Providence vs Seton Hall CBB Hoops Handicapping
The Seton Hall Pirates return home on Friday after dropping consecutive road games, to take on the Friars who are looking to boost their tournament hopes with a big win. [ad-4468020]
Date/Time: 7 p.m. EST, Friday, Feb. 28, 2014
Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Spread: -2.5 Seton Hall
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Despite losing four of its last six games, Providence (18-10) remain on the bubble, and a win over Seton Hall may just be enough to get them into the 68-team field come tournament selection time.
However, it won’t be easy for the Friars to forget their loss to the Pirates at home in double overtime back on Dec. 31. Nevertheless, they will hope for a much different outcome in this one.
The team boasts a quintet of double-digit scorers, led by Bryce Cotton, sophomore Josh Fortune, LaDontae Henton, Kadeem Batts and Tyler Harris.
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Fortune has improved his offensive production lately, scoring in double figures in five of the last six contests for the Friars, who are ranked first in the nation from the free-throw line at 79 percent with Harris (86.1) and Cotton (84.4) leading the way.
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Meanwhile, Seton Hall has won six of the last eight meetings between them and their longtime Big East rivals, and themselves are looking to move back above .500 and improve their chances of sneaking into the NCAA Tournament.
The Pirates are also looking to sweep the season series for the fourth time in five years with the help of leading scorer Fuquan Edwin (15.1 points), who has registered at least 20 points and two steals in four straight games.
Edwin also has 288 career steals – second-most among active players. and needs one to become the seventh player in Big East history with 150 steals in conference play.
He gets some help from Sterling Gibbs off the bench and Eugene Teague, who is a force down low and is tied for the most double-doubles in the Big East with seven.
Free Pick: Providence
All three Friars frontcourt starters are capable scorers who are tough on the boards.
That combination of strength and scoring will likely prove too much for the Pirates to handle in this battle, which will likely be decided by three points or less.
