tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59661595244557305722024-03-13T23:47:35.246-04:00SetoniaHazard Zet Forwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13406041344309306895noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-10426536628810344972009-12-04T09:13:00.004-05:002009-12-04T11:52:01.915-05:00Hall Hits the High Notes, Wins 89-56<a href="http://www.morethings.com/music/frankie_valli_four_seasons/frankie-valli-cant-take-my-eyes-the-bitter-end-12-29-1967-113.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px" alt="" src="http://www.morethings.com/music/frankie_valli_four_seasons/frankie-valli-cant-take-my-eyes-the-bitter-end-12-29-1967-113.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>In a game full of highlights and high notes, Seton Hall took care of business against Hartford last night, keeping their undefeated dreams alive. Eugene Harvey had a double-double and a career high 14 assists, JT dropped 17 points, Jamel Jackson continued giving us hard data for our soon to be formed field goal to three point attempt theoreom, and even crowd favorite Darnell Gatling registered his first career points! Nice job, mini-me!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>While the game finished with a personal highlight for Darnell Gatling, the game couldn't have started any higher. Ben and I have been riding the SHU athletics department the last few years to have better in-game entertainment, and they appear to have accepted the challenge. Not only have they introduced a thundering intro video that would make Frank Capra blush, but they also managed to find the best eight year old falsetto singer in the country who gave us a rousing rendition of the national anthem. Take that Frankie Valli!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>All in Hall, it was a great game and Seon Hall did what they needed to do...win. Maybe next game the Seton Hall mascot can do flips through a flaming hoop...? Hey, just a thought. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-16479914801117061362009-12-01T07:03:00.005-05:002009-12-01T14:53:36.334-05:00Hall Sends NJIT Back to the Lab; Win 93-53<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/prime/articles/fibonac/fibonac_9.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 138px;" src="http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/prime/articles/fibonac/fibonac_9.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />In my first game back from scouting the finest basketball talent in Europe, SHU sent the NJITechnicians back to the Highlands, dismantling them 93-53. Although the tryptophan was evidently still sitting heavy in the players' stomachs for the first few minutes, Theodore entered the game with a much needed shot of cranberry sauce. After that, it was all gravy.<br /><br />Pope posted his fourth straight double double, Hazell added 21 points, and JJ is well on his way to creating a mathematical sequence that would make even Fibonacci blush. So far this season, Jackson is 11 of 25 from the field and - you might have guessed it - 11 of 24 from three point range. Although he's thrown in a few free throws here and there, Ben and I are sure that given more hard data we will be able to devise a Jackson theorem a la the Mel weight-minutes ratio. Stay tuned Mr. Blaskopf!<br /><br />But there was more to being back than just watching basketball. It was also about reconnecting with family. It was about looking ahead to Cancun, hearing how tequila ferments in cactus fields in Mexico. It was about catching up on all the Cornell trip shenanigans. It was about hearing outlandish rumors about the players, recruits, and the coaches. Yes, it's good to be back.Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-86632893629791717592009-11-29T13:06:00.004-05:002009-11-29T13:27:11.375-05:00Long Night for Long Island; Hall Cruises<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqp3i1I2gUE/SxK8oxQdz2I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/ElX_QAylk4E/s1600/billy.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqp3i1I2gUE/SxK8oxQdz2I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/ElX_QAylk4E/s320/billy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409593511028576098" /></a><br />Last night was a battle between Pirates and the Downeaster Alexa. Let's just say the piano man isn't thrilled. <br /><br />With the Long Island fishing industry still reeling, SHU delivered a crushing blow, sinking the LIU ship and catching all "stripers" in sight. Not only did the Hall sail on to victory with ease, but they did it in style!! For the first time in recent memory, a first mate within the cheerleading squad sang the national anthem! And finally a student won the SHU shotclock challenge, although his pants were down at his ankles while he did it -- better pull those up when you go to McLoones!<br /><br />As the LIU players swam frantically like guppies, Pope soared high to grab every rebound in sight. Harvey was confident, feeding a gorgeous alleyoop pass to Hazell, and Stix used his legs like oars to beat down the opponent. Even Long Island-native Matt "Juice" Cajuste got into the game! It was a tough night for Fero, however, who found himself frequently pushed out of position, but we think he'll bounce back. Freshmen have nights like that. <br /><br />But is there not always a twinge of sadness in every victory? Yes, while the Pirates looked buoyant last night, it might have been because they were carrying less weight. Due to poor academics, Mel has been asked to take a leave of absence from the team. It's bad news to say the least, since the Hall needs Mel come Big East time. His talent is undeniable... let's hope lack of discipline doesn't hold him back. <br /><br />For now, let's enjoy the blow out. Sail on, Pirates!! Sail on... And Dave, if you're reading, bring me back some Moroccan couscous!!Hazard Zet Forwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13406041344309306895noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-38717399801975459762009-10-29T21:36:00.008-04:002009-10-29T23:47:30.838-04:00A Romarsi Feast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/SupP3Mz2V1I/AAAAAAAABeE/AAv2SlgEW6I/s1600-h/romarsi+feast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 187px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/SupP3Mz2V1I/AAAAAAAABeE/AAv2SlgEW6I/s200/romarsi+feast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398214913107056466" border="0" /></a><br />Sitting through the raffle drawing at the booster club preseason dinner a few weeks ago, there was only one thing I set my eyes on winning. No, not the team autographed basketball. No, not the "Dream Seats" to an upcoming out of conference game. And no, not even a free lunch at Bunny's with Gonzo and the coaching staff. Rather, the one thing, and one thing only, that I set my eyes on was <a href="http://romarsi.com/Home_Page.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Romarsi's</span></a> famed basil sauce and olive <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tapenade</span>. So when Vince announced my name as the winner of the Grand Prize, I could not believe my luck!