistake... this guy puts the team first. Whether it's coming up with a big rebound or fighting for a deflection, Wawa is a man out there. A man with a goat.

Fashion Police Score: 8.8

Pete "The Falcon" Peregrin: The boy-band ski-jump

With an apparent homage to the ever-popular Backstreet Boys of the late nineties, Pete has decided to wear his hair with just the right amount of gel to effect a perfectly understated "flip" in the front. Dubbed the "ski-jump" for its parabolic, yet gradual rise in elevation, the flip culminates in an almost static-electric facade of hair above the forehead, making it impossible for even the most nonchalant cheerleader to look away. The "ski-jump" also gives Pete a clear edge on the bench, and helps him stand out from his fellow walk-ons.

Fashion Police Score: 9.1

Stay fabulous, SHU!!!

Hall Rolls Over "Fairly"

2008-12-28T10:25:00.003-05:00

With chants of "Fairly Ridiculous" reverberating in my skull, Seton Hall played a masterful second half last night to defeat an overmatched Morris county squad, 101 - 70 . Coming off consecutive losses to IUPUI and JMU, the victory was much needed for our morale. (The past few days have been particularly difficult for Dave... He has been hunger striking as a show of support for the team.) Hazell starred with superb shooting for 35 points and Wawa played decently around the basket, flaunting his pillowy mitts during each timeout. Also, Matt "The Juice" Cajuste added some nice moments off the bench. Even the Falcon Peregrin soared!

But while tonight's win was a true team effort, most of my attention was focused on Stix. You see, earlier in the day I had played a tough 5-on-5 pick up game at the recently renovated JCC in West Orange. With my sneakers freshly polished and my game similarly polished, I was ready to ball. Unfortunately, I somehow found myself appointed team power forward... next thing I knew was bodying against this mountain of a man who used his elbows like ginsu knives. Nevertheless, I would not give up. After receiving monthly payment after monthly payment of ginsu knives to my face, I continued to battle. And even though my final "stat line" was not traditionally impressive, I can assure you my "intangibles" were off the charts.

Stix, we are two peas in a pod, my friend. I feel your pain and I respect your toughness all the more. Also, let me know if you'd ever like to stop by the JCC... I can get you a guest pass. Unless of course you're already a member! Then you should just enter the building regularly and wait for me at the water fountain.

Popkin, Mitchell Not Enough; Hall Loses 70-64

2008-12-22T21:20:00.005-05:00

What was supposed to be a nice peaceful evening listening to the Prodigal Son and Gary Cohen announce an easy Seton Hall victoryA turned into an actual nightmare. The Hall travelled south this evening to take on James Madison University in what should have been a rather winnable OOC game. Instead, James Madison came out swinging and led at one point by 21 points in the first half. Overcoming their second straight sluggish start, the Hall battled back in classic Hall form, overcoming the 21 point deficit with a combination of steals, three point daggers and pressure D. However, it just wasn't enough.

For the third straight game, Seton Hall relied heavily on their "sprint squad," playing with four guards and Robert "Stix Mitchell" as their "center." Stix actually single handedly kept the Hall in the game, putting up 23 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. However, there is no possible way that Stix can be expected to matchup with the likes of Harangody, Thabeet and Onuaku. Mike Davis and Brandon Walters were virtually invisible tonight playing a combined 20 minutes and zero collective minutes in the second half. With John Garcia out for the next few games, Seton Hall is going to have to learn how to play its young big men, especially when BIG EAST play begins. If Davis and Wawa cant grow a pair of mitts soon, it will be a long, long season for the Pirates - even when John Garcia does return.

Gonzo's reluctance to use either of his backup big men forced him to turn to walk-on Matt "O' Say" Cajuste for a few minutes to spell Paul Gause as he fixed his knee brace. If that's not a slap in the face to Wawa or Davis, I'm not sure what is. Maybe it's a wake up call. Maybe it's the extra motivation they need. The point is - in order to compete in the BIG EAST, Gonzo is going to have to call upon either Mike Davis or Brandon Walters, even when John Garcia does return from his inury. Garcia can not be expected to play day in and dayout on two surgically repaired knees against some of the biggest bodies in college basketball. He is going to need help and someone is going to have to step up. Since I'm not eligble to play yet, it's going to have to be someone else....Ben...??

