Two teams on losing skids search for a much-needed win when Seton Hall plays host to Butler on Wednesday night in Newark, N.J.
Butler (9-13, 2-9 Big East) is in ninth place in the conference and has lost 12 of its last 14 games. Seton Hall (6-16, 1-10) is in last place and its current seven-game losing streak is the program’s longest since a nine-game skid in the 2012-2013 season.
Injuries and poor shooting have doomed the Pirates. Seton Hall ranks last in the conference in shooting at 40.4 percent, rebounds (32.8 per game) and assists (11.2).
The Pirates were without guards Dylan Addae-Wusu and second-leading scorer Chaunce Jenkins in Sunday’s 74-57 loss to DePaul. They also lost wing Scotty Middleton during the game to an ankle injury.
“This is tough,” Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway said. “I have two guards, three guards right now. You can’t play like that in this league — in any league. I’ve got to figure out if Scotty’s out, if Chaunce’s out and Dylan’s out, how we can play bigger. We’re not playing the way we’re capable of playing.”
Shooting guard Isaiah Coleman has been the Pirates’ biggest bright spot, averaging a team-high 15.3 points. He had 18 against DePaul but shot 6 of 20 from the floor.
The issue for Butler has been an inability to win close games. Of the Bulldogs’ 13 losses, 11 have been by 10 points or fewer, including an overtime loss to defending national champion UConn.
Butler is seventh in the Big East in shooting at 45.0 percent and senior guard Jahmyl Telfort leads the way with 15.9 points per game.
A 15-0 second-half run by Georgetown was the difference in Butler’s 73-70 loss on Friday.
Butler has gotten a boost inside lately from 7-foot center Andre Screen, who has gone over double digits in points in four of his last five games, including 16 in the loss to Georgetown.
“Andre is one of the greatest kids I have ever coached,” Butler coach Thad Matta said. “He’s done a good job from the time we got him from Bucknell of getting himself in shape. He’s got an understanding of how to play and he plays with grit. He plays with toughness.”
Butler downed Seton Hall at home 82-77 on Jan. 15.
–Field Level Media