<br /><br /><br />Then, it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">occurred</span> to me. What better way than to kick off the season than to have Ben over to my new apartment for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Romarsi</span> feast? As the first guest to eat at my newly assembled <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ikea</span> dining room table, Ben and I chowed down on some gnocchi with basil sauce and olive <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">chabatta</span> bread with the olive <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">tapenade</span>, reminiscing about our apartment, fine Italian specialty foods, and, of course, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Wawa</span>. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/SupQIQH6AKI/AAAAAAAABeM/Ow-2kCqlwTo/s1600-h/romarsi+jt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 168px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/SupQIQH6AKI/AAAAAAAABeM/Ow-2kCqlwTo/s200/romarsi+jt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398215206054264994" border="0" /></a>After briefly discussing how a simple basil leaf could produce such an amazing sauce, the conversation quickly turned to tomorrow night's exhibition game against Carlton and the upcoming season. What would the starting five be? How many minutes would Big Mel play? Would Garcia get through the game with both knees intact? With Lisa subconsciously writing the name and number of her new favorite player in her dinner plate, Ben and I could not be happier. We were finally back in our element, discussing the ins and outs of Seton Hall basketball and, perhaps just as importantly, how we would get out to the game tomorrow night.<br /><br /><br />While the mystery of the basil leaf is still unresolved, one thing is for sure. Tomorrow marks the first game of what should be an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">unbelievable</span> season. With all the prep work done, it's finally time for the games to begin. All the waiting is done. The curtains are drawn.<br /><br />See you tomorrow night.<br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/SupQu98ZjwI/AAAAAAAABec/3EmEKdWHNaM/s1600-h/Romarsi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 235px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/SupQu98ZjwI/AAAAAAAABec/3EmEKdWHNaM/s200/Romarsi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398215871189061378" border="0" /></a>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-47987751933635887322009-03-07T16:59:00.003-05:002009-03-07T17:39:56.419-05:00Hall Escapes Fifth Third With a Win<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqp3i1I2gUE/SbL0a00pSzI/AAAAAAAAANw/lAV8cqdcpU8/s1600-h/Picture+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 311px; height: 229px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqp3i1I2gUE/SbL0a00pSzI/AAAAAAAAANw/lAV8cqdcpU8/s320/Picture+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310575652316465970" /></a><br />Dave and I expect the very best from our players. We want them to give 110% every time. <div><br /></div><div>On this particular day, however, 110% would not be enough. Given that it was senior day on Cincinnati's home floor, we would need at the very least 5/3 effort, or 166.67%. (Go ahead, check my math, Pete!!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, that's correct. It took overtime, but our team battled and battled to leave Ohio's famous Fifth Third Arena with a win. Now, it wasn't easy, and even getting to the game proved a challenge. </div><div><br /></div><div>After sleeping through our alarm, Dave and I had to high-tail it out of Kentucky. Stopping by Sonic for a little fast food on the way, along with a quick thirty second reenactment of our favorite "reality-style" commercials, we pulled into the arena parking lot just in time. </div><div><br /></div><div>You can only imagine our exhilaration when we picked up our tickets at Will Call to find we would be sitting on the floor directly behind the bench!! Yes, there is a God! </div><div><br /></div><div>I can say with some certainty we were a part of the team today. When Paul Gause ran out of bounds, chasing a loose ball, Dave was there to give him a high-five. When John Garcia tossed his dirty sweat rag during a time-out, I was there to catch it in my expectant mitts. </div><div><br /></div><div>The game was a classic thriller, with a number of blown lay-ups later redeemed with clutch free throws. And while Dave and I were drastically outnumbered, there were a couple other Hall fans in attendance, most notably Sister Stix. Let's just say it's genetic!</div><div><br /></div><div>For those of you who couldn't make it to arena, here a couple things you might have missed:</div><div><br /></div><div>- Pistol Pete stands up and claps all the time. So much so that the UC student section would actually scream "Sit down Pete!!" Falcon, if they're calling your name, you must be doing something right!!</div><div><br /></div><div>- After Stix missed a critical open lay-up at the start of overtime, Coach Bobby G very calmly and soothingly screamed in a earth-shattering voice "RELAX!!!!" Psychology students, this is what we might call a textbook case of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_bind">double bind.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>- Although the crowd got very noisy towards the end, it was actually a pretty poor showing. Lots of empty seats.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Nunu missed a couple of shots driving the hoop when it was very clear he was fouled. (From where we were sitting, we could hear the slaps.) Just showin' Eu some love...</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, a lot of heart. Okay, well soon our roadtrip adventure will draw to a close, as we prepare for a Big East tourney matchup with South Florida. But not before Dave and I hit up Ohio's famous Camp Washington for the world's best chili. </div><div><br /></div>Hazard Zet Forwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13406041344309306895noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-75285430701922948662009-03-02T22:04:00.003-05:002009-03-02T22:26:44.308-05:00My Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41V9HGM1KKL._SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41V9HGM1KKL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Love and basketball - two peas in a pod that seem to go together even beyond its famed movie title. Just as Seton Hall is always trying to recruit the best players to join their team for the following season, I am also always trying to court the best local prospects in an attempt to join forces with them for my own future.<br /><br />Upon sending a text message to my top recruit letting her know that I will be in Kentucky until Sunday, I received the following response:<br /><br />"Oh my god I cant believe it's already Kentucky. You and Ben must be flipping out. I hope that hezel guys hits his threes and gets the foul call...And that sticks performs and that garcias legs stay strong. And who knows maybe Davis wont foul out in two minutes and actually grab a rebound or two. Go shu!"<br /><br />What do you think? Does she pass the test? Sure, there were some typos, but who ever said love was perfect?Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-8220419336001229382009-02-07T15:44:00.003-05:002009-02-07T16:05:43.965-05:00Hall "Blues Out" St. John's; Irving Photo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqp3i1I2gUE/SY33WQ_5ADI/AAAAAAAAAMo/uvoC8_hNtFQ/s1600-h/roboto.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 147px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqp3i1I2gUE/SY33WQ_5ADI/AAAAAAAAAMo/uvoC8_hNtFQ/s200/roboto.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300164298377068594" /></a><br />Seton Hall has not had a single comfortable win against a Big East program in a long, long time. This game came close. <br /><br />With the arena buzzing, and a "blue out" declared, the fans had a lot to cheer about. Unfortunately, while the night was a great success, there were a couple minor mistakes by the Seton Hall organizers.<br /><br />A couple tips for the next "blue out:"<br /><br />1. If you're the guy handing out blue t-shirts to the people sitting courtside, maybe the guy wearing all red with a St. Johns' hat doesn't deserve one. <br /><br />2. At the Trivia stand, there was a man handing out white Seton Hall t-shirts. At the blue out. <br /><br />3. The impact of the blue out is a little diminished when the entrance to the Prudential Center is illuminated with 1,000 watt red light bulbs. <br /><br />But these are just little peccadilloes. On the whole, Dave and I had a great time. He wore blue war paint, and I had a balloon pirate sword. It was the best day of a 7 year old's life. <br /><br />The game was also quite interesting. Putting aside the player performances, clearly Flagman was inspired by our poll question, as he set a record 8 laps!! Our options only went up to 7, big guy!! Take it easy!! Even though that flagpole is about as skinny as a Mitchell tibia, you know it's got to weigh a lot.<br /><br />On the court, Garcia played a great first half, moving up and down the floor with relative agility, and even blocking a lot of shots. Hazell had a great shooting night, and Theodore gave a great spark off the bench. <br /><br />It was also nice to see Kyrie Irving in attendance. One of the Hall's top recruits, Irving sat in the section next to us, and seemed to enjoy the game. Forgetting the fact that he formerly attended MKA, and Dave and I both graduated from rival high school Newark Academy, rest assured that we would happily "squash the beef" between our respective alma matria just to let this kid play the point. <br /><br />I snapped this shot of Irving after the game, heading into the locker room, where he would surely be greeted with a sweaty hug from Gonzo and a cool handshake from SYMS fashion model, Adubato Roboto. <br /><br />Check it out!Hazard Zet Forwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13406041344309306895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-6207132126108279772008-12-22T21:20:00.005-05:002008-12-22T22:45:02.517-05:00Popkin, Mitchell Not Enough; Hall Loses 70-64<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://heirloomradio.com/images/retroradio.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 210px;" src="http://heirloomradio.com/images/retroradio.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />What was supposed to be a nice peaceful evening listening to the Prodigal Son and Gary Cohen announce an easy Seton Hall victoryA turned into an actual nightmare. The Hall travelled south this evening to take on James Madison University in what should have been a rather winnable OOC game. Instead, James Madison came out swinging and led at one point by 21 points in the first half. Overcoming their second straight sluggish start, the Hall battled back in classic Hall form, overcoming the 21 point deficit with a combination of steals, three point daggers and pressure D. However, it just wasn't enough. <div><br /></div><div>For the third straight game, Seton Hall relied heavily on their "sprint squad," playing with four guards and Robert "Stix Mitchell" as their "center." Stix actually single handedly kept the Hall in the game, putting up 23 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. However, there is no possible way that Stix can be expected to matchup with the likes of Harangody, Thabeet and Onuaku. Mike Davis and Brandon Walters were virtually invisible tonight playing a combined 20 minutes and zero collective minutes in the second half. With John Garcia out for the next few games, Seton Hall is going to have to learn how to play its young big men, especially when BIG EAST play begins. If Davis and Wawa cant grow a pair of mitts soon, it will be a long, long season for the Pirates - even when John Garcia does return.<br /><br />Gonzo's reluctance to use either of his backup big men forced him to turn to walk-on Matt "O' Say" Cajuste for a few minutes to spell Paul Gause as he fixed his knee brace. If that's not a slap in the face to Wawa or Davis, I'm not sure what is. Maybe it's a wake up call. Maybe it's the extra motivation they need. The point is - in order to compete in the BIG EAST, Gonzo is going to have to call upon either Mike Davis or Brandon Walters, even when John Garcia does return from his inury. Garcia can not be expected to play day in and dayout on two surgically repaired knees against some of the biggest bodies in college basketball. He is going to need help and someone is going to have to step up. Since I'm not eligble to play yet, it's going to have to be someone else....Ben...??<br /><br />The other thought that Ben and I kept having was how on earth will Seton Hall compete with the top teams in the BIG EAST if they have to scramble to come from behind against the likes of Delaware, Cal Baptist, IUPUI and James Madison? If they can be go down by 21 to James Madison, what will happen when they play Louisivlle? Or UConn? I've heard many say that Seton Hall plays to its competition. Well that may be true, but where is the mental toughness? If they were to play a high school team, would they lose by 40? <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In the lone bright spot of the evening, Ben and I were able to add a new nickname to our list. At roughly the nine minute mark of the second half, the Prodigal Son was true to his name when he coined the nickname "Eu-Genius" in reference to one of Eugene Harvey's circus layups. "Eu-Genius..?" No, Dave Popkin, you're a genius. </div>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-8106260032780923992008-12-19T13:44:00.003-05:002008-12-19T13:50:59.575-05:00What's in a Name: IUPUI<a href="http://extension2.lmu.edu/Religion/images/palindrome.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 219px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 217px" alt="" src="http://extension2.lmu.edu/Religion/images/palindrome.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br />pal‧in‧drome<br />–noun<br /><br />1. a word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc., reading the same backward as forward, as Madam, I'm Adam or Poor Dan is in a droop.<br /><br /><br />It is once again time for our “What’s in a Name” series. This week’s edition will focus on the visiting Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) Jaguars. While Ben may be the English major, I have decided to take my own approach to analyzing IUPUI's bizarre relationship with the English language.