Scouting Seton Hall by the Ithaca Journal

Cornell to put home win streak on the line against Seton Hall

The Ithaca Journal
November 20, 2009

ITHACA -- There will be plenty of respect in the air Friday night at Newman Arena.

Respect for Cornell from Seton Hall, which considers The Big Red more like The Big Threat, not too unlike an orange-clad Big East team an hour north.

Respect for Seton Hall from Cornell, which is more than willing to put its 21-game home win streak on the line against a major conference team willing to play in a "no-win situation," as described by Pirates coach Bobby Gonzalez earlier this week.

Respect for both teams from attending fans, which are rarely treated to such a high level of basketball in their own backyard.

With a banner-raising ceremony, a packed house and an unprecedented deluge of media expected, Friday night's atmosphere and anticipation should very well surpass Georgia Tech's visit six years ago.

Let the fun begin.

"We always enjoy a challenge," Cornell's Ryan Wittman said. "We're competitors. We love playing against the best competition, and we're looking forward to it."

Cornell is 2-0 after consecutive road victories at Alabama and Massachusetts. In the opener, Wittman scored 23 points on 7-for-11 shooting as the Big Red secured its first victory over an Southeastern Conference opponent in 37 years. In the second, Wittman was stifled defensively, held to four points -- and Cornell still won by 13. Senior point guard Louis Dale, with a big assist to the bench, picked up the slack with 24 points.

Senior Geoff Reeves scored 16 off the bench, while junior Adam Wire pitched in seven points and seven rebounds. Senior center Jeff Foote contributed 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

"We have so many guys who can score and can come off the bench and score, it's nuts," Wire said.

Cornell's collective experience has Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez nervous. Wittman in particular, he said, could play successfully at any collegiate level. The 6-foot-7 senior has a career average of 21.3 points per game against Big East schools.

"I'm not just saying this; I think he could play anywhere in the country," Gonzalez said. "I think he could start in the Big East. He could be an NBA player. He's strong, smart, knows how to play and makes 3's."

The Pirates escaped in their opener against St. Peter's, 53-51, when senior Eugene Harvey hit a 35-foot shot as time expired. Things went a little more smoothly against Monmouth on Sunday in an 87-72 win.

Junior guard Jeremy Hazell scored 26 points in the win. Sophomore Herb Pope, a 6-foot-8 transfer from New Mexico State, scored 15 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. He presents Cornell with one of several matchup problems that should prove fascinating to watch unfold.

"He's terrific," said Cornell coach Steve Donahue, who compared Pope to Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, but longer and more athletic. "Obviously great size, great athleticism, but I think the thing that jumps out at me is he has a terrific feel for the game."

Said Gonzalez: "I don't think there's a lot of 6-8 kids in the country that can do what he can do in terms of handling the ball, passing the ball -- and he's a rebounding machine."

Cornell's streak of wins at home is the fifth longest in Division I. The 2008-09 Ivy League championship banner will be unfurled minutes before opening tip, and the game will be broadcast live on SNY.

"I'm really excited about it because not a lot of people want to come to our gym," Cornell forward Alex Tyler said. "We have such a good fan base and such a good atmosphere, it's tough for teams to come in. I respect Seton Hall to actually take a game with us."

Scouting Seton Hall

Coach: Bobby Gonzalez (4th season)

Record: 2-0

Last time out: Seton Hall routed Monmouth on the road, 87-72, behind 26 points from Jeremy Hazell and 15 points and 17 rebounds from Herb Pope.

Probable starters: Hazell (6-foot-5, 188 pounds, Junior, Guard), Pope (6-8, 236, Soph., F), Robert Mitchell (6-6, 180, Jr., F), John Garcia (6-9, 270, Sr., C), Eugene Harvey (6-0, 184, Sr., G)

Key reserves: Jordan Theodore (6-0, 174, Soph., G), Jamel Jackson (6-3, 202, Jr., G), Ferrakohn Hall (6-8, 220, Fr., F).

Of note: Guard Keon Lawrence, a transfer from Missouri, is suspended indefinitely.

Statistically: Hazell averaged 22.7 points per game as a sophomore. He opened the season with an 0-for-10 effort against St. Peter's, a game Seton Hall won at the buzzer, 53-51. ... The Pirates return four starters from last season's 17-15 team, which went 7-11 in the Big East. ... Seton Hall is 34-20 all-time against the Ivy League with 10 straight wins, including a 21-point victory over Columbia last season. ... Jackson had 15 points off the bench in the Monmouth victory. ... Seton Hall and Cornell have played twice, both games in New Jersey. The Pirates won 75-59 in Dec. of 1992, and 29-28 in Dec. of 1942. ... Seton Hall was predicted to finish 10th this season in the 16-team Big East. ... Both Harvey and Hazell are 1,000-point career scorers.

Outlook: Cornell should get a big boost from playing this game at Newman Arena, where the Big Red has won 21 straight, as well as playing this game in November. They'll need to capitalize on both advantages, because the Pirates are long, supremely athletic and have been mentioned as a sleeper team to watch in the Big East. Pope can do a little of everything, and at 6-8 poses a succinct matchup problem. Hazell is a great scorer, and Harvey is a dangerous third option as an experienced senior.

A key question -- how effectively does Seton Hall defend the 3-pointer? Cornell has shot lights-out from beyond the arc at home during the win streak (47 percent), and will likely need a similar effort to earn its first win over a Big East school since 1969 (Villanova). Alabama coach Anthony Grant called the 3-point shot the great equalizer in college basketball, after Cornell beat the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa last week. With Cornell one of the nation's best from deep, that alone gives them a quality chance to add another signature win to its growing resume.

That said -- Seton Hall is a tougher opponent than Alabama or Massachusetts, and the Big Red must play close to its best game to win.