If Seton Hall is humming on all cylinders, Kansas State is ready to throw a rod.
The Wildcats face a tall task in attempting to get back to peak performance quickly when they host the streaking Pirates on Saturday afternoon in Manhattan, Kan.
After a 5-0 start that featured a speedy offense regularly scoring 90 points per game, the Wildcats have failed to hit that mark in three straight losses. Leading scorer PJ Haggerty has failed to reach his scoring average (25.1 points per game) in two straight outings.
The most recent disappointment was an 82-66 humiliation on Monday at home against Bowling Green, when Haggerty made just 6 of 19 shots in scoring 17 points. The result left head coach Jerome Tang searching for answers — on offense, but more so on defense.
“I didn’t think anyone played defense,” Tang said. “We didn’t play hard enough. We didn’t deserve to win. We didn’t deserve to wear a K-State uniform.
“If I could have walked out, I would have walked out a lot earlier. I’d have left with some of the fans.”
The need to get things corrected is more urgent with Seton Hall coming to town.
The Pirates (8-1) have looked formidable this season, taking third place at the Maui Invitational while earning an 85-74 win over then-No. 23 NC State in the process.
In their most recent game, a 77-61 win over Central Connecticut, the Pirates shot 55% (11 of 20) from the 3-point line. That added scoring punch, should it continue, would be a boon for a defensive-minded bunch that limits teams to just 61.3 points per game.
“Just got to be ready to knock down the shots,” said Pirates senior guard AJ Staton-McCray, who averages a team-high 13.7 points.
If there could be any source of concern for the Pirates, it’s this game being their first true road test of the season. Seton Hall is 6-0 at home and 2-1 on a neutral court, but has yet to be tested in a hostile environment.
“Obviously Kansas State is a really good team (to face) on the road,” Pirates coach Shaheen Holloway said.
But Seton Hall is a confident bunch.
“We know we can compete with anyone now,” Staton-McCray said. “It’s up to us.”
