Seton Hall's statement win halts Top 25 domination to start 2025-26 season

The men's college basketball season had been all chalk entering Monday, but not anymore.

Following a miserable 2024-25, the Seton Hall Pirates recorded a statement win in Maui, becoming the first unranked team to beat an opponent ranked in the Top 25 of the Associated Press poll this year with a 85-74 victory over No. 23 NC State Wolfpack (4-1).

Per ESPN Insights, before the Pirates' win, unranked teams were 0-96 against ranked opponents this season, the longest losing streak to begin a season in AP poll history (since 1949).

Seton Hall's massive win snaps stunning NCAA drought

Upsets have been hard to come by this year as the country's top teams have handled their business. But Seton Hall (6-0) rode a stout defense to end the historic drought, holding NC State to a season-low in points. Entering Monday, the Wolfpack ranked third in the country in scoring (100.8 points per game).

The Pirates, who are already a win away from matching their 2024-25 total, blocked nine shots. Per KenPom, Seton Hall leads Division I in block rate (29.7%).

Head coach Shaheen Holloway, who famously led 15-seed St. Peter's to the Elite Eight in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, is off to his best start at Seton Hall. Monday's win is also a boost for the Big East, which has received just eight tourney bids over the past two seasons. Per ESPN's early-season bracket projection, the conference is only predicted to land four of the 68 spots in the 2026 dance.

If Seton Hall is to increase that number, it may need more wins against ranked opponents. It has two games apiece with No. 5 Connecticut (5-1) and No. 14 St. John's (3-2). Others in the Big East, including Butler (5-1), Georgetown (5-0) and Villanova (4-1), could play their way into the top 25 by the time they play the Pirates.

Things have largely gone by the book since the season began in early November, but Seton Hall threw the first curve. Based on the Pirates' impressive start, they might have several more up their sleeve.