News Sports Monmouth Ocean Data Universe Nation / World Obituaries E-Edition Legals
Seton Hall vs. St. John's basketball: All eyes on Myles Powell and Shamorie Ponds
A deep dive on the marquee matchup of the Big East's opening day. 'It's going to be a treat.'
Jerry Carino
Asbury Park Press
The listing on the Big East men's basketball schedule reads St. John's at Seton Hall. But the show much of the metropolitan area will fixate on Saturday night is Shamorie Ponds vs. Myles Powell.
Yes, the league opener is important for both programs. Yes, Ponds and Powell play different backcourt positions. But every hoop-head with a pulse knows these dynamic junior guards top the marquee in one of the Big East's most anticipated storylines this season.
"A lot of people want to see it," Seton Hall wing Myles Cale said. "They're phenomenal players, so I want to see it. I'm going to be playing in it, but I want to see what happens."
Both could end up as All-Americans. You have to go back to the early 1990s, when the Hall's Terry Dehere and the Johnnies' Malik Sealy where dazzling onlookers, to find that kind of pedigree in this rivalry.
"Shamorie and Myles are two of the elite-level players right now, not only in the conference but in all of college basketball," Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard said. "It's going to be a treat seeing those two on the floor battling each other."
Seton Hall's Powell is averaging 23.1 points per game, second in the Big East and 14th in the nation. Among high-major players, only Purdue's Carsen Edwards (26.0 ppg), Marquette's Markus Howard (25.0) and Duke's R.J. Barrett (23.8) are scoring more.
"Great scorer; he can make contested shots look easy," St. John's coach Chris Mullin said. "He can really get it going — a big-time shooter and plays well without the ball. He's a heck of a player."
RELATED: SHU gets signature win at Maryland
RELATED: St. John's has sky-high ceiling
St. John's Ponds, the Big East's Preseason Player of the Year, is averaging 19.6 points and leads the conference in assists (6.0 per game) and steals (2.5 per game). (For a complete statistical comparison, see the second chart below).
"He's playing with such poise and confidence and really playing the game at an NBA level," Willard said. "He's not forcing shots, he's getting everyone involved, he's playing with a pace where, when he needs to attack, he can attack anybody in the country."
It should be noted that these guys aren't just putting up numbers. Powell has led Seton Hall to a 9-3 record, with wins over Kentucky, Maryland (on the road) and Miami. Ponds has sparked St. John's to a 12-0 ledger, the program's best start in 36 years, although the Johnnies have played a vastly inferior schedule with the most impressive wins coming against VCU and at Rutgers.
The winner Saturday (8:30 p.m. YES Network) has a good chance to crack next week's Associated Press Top 25.
"We're really pumped," Cale said. "Whoever we play against we're looking forward to, but St. John's? Yeah, that's New York vs. New Jersey."
It's unlikely either team will prevail without a big performance from their ace. Both possess a knack for sinking clutch shots late in games. Powell, in particular, has a strong history in this rivalry (see first chart below). Although they won't defend each other much one-on-one aside from some switches (Ponds is a point guard, Powell a shooting guard), as friendly rivals they'll probably talk at least a little bit on the court.
"It's brotherly love," Ponds told The New York Post. "I don't do much trash talking."
Said Powell: "It's going to be a battle test. I'm ready for it and I'm sure he's ready for it."
Asked if he's concerned about Powell getting sucked into a game of one-upmanship against Ponds, Willard said no.
"I would have said (yes) last year when (Powell) was a sophomore, but as this season's progressed he's really evolved," Willard said. "He's matured to the point where he understands it's not about him and Shamorie. It's a team game."
In Thursday's Big East teleconference, Willard was asked if Ponds is better than anyone Powell faced on Kentucky. His response: "I think Shamorie is the second-best player in college basketball."
The reporter asked if that was behind Duke's Zion Williamson.
Willard's reply: "Myles Powell."
THREE OTHER KEYS
While all eyes will be fixed on the two stars, here are other keys to the outcome:
1. Who can summon a late-game stop?
This projects to be a fairly high-scoring affair. Defensively, the challenge for diminutive St. John's is dealing with Seton Hall's size advantage. Conversely, the Pirates have to man up against a group that is largely position-less. Mustapha Heron (15.6 ppg) and L.J. Figueroa (15.2 ppg) have torched foes who left them open to double Ponds.
"The biggest thing is trying to figure out who's going to guard who," Willard said. "They have five on the floor who can score at any time."
2. A question of depth
With big man Sedee Keita still out injured, Mullin is leaning on a seven-man rotation. Seton Hall is going 10 strong and Willard sometimes uses 11. His frontcourt rotation wore down Maryland's formidable front line last week. The pressure is on the Red Storm to shoot efficiently, especially late in the contest when legs grow tired and Seton Hall could have an edge on the glass.
Also worth watching: A tight whistle could burn the Johnnies, who can ill-afford a battle of attrition.
3. The vibe at the Rock
Here's an amazing stat: Over the past 20 years Seton Hall holds a 13-1 advantage over St. John's at home, with the wins coming by an average margin of 10.8 points (see results in chart 3, below). The highlight was the 2006 classic, when Hall freshman Paul Gause scored at the wrong basket to put St. John's up 20, then the Pirates rallied to force overtime on a Gause baseline runner at the buzzer. They would prevail in the extra session.
The Prudential Center's lower bowl is sold out, and St. John's fans haven't traveled across the river in recent years.
Ponds vs. Powell: Head-to-head History
February 2018: Seton Hall 81, St. John's 74 (OT)
Powell: 18 points on 5-of-17 FGs, 6 assists
Ponds: 25 points on 9-22 FGs, 6 assists
December 2017: Seton Hall 75, St. John's 70
Powell: 16 points on 5-of-8 FGs (4-7 from 3)
Ponds: Injured, did not play.
February 2017: St. John's 78, Seton Hall 70
Ponds: 17 points on 7-of-17 FGs, 2 assists
January 2017: Seton Hall 86, St. John's 73
Powell: 19 points on 7-of-12 FGs (3-8 3s)
Ponds: 9 points on 3-of-11 FGs, 2 assists
Ponds vs. Powell: Tale of the Tape
Keeping in mind that they play different positions, here is how the two stars compare statistically, and their Big East ranking where applicable.
Ponds 19.6 (4th), Powell 23.1 (2nd)
Ponds 2.5 (1st), Powell 2.0 (2nd)
Free-throw percentage
Ponds .875 (2nd), Powell .867 (3rd)
Field-goal percentage
Ponds .527 (14th), Powell .478
3-point percentage
Ponds .375, Powell .381
Ponds 6.0 (1st), Powell 2.5
Assist-to-turnover ratio
Ponds 3.79 (1st), Powell 1.0
3-pointers per game
Ponds 1.7, Powell 3.33 (3rd)
Ponds 4.5, Powell 3.2
Fouls per game
Minutes per game
Ponds 32.8, Powell 35.0 (2nd)
New Jersey hospitality
Seton Hall's results vs. St. John's in New Jersey since 1998 (the Pirates lead 13-1)
2017-18: 75-70
2013-14: St. John's wins 68-67
2005-06: 69-61 (OT)
1999-2000: 78-70
Staff writer Jerry Carino: jcarino@gannettnj.com.
© 2021 www.app.com. All rights reserved.