Save for a nearly month-long, six-game losing streak in January, Seton Hall could find its NCAA Tournament standing much more secure as postseason play begins.
Tuesday night, the No. 10 seed Pirates (19-11, 8-10 Big East) will face the No. 15 seed Providence Friars (15-16, 4-14 Big East) in the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU and ESPN3D.
Seton Hall entered Big East play back in late December with an 11-1 record, with its only loss coming Nov. 20 against Northwestern. But in their conference opener, the Pirates were steamrolled by the Syracuse Orange (the conference tourney's No. 1 seed).
Seton Hall rebounded with a four-game winning streak, but then game the six-game skid. Four of the losses came on the road, including on trips to South Florida (the Big East's No. 6 seed) Marquette (No. 2) and Connecticut (No. 9). Seton Hall also dropped home games in that stretch to Notre Dame (No. 3) and Louisville (No. 7). The Pirates rebounded four of their next five, though a two-game skid to end the season (losses to Rutgers and DePaul) eliminated much of that momentum.
Providence, meanwhile, entered Big East play with a 11-2 record before losing eight of its first nine conference games. A 78-67 home win against Rutgers Feb. 1 stemmed the tide, though the Friars proceeded to lose its next five. They ended the regular season with two straight wins against DePaul and Connecticut before losing 75-69 at Notre Dame Friday.
The Pirates had three players finish the season scoring in double-digits. Senior guard Jordan Theodore led the team with 16.0 points and 6.7 assists per game, while senior forward Herb Pope averaged a double-double with 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard/forward Fuquan Edwin scored 12.6 points and also averaged 3.1 steals per game, second-most in the nation.
Providence had four players finish with at least 10 points per game, led by junior guard Vincent Council with 16.2. Sophomore guard Bryce Cotton averaged 14.4 and freshman forward LaDontae Henton scored 14.3. Sophomore guard Gerard Coleman was fourth with 13.5.
For complete coverage of the Big East Tournament 2012, check back to this SB Nation New York StoryStream.
For a SB Nation New York preview of other Big East schools, click on its respective links: Syracuse, Marquette, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Georgetown, South Florida, Louisville, West Virginia, Connecticut, Seton Hall, Rutgers, St. John's, Pittsburgh, Villanova, Providence, DePaul.