It's been almost 50 years since Seton Hall won their only national title (1954), while USC is looking to win it's first ever.
4/3/02: (2) #10 Seton Hall (30-7, 12-4) vs (3) #14 USC (30-5, 14-4)
Scouting Report
- Primary defense: M2M
- Offense focus: Balanced (fast)
- Key players:
- Sr PG Matt Young (14.3 ppg, 3.6 apg, 1-time All American, 3-time All Conf)
- So SG Kenny West (14.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 42% 3PT)
- Sr PF Kenyatta Collins (9.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 52% FG)
- Sr SG Davey Webb (7.8 ppg, 41% 3PT)
- Strengths:
- 3PT shooting - 304 3pt made (#1 Big East, #4 Nat'l), 39% 3PT (#1 Big East), 72.0 ppg (#2 Big East)
- Perimeter defense - 17.8 opp topg (#2 Big East, #7 Nat'l), 41.1% opp FG (#3 Big East)
- Weaknesses:
- Rebounding (?) - 33.1 opp rpg (3rd worst Big East); could be misleading though, because Seton Hall plays a fast paced offense, allowing more shot and opportunities for their opponents to grab defensive rebounds
- How they got here:
- Finished 2nd Big East; Lost Conference Tournament Final
- Round 1: Def (15) Houston Baptist, 87-52
- Round 2: Def (7) Kentucky, 73-56
- Sweet 16: Def #19 (6) Wagner, 60-52
- Elite 8: Def (8) North Carolina St, 77-75
- Final 4: Def (5) #25 Brigham Young, 73-65
- Notes:
- It's clear that Seton Hall relies on their guards. Here are the stats of their 3-guard rotation (Young/West/Webb) during the 5 tournament games they played: (Young - 18.0 ppg, 50% 3PT; West - 19.0 ppg, 50% 3PT; Webb - 6.0 ppg, 40% 3PT)
Strategies- Defense: 1-2-2 zone; if we stop their guards from scoring, we give ourselves a good chance
- Offense: favor inside; we'll test first their interior defense
Tip off (1st Half)
15:53, Up 8-2
SH's guards yet to attempt to shot, and forced to pass to their post players. C Antonio Forney had success taking it inside. SG Kaniel Coley hits his 1st 3pt shot. However, we had 3 traveling calls.
We turn it over again, and SH punished us with an easy transition basket. Up 4.
SG Kaniel Coley hits a long 2. Coley with 5 pts, 2-2 FG. Up 6.
SH's SG Kenny West hits his 1st 3pt shot. Up 3. Coley responds back with his 2nd triple of the game! Coley 8 pts, 3-3 FG. Up 6
SH's PG Matt Young scores his first basket. Up 4. C Antonio Forney went to work down low and scores. Forney 5 pts. Up 6
We get a steal. Coley shoots again from long distance. Another 3 pointer by Coley, his third! Coley 11 pts, 4-4 FG. Up 9
A miss by SH. Everyone is anticipating where the ball will go next. Coley catches the pass. Coley takes a shot Coley drills his 4th trifecta! Coley 14 pts, 5-5 FG.
11:32, Up 21-9
SH begins to heat up in the perimeter. SG Davey Webb and SG Kenny West both hitting a 3. SH's 3-guard rotation has scored 11 of their 17 pts
9:57, Up 25-17
We go back to Sg Kaniel Coley. Coley puts up a shot. Coley's shot hits nothing but the bottom of the net! His 5th triple. Oh my, Coley is still perfect, 6-6 FG, 17 pts. Lead back up to 11
A miss by SH. Coley misses his 1st shot. But we get the off rebound and scores. Up 13
Another miss by SH. We go to Coley again. He fakes a 3. Drives to the basket. Got fouled. Split. Up 14. I'll give Coley a short rest
8:47, Up 31-17
SH scores 9 unanswered, including 2 more 3s. Too many turn overs on our side. We're also in the penalty. Bring back Coley
6:04, Up 31-26
Another turn over. And then SH hits 2 more FTs to go to within 3. Coley drives strong, gets fouled again. Coley sinks 2 FTs. Coley with 20 pts. Up 5
...
3:55, Up 31-26
We got called for turn over number 10; at least 6 of them were traveling.
