Jaden Daly
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dalydoseofhoops.bsky.social
Jaden Daly
@dalydoseofhoops.bsky.social
Independent college basketball writer covering NY metro hoops since 2009. USBWA member w/focus on MAAC, Big East, Rutgers, local mid-majors, UNC, zebra alerts.
Two quick nuggets here:

Jacob Dar won’t be talked about between Budd and Simpkins, but he had 10 of the more underrated points you’ll see. The stretch he gave Seton Hall in the first half was a huge table-setter.

Also, Tre Carroll had 22 after halftime. He finished with 22.
January 29, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Seton Hall is still very much alive. Clark and Simpkins flipped this one after trailing by double digits for almost all of the first half.

A 23-3 run to start the second half keyed a resounding 86-68 runaway over Xavier. Much-needed after dropping four in a row. #shbb #HALLin
January 29, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Seton Hall has Budd Clark (and Tajuan Simpkins).

Xavier does not. CC: @samfederman.bsky.social

They’re going down the stretch in Newark, with Seton Hall taking a 76-68 lead into the final 2:32. Clark and Simpkins have 45 between them for the Pirates. #shbb #HALLin
January 29, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Simpkins is up to 24. That’s a season high for the junior, and three off his career-best, which he set as a freshman at Elon.

Seton Hall has a 66-59 lead at the U8, which comes with 7:23 still to get through in Newark. Thirty-six second-half points for the Pirates. #shbb #HALLin
January 29, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Xavier got two threes to stop the bleeding and get back within five at the U12. The Musketeers were the beneficiary of a five-point swing on the last trip up the floor, too, as Budd’s momentum was too strong and it led to an Isaiah Walker three.

Seton Hall 55, X 50, 11:39 left.
January 29, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Seton Hall is on a 23-3 run, and Pitino needs another 30 as the Pirates have exploded to go up nine at the 13:38 mark.

Simpkins just hit another three to stretch the lead to 53-44. #shbb #HALLin
January 29, 2026 at 1:54 AM
He’ll shoot three on the other side of the U16 after drawing the cardinal sin on Malik Messina-Moore.

Seton Hall is still pitching a shutout out of the intermission, up to a 12-0 run to take a 42-41 lead with 15:58 remaining in regulation. Simpkins has 14. #shbb #HALLin
January 29, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Simpkins just did #TheThing. #shbb #HALLin
January 29, 2026 at 1:46 AM
TAJUAN SIMPKINS FOR THREE AND THE LEAD!!! #shbb #HALLin
January 29, 2026 at 1:45 AM
Xavier hasn’t scored out of the locker room, and Pitino wants a timeout after Seton Hall pulled within five.

Budd is doing Budd things for the Pirates, who have made this a 41-36 game at the floater with 17:52 on the clock. #shbb #HALLin
January 29, 2026 at 1:42 AM
All things considered, Seton Hall is fortunate to only be down 11 at halftime. Jacob Dar gave the Pirates some great minutes toward the end of the frame there.

On the Xavier side, Tre Carroll has 22 already. If he’s not first team all-Big East, someone screwed up.

X 41, Hall 30
January 29, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Seton Hall hasn’t looked great, but the Pirates are only down 10 with 3:46 remaining before halftime, trailing Xavier by a 36-26 count.

Tre Carroll is one away from his fourth straight 20-point game. Had 31 on Saturday in a losing effort against St. John’s. #LetsGoX
January 29, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Seton Hall is showing signs of life, drawing within 9 while Budd Clark was on the bench. With 7:42 left in the first half, it’s a 24-15 game.

Xavier is living off tough twos tonight. The Musketeers are 10-of-11 inside the arc, and just 1-for-7 outside it. #LetsGoX #shbb #HALLin
January 29, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Tajuan Simpkins has come off the bench to give Seton Hall seven of its nine points, but the Pirates need a lot more with 11:59 remaining in the opening stanza, with Xavier already up by 13 and shooting 10-for-14 from the floor thus far. #shbb #HALLin #LetsGoX
January 29, 2026 at 12:52 AM
First time seeing Tre Carroll in person. He’s got 12 of the 20 Xavier points right now, and looks like a cross between Jason Momoa and Roman Reigns.

This dude is the goods. #LetsGoX
January 29, 2026 at 12:45 AM
Not what you want if you’re Seton Hall, who spotted Xavier an 11-2 lead through the first 3:40. A frustrated Sha just called a timeout in the face of a 1-for-5 start.

Filip Borovicanin, who followed Richard Pitino to Xavier from New Mexico, already has five rebounds. #LetsGoX
January 29, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Off and running in Newark. There’s nobody here, but of course, the courtside seats in front of where I usually set up are filled.

Milicevic just got the ball rolling for Xavier, who has a 2-0 lead 42 seconds in. #shbb #HALLin #LetsGoX
January 29, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Starters for both sides:

Xavier — Malik Messina-Moore, All Wright, Tre Carroll, Filip Borovicanin and Jovan Milicevic.

For Seton Hall, the usual five: Budd Clark, Mike Williams, A.J. Staton-McCray, Elijah Fisher and Stephon Payne.

#shbb #HALLin #LetsGoX
January 29, 2026 at 12:22 AM
ZEBRA ALERT — Tonight’s officials for Seton Hall/Xavier: James Breeding, Greg Evans and Evon Burroughs.

Get an extra appetizer and beverage, Pirate fans. And if you’re waiting until after the game is over to eat, call in an order to be picked up. #shbb #HALLin #LetsGoX
January 29, 2026 at 12:09 AM
More often than not, I end up coming across the river when I have my pick of both locals on the same night. So while St. John’s is covered and in good hands, I’m in Newark for game #58.

It’s a pivotal one for Seton Hall, who welcomes Xavier to the Rock. #shbb #HALLin
January 29, 2026 at 12:07 AM
Michigan State’s going to do this, taking Rutgers to overtime and leaving with an 88-79 win over the Scarlet Knights.

Jeremy Fears is so good, he ended up with 29 and nine assists.

Next for Sparty? Michigan at the Breslin Center on Friday, which is also Izzo’s 71st birthday.
January 28, 2026 at 1:56 AM
And Sparty did kick out of the RAC Attack, @anonymouseagle.bsky.social. We had an all-new episode of #RutgersGonnaRutgers instead.
Hey @anonymouseagle.bsky.social, you might want to go to FS1.

Sparty’s trying to kick out of a RAC Attack.
January 28, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Sparty/Purdue being relegated to Peacock next month just feels so wrong.

Jeremy Fears vs. Braden Smith is must-watch.
January 28, 2026 at 1:47 AM
Davis makes the second, Ugochukwu rattled in a left corner three, Rutgers couldn’t get a layup to go at the horn.

Five more minutes at the RAC, which could be costly for the 9:44 train back to New York, as the Scarlet Knights and Michigan State are tied at 73. #RHoops #Spartans
January 28, 2026 at 1:40 AM
First one off the front rim.
Fears just missed the first of two at the line, but made the second.

Crucial split there, as Rutgers clings to a 72-70 lead with 17 seconds left. Davis will have a chance to double the lead here. #RHoops
January 28, 2026 at 1:35 AM