Seton Hall basketball crushes UNLV in NIT quarterfinals as Walsh Gym roars

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SOUTH ORANGE – There was a chant of “we love Sha” for Seton Hall basketball coach Shaheen Holloway.

And another of “one more year” for standout point guard Kadary Richmond.

It was a night for chants, roars and standing ovations – more of a show than a game – at historic Walsh Gym as the Pirates rang up UNLV 91-68 in Wednesday’s NIT quarterfinals.

Conducting this symphony was Richmond, whose 16 points, 10 assists and five steals provided quite the curtain call in what may well be his final home game as a Pirate.

“I was just playing with a free spirit,” he said.

The rest of his teammates were balling too as Seton Hall (23-12) advanced to the NIT semifinals for the first time since 1953. Body-slamming UNLV (21-13), the lone Mountain West Conference survivor in the event, seemed like karma for its NCAA Tournament snub – and the indignity of the Big East getting just three teams into the Dance compared to six for the overrated Mountain West.

What’s transpired since then validated the starting five’s unanimous decision to accept the NIT invitation, a choice Holloway wisely ceded to them (compared to St. John’s coach Rick Pitino, who threw in the towel on behalf of his players).

“It feels great to be a part of something, and not sitting around at home playing (video) games,” guard Al-Amir Dawes said. “From the beginning we all came together collectively and said we wanted to play (in the NIT) and we’re going to finish it off strong. So we’re here, three games in.”

Added Richmond: “This a great feeling, after coming together, us five seniors saying, ‘If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it to win it all.’ And we have an opportunity to do this at home.”

Holloway, who is not one to fake praise, beamed like a proud parent afterward.

“I’m super impressed with these guys,” he said. “It’s been a long year — some ups, some downs — but the way these guys came out and handled themselves and didn’t cry, didn’t worry about things, stuck to the…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/seton-hall-basketball-crushes-unlv-010303449.html

Author : App.com | Asbury Park Press

Publish date : 2024-03-28 01:03:03

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