The other thought that Ben and I kept having was how on earth will Seton Hall compete with the top teams in the BIG EAST if they have to scramble to come from behind against the likes of Delaware, Cal Baptist, IUPUI and James Madison? If they can be go down by 21 to James Madison, what will happen when they play Louisivlle? Or UConn? I've heard many say that Seton Hall plays to its competition. Well that may be true, but where is the mental toughness? If they were to play a high school team, would they lose by 40?

In the lone bright spot of the evening, Ben and I were able to add a new nickname to our list. At roughly the nine minute mark of the second half, the Prodigal Son was true to his name when he coined the nickname "Eu-Genius" in reference to one of Eugene Harvey's circus layups. "Eu-Genius..?" No, Dave Popkin, you're a genius.

Hall Lands "Big Daddy" Kane

2008-12-21T19:35:00.003-05:00

According to MSG reporter and New Jersey-demigod Anthony "Fooch" Fucilli, Seton Hall has received a verbal commitment from DeAndre "Big Daddy" Kane, a shooting guard from the Patterson School in NC. This is the same school that produced SHU's sharpshooter, Jeremy Hazell. Nice work, Fooch!!

At Setonia, we're very happy with this news. Kane had been hotly sought after by a number of big-time Big East programs, including Pitt and UConn, and his stock was on the rise. Based on various scouting reports I've read, he's a scorer and an excellent outside shooter.

If we have one hesitation, Dave and I are a little distraught that Kane comes to SHU with an already established nickname. Why not "Citizen Kane" or "DeAndre 300"? One of our greatest joys is coming up with the nickname ourselves. Still, we will embrace the "Big Daddy" with open arms, and hope that he can play like a "Big" because at 6'2'', he'll probably be playing power forward.

Think we're gonna be sick...

2008-12-21T00:20:00.005-05:00

In one of the most stomach-churning college basketball games you will ever see, Seton Hall lost a heartbreaker at home to the visiting IUPUI Jaguars. With almost as many letters in its name as points scored, Indiana University Purdue-University Indianapolis beat the Hall 67-65 on a last second layup that bounced around the rim and then actually stopped atop the iron for seemingly an eternity (2 seconds) before falling in. That last second drive by IUPUI was just the final straw in a game that had many up and downs from the beginning.

After breaking the news of Big Mel and still basking in the success of our music video, Ben and I arrived at the Rock with our supporting cast - Coach Gonzo and the Ref - who were warmly received by fellow Seton Hall fans. It was such a great feeling to introduce Gonzo and the Ref to our friends and extended family... See you next year at Thanksgiving!!

Then, as we started walking to our seats, we looked up to the scoreboard to see that last game's hero, Brandon "Wawa" Walters, was getting the starting nod!! A much deserved start after a valiant effort against St. Peter's last Saturday. Also, we know how hard the kid works, how much he wants to please the coaching staff and how much his teammates root for him - so it was a pleasant surprise to see his efforts being rewarded.

But then, wait, oh no! As the starting lineups were being announced, the PA announcer declared that a "Class B Technical Foul Penalty" had been assessed against Seton Hall resulting in two foul shots to be taken before tipoff. Not exactly the way we wanted to start the game. But oh well, Seton Hall has battled adversity before and this would prove to be no different. We're used to the chips being stacked against us.

As the game progressed and the Hall fell behind due to sluggish play and poor shooting, we felt an obligation to rally the crowd. With most of the student section away on holiday break, Ben and I decided to return to our collegiate roots, harassing the refs with the most outlandish and creative insults possible in the efforts to provide a spark. After all, if the team cant make their shots, why not take our own shots at the refs!? Then, the unthinkable happened. After one of our more ingenious and visually inspiring provocations, two female security guards approached Ben and asked to see his ticket. Now I'm not sure what was more surprising - Ben's ability to sweet talk the guards or the fact that they did not recognize us from our video!?!? Honestly, how could they forget? Maybe they would have recognized him if he had performed some dance moves?? Fortunately for us, Ben was allowed to stay in the arena, provided he return to his actual seat which just so happened was geometrically the furthest one from where he was sitting.

