Cold as Ice: XU Stumbles 85-68 to Seton Hall! Rick’s Key Takeaways Inside!

Xavier’s promising start quickly faded into a disappointing 85-68 defeat against Seton Hall on Wednesday night at the Cintas Center.

The Musketeers jumped to a 20-14 lead in the first 7:30, but momentum shifted abruptly. Once again, they faced a lengthy scoring drought—this time for nearly five minutes at the end of the first half—similar to their struggles at Creighton. During that stretch, Xavier committed five turnovers, missed their last five shots of the half, and went 0-for-9 from beyond the arc.

Seton Hall seized the opportunity, launching a 15-0 run that allowed them to pull ahead, leading 44-28 at halftime. The Musketeers struggled to catch up in the second half, as the Pirates found their rhythm and Xavier failed to deliver the necessary defensive stops.

Here are some key takeaways:

Coach Steele will emphasize toughness after this loss, and rightly so. Seton Hall’s physical play significantly impacted the game. Xavier struggled to match their intensity, particularly in battles for positioning and rebounds, and on defense against Xavier’s cutters. While the Musketeers are designed as an offensive team, they need to step up their physicality when facing aggressive opponents.

The main reason for the loss was poor shooting, which affected their overall performance. After an initial 3-point make by Jason Carter, Xavier went ice cold, missing nine consecutive 3-point attempts and failing to score during critical stretches. Key players like Scruggs, Freemantle, and Johnson all had off nights, making it impossible for the team to win with so many players struggling offensively.

Extended scoring droughts take their toll in two ways: they can lead to a drop in defensive energy and disrupt the ability to set a consistent defense. When shots aren’t falling, it creates mismatches and easy looks for the opponent, as seen during Xavier’s rough stretch in the first half.

Xavier’s strategy initially worked well, drawing Seton Hall’s Ike Obiagu away from the rim and capitalizing on mismatches. However, as the game progressed, Seton Hall adjusted, and Xavier’s offensive struggles made it easier for the Pirates to tighten their defense. Scruggs’ early contributions were promising, but his scoring output in the first half needed to be higher when the team was struggling.

Carter was a bright spot early, notching 10 of his total 12 points and pulling down six rebounds in just eight minutes before leaving the game due to injury. His absence left a significant void in both scoring and rebounding.

Ben Stanley also performed well off the bench, scoring 12 points, but he needs to contribute defensively and on the boards as well. His lack of rebounds and a few defensive lapses were missed opportunities for the team.

Lineup rotations will be a major focus moving forward. With all 12 players available for the first time this season, finding the right combinations is essential. It’s crucial to maintain offensive rhythm, as evident when the Musketeers fell behind after fielding multiple bench players in succession.

Zach Freemantle had a mixed performance, finishing with 20 points and nine rebounds, but much of his scoring came late when Xavier was already behind. His struggles in the paint, both offensively and defensively, will need to be addressed for Xavier to succeed.

Letting a game against Creighton slip away now feels costly, especially with limited opportunities in the Big East. Seton Hall showcased the importance of seizing chances, reminding Xavier that even a strong home performance might not be enough against a team playing at their best.

Ultimately, if Xavier can improve their shooting, particularly during droughts, this team could look very different. They have shown they can light it up against strong opponents, so finding consistency and energy during tough stretches will be key going forward.