Seton Hall Looks to Lock Up Big East Tourney Bye Against Xavier

Pirates seek to bounce back from tough loss at UConn as they battle Musketeers

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Seton Hall, still reeling from a close loss to UConn, heads to Cincinnati to take on Xavier in a crucial Big East matchup. The Pirates need one more win to secure a first-round bye in the Big East Tournament, while the Musketeers are fighting for positioning in the 8/9 game. Seton Hall's stifling defense will be tested against Xavier's high-scoring forward Tre Carroll.

Why it matters

This game has major implications for both teams' postseason aspirations. Seton Hall is looking to solidify its NCAA Tournament resume, while Xavier is trying to improve its seeding for the Big East Tournament. The outcome could determine which team gets the more favorable matchup in the conference tournament.

The details

Seton Hall (19-10, 9-9 Big East) is coming off a tough 71-67 loss at UConn, where the Pirates led by as much as 8 in the second half but were hurt by a 21-2 free throw disparity. Xavier (14-15, 6-12) snapped a 3-game losing streak with a 91-84 win over Georgetown, led by forward Tre Carroll's 18.6 points per game, tops in the Big East. In the first meeting, Seton Hall overcame an 11-point halftime deficit by outscoring Xavier 56-27 in the second half.

  • Seton Hall and Xavier will tipoff on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
  • Seton Hall needs one more win in its final two Big East games to lock up a first-round bye in the Big East Tournament.

The players

Shaheen Holloway

Head coach of the Seton Hall Pirates basketball team.

Tre Carroll

Forward for the Xavier Musketeers, leading the Big East in scoring at 18.6 points per game.

Richard Pitino

Head coach of the Xavier Musketeers basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Man, man, man, unbelievable opportunity we let slip by. I want to give my guys credit. I wasn't really around the whole week because I was dealing with the flu. Guys came out and competed in a hostile environment like this.”

— Shaheen Holloway, Head Coach, Seton Hall Pirates (statenews.net)

“I don't really talk big picture with our guys. I say enjoy the rest and we get back (Sunday) and move on to Seton Hall. We started great (against them). We were ready to go at their place and they ramped up the pressure on us. Seton Hall is a great team. We got two left and we got Madison Square Garden after that. Let's see if we can get Tuesday.”

— Richard Pitino, Head Coach, Xavier Musketeers (statenews.net)

What’s next

The winner of Tuesday's game will have momentum heading into the Big East Tournament, which begins next week at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The takeaway

This matchup between Seton Hall and Xavier has major implications for both teams' postseason aspirations. Seton Hall is looking to solidify its NCAA Tournament resume, while Xavier is fighting for positioning in the Big East Tournament. The outcome could determine which team gets the more favorable matchup in the conference tournament.