After a game that felt more like a ride at Six Flags than a basketball game at the Rock, I can safely say this - I am definitely looking forward to a calm evening of listening to the prodigal son Dave Popkin and Gary Cohen announcing the game Monday night as the Hall takes on James Madison. At least this time we know we can't get kicked out.

News on Mel

2008-12-19T16:53:00.003-05:00

In all my months as a "blogger-journalist," I've had some difficult stories to report. None, however, has been as personally painful as this.

At exactly 4:52 pm, I had a Facebook interview with my friend, Melvyn Oliver. For those of you who don't know (stop living under the Rock!) Mel has been waiting on word from the NCAA clearinghouse about his eligibility status.

Here are the contents of that interview:

Ben: What's up man. Did you hear anything yet?

Mel: Yea I did.

Ben: Do I want to know? We need you so bad out there.

Mel: It's over wit gotta wait till next year

Ben: Damn. I'm so sorry.

Mel: i kno. its cool im ready for next year ima bring us a championship

Ben: Keep working hard man.

Mel: i got u

Ben: That's all you can do.

Mel: u already kno

Ben: Okay man... gotta run here. Stay strong. Fans all love you, should know that.

Mel: fa sho

What's in a Name: IUPUI

2008-12-19T13:44:00.003-05:00

pal‧in‧drome
–noun

1. a word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc., reading the same backward as forward, as Madam, I'm Adam or Poor Dan is in a droop.

It is once again time for our “What’s in a Name” series. This week’s edition will focus on the visiting Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) Jaguars. While Ben may be the English major, I have decided to take my own approach to analyzing IUPUI's bizarre relationship with the English language.

The visiting Jaguars may have the longest school name in NCAA Division I history. With a whopping 48 letters and 17 vowels, IUPUI is an English teacher’s (wet) dream. Secondly, and the focus of this week’s column, is that IUPUI is one of a few NCAA schools that is a palindrome. A palindrome is “a word, verse, or sentence (as “Able was I ere I saw Elba”) or a number (as 1881) that reads the same backward or forward.” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) Stemming from the Greek word palindromos, the Greeks used the phrase to capture the backward movement of crabs. I have to imagine that there are at least a few other NCAA schools out there that are palindromes, but IUPUI might be the longest.

The ancient Greeks used the word “palindromos” to refer to the backward movement of crabs, noting that crabs often retraced their steps by moving backwards the same way they move forwards. Having the ability to move backwards and forwards in the same line without altering one’s movements drastically is a lesson that we, as Seton Hall fans, can all learn from. That which may set us backwards – John Garcia’s knee injury, the seemingly everlasting wait for Big Mel and Keon to be cleared, disappointing recruiting news – can just as easily be undone by a few strong steps forward in the very same line.

And that’s all for this edition of “What’s in a Name”

Dix-On, Dix-Off

2008-12-16T17:22:00.003-05:00

After verbally committing to Seton Hall, Cliff Dixon has announced he is no longer set on coming to South Orange. According to various sources, Dixon felt too "pressured" by the SHU staff.

Well, wake up, Clifford!! This is Seton Hall we're talking about here! We love the pressure defense more than anyone. Gonzo recruits the same way he coaches: pressure, pressure, and more pressure!!! I would not be shocked at all if Gonzo actually sent Gause and Theodore to Dixon's Hutchinson dorm room to trap him in the bathroom until he slipped a letter of intent under the door.

But seriously... at Setonia, we're not too worried about this news. Dixon seems like a good player, with good connections to the NBA, but his loss would not be devastating. For right now, we just need to focus on winning games...

Hall Wins Tough Battle with Saint Peter's; Garcia Postgame Interview

2008-12-13T18:27:00.005-05:00

Wow... that got personal.