<br /><br />The visiting Jaguars may have the longest school name in NCAA Division I history. With a whopping 48 letters and 17 vowels, IUPUI is an English teacher’s (wet) dream. Secondly, and the focus of this week’s column, is that IUPUI is one of a few NCAA schools that is a palindrome. A palindrome is “a word, verse, or sentence (as “Able was I ere I saw Elba”) or a number (as 1881) that reads the same backward or forward.” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) Stemming from the Greek word <em>palindromos</em>, the Greeks used the phrase to capture the backward movement of crabs. I have to imagine that there are at least a few other NCAA schools out there that are palindromes, but IUPUI might be the longest.<br /><br />The ancient Greeks used the word “palindromos” to refer to the backward movement of crabs, noting that crabs often retraced their steps by moving backwards the same way they move forwards. Having the ability to move backwards and forwards in the same line without altering one’s movements drastically is a lesson that we, as Seton Hall fans, can all learn from. That which may set us backwards – John Garcia’s knee injury, the seemingly everlasting wait for Big Mel and Keon to be cleared, disappointing recruiting news – can just as easily be undone by a few strong steps forward in the very same line.<br /><br />And that’s all for this edition of “What’s in a Name”Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-82370281778666377022008-12-04T10:29:00.001-05:002008-12-04T10:31:36.640-05:00Seton Hall Music VideoThe first of hopefully many Setonia Productions...Enjoy.<br /><br /><p><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LjUSNUIXRs4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LjUSNUIXRs4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><p> </p>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-79762986671833512712008-11-17T21:51:00.003-05:002008-11-17T22:15:55.815-05:00Zagoraphobia!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.radio.cz/pictures/lidi/zagoria_adamx.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 141px; height: 160px;" src="http://img.radio.cz/pictures/lidi/zagoria_adamx.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />According to Webster's Dictionary, "agoraphobia" is defined as: "a nervous disorder often triggered by the fear of no easy means of escape." We can only surmise then that Gonzo suffered from an unexpected bout of Zagoraphobia when he bumped into popular blogger Adam Zagoria of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/zagsblog.net">Zagsblog.net</a> under the bleachers of the Prudential Center after the Hall's thrashing of Columbia. With his salt-and-pepper pho-hawk and Wesleyan education, Adam must have cut a terrifying figure, prompting Coach Gonzo to allegedly call out in fear, cursing and screaming. <div><br /></div><div>(For the details, check out <a href="http://web.sny.tv/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081117&content_id=1482003&oid=2&vkey=21">the full story</a> on SNY.) <br /><div><br /></div><div>In all seriousness though, this could not come at a worse time for the program. After two solid wins, and the prospect of some positive recruiting news, things were starting to look sunny for this San Juan-bound squad. Whether it's Gonzo being Gonzo, or Zags being infantile, who knows... But here's the real question: How in God's name are Dave and I going to wake up in time to meet our fellow Booster Club members at the airport at 5 am on Thursday????!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Hazard Zet Forwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13406041344309306895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-87275036531445118292008-10-31T20:03:00.008-04:002008-10-31T20:33:12.338-04:00Media Credentials Denied; Appeal Filed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqp3i1I2gUE/SQujjgBMJ4I/AAAAAAAAAIE/eVv8qLO-Bbk/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 264px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqp3i1I2gUE/SQujjgBMJ4I/AAAAAAAAAIE/eVv8qLO-Bbk/s320/Picture+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263480419798230914" /></a><br /><br />As readers of the blog, you know that Dave and I are pretty serious about our love for the Hall. We follow this team religiously, and with true journalistic integrity. <br /><br />It's for that reason that we decided to apply for media credentials to cover the team more closely at home games. Unfortunately, we just received an email that we've been denied. Fear not, however!! I have just filed an appeal with someone named Matt. Let's keep our fingers crossed...<br /><br />Here's the email from the Hall:<br /><br /><br />Thank you for your interest in covering Seton Hall University men's basketball. Unfortunately, your request does not meet our credential criteria and it is not possible to accommodate all requests. You were denied credentials for the following reason:<br /><br />Due to limited media space, Seton Hall University does not credential independent bloggers.<br /><br />If you have any questions regarding your credential request, please contact Matt Sweeney at sweenemc@shu.edu.<br /><br /><br />Here's our "appeal:"<br /><br /><br />Dear Matt,<br /><br />A few weeks ago, my fellow blogger Dave and I applied for media credentials to cover Seton Hall basketball. Unfortunately, we were inexplicably denied. In the email we received, we were told: "Seton Hall University does not credential independent bloggers."<br /><br />I certainly understand that media credentials for Seton Hall must be in very high-demand, and accommodating every request is surely impossible. Really, who in their right mind wouldn't want the opportunity to report on this crazy squad?!?!?! Gonzo?!?! Nunu?!?! I can only imagine the piles and piles of applications.<br /><br />Ordinarily, I would accept this denial with grace and humility. I must, however, take objection to the phrase "independent bloggers."<br /><br />Dave and I are in no way independent. In fact, we depend on Seton Hall basketball for everything. Without the Seton Hall team, we'd have no reason to go on. "It's like someone saying I can't have air. I can't live without air, and I can't live without them." (Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire, referring to his children.)<br /><br />Although I've never met you Matt, I can say confidently that you will never meet two people more dependent on anything in your entire life. And now, I'm depending on you.<br /><br />I kindly and respectfully ask that the powers that be reconsider this decision. Not unlike Herbert Pope, I hope that you will take seriously my "appeal," accounting for all personal hardship I may or may not<br />have endured.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Ben and DaveHazard Zet Forwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13406041344309306895noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-15130100131733552902008-05-20T16:20:00.004-04:002008-12-09T03:58:54.040-05:00Only 22 hrs and 40 mins to go...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/SDMy2tjAOeI/AAAAAAAAAi8/Ngp-G5YWUls/s1600-h/countdown.