Big East showdown tipping off late Saturday afternoon in the South Loop of Chicago, as the DePaul Blue Demons look to bounce back after a loss to Butler on Tuesday. On the other side, Seton Hall looks to do the same after dropping three straight games against the top teams in the conference. With how both teams play, this one should stay tight and likely come down to the final seconds, with overtime firmly in play. Let us get into it.
Death. Taxes. I have to bet the under. This matchup sets up as a rock fight from start to finish. Two teams that take pride in elite defense go head to head in the South Loop of Chicago. Points will be at an all time premium, so we are taking the under.
Defense Defense Defense
The Pirates have been a defensive juggernaut over the past couple of years, and this season is no different. They are ranked eighth in adjusted defensive efficiency, while excelling at blocking shots, protecting the paint, and forcing turnovers.
Offensively, Seton Hall has had its fair share of struggles over the last two seasons. The Pirates rank in the bottom 100 in effective field goal percentage, two-point percentage, and three-point percentage. They also do not rely heavily on perimeter shooting, and when they need it, they are connecting at roughly a 31% clip.
DePaul under Chris Holtmann has been a breath of fresh air. In his second season as head coach, the Blue Demons have shown real growth during conference play. While they sit at 3-5 straight up, they are 7-1 against the spread, a clear sign they are outperforming expectations. That becomes easier when you have a defensive unit ranked 58th in the country. This group has done an excellent job defending the interior, limiting three-point attempts, and forcing turnovers.
Offensively, DePaul still has its issues. If CJ Gunn is not clicking, this offense can go cold quickly. The Blue Demons rank inside the 200's in turnover percentage on offense, offensive rebounding, free throw percentage, and block percentage allowed. They do get to the line at a strong rate, but they are shooting under 70% from the charity stripe this season.
This matchup should be played at a moderate pace. DePaul ranks 149th in pace at home this season, while Seton Hall sits 240th on the road. DePaul is comfortable playing fast or slow, so tempo does not concern me here. Seton Hall will do everything it can to turn this game into a turtle race. With that, and with how dominant both defenses have been, points should once again be at an all time premium. Give me the under.