In a game that featured multiple technical fouls, a lot of pushing and shoving, and even a couple patented Gonzo "foot stamps," SHU was lucky to escape Jersey City with a win, beating St. Peter's College 60-46. The squad survived a terrible day of shooting (1 of 15 from deep) and Walters gave some quality time off the bench. Showcasing a rare mixture of emphatic claps and power dribbles, Walters stunned the crowd in attendance when he was wrongly assessed a technical foul for allegedly retaliating during a minor altercation with an opposing player. Anyone who knows Wawa knows that he would never do anything... The kid wouldn't lay a mitt on a butterfly.

The scariest moments of the game, however, came when John Garcia and Jordan Theodore both fell to the floor with apparent knee injuries in the second half, only a couple seconds apart. Both players were re-inserted later in the game briefly, but questions still swirl. That's why I made sure to catch up with John on Facebook after the game.

Here's the interview:

Ben: hey you feeling okay man?

John: im ok... thanks for asking.

Ben: you're tough man. that was a battle out there today.

John: yea... im jus glad we won.

Ben: me too man. just glad you and JT walked off alive. we were freaking out in the bleachers.

John: yea but don't worry... ima be okay.

Ben: cool man. great news. okay i'm out for now. nice win.

John: iight fam. thanx. be safe.

Perhaps the only thing more comforting than John's reassurance of his well-being is his expressed interest in mine. "Be safe?" Thanx to you John, I think I'll be just fine.

Dave and Ben Featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition!!

2008-12-12T14:54:00.004-05:00

Okay, so that's not exactly true. But here are the actual facts:

Today, our Seton Hall Music Video was posted on the Campus Clicks section of the Sports Illustrated website!! Take that, Amanda Beard!!

Thanks everyone for the continuing support -- apparently Gonzo himself has watched the video, and gives it two "foot stamps."

Here's the link. Check it out!!

Californication

2008-12-11T12:52:00.000-05:00

While Ben and I love an audience and writing our hilariously informative blog entries, every once in a while we like to give someone else a shot. This is our first Guest Column and is written by none other than my old college roommate. A California man himself, he had a special interest in seeing California Baptist the game. Although he may be a PAC 10 supporter (and TuPac fan…posthumously igniting the TuPac v. Biggie beef), we’ll cut him some slack here as he recounts his first Seton Hall game experience:

Hey avid Setonia blog followers and first time readers alike – Guest from the West here reporting on my first trip to the Prudential Center. At the heart of Newark, the Rock is the product of a city working to make a good hand out of the bad cards it was dealt – a fitting home for the Pirates.

What should have been an easy win against visiting California Baptist turned into a back and forth game, with SHU unable to hold on to multiple leads. The Hall's press defense was effective in creating numerous turnovers but inevitably tired out its players. When unable to force turnovers, they looked a little lost when in their half court offense. Gonzo put in Mike Davis and Brandon "Wawa" Walters when John Garcia got into early foul trouble, but they lacked confidence with the ball down low and were too often getting out-rebounded by smaller opponents. Gonzo played Garcia until he fouled out then ran the court with no center for the final 9 minutes of the game. While this was able to work against the smaller Cal Baptist, I’m not sure this will be so successful against the bigger BIG EAST schools.

But enough of my criticisms. Jeremy Hazell and Eugene Harvey both played well with 25 points each and Paul Gause was sniping steals and forcing turnovers all night long. Robert “Stix” Mitchell was sinking his shots and John Garcia was looking good at center until he got into foul trouble.

SHU has a lot of young players, and according to Dave, a few of the new recruits will contribute a lot of talent to the team when they get through the red tape with the NCAA. So for now, the Hall needs to make do with what they have.

To Gonzo, I say this: Get your team to build confidence. If you get your players to think like winners you will be the coach of a winning team...Oh, also, stop yelling in the ref's ears in the middle of plays, it won't change his mind and will probably piss him off. It will also save your Adam’s apple, you'll thank me later...

The Reviews Are In...Two Thumbs Up!

