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BY MATT SUGAM
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
NEWARK – If there any questions about Seton Hall’s Top 25 ranking for the first time in 11 years, they were answered last night. Aside from an eight-minute spurt, No. 24 Seton Hall had their way with DePaul.
After a dominating first half by Fuquan Edwin — where he tied his career high 24 points — he was held down by DePaul in the second half, scoring just four points.
“He’s a good young talent. You guys [the media] aren’t talking about him enough. He’s our X-Factor. He’s really big-time,” Jordan Theodore said. “People are seeing now that they can’t just key on me and [Herb] Pope. Fuquan’s really killing them.”
However, after a commanding 51-34 lead at the break, things slowly started to unravel for the Pirates.
In the second half they’d go cold. Seton Hall would score just one bucket — a layup — in a span of 8:22 as DePaul would chip away at what was at one time a 24 point lead.
“I think the second half was a little bit of guys saw the score and were trying to get some numbers,” head coach Kevin Willard said.
With an upset brewing, the Pirates would turn to one of their senior leaders in Jordan Theodore.
The 6-foot point guard would hit two deep jumpers followed by a three pointer on three straight possessions. The offensive outpouring by Theodore (26 points and 11 assists) would re-inflate Seton Hall’s lead to 75-61 en route to the 94-73 final score.
“That’s just what he did [took over the game],” Herb Pope (11 points and 11 rebounds) said. “We expect it out of him every game. Whenever the going gets tough, then he gets going.”
Said Willard: “He’s turning himself into one of the premier player — not just point guards, but players — in the entire country.”
And Seton Hall is creeping up as one of the premier teams not only in the Big East, but also in the country.
Still, as the 24th ranked team in the AP Poll, Theodore feels his team isn’t garnering the positive attention they deserve.
“We’re not getting a lot of respect right now,” Theodore said. “A lot of people don’t think we’re for real and as long as we keep winning, we’ll prove doubters wrong.”
Whether they’re getting the respect they deserve or not, one thing won’t ever change. The mentality of this team.
“We got to prepare for every game like we lost. Stay hungry and humble,” Theodore said. “It doesn’t stop here. You don’t come to Seton Hall and say you want to be ranked and that’s it. We want to win championships and we want to continue to be looked at as one of the great teams.”
For more Seton Hall basketball coverage follow Matt Sugam on Twitter @MattSugam and on Facebook
