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Seton Hall (14-15, 5-11) will honor four seniors when streaking Xavier (20-9, 10-6) comes to Prudential Center for Senior Night. Seniors Brian Oliver, Aaron Geramipoor, Gene Teague, and Fuquan Edwin will be recognized prior to a tough game against a Musketeer team that is coming off wins at St. John's and home to Creighton that have pushed the former A-10 team to a 9-seed in projected NCAA brackets. Seton Hall on the other hand has dropped three straight to fall below .500 on the season, miss out on a top-6 Big East Tournament seed, and likely miss the NIT.
Xavier was impressive in staving off second half charges from Creighton on Saturday at Cintas Center. Justin Martin (19 pts, 15 rebs) did an excellent job of supporting Semaj Christon (21 pts) on both ends of the court while Dee Davis added 15 points (4-5 3pt). Prior to their win against Creighton, the Muskies outscored St. John's by 11 in the second half to win 65-53. Freshman Jalen Reynolds, who was suspended for Seton Hall's trip to Cintas Center, scored a career-high 17 against the Red Storm in the win. Reynolds played 22 minutes against Creighton and looks to be back in Chris Mack's rotation.
The Musketeers like to score within the arc and benefit from ball movement and getting the ball to Semaj Christon in transition, where he is dangerous. 56.3-percent of Xavier's points come from two-points (43rd most) while they assist on 59.8-percent of their made field goals (27th most).
Fuquan Edwin's availability after sustaining a bruised/sprained thumb in the second half against DePaul looms large as he is an important counterweight to Christon in the open court. "With what Fuquan said [about his injured thumb], I don't think he'll be able to play again [on Monday]," diagnosed Kevin Willard post-Providence. Edwin scored 18 points and recorded three steals in Seton Hall's win at Cintas Center.
Some news out of the Seton Hall postgame: Fuquan Edwin (thumb) likely won't play vs. Xavier on Monday and possibly Butler next weekend.
— Brendan Prunty (@BrendanPrunty) March 1, 2014
Gene Teague versus Matt Stainbrook will be an important match up on the low block. Stainbrook recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds to Teague's 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 personal fouls in the first meeting. Teague played one of his better games this season in a 17-point 12-rebound showing against Providence on Friday night.
This will be Seton Hall and Xavier's third meeting since the 1979-80 season with the series tied 1-1 in recent contests. Seton Hall lost 57-52 to Xavier in the 2010 Paradise Jam one day after Jeremy Hazell suffered a broken bone in his wrist.
KenPom says: No. 41 Xavier - 70, No. 83 Seton Hall - 69 (48%)
Projected Xavier starters:
6-0 Jr., G - Dee Davis
6-3 So., G - Semaj Christon
6-6 Jr., G/F - Justin Martin
6-8 Sr., F - Isaiah Philmore
6-10 Jr., C - Matt Stainbrook
When: Monday, 7 pm ET
TV: FOX Sports 1
Radio: AM 970 (Gary Cohen, Dave Popkin)
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