2008-12-08T09:52:00.004-05:00

Well, the critics have spoken. And so far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Thanks to everyone who watched our music video on YouTube (all 2,182 views and counting...) and shared it with friends. Ben and I ask that you continue to share it with anyone who might enjoy it.

Of course, as you can imagine, fame has its cost. Ben and I can no longer take the Path train for fear of paparazzi. Even buying eggs has become an adventure. Still, we would not trade it for the world.

Family, friends, Seton Hall students, fellow bloggers, South Orange residents, random internet surfers -- all of them have had very kind things to say about our video. From Ben's "butterfly foxtrot" to my "Sam Cassell testicle dance," the video has a little something for everyone. However, nobody's response has meant more to us than the players themselves.

We facebook messaged the entire team the night before we released the video as part of our "soft" launch. Afraid they would think we were totally deranged, we naturally were hesitant. Their comments, however, confirmed our suspicions... They love us unconditionally.

Here's what just a few of them had to say about the video:

John Garcia: "thanks alot man..that $%*&'s cool as #*&%..thanx 4 the vid

Paul Gause: "yall funny as #@*^ &*^% was crazy nice job fellas"

Melvyn Oliver: "laughing my *&^ off dat ^&%# was crazy funny......good *@#^ fellas

Brian Laing: "lol thats &$*# funny lol"

While they might not be Ebert and Roeper, their praise was way more meaningful. Thanks for watching and for not issuing any restraining orders.

Stay tuned for the sequel...

Seton Hall Music Video

2008-12-04T10:29:00.001-05:00

The first of hopefully many Setonia Productions...Enjoy.

SHU Soars to Victory; Everything AOK

2008-12-03T00:07:00.004-05:00

Tonight's game against Monmouth was a well deserved "breather." As opposed to the last three victories where Seton Hall was forced to overcome double digit victories and pay Coach Gonzalez's enormous shoe repair bills (after all the stomping around, someone has to pay), SHU was finally able to enjoy an easy victory.

Jeremy Hazell lit it up from the floor, matching a carer high of 32 points while going 10-16 from the floor and 6-9 from 3pt range. Euguene Harvey and Paul Gause helped pace an explosive offense. John Garcia got some much needed rest. Mike Davis and Brandon Walters donned their respective mitts and played a combined 39 minutes. There were electrifying dunks and inspired defense. There were alley-oops, 3 point flops, steals, and guys sprawled everywhere on the floor...basically everything you could ever hope from a Seton Hall game.

Then came the unthinkable. With deafening chants of "We Want Pete" echoing through the Rock, Gonzo succumbed to peer pressure and inserted walk-ons Pete "The Falcon" Peregrin and Matt "O Say" Cajuste into the lineup with roughly five minutes to go. Not having practiced much, and definitely not having played much, the two players were understandably a little unsure of themselves when they were asked to play the remaining five minutes of the game.

However, the walk-ons did not disappoint - rather they did the only think walk-ons should do when playing in garbage time...look to shoot at every opportunity! And shoot they did. Cajuste in particular hoisted up a number of questionable, yet hilarious shots with my favorite being his tribute to former Pirate great Augstine Okosun. As you know from reading this blog, AOK was the first SPOTY (Setonia Player of the Year) winner and Cajuste honored him in the only way possible - throwing up an unbelievable bank 3 pointer!!! In a tribute to Okosun's patented finger roll bank jam, Cajuste lofted up an off balanced, highly contested shot from roughly 28 feet that clearly needed the blessings of the reigning SPOTY award winner. Nice job Cajuste! And Augustine, if you're reading this, I hope all is well and please don't hesitate to drop me a Facebook message.

News on Melvyn???

2008-12-02T00:19:00.003-05:00

For the last few months, Seton Hall fans have held their collective breath. We've all been waiting to hear about the pending eligibility of one of Seton Hall's most prized freshmen: Melvyn "Dancing Bear" Oliver.

Now, Dave and I do not have any inside knowledge on this story. I repeat: we know nothing. Zero. Zilch. HOWEVER, as I was perusing my Facebook friends this evening, as I tend to do on most Monday nights to unwind after a fine meal, I happened to come upon this profile update from Big Mel:

"Melvyn is jus woke up from a good ass nap if u kno me good enough u already kno da situation.....hellll yea."

