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somebodyisfromhere.com
The destination destination.
| New Jersey Hoops. |
<<< Could Seton Hall versus Monmouth be New Jersey's best college
basketball rivalry? Somebodyisfromhere.com knows it sounds ridiculous at first,
but give him a chance.
First he realizes that talking about Jersey hoops is a bit like talking about the best
places to ski in Florida.
Last Sunday (Nov. 15th) the Seton Hall Pirates came to West Long Branch to play
the Monmouth Hawks. It was the second game for both teams. Monmouth played
Isiah Thomas' Florida International while Seton Hall played Saint Peter's. Both
games were on Friday.
As for the rivalry, Somebodyisfromhere.com very well may be biased. After all he
graduated from Monmouth in 2005, the same year his twin brother graduated
from Seton Hall so this game pits brother versus brother (it's sort of like the Civil
War in that respect without all of that...baggage).
Both teams have sparkling new facilities. Seton Hall shares Newark's Prudential
Center with the New Jersey Devils. Having opened in 2007, the arena befits a
professional sports team.
Monmouth's less cavernous Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC), which had its
ribbon cutting ceremony on September 19th, will not only be the home of the
men's and women's basketball teams but, will have an indoor track as well.
Both Monmouth and Seton Hall are private universities with their websites listing
their undergraduate enrollments at 4,306 and 5,300 respectively.
Each team has participated in the NCAA Tournament this decade. Seton Hall lost
to Wichita State in 2006 and also played in 2004 and 2000. After winning the
play-in game, Monmouth gave Villanova a run for their money in 2006 and also
played in 2001 and 2004.
basketball rivalry? Somebodyisfromhere.com knows it sounds ridiculous at first,
but give him a chance.
First he realizes that talking about Jersey hoops is a bit like talking about the best
places to ski in Florida.
Last Sunday (Nov. 15th) the Seton Hall Pirates came to West Long Branch to play
the Monmouth Hawks. It was the second game for both teams. Monmouth played
Isiah Thomas' Florida International while Seton Hall played Saint Peter's. Both
games were on Friday.
As for the rivalry, Somebodyisfromhere.com very well may be biased. After all he
graduated from Monmouth in 2005, the same year his twin brother graduated
from Seton Hall so this game pits brother versus brother (it's sort of like the Civil
War in that respect without all of that...baggage).
Both teams have sparkling new facilities. Seton Hall shares Newark's Prudential
Center with the New Jersey Devils. Having opened in 2007, the arena befits a
professional sports team.
Monmouth's less cavernous Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC), which had its
ribbon cutting ceremony on September 19th, will not only be the home of the
men's and women's basketball teams but, will have an indoor track as well.
Both Monmouth and Seton Hall are private universities with their websites listing
their undergraduate enrollments at 4,306 and 5,300 respectively.
Each team has participated in the NCAA Tournament this decade. Seton Hall lost
to Wichita State in 2006 and also played in 2004 and 2000. After winning the
play-in game, Monmouth gave Villanova a run for their money in 2006 and also
played in 2001 and 2004.
MAC Center in West Long Branch.
Prudential Center in Newark.
Each is having a bit of a down year. Seton Hall is ranked tenth in the Big East's preseason poll. Monmouth is picked ninth in the North East
Conference.
Both schools have had a recent transfer in the news lately. The Hawks welcomed Phil Wait, a seven footer, who will have to sit out this season
per NCAA transfer regulations. The Pirate's transfer from last year from Mizzou, Keon Lawrence, was arrested for driving the wrong way on the
Garden State Parkway and has been suspended.
Do these facts make this New Jersey's best rivalry? Well, no. The reason they are new Jersey's best rivalry is that the other options aren't that
good.
Seton Hall's natural rival would be Rutgers. However, Rutgers is a public school and has not made the tournament since 1991.
One might think Fairleigh Dickenson would be Monmouth's rival and while they might be right, a Northeast Conference rivalry doesn't suit a
state with such a grand sports tradition as New Jersey.
Monmouth also plays Princeton yearly. Both schools represent Central Jersey. In 2005 they played what became the lowest scoring NCAA
game ever when Monmouth won 41-21. Again, this is not a feat worthy of New Jersey.
St. Perters versus Seton Hall deserves to be in the conversation
Meanwhile, this was the third straight year Somebodyisformhere.com has gone to the game. Last year Seton Hall won. The year before that,
well, Seton Hall won. However, Monmouth lost in overtime and Somebodyisfromhere.com still contends there was some late questionable calls
by the referees. As for Sunday? Monmouth's MAC Center was kicking with a pride but the Hawks were not competitive in the second half after
keeping it close in the first.
Conference.
Both schools have had a recent transfer in the news lately. The Hawks welcomed Phil Wait, a seven footer, who will have to sit out this season
per NCAA transfer regulations. The Pirate's transfer from last year from Mizzou, Keon Lawrence, was arrested for driving the wrong way on the
Garden State Parkway and has been suspended.
Do these facts make this New Jersey's best rivalry? Well, no. The reason they are new Jersey's best rivalry is that the other options aren't that
good.
Seton Hall's natural rival would be Rutgers. However, Rutgers is a public school and has not made the tournament since 1991.
One might think Fairleigh Dickenson would be Monmouth's rival and while they might be right, a Northeast Conference rivalry doesn't suit a
state with such a grand sports tradition as New Jersey.
Monmouth also plays Princeton yearly. Both schools represent Central Jersey. In 2005 they played what became the lowest scoring NCAA
game ever when Monmouth won 41-21. Again, this is not a feat worthy of New Jersey.
St. Perters versus Seton Hall deserves to be in the conversation
Meanwhile, this was the third straight year Somebodyisformhere.com has gone to the game. Last year Seton Hall won. The year before that,
well, Seton Hall won. However, Monmouth lost in overtime and Somebodyisfromhere.com still contends there was some late questionable calls
by the referees. As for Sunday? Monmouth's MAC Center was kicking with a pride but the Hawks were not competitive in the second half after
keeping it close in the first.
New Arenas.