Since getting hammered by Rutgers on Dec. 14, Seton Hall has won eight in a row and sits atop the Big East with a 6-0 conference record. Myles Powell, the Pirates’ leading scorer, has returned from a concussion he suffered against the Scarlet Knights, and big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, who did not play in that game, is expected back soon.

There’s nothing but good news coming out of South Orange, and that’s why we’re sliding Seton Hall slightly ahead of Rutgers in this week’s New Jersey college basketball rankings.

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Sporting News writer and Fox bracketologist Mike DeCourcy also believes Seton Hall deserves the nod ahead of Rutgers, which could be ranked in the Top 25 for the first time since 1979 -- and might be headed to the NCAA Tournament.

“I know the head-to-head results seem important, especially when the result is as overwhelming and one-sided as the Scarlet Knights’ win over Seton Hall was,” he said.

“In a tie-breaking situation, it might be the difference. But the two teams aren’t tied right now because the Pirates have achieved so much more away from home. That’s the next challenge for Rutgers. They have been magnificent at the RAC. It’s been really hard for anyone in the Big Ten to get road wins, but if you want to be considered for a top-four NCAA Tournament seed, you’ve got to find a way to get that done.”

Here’s a look at where local teams stand:

8. Fairleigh Dickinson University (3-13, 1-4 NEC)

The Knights’ have now dropped three straight following a 100-85 home defeat to Saint Francis on Wednesday. They have three more games this week beginning Monday at home against Central Connecticut State before playing at Merrimack Thursday and at Sacred Heart Saturday.

7. NJIT (6-12, 3-2 Atlantic Sun)

The Highlanders have won three straight with wins over North Florida, Lipscomb Thursday and Kennesaw State. On Saturday, Zach Cooks went for 19 and San Antonio Brinson 13 in a 66-48 beatdown of Kennesaw State.

Brian Kennedy’s group makes the Florida swing this week with games at Stetson Thursday and at Florida Gulf Coast Saturday.

6. Saint Peter’s (6-9, 3-3 MAAC)

The Peacocks followed up a 10-point loss at Fairfield Wednesday with a 20-point win at Quinnipiac on Saturday in which Hassan Drame scored a career-high 17 points and added 14 rebounds.

Shaheen Holloway’s crew visits No. 4 Rider on Friday and hosts Niagara Sunday.

5. Princeton (6-8, 2-0 Ivy League)

The Tigers have won three straight but have been off since posting a 63-58 win over Penn on Jan. 10. They host Rutgers-Camden on Sunday before getting back into Ivy League play.

4. Rider (9-8, 3-4 MAAC)

The Broncs dropped two straight this past week with losses at Niagara on Friday and at Canisius Sunday. They lost a 70-68 buzzer-beater at Niagara before falling 95-86 in Buffalo in a game in which senior center Tyere Marshall scored a career-high 31 points, including the 1,000th of his career.

Another tough week in the MAAC looms with games against No. 6 Saint Peter’s Friday and in Draddy Gym against Manhattan Sunday.

3. Monmouth (10-7, 4-2 MAAC)

King Rice’s group won two straight last week with victories at Marist Thursday and in Draddy against Manhattan Saturday night and remain in a four-way tie atop the MAAC. Deion Hammond scored 16 points, including a 3-pointer with 4:09 to play that put Monmouth ahead to stay in the 65-58 victory over Manhattan. New York native Ray Salnave added 16 points and former Patrick School guard Marcus McClary tallied 13.

The Hawks host Niagara Friday before tripping to Iona Sunday.

2. Rutgers (14-4, 5-2 Big Ten)

The Scarlet Knights improved to 13-0 at home last week courtesy of wins at the RAC over Indiana and Minnesota as their NCAA Tournament hopes become more and more realistic.

Entering Monday, the Scarlet Knights were No. 18 in the NET rankings used to help determine the NCAA Tournament field. In the Big Ten, only Michigan State at No. 8 and Maryland at No. 15 are higher. (Seton Hall is No. 12, which in part explains why the Pirates took over the No. 1 spot in the Power Rankings.)

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Rutgers has just the one road win at Nebraska and will look to add another with a signature victory at Iowa (No. 26 in the NET) on Wednesday before returning home to host Nebraska Saturday and then Purdue on Jan. 28.

On the recruiting front, Roselle Catholic big man Cliff Omoruyi continues to visit the RAC and continues to hear the “We want Cliff” love from the fans.

The student section started a “We Want Cliff” chant for Cluff Omoruyi, and eventually the whole RAC joined him. The 4-star center stood up and got a raucous response: pic.twitter.com/AY8JpdeJ8a — Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) January 16, 2020

1. Seton Hall (14-4, 6-0 Big East)

Thanks to 29 points from National Player of the Year candidate Myles Powell and the continued strong play of fellow seniors Quincy McKnight and Romaro Gill, Seton Hall won their fifth road game this season on Saturday, 82-79, over St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. Powell became the fifth Pirate ever to record 2,000 career points in the game.

Seton Hall hasn’t lost in more than a month — since the 20-point beatdown at the RAC on Dec. 14 in which Powell was concussed and Mamukelashvili (fractured wrist) did not play.

"I just wanted my 2000 point ball that’s all it was," @Myles_MBP_23 said when I asked him about it. https://t.co/SeXzbMwHSf — Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) January 18, 2020

Seton Hall now can settle into a three-game homestand, beginning with Providence on Wednesday, and head coach Kevin Willard said it was “realistic” that Mamukelashvili could return Jan. 29 against DePaul.

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media.