I'm literally not sure what exactly this means. It seems unlikely that the Bear would be napping this late into the evening, which inclines me to believe that this is all some sort of metaphor.

If that's the case, might this mean what I hope it means?? Might the "situation" have just resolved itself??

(Please, please, please, please...)

John Garcia Exclusive Interview!!

2008-12-01T20:16:00.005-05:00

At Setonia, we strongly believe in giving our readers all-access to the Seton Hall players. With that in mind, Dave and I are proud to present our exclusive interview with SHU senior co-captain, John Garcia. I caught up with John after Saturday's game against Delaware...

As you can see, the interview wasn't very long. But the details tell you everything you need to know about Big John.

First of all, the very fact that John even dignified my Facebook IM with a response speaks volumes!! John had just played practically the entire game on two surgically repaired knees, yet he still found the energy to talk to a fan. Outstanding!!

Next, let's consider the response time, shall we?? I sent my Facebook IM to John at exactly 9:12 pm. And how long did it take for him to respond, you might ask? Did he go watch TV for a couple hours? Did he open a different browser window in the hope that I might grow discouraged and ultimately log off? No. Absolutely not. He replied at exactly 9:13 pm. How polite!! How punctual!!

And finally there's the content of the interview. Short and sweet, John said more in one word than others have said during their entire lifetime. In response to my compliment on John's play, John answered with a simple word: "Thanx." In this one word, John communicated everything I wanted to hear. With the perfect mix of gratitude and internet slang, John proved it once and for all: he will always be my friend.

Well, that's all for our interview with John Garcia. We'll be bringing you more exclusive interviews later in the season.

Setonia Relies on Bench; Hall Wins Again

2008-11-29T20:52:00.003-05:00

After today's heart-palpitating win against Delaware, many of the Seton Hall message board bloggers are voicing concern regarding Coach Gonzo's apparent reluctance to utilize his bench. (For the entire second half of today's game, Gonzo only used six players.) Given the grueling schedule Seton Hall faces once Big East play begins, the bloggers would argue, it really is essential that we conserve our energy as much as possible.

Dave and I could not agree more. For that very reason, we have decided to turn to the reserves for today's post. So, take off those "breakaway" pants, Cajuste!! Because today's post is coming to you live from the nosebleed section. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the "father" of Setonia... my actual father. Take it away, Pops!

Turkey Squelches Fire

So, did the Hall beat Delaware? Yes. Did the Hall crush Delaware? No.

Today's match-up against Delaware promised to be a rout. (At least, that's what Ben told me on the phone yesterday.) But in the first half, Delaware led all the way. It was fortunate that the Pirates were able to close the gap early in the second half and were able to maintain a slim lead through most of the second half. But this game was not in the bag by any stretch. Which leads one to ask: Did too much turkey for Thanksgiving translate to lethargy on the court? Did the players ingest an excess of tryptophan?

Well, whatever the cause, the Pirates need to rekindle that fire in their belly, because this was not a very pretty game. Without much of a bench, it seems like will and determination will be what leads this team to victory. We will consider this a minor aberration and look forward to more bonfires ahead.

- Ben's Dad

Lesson is Learned; Must Protect the Colonies

2008-11-28T11:07:00.008-05:00

On the evening of December 25th, 1776, George Washington led a ragtag Continental Army across the Delaware River and along the shores of New Jersey in a surprise attack on the British just outside of Trenton. Facing treacherous waters, terrible weather conditions and diminishing rations, Washington’s problems were many. His demoralized and exhausted army had been forced to retreat into Pennsylvania of all places, which according to Vice-President Elect Joe Biden is: “an awful, awful, sad place, filled with sad desperate people with no ambition. Nobody, and I mean nobody, but me has ever come out of that place. It's a genetic cesspool.” And if that’s not bad enough, none of them had shoes! Can you imagine – walking through a genetic cesspool without shoes!