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202557910063790562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="76" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/SDMy2tjAOeI/AAAAAAAAAi8/Ngp-G5YWUls/s200/countdown.bmp" width="146" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Well, its official.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Maurice "Murray Hill" Sutton (Place) will decide between the holy trinity of schools tomorrow at a 3pm press conference held at his Largo High School (MD). </div><div></div><div>Check out "<a href="http://njmg.typepad.com/zagsblog/">Zagsblog</a>" for more information.<br /></div><div> </div><div></div><div>Also, it appears as though Coach Bobby G will be speaking from the pulpit tomorrow at a press conference for Seton Hall beat writers. If anyone has a spare pair of credentials, we would love to go.<br /></div><div> </div><div></div><div>Until then...keep praying.</div>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-2499594486135681212008-04-21T10:23:00.001-04:002008-12-09T03:58:54.841-05:00Dayeinu!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/SAyjuXt5_4I/AAAAAAAAAh0/Ibs1zB2Iqxc/s1600-h/charlton+heston.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/SAyjuXt5_4I/AAAAAAAAAh0/Ibs1zB2Iqxc/s200/charlton+heston.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191704487487209346" border="0" /></a><br /><o:p></o:p>During the Passover seder, everyone sings a song entitled “Dayeinu” as a way of expressing gratitude for the Lord’s generosity during our time in bondage. Translated from the Hebrew, “dayeinu” means “enough” – the idea is this: if the Lord had only shown half as much generosity, it would have sufficed. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On this, the second day of the Passover festival, Dave and I decided to make a pilgrimage. Unbelievable as it may seem, Dave had actually never set foot on Seton Hall’s glorious campus – like the land of Canaan, it was a mere far-away dream world for him. But today, that all changed. Touring around campus, we checked out the grounds, the beautiful dormitories. We drove down dead-ends, and performed K-turns, flawlessly. All-in-all, a wonderful experience! Dayeinu!!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But of course, the Pope’s visit would prove major dividends for us, as on this day, we struck true holiness – we actually ran into Okosun!! He was walking into Walsh Gym, carrying a basketball, listening to his iPod (shuffle?!?!?!?!)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, for those who don’t know, Okosun is pretty much our favorite player. His work ethic is unparalleled, and his patriotism, inspiring. There is no one I wanted to see more than my good (Facebook) friend, Augustine Okosun. So when we spotted him entering the gym, we had to follow.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately, neither of us have swipe access. After ruminating for a while in the lobby, catching our breath, we decided to call it quits. As we were leaving, however, we noticed an open door on the side of building. Following the school motto (Hazard Zet Forward) we chose to “Hazard,” making our way boldly into the athletic center. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We desperately tried to find the gymnasium, but it was no avail. We kept finding ourselves getting lost in random corridors that led to nowhere, not unlike Seton Hall’s recruiting efforts with local four-star prospects. Our dream of practicing footwork with the big man, perhaps even lobbing alleyoop passes, trading smiles, laughs, was sadly not to be. Ultimately, we got trapped in a stairwell, leaving us with no choice than to leave through the emergency exit, activating the “alarm” as we fled like young rams. (2:13)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When we reached the car, we pretty much broke down and cried. I was physically exhausted, and Dave was overcome with emotion. When Dave said the word “emotion,” it sounded to me like “Okosun.” When I said, “Let’s get out of here,” Dave couldn’t hear me because the alarm was still quite loud, even though we had run very far. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On our way out of campus, we realized it had been a great day. Dave had seen Seton Hall for the first time, and we got to see Okosun, even if for only a second. And how great to see the big guy practicing in the off-season! Dayeinu!!!!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But wait!! Who are those two students walking on the sidewalk? Could it be – Brandon Wawa and Paul Gause??!?!?! Jackpot numero duo!!! Rolling down the window, Dave flashed them a quick wave, to which they did not immediately respond. After we found ourselves faced with yet another dead-end, however, forcing us to turn around yet again, we passed them a second time, and they definitely saw us for sure. Even though Paul kept dribbling his basketball, and Brandon kept looking forward, I’m pretty sure they noticed. Also, they looked startled by the sound of a distant alarm. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The story of the exodus is not one to be taken lightly. It’s a story that demands retelling, because it’s essential to the freedoms we currently enjoy. On this Passover, Dave and I didn’t just retell the story – we enacted it, sounding the bell of freedom loud and clear. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-31831634692631252522008-03-11T22:48:00.003-04:002008-12-09T03:58:55.204-05:00Third Time's a Charm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R9dG_QeD3vI/AAAAAAAAAhk/59dPk4OCZGM/s1600-h/NCAA-DIV1-BigEast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 134px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R9dG_QeD3vI/AAAAAAAAAhk/59dPk4OCZGM/s200/NCAA-DIV1-BigEast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176684349252427506" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I could begin this post talking about the <st1:place st="on">Rutgers</st1:place> game. About the questionable calls down the stretch. About the off-balance, game-winning, three-pointer from J.R. Inman. About the fact that Gonzo almost punched Fred Hill in the mouth, with good reason I might add.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Or what about the fact that Dave and I sat in our seats completely dumbstruck by the loss, refusing to vacate the arena even after the ushers threatened us with violence. A move that would later pay major dividends, as the Seton Hall players would congregate half-an-hour later in the Ice lounge with the university boosters – a group which we would go on to infiltrate. Mike Davis, Stix, Paul Gause. They were all there. We talked strategy with John Garcia’s father. We stared awkwardly at Eugene Harvey’s brother. We learned that Robert Mitchell carries multiple other nicknames in addition to “Stix,” including “Sticky” and “Sticky Icky.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was an eye-opening experience to say the least. We learned about the inner workings of the team, heard all the gossip, saw the world behind the curtain. (We’ll post more about this another time.) </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But for now let’s focus on the future. Because that future starts tomorrow.