Seton Hall Eyes Rivalry Clash With Rutgers in Garden State Hardwood Classic
Seton Hall is playing like a program with something to prove-and so far, they’re backing it up.
The Pirates are off to a red-hot 9-1 start, already surpassing last season’s seven-win total. With statement victories over NC State and Kansas State under their belt, Shaheen Holloway’s squad has found its stride behind a revamped rotation. But now comes a different kind of test-one that’s less about rankings and more about pride.
Saturday night in Newark, the Pirates host Rutgers in the annual Garden State Hardwood Classic, a rivalry that runs deep in New Jersey hoops history. And while Holloway’s current group may be unfamiliar with the emotion this game brings, their head coach knows exactly what’s at stake.
“I've got to talk to them about it, so they understand the history of it and how important it is-what it means to the state, to our fans and their fans,” Holloway said.
That message will be critical. None of the 10 players in Seton Hall’s regular rotation have played in this rivalry before. But they’ll need to get up to speed quickly, because Rutgers isn’t coming in quietly.
The Scarlet Knights have had the upper hand recently, winning the last two matchups. In 2023, they took down Seton Hall on the road by seven. Last year, it was a heartbreaker for the Pirates-Rutgers sealed the win at home with a buzzer-beating three from Dylan Harper, who’s now suiting up for the San Antonio Spurs.
This year’s Rutgers squad is still finding its footing. They’ve dropped five of their last six games, including a shocking loss to Central Connecticut and tough blowouts at the hands of national powerhouses Tennessee, Purdue, and Michigan. Head coach Steve Pikiell didn’t sugarcoat it-he called it possibly the toughest stretch in program history.
Still, rivalry games have a way of hitting the reset button on momentum.
“I think it's important for New Jersey,” Pikiell said on his podcast. “I know it's important for Rutgers and Seton Hall.
And it doesn't matter what kind of year you're having, either. It's an exciting game.”
Rutgers will lean on its veterans to steady the ship. Leading scorer Dylan Grant is averaging 14.9 points per game, while point guard Jamichael Davis chips in 8.5 points and 3.0 assists. They'll be tasked with setting the tone in a hostile environment.
Seton Hall, meanwhile, is starting to look like a team that knows exactly who it is. Holloway’s group has returned to its defensive roots while adding just enough firepower to keep opponents honest. In last weekend’s 78-67 win at Kansas State, the Pirates forced 16 turnovers and held the nation’s leading scorer, PJ Haggerty, to just 11 points-13 below his average.
AJ Staton-McCray and Elijah Fisher were key in that win, each posting 16 points and five rebounds. Staton-McCray leads the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game, while Tajuan Simpkins has emerged as a sharpshooting spark off the bench, averaging 11.2 points and hitting 48.1% from beyond the arc.
The Pirates are playing with confidence, identity, and purpose-three things that matter in any game, but especially in a rivalry like this. And while the players may be new to the Garden State Hardwood Classic, they’re about to find out that in New Jersey, this one means more.