Yet, I digress. Washington’s army eventually won another victory, defeating the British in Princeton, NJ. News of this victory spread rapidly, reinvigorating the falling spirit of the Revolution. These victories helped gather colonial support, shocked the British and convinced future allies that the Continental Army was a force to be reckoned with!

Now many of you are probably saying to yourself: “Of course I know the history of Washington crossing the Delaware. I’m American. I’ve seen the painting a thousand times. I was born genetically programmed to know all historic American events.” Of course you were; I do not question your knowledge of American history. Instead, I would like to open your eyes to the significance of this event and how it relates to Seton Hall’s game tomorrow against the Delaware Blue Hens.

Let us start from the beginning. George Washington’s army had been forced to retreat, first from Long Island and then from Manhattan, all the way to Pennsylvania. Sound familiar? Wasn’t Head Coach Bobby Gonzalez in a way “forced to retreat” from Manhattan and cross a river into a neighboring state?

Washington’s army has often been described by historians as a “ragtag” group of soldiers. Does a team of eight scholarship players with limited resources relying on little more than heart, will and determination qualify as a “ragtag” group of players? You bet.

With the British securely holding New Jersey and Rhode Island, they thought the Continental Army could be swatted into oblivion and the Revolution would therefore once and for all be quelled. Isn't that a bit like the arrogance of PAC 10 and ACC powerhouses USC and Virginia Tech as they prepared to play undersized and outnumbered Seton Hall? Maybe.

The news of Washington’s victory over the British in Trenton and Princeton galvanized colonial support and convinced the world that the Continental Army was a force to be reckoned with. Similarly, Seton Hall’s early victories over top notch competition have helped garner support for a program that was all but written off this year. Let us only hope that this support continues for the rest of the season.

In the face of this mini history lesson, we can only hope that we have learned from Kurt Vonnegut’s famous quote, “History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again.” History is set to repeat itself and it is the foolish who do not grow wiser from history. Let us hope that after leaving Manhattan, crossing a treacherous river, and guiding an inspired, yet weary, ragtag group of players, Bobby G. has learned his lesson…

Protect your state from those crossing the Delaware!!!

"Tooting" My Own Horn

2008-11-26T18:13:00.006-05:00

There are times during life when a man will do anything to appear cool. Most men experience this feeling while trying to impress an attractive "senorita." For me, the circumstances were very different indeed.

Ben and I were at the San Juan airport, replaying the incredible events of the past few days in our respective minds, when the unthinkable happened. We ran into the players in our terminal!! That's right -- the entire Seton Hall basketball team, including Coach Gonzo and AD Quinlan, were going to be joining us on our flight back to Newark!! Umm... jackpot!

We were understandably overcome with emotion. I mean, these guys are our heroes. What were we going to do?? Ben decided to approach SHU shooting guard extraordinaire Jeremy Hazell in the vain hopes of possibly snatching a picture with his O'Reilly Auto Parts First-Team trophy. (A point of inquiry for the San Juan Continental staff: did you also happen to nail Jeremy with the additional carry-on charge??!?!) Meanwhile, I decided to walk over and talk to Mike Davis.

Mike had been up and down in Puerto Rico. He had stepped up huge against USC, grabbing a number of key rebounds, though he seemed to struggle against Memphis and Va Tech. But say what you want about Mike... the kid is huge. He's an imposing giant with a heart of gold.

While talking to Mike, I realized that I was trying especially hard to act cool. This was to be expected... I mean who wouldn't stumble in the face of greatness?!?! Of course, you can imagine my feeling of crushing disappointment when the following line somehow fell from my lips:

"I don't mean to toot my own horn, Mike, but the fans really helped you guys out during the games."

At first glance, you might say there's nothing wrong with what I said. Upon reflection, however, you will agree that "toot" is probably the single dumbest, most emasculating word in the English language. Stupid Dave!! Stupid!!

In attempting to sound cool, I had actually "tooted" myself in the foot. Kids, let this be a lesson: Always be yourself, and definitely always pack light on domestic flights to avoid usurious additional charges.