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On Wednesday night, Seton Hall faces off against <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Marquette</st1:place></st1:city> in the first round of the Big East tournament. It will be the third time the Hall faces the Golden Eagles this season, and there’s quite a lot of bad blood between these squads. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Despite the fact that Seton Hall lost both meetings, there’s reason to be optimistic. After squandering a big lead against RU, the Hall is a team with some unfinished business. Seniors Jamar and Brian deserved to be sent off with a win, and the team failed to deliver. Well, you can bet the Hall will do everything in their power to turn things around in NYC. </p>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-36064240387107598332008-02-26T22:23:00.003-05:002008-12-09T03:58:56.452-05:00Gary Cohen, Dave Popkin Will Seton Hall to Victory<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqp3i1I2gUE/R8TX63sjT6I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/pZLiQRasypc/s1600-h/gary+and+dave.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 131px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqp3i1I2gUE/R8TX63sjT6I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/pZLiQRasypc/s320/gary+and+dave.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171495678511370146" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Wow. Wowsers. Wow-a-mania. Whatever form you choose, one thing is unanimous – what a game. Seton Hall traveled down to South Florida tonight (which is actually not located in southern Florida but is instead on the western coast of the state) and literally turned off the lights as they won 79-75.</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><br />Led all night by the unconscious performances of senior captains Brian Laing and Jamar Nutter, Seton Hall turned to their big man Johnny Garcia down the stretch to lead them to victory. Not even a state-wide power outage could stop Johnny as he out muscled and out milked USF big man, Kentrelle Gransberry. Not only did Cherry post his fifth double-double of the season, but something about that Florida sun transformed him into the second coming of Reggie Miller as he sank two free throws late in the game to help seal the deal for the Hall.</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><br />Unfortunately, Ben and I were unable to actually see the game as Time Warner Cable looked more like Nunu on the fast break than a legitimate cable company, so we had to turn to our trusted friends the Honorable Gary Cohen and Sir Dave Popkin. So while Ben was busy frolicking around, tossing ping pong balls into plastic cups during the first half, I was strapped to my seat listening to the gospel of Gary and Dave. And what a sermon it was – Gary delivered his usual poignant play-by-play and Dave added his timely game analysis. Because of them, I was able to survive this television blackout.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Next step: the Pirates take their ship into the Red Storm of St. John’s as they look to get closer to clinching a bid to the Big East Tournament. Afterwards, perhaps an afterparty with Davis and Hazell at Galway Hooker? They may be attending… </span>Hazard Zet Forwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13406041344309306895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-16325043610923650882008-02-20T23:07:00.004-05:002008-12-09T03:58:56.630-05:00Lessons for Life<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R773P2XifHI/AAAAAAAAAg0/VkI88ko231Q/s1600-h/tsusa_img_virginia_hawksnest.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169841273932250226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 162px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 121px" height="151" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R773P2XifHI/AAAAAAAAAg0/VkI88ko231Q/s200/tsusa_img_virginia_hawksnest.jpg" width="173" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R7z74mXifGI/AAAAAAAAAgs/cr4LiSX0b1I/s1600-h/P2160026.JPG"></a><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Well, we’re back. It was one of the greatest roadtrips of all time, and now we must resume our daily routine. Get up, feed the crayfish, go to work, come home, feed the crayfish, then dream all night about Seton Hall…</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">But it’s important not to forget the lessons we learned while in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">West Virginia</st1:place></st1:state>, because those lessons were critical. </p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Lesson #1: Visit parts of the country that tourists never visit.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Dave and I were not tourists in <st1:state st="on">West Virginia</st1:state> – we were <st1:place st="on">West Virginians</st1:place>. While we were there, we completely immersed ourselves in the culture, everything from attending a <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Morgantown</st1:place></st1:city> high school musical production of High School Musical, to catching a ride back to our hotel with the pizza delivery boy (or was he truly a man?). We rode Rt. 250 at sunset. We met Bob Huggins in a bar (twice). All in all, it was the experience of a lifetime.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Lesson #2: Always carry a pen.</span> </p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">The number of autographs we received on this journey was nothing short of staggering. Bob Huggins, yes, but nearly the entire Seton Hall team as well!!! Armed with a pen he found in the lobby, and his two functional arms, Dave successfully waved down player after player and convinced each to sign his Waterfront Plaza Hotel notepad. If Dave hadn’t found that pen, would the signatures even exist? If Marty’s parents hadn’t kissed at the Under the Sea dance, would he even exist?!?!?!</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Lesson #3: Mike Davis must have done something stupid during warm-ups.</span> </p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Mike Davis must have done something stupid during warm-ups. You know how we know this? Because he didn’t play the entire game. Not a single minute. And he was listed as a starter on the scoreboard just a couple seconds before tip-off. Also, he could have potentially helped Seton Hall a lot in that game, as <st1:state st="on">West Virginia</st1:state> doesn’t have that many big bodies to match up against the 6’10 <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Davis</st1:place></st1:city>. (Except perhaps Jamie Smalligan, whose last name sums up the lilliputian aspect of his game). My guess is that Gonzo wanted to send <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Davis</st1:place></st1:city> a message (in a bottle?)</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Lesson #4: Crayfish should be fed multiple times per day.