With about 2 minutes remaining, SG Kaniel Coley scores his 6th 3pt shot! Coley taking matter into his own hands, with 23 pts. Up 8
SH miss. C Antonio Forney got fouled, and split his charities. Up 9
After a series of misses, SH got called for a foul and they are in the penalty. C Hasheem bailey splits his FTs. We're 6-10 FTs for the game. Up 10
SH splits their FTs as well. With the 1st half about to end, PG Antonio Parker puts up a long 3. It's good!
Halftime, Up 41-29Highlights
- You can see it on SG Kaniel Coley's eyes that he does not want to lose this game, and he'll do everything necessary, including getting hammered twice on his incursions to the basket
- As impressive as Coley's shooting was in the 1st half, SH also did well shooting from long range, 5-11 3PT. SH's 3-man guard rotation of Young/West/Webb combined for 19 pts
- Our advantage was on the fast break pts, 12-2. We had more turn overs, 10-8, with 6 or 7 of those traveling calls.
- C Antonio Forney is having good game defensively, with 4 blocks
Adjustments
Start of 2nd Half
15:52, Up 47-32
SG Kaniel Coley got his 7th 3pt shot of the game, right on the very 1st play of the 2nd half. SH responded back with a 3 of their own a few plays later. C Antonio Forney extended our lead to 15
Refs doing a good job wanting to make this game exciting, as we were called for 6 team fouls already. SH scored 4 unanswered. On uor possession, SG Kaniel Coley drives again, and scored on a tear drop shot. Coley with 28 pts. Lead back up to 13.
Foul called again, and we're on the penalty. SH miss their FTs, but scored on the off rebound. Coley wants the ball. Coley gets the ball. Coley puts up a shot SWISH! It's good for his 8th three of the game! Coley with 31 pts. Up 14
SH scored 4 straight. PG Antonio Parket hits a jumper. SH hits another 3, and lead down to single digits. C Antonio Forney powered his way to an inside basket. Up 11. Before the media timeout, Forney got his 8th block of the game. Forney doing a monster job on the defensive end.
10:24, Up 56-45
We can't get to Coley, and we turn it over (15th turn over). SH miss. On our next play, this time we get the ball to Coley Coley takes a shot
Coley puts it through from downtown! 9th triple. Coley with 34 pts. Up 14
Another miss by SH. PG Shea Wheat is looking to make a pass. Coley with gets the pass. Coley takes a shot. Coley sinks triple #10! Coley 37 pts. Up 17
A steal by PG Shea Wheat. Wheat looking for Coley. Coley with the ball. Coley puts up a shot. Coley fills it up from long range. Number 11. 40 pts for Coley. Up 20. Celebration has started from the crowd. Not yet though. Still a long way to go
Teams traded basket. Reserve C Hasheem Bailey gets his 5th foul
7:04, Up 69-49
I pulled out Coley for a brief rest. I told the team that the worst thing we can do now is assume this is a won ball game. Continue playing hard
SH hitting outside shots, but we continue our offensive onslaught even without Coley on the floor
2:52, Up 80-61
We'll slow down the game.
1:03, Up 84-65
Feeling of joy starting to sink in. Coley in the bench, and gave me a big hug, thanking me for the opportunity. I said to him, don't thank me yet. We'll do this gain next year
And he better get ready with the media-frenzy he's going to get after this game
Let the celebration starts
Final score: Seton Hall - 67, USC - 84Box Score
[INDENT]Coley 40, 0, 1, 11-15 3PT (*)
Forney 12, 9, 0, 3 stls, 9 blks
Bryant 11, 3, 0
Bailey 6, 7, 1, fouled out
Millar 6, 2, 4, 4 tos
Parker 5, 4, 7, 5 tos
Dare 4, 7, 0
Wheat 0, 1, 8, 3 stls, fouled out
[/INDENT]
Team Stats Comparisons
[INDENT]FG: 55-40%
REB: +13
AST: +9
TO: +5
Paint: +6
2nd Chance: +2
Fast Break: +2
[/INDENT]
Notes- No analysis needed, even if we committed 18 turn overs
We can forget what happened in the game, and just enjoy this magnificent ride
