NCAA Women's Tournament Bracket: Seton Hall Pirates preview

Who? The Pirates of Seton Hall.

When do they play in the first round? The Pirates will play Rutgers on Saturday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. ET or so.

What? Originally just the White and Blue, they became the Pirates after a baseball game. (It had nothing to do with Pittsburgh, though.)

Where? South Orange, New Jersey, said to contain more gaslights than anywhere in the United States.

Why? Because happy fun Queenie would smash if not. The Big East is not what it once was, but you still don't leave out its regular season champion.

How? They were an at-large selection.

Surprise? Predicted to finish fifth in the conference, they finished top of the table with DePaul, garnering the first seed on tiebreakers.

RPI: 39

SOS: 176

Record: 28-5 (15-3 Big East)

Good wins: The season sweep of DePaul is pretty sweet. The win over Georgia was before the injury to Shacobia Barbee.

Bad losses: At Marquette. I mean, really, guys?

Who's in charge around here? Anthony Bozzella, since 2013, a gentleman who makes Ivory Latta look laid-back and understated.

Extra, Extra! The Newark Star-Ledger.

Let's get this out of the way right off: I can't be objective about this team.

Seton Hall relies heavily on the leadership of upperclassmen. Junior forward Tabatha Richardson-Smith tops the scoring column at 17.8 points per game, but the Pirates pretty much live and die with graduate guard Ka-Deidre Simmons (17.4 points, 5.6 assists, and incalculable leadership). Graduate guard Daisha Simmons rounds out the triumvirate at 16.9 points.

Seton Hall will press you to death, and they don't give up (exhibit A: the "one hot minute" against Butler that sealed their Big East regular season title).

The x-factor is junior center Tiffany Jones, who became eligible at midseason and has given the Hall a boost in the post.