Two of the biggest surprises in the Big East are set to meet on Saturday. Seton Hall (14-5, 4-4) has surpassed all preseason expectations, emerging as an NCAA Tournament contender. However, the Pirates have now lost three straight games. They’ll look to get back on track this evening in Chicago. DePaul (11-8, 3-5) has improved by leaps and bounds in its second year under head coach Chris Holtmann. Can the Blue Demons secure a momentum-shifting victory at home?
Which of these conference foes will pick up a win? Seton Hall enters as 2.5-point favorites (-110) over DePaul. The total is set at 133.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a college basketball pick, preview and prediction for Saturday’s game between the Pirates and Blue Demons.
Seton Hall vs. DePaul prediction, preview
It’s been a rough few weeks for the Pirates. They appeared on the verge of a much-needed win over St. John’s on Tuesday. However, the Red Storm completed a 15-point comeback during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Now, Shaheen Holloway’s squad will look to get back on track in the Windy City. Seton Hall has shocked the nation this season, even earning a spot in the AP Poll earlier this month. However, advanced metrics have been projecting regression. Per KenPom, SHU is 49th in college basketball with a +15.86 adjusted efficiency margin.
The biggest strength for this group comes on defense. The Hall plays an aggressive, physical brand of basketball, often frustrating opponents. They currently lead the Big East with 9.5 steals and 5.8 blocks per game. On offense, it’s a far different story. The Pirates operate at one of the nation’s slowest paces on offense. That often helps churn out a win, but it can backfire as well. Look no further than Tuesday’s second-half collapse vs. the Johnnies.
Offense has been a perpetual problem in East Orange this season. Just three members of this roster are averaging double-digit points per game. Leading the way is senior A.J. Staton-McCray (12.2 PPG). Fellow guards TJ Simpkins and Adam “Budd” Clark have combined for 20.4 points per game, as well. With that being said, size is an issue for the Pirates. Just two members of Holloway’s regular rotation are taller than 6’6″: Stephon Payne and Najai Hines.
These teams are built in a somewhat similar fashion, prioritizing defense above all else. Holtmann has done a fantastic job reviving a dormant DePaul program. Following a middling 2024-25 campaign, the Blue Demons look like a team no Big East contender wants to face. They’ve been especially good at home, going 3-1 against conference rivals. The only loss during that stretch was to #2 UConn. Opponents have scored more than 80 points vs. DePaul only three times this season, and only once at Wintrust Arena.
Unlike Seton Hall, the Blue Demons don’t force their opponents into many mistakes. Instead, they prefer to hunker down and get stops; their 103.3 adjusted defensive efficiency margin is the 60th-best mark in college basketball per KenPom. DePaul often struggles on the glass, hauling in just 34.1 rebounds per game. That’s the lowest total among all 11 Big East schools. However, that might not hurt the Demons tonight against an undersized Pirates crew.
Putting up some buckets is the bigger issue for the home team. DePaul’s offense revolves around guards CJ Gunn and Layden Blocker. The duo have combined for 26.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. However, as a whole unit, the Blue Demons are only scoring 73.6 points per game, 254th out of 365 Division I schools. With that being said, Holtmann’s group has delivered 80+ points in each of their last two contests.
Seton Hall vs. DePaul pick, best bet
Given the offensive limitations on both sides, there’s a good chance this one turns into a slugfest. Still, 133.5 points feels too low to go under (or over) with any confidence. It’s fair to wonder if Seton Hall is playing over its heads. Still, the same can be said of the Blue Demons. SHU has gone 5-5 against Quad 1 & 2 opponents this season. In comparison, DePaul has a 1-7 record against similar competition. Given the relatively even spread, I’m liking the Pirates to earn a much-needed victory on the road tonight.
