Pirates Travel to Storrs to Face No. 6 UConn on Saturday

SETON HALL PIRATES (19-9, 9-8) at NO. 6 CONNECTICUT HUSKIES (25-3, 15-2)

Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 28 • 12 p.m. Eastern
Site: Storrs, Conn. • Gampel Pavilion
TV: FS1 • Dave Sims & Donny Marshall
Online: Fox Sports App
Radio: SHU Pirates Mobile App • Gary Cohen & Dave Popkin
SHUPirates.com • Varsity Network App
Seton Hall All-Time vs. UConn: 24-51

NOTES YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Pirates' next win would match the program record for biggest win improvement at +13.
Seton Hall currently is tied with Green Bay for the second-largest win improvement in the nation this season, only trailing Miami (+15).
The next win for the Pirates would be their 20th of the season, tying them with Providence and Xavier for the third-most 20-win campaigns since the BIG EAST reconfigured in 2013 (8).
Seton Hall is one of two teams in the nation to rank inside the top-10 in both steals and blocks average (Utah Valley).
The Pirates lead all Power 5 schools in combined steals and blocks.
Budd Clark is T-3rd in the BIG EAST with 1.9 steals per game in conference games.
Najai Hines ranks 13th in the nation and first among all freshmen in blocks per game (2.3).
Hines' 2.4 blocks per game in BIG EAST play is tops in the conference.
The Pirates are 9th in the nation in scoring defense (64.5) and 7th in blocks per game (5.8).
Seton Hall's 65.1 ppg allowed in conference play leads the BIG EAST.
Seton Hall is 13-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points.
The Pirates have held 22 of their 28 opponents this season to under 70 points and are 16-6 in those games.
Furthermore, they've held 14 foes to 65 or less points and are 12-2 in such games.
Seton Hall has held two of its last three opponents to 30% FG or worse.
The Pirates lead Power 5 teams with eight wins this season after trailing at halftime. Seton Hall also has 11 victories when behind at any point in the second half.
Clark had one of the best games by a college player on Feb. 11 vs. Providence, scoring 31 points to go with eight assists and five steals.
Clark is the first BIG EAST player since at least 1996-97 to compile such a stat line in a regulation game. He is the first BIG EAST player to do it in any game since Jonny Flynn (34 pts, 11 ast, 6 stl) in the six-overtime classic against UConn in the 2009 BIG EAST Tournament.
It was the first 30-point performance by a Pirate since Jared Rhoden, who scored 30 against Xavier on Feb. 26, 2022.
Tajuan Simpkins has been essential to the Pirates' success this season, averaging 11.8 points and shooting 48% FG in Seton Hall's 19 wins this season.
Shaheen Holloway is one of 51 coaches in the nation to be coaching at his alma mater.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO LATELY

Seton Hall has won three of its last four games and have limited teams to 36.5% FG and 29.3% 3PT over that span.
The Pirates have also shown efficient offense for much of that four-game stretch, shooting 47% FG or better as a team in three of the four games.
The Pirates gutted out a 51-47 win over Georgetown last Saturday.
The Hall held Georgetown to just 27.3% FG on the night, their best defensive effort against a BIG EAST foe since holding DePaul to just 22% FG on Jan. 30, 2024.
The win over the Hoyas gave Seton Hall its eighth win when trailing at halftime this season, most among power conferences.
Seton Hall defeated Providence back on Feb. 11, 87-80, completing its first season sweep of the Friars since 2017-18.
Seton Hall overcame a halftime deficit for the second straight game in a 69-64 win over Marquette on Jan. 31.
Tajuan Simpkins tied his career-high with 27 points and knocked down five 3-pointers in the win over Xavier on Jan. 28.
Simpkins had the most points off the bench by a Pirate since Kadary Richmond, who also scored 27 as a reserve on Jan. 8, 2022 against UConn.
Simpkins' five made three-pointers off the bench are the most by a Pirate non-starter since Jamir Harris (6) against Nyack on Dec. 4, 2021.
Picked to finish last in the BIG EAST before the season, the Pirates have already more than doubled last year's win total and have scored double-digit signature wins over No. 23 NC State in Maui as well as on the road at Kansas State.

SECOND HALF SUCCESS

Shaheen Holloway admits the second half rallies his team has become synonymous with are "not good for my health," but the final 20 minutes have been friendly to the Pirates for most of this season.
Interestingly enough, Seton Hall has eight wins this season when trailing at halftime, with five of those victories coming in BIG EAST play.
One step further, The Hall has 10 wins this season when trailing at any point in the second half.
The Pirates have overcome four double digit second half deficits to win this season, including three straight from Dec. 30-Jan. 10 against Marquette, Creighton and Georgetown.
Seton Hall's 56 point second half against Xavier was its most points in a half since Jan. 13, 2022 at DePaul (57).
Seton Hall also trailed UConn by 18 in the second half on Jan. 13 before trimming that deficit down to just one with under a minute remaining.