:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67990633/5fc13ef0ab576.0.jpg)
THE FACTS
Time and Date: Friday, November 27 @ 4:00 pm ET
Records: Seton Hall (0-0) | Louisville (1-0)
Rankings: Seton Hall (#52 KenPom) | Louisville (#25 KenPom)
TV Channel: ESPN 2
ODDS
Spread: Louisville (-5.5)
Over/Under: 140.5
via OddsShark
GAME PREVIEW
The Seton Hall Pirates will finally kickoff their 2020-21 season on Friday against the Louisville Cardinals. COVID-19 has had a strong hit on the Pirates as they had to close their facilities for two weeks when there was a positive test among Seton Hall’s “Tier 1” personal, which consists of the players, coaches, staff and managers. This shut down also forced them to cancel their game against Winthrop originally scheduled for November 25th.
The Pirates picked up many new faces this offseason, including top graduate transfer Bryce Aiken. Aiken is coming off an ankle injury that had him participating in mostly non- contact basketball activities for most of the off-season. The key to this season for the Pirates is if Bryce Aiken can stay healthy, otherwise the Pirates will have to rely on senior Shavar Reynolds and freshman Jahari Long to fill in at the point guard position. The Pirates still have a solid team even with the departures of Myles Powell, Romaro Gill, and Quincy McKnight. A win against a top tier team in Louisville would be huge for the Pirates and would give the Pirates the confidence to win games in the future.
The Louisville Cardinals looked strong in their opener on Wednesday against Evansville and picked up a 79-44 win. Guard Carlik Jones looked had a great game, he put up 18 points, 8 board and 7 assists. It wasn’t just Jones who contributed, though. There were four other Cardinals that scored in double digits in the win. We may want to pump the brakes on Louisville, no offense to Evansville, until they have their actual test late this Friday afternoon against the Seton Hall Pirates.
The Pirates look to dance in the 2020-21 basketball season as they were unable to last season, but where projected by many to possibly win the National Championship. Here’s to a safe and healthy college basketball season and GO PIRATES!