Game 6 Preview: Hartford stumbles into the Rock to face the streaking Pirates

The Pirates have started the season off on a great note, 5-0, with the most recent victory coming easily over NJIT. The Hartford Hawks, 2-5, of the America East Conference, skid into New Jersey during a three-game losing streak. The Hall has had great success over America East Conference opponents, 10-1 all time, with its last loss coming in 1963 to BU.

Hartford's two wins this season came against Marist and Fordham, while the Pirates look to keep their perfect record alive tonight at 7 p.m. in Newark. Riding sophomore forward Herb Pope's four straight double-doubles and junior guard Jeremy Hazell's four straight games with 20 or more points, Seton Hall seems to be getting in a groove, putting the last-second buzzer beater win over St. Peter's behind them.

The Pirates are averaging 83.4 points per game (compared to 64.2 ppg scored by opponents), with a balanced scoring attack between the five starters, led by Hazell's 20.6 per game, and bench players Jordan Theodore, Ferrakohn Hall, and Jamel Jackson. Speaking of Jackson, it appears the Hall has finally found a 3-point threat off the bench, with 33 of his 40 points on the season coming from behind the arc, shooting %.423 from deep. The Hall's one major flaw so far this season: free throw shooting. They're called FREE throws for a reason - they're supposed to be easy points. A .643 free throw % is unacceptable. The Hawks are averaging are averaging 67.4 ppg, with three players averaging double figures.

My key role piece of the team's success so far - Herb Pope. Averaging a double-double with 14.6 ppg and 11.4 rpg, Pope shows the physical toughness the Pirates need in the paint that Garcia and Mitchell lack at times. Also, Pope has tallied 17 blocks on the season, 3.4 per game, making opponents aware of his presence down low.

And on that note, on the the key match up for tonight's game:
SHU
Jeremy Hazell - Jr. G - 6'5" - 20.6 ppg - 2.4 rpg - 1.6 apg
vs.
Hartford
Joe Zeglinski - Jr. G - 6'0" - 14.0 ppg - 4.9 rpg - 0.6 apg
*Hazell needs to utilizes his height to get shots, and also beware of Zeglinski's speed.

Prediction: Pirates 89 - Hartford 72


P.S. - peep Harlem native Hazell doing his thing in the new video for DJ Kayslay's song "Blockstars" at 2:07...
*Be on the lookout for my remix, "Blogstars", coming in 2010.