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Although technically “unnecessary,” and “potentially harmful for the PH level of the tank,” it’s always better to be safe than sorry. </p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">So with these lessons learned, we now look forward to the next game. Seton Hall is desperate for a win in this upcoming contest for Depaul, and you can bet Depaul is going to be hungry as well after losing a squeaker against UConn. Expect an epic battle in this match-up of major Big East tournament implications. </p></div>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-35011247360219213492008-02-09T22:57:00.000-05:002008-12-09T03:58:57.305-05:00Nova Wins on Last Second Shot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R655n2XieKI/AAAAAAAAAX0/hZ5hTZ4MeZ4/s1600-h/villanova+-+seton+hall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R655n2XieKI/AAAAAAAAAX0/hZ5hTZ4MeZ4/s200/villanova+-+seton+hall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165199548156639394" border="0" /></a><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Coming into this game, Dave and I weren’t feeling too confident. So we decided to change up our routine. Instead of our trademark Gonzone t-shirts, we wore street clothes. Instead of watching the game in our cramped apartment, we watched the game at Dave’s friend’s place a couple blocks away. Instead of listening to the game on 770 WABC, we turned up the volume on Dave’s friend’s television, creating an arena-like atmosphere, which later drew complaints from the elderly neighbors, which was a very PAC 10 move.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Despite our best efforts to mix things up, however, the outcome sadly remained the same: another loss for the Hall, their third in a row. There were a number of positive takeaways from the game, nonetheless. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Firstly, Seton Hall is back to playing quality basketball. Even though they lost, this looked like the team that literally turned people’s heads. Sure, they didn’t shoot well from outside, but they drove strong to the basket, and the ball movement was very good. “Big city” Nunu proved yet again that he shows up for the big games.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Secondly, Mike Davis is a stud. Yes, he should have dunked that rebound put-back instead of attempting a Karl Malone-esque teardrop of a fadeaway from right under the hoop, but he’ll learn to be more aggressive. The bottom line is this: <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Davis</st1:place></st1:city> has great hands for a big man, and if he stays healthy, he’ll be the center of the future for this squad.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thrice, the team played very well without Gause. True, they didn’t get as many steals as they usually do, but the energy was great.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Quatrain, the Hall showed that they can score without senior Brian Laing. During the first half, Laing was struggling to get in a rhythm, but <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Harvey</st1:place></st1:city>, Nutter, and Hazell all made major contributions. The question is, will the Hall be able to get rebounds after he graduates (with distinction?)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, all-in-all, a very tough loss. A number of balls rimmed out for the Hall, and Nova shot the lights out from deep. I like how they played though, and I’m feeling good looking forward to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Marquette</st1:place></st1:city>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-51223033410988350802008-02-06T23:56:00.000-05:002008-12-09T03:58:57.679-05:00Hall Falls Hard to Notre Dame<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6qQvqmkZBI/AAAAAAAAATs/y1cGtSjblAU/s1600-h/gause+down.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 114px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6qQvqmkZBI/AAAAAAAAATs/y1cGtSjblAU/s200/gause+down.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164099071298003986" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">After the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Georgetown</st1:place></st1:city> game, I was disappointed. After tonight’s game against Our Lady of Notre Dame, I was disgusted.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In a match-up against the #22 team in the country, Seton Hall was completely outplayed. With no answer for the Notre Dame big man inside, and with <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Harvey</st1:place></st1:city> lackadaisically guarding outside shooters, the Hall gave up an atrocious 95 points. It was a truly dismal defensive effort, exacerbated by an injury to one of the Hall’s best defensive players, Paul Gause. After sitting out a number of games earlier this season with a hand injury, Gause may very likely miss some more time – he drove hard to lane midway through the first half and landed awkwardly on his left knee. He would not return. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Rock was sold out tonight, and the crowd wanted to rally behind Seton Hall. There was simply very little to cheer about. Hazell was the lone bright spot for the squad, picking up 5 steals in Gause’s absence and getting to the line consistently. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There were a number of aspects that made this game highly unusual. For starters, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">St. Augustine</st1:place></st1:city> got the start!! After <a href="http://bpurkert.googlepages.com/home">editing our friend details on Facebook only a few hours before</a>, Okosun would be going head-to-head with Brother Luke. And for the most part, Okosun played well. He needs to do a better job catching the ball, but he brings athleticism and energy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Secondly, Walters appeared in the game! Granted, he really only played during garbage time, as well as a few minutes in the first half, but he was actually fairly effective. He ended with 5 points, and it was nice to see the bench cheering him on. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Finally, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Eugene</st1:place></st1:city>. Oh, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Eugene</st1:place></st1:city>. “Nunu,” as we like to call him, is truly one of the smoothest point guards in the Big East. Not as quick as most point guards, Nunu has a nasty crossover and dribble step which allows him to glide to the tin with ease. Unfortunately, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Harvey</st1:place></st1:city> has a habit of not always finishing. <st1:place st="on">St.</st1:place> Benedict’s coach Bobby Hurley has an expression: backboard, or dunk. The point is this: if you’re not going to dunk it, you’re best advised to use the glass. As a St. Benedict’s alumnus, it’s simply unconscionable that <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Harvey</st1:place></st1:city> misses as many lay-ups as he does. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Harvey</st1:place></st1:city>, if you’re listening, please, I implore you: teach Okosun how to catch the ball, and maybe he’ll teach you how to bank-jam. </p>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-34600178614191873752008-01-31T22:27:00.000-05:002008-12-09T03:58:58.959-05:00CAPITAL CITY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6KTSKmkYuI/AAAAAAAAANc/BmOaNc1S-mc/s1600-h/washington+dc+at+night.