In a highly anticipated matchup, unbeaten Southern California will face undefeated Seton Hall in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Tuesday. Both teams are coming off impressive performances that have set the tone for their early season campaigns.
Seton Hall (6-0) notched an 85-74 win over No. 23 North Carolina State on Monday, marking the Wolfpack’s first loss of the season. Pirates coach Shaheen Holloway was pleased but cautious post-victory, emphasizing the need for continued improvement. “A good win for us, a good win for our progress,” Holloway stated. “But you can’t get happy.”
Southern California (5-0) meanwhile edged out Boise State 70-67, riding the hot hand of Rodney Rice, who scored 27 points, including four 3-pointers. Coach Eric Musselman highlighted the expectation of a tough matchup against Seton Hall, cautioning about the need for strong defensive rebounding. “We’ve got to defensive rebound, for sure,” he remarked, acknowledging Seton Hall’s physical style under Holloway’s leadership.
The Pirates boast a balanced rebounding effort, withNajai Hines emerging as a key player, leading the team with an average of 6.3 rebounds per game despite being the seventh-leading scorer. Holloway pointed out the importance of maintaining focus and self-belief, suggesting that the recent victory will serve as a confidence booster for his players. “I call this the marathon,” he noted, stressing that this win is just a step in their long season.
As for Southern California, they have a historical aspiration in the Maui Invitational, having never claimed the tournament title. They are 3-4 all-time in this prestigious event. After recently surviving a challenging three-overtime game against Troy, Musselman acknowledged he still has much to learn about the strengths and strategies of his team.
With both teams showcasing talent and resilience, this semifinal clash is set to be a thrilling contest, promising to reveal more about their potential as the season progresses.