Seton Hall’s Angel Delgado Deserves Your Attention
Angel Delgado leads the country in double-doubles and plays in the Big East, but the Seton Hall big man still isn't getting the national recognition he deserves.
Angel Delgado leads the country in double-doubles and plays in the Big East, but the Seton Hall big man still isn’t getting the national recognition he deserves.
Bellows emitting from a 6-foot-10, 240-pound behemoth of a man will crinkle foreheads of observers well beyond what’s considered the reasonable distance of an earshot. Whether the result of jubilation or frustration, they’re unmistakable in any arena housing possibly the most underappreciated player in college basketball.
Angel Delgado admittedly plays with more fury than most. He’s emotional and doesn’t care who notices.
Yet it’s a wonder how someone with Delgado’s size, personality and immense talent can seem hidden in plain sight.
Delgado is averaging 15.6 points and leading the country with 13.2 rebounds per game for Seton Hall. He also sits atop the national rankings with 26 double-doubles during his breakout junior season. Not bad for a kid who knew little English when he came to the U.S. five years ago to escape his rough area in the Dominican Republic and expand his game in hopes of a future in basketball.
With a glance at those numbers and the realization he plays in the Big East, one could believe that Delgado’s name appears on many lists for national awards. But that’s not the case, even as the 21-10 Pirates surge toward a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
Delgado’s teammates refer to him as a leader, and Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard lauds Delgado’s improved work ethic. Folks around the conference have taken notice of his talents, voting him a unanimous selection for the All-Big East first team.
But there were no national headlines Thursday when Delgado recorded 12 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists in the Pirates’ 82-76 victory over Marquette in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. And like usual, Delgado simply took the performance in stride and had some fun with it.
“I told Coach (to) put me back in,” Delgado said at the postgame press conference when asked if he knew he needed one more assist for a triple-double. “He was like, ‘Nah, you might get hurt.’ I was like, ‘All right, I’m just staying here then.'”
Where he stands in terms of his playing ability is a bit shocking to Willard. Delgado was raw and immature as a freshman and sophomore, often letting little things wrack his brain. But Delgado worked on his game and controlled his emotions, much to the delight of Willard.
“Where he’s improved dramatically is his mental approach,” Willard said Thursday. “He’s matured light years – I mean light years from his freshman year.”
Next up is Friday’s semifinal matchup with defending national champion Villanova, which stomped Seton Hall by a combined 52 points in two regular-season meetings. But the Pirates were the final team to beat the Wildcats last season, knocking them off 69-67 in the Big East championship game at MSG.
Delgado wasn’t much of a factor in that matchup, finishing with just eight points, seven rebounds and four fouls. That, nor the losses to Villanova earlier this season, can keep Delagdo from remaining loose, though.
“I’m happy to play anybody. I’m always happy,” Delgado said. “I tell Coach and the guys, I’m playing ball to have fun. That’s what I’m doing right now. I don’t care, I want to go and have fun.”
A victory over the Wildcats would give Seton Hall more momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament and force others from around the country to take more notice of the Pirates.
Hopefully Delgado receives some much-deserved attention in the process.
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