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 143px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6KTSKmkYuI/AAAAAAAAANc/BmOaNc1S-mc/s320/washington+dc+at+night.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161850063213060834" border="0" /></a>After winning five consecutive Big East conference games, the Hall now heads to the nation’s capital to tackle the biggest Goliath of them all: G-town. It’s a match-up that only a couple weeks ago had “BLOWOUT” written all over it. Well, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Las Vegas</st1:place></st1:city>, I hope you write your predictions in pencil, because one thing is certain: erasable pens don’t actually work. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hey, call me crazy. Call me “Cray,” even. (The name of our crayfish.) And maybe I am. But this I know for certain: I’m going to this game. Fortunately, I have a lot of family members in the area I can stay with, many of which I haven’t seen in quite some time.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Will they recognize me in my Gonzone shirt? Will they recognize the man I’ve become? Would former Seton Hall head coach Louis Orr even recognize Brian Laing, the scrawny forward he recruited five years ago from St. Raymond’s who has blossomed into a legitimate NBA prospect, BIG EAST player-of-the-year contender? Brian…is that you?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So I hope you’re listening DC! Prepare yourself, because the Hall is coming, and so am I. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-88027122953609608572008-01-30T11:17:00.000-05:002008-12-09T03:58:59.450-05:00SHU - Rutgers<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6CsWamkYjI/AAAAAAAAALY/BWkB1SJ70jQ/s1600-h/shu+v+rutgers.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161314674064777778" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 153px; height: 194px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6CsWamkYjI/AAAAAAAAALY/BWkB1SJ70jQ/s320/shu+v+rutgers.JPG" border="0" height="194" width="176" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6CkOqmkYfI/AAAAAAAAAK4/-jpuGfNFfgM/s1600-h/shu+v+rutgers.JPG"></a>It is only fitting that our adventure begins with a truly epic battle: Rutgers vs. Seton Hall.<br /><br /><br /><p><br />Tonight's match-up takes on mammoth importance for a number reasons. First, both Rutgers and Seton Hall are coming in to the game playing their best basketball of the year. Rutgers is looking to sustain the momentum it gained with big victories against Nova and Pitt, while Seton Hall is looking to gain their 5th straight Big East win. If Rutgers wins, they're one win closer to a spot in the Big East tournament. If the Hall wins, they further solidify their position among the elite teams in the conference.<br /></p><br /><br /><p>But while the game has huge implications for this season, its realimpact might be felt more on the seasons to come. With a number of NewYork metropolitan recruits still undecided, this game becomes ineffect an all-out slugfest for the best talent in the state. You can be sure that all the big names (Cheek, Evans, Kilpatrick, etc) will be tuning in for this one.<br /></p><p><br />Some factors to watch for:<br /><br />- Rumor has it that Seton Hall junior captain Paul Gause may be suiting up tonight after missing about a month with a broken knuckle on his hand. If so, it should bolster Seton Hall's press, thus forcing turnovers against this young RU backcourt.<br /><br />- How will Hazell rebound? After a sub-par scoring effort against Cincinnati this past weekend, and the initial sting of receiving a jersey with his name misspelled, will Hazell be able to stroke the three with confidence? While no doubt a sharpshooter, Hazell's game ranges beyond just the outside shot -- look for him to pump fake and drive against the Rutgers defense. </p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6CojamkYgI/AAAAAAAAALA/mpHMk5Bgo_Q/s1600-h/hazel+name+spelled+wrong.JPG"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6Cp0qmkYiI/AAAAAAAAALQ/uLAB8iearSY/s1600-h/hazel+name+spelled+wrong.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161311895220937250" style="width: 132px; height: 196px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6Cp0qmkYiI/AAAAAAAAALQ/uLAB8iearSY/s320/hazel+name+spelled+wrong.JPG" border="0" height="261" width="165" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6CpG6mkYhI/AAAAAAAAALI/0GbZHtgFypo/s1600-h/hazel+name+spelled+wrong.JPG"></a></p><br /><br /><p><br />- Can Garcia walk? During the Cincinnati game, center John Garcia was frequently wincing in pain, and struggling even to take the floor. He's not exactly the most mobile big man to begin with, but his post moves on the offensive end give the Hall a great look inside. If Garcia struggles as he did this past weekend, look for Mike Davis to step up against N'diaye.<br /><br />- As the starting point guard, "Nunu" Harvey is the leader of this squad, and he needs to start better exerting that leadership. You can bet the RAC is going to be pretty rowdy-- it's important that Harvey settle his team down, and set a good example by making his freethrows.<br /></p><br /><br /><p><br />Prediction?<br /><br />Seton Hall 79<br /><br />Rutgers 75</p></div>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966159524455730572.post-16229387173108854392008-01-30T11:10:00.000-05:002008-12-09T03:58:59.603-05:00Welcome to the Gonzone<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6Ch06mkYeI/AAAAAAAAAKw/79VtcxB5xPE/s1600-h/seton+hall+pic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161303103422882274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px" height="148" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R5kZtn9Avk8/R6Ch06mkYeI/AAAAAAAAAKw/79VtcxB5xPE/s320/seton+hall+pic.jpg" width="206" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>Welcome to the Gonzone –</strong> home of all things Seton Hall Basketball. As new members to the Blogosphere, we are excited to share with you, our devoted readers, our thoughts about Seton Hall Basketball, the BIG EAST, recruiting, and of course, Gonzo.</div><div><br /><br />Before reading further, however, it's important that you first understand the back story that has led to the creation of this blog, as it will help you better appreciate its significance.</div><div><br /><br />For the last twenty-two years of our respective lives, my roommate and I have been searching for something. We didn't realize it during those years -- we could not fully comprehend the extent of our dissatisfaction and general lack of fulfillment. But then something at once magical and terrifying happened: we discovered our passion --nay, obsession -- for Seton Hall basketball.<br /> </div><div><br />Like any obsession, ours is not entirely healthy. It has come at the expense of relationships; other interests. But so far the reward has far outweighed all sacrifice.<br /> </div><div><br />Not unlike John Garcia's surgically repaired knee, there's a lot riding on this. We hope you will join us in this legendary adventure.</div>Beast of the Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12195244298250834631noreply@blogger.com0