ADVERTISEMENT

I'm donating $100 for each game we play in the NIT.

SHU Men's basketball needs our help, and I wouldn't ask for your support if I didn't have skin in the game. I'll be contributing $100 to Onward Setonia for each game we play in the NIT.

Please consider contributing $10, $25, $50, $100, or more per NIT game. Let's show our appreciation for coach Sha and SHU Men's basketball.



GO PIRATES!!!

2023-2024 Season Recap

Sometimes do these annually if I remember. Will post on the Trove too. I think about what I was right about, what I was wrong about, etc, after a season concludes. On an opinion site I find it to be a fun exercise to discuss and debate.

What I was wrong about:

1. Bediako. At best I thought he would be a mediocre big, but he held his own more often than not. Certainly not at the top of the group in the league, but he wildly exceeded my expectations and was critical to success.

2. Davis. I thought Davis would be good. I didn't think he would raise his game to be in the conversation for an all league honorable mention.

3. Dawes. His statistics were up across the board, and while this may be the "eye test" lying to me, I thought he was more consistent in conference than I ever thought he'd be. Again, this might be bias, but I thought we had the good Dawes much more than the bad Dawes, and I didn't think that would happen in conference play.

4. Wusu. I was as bullish as Dan and the small group of others who thought Wusu would be better consistently than he was during the season. Didn't think his 3-point shooting would drop so dramatically, especially given the open looks he'd be getting with folks focusing on stopping the other 3 scorers.

4. Injuries. We were much healthier than I thought we'd be given how much the 5 starters were leaned on.

5. Depth. See #4. I don't think I was wrong about our lack of depth being an issue. It limited our ceiling for sure. But we avoided the consequences of that because we were fortunate on the injury front. So it wasn't the "death knell" I thought it might be.

6. Overall performance. I thought we were a NIT team. So in that sense I was right. But never did I think 13 conference wins and 4th in the league regular season was a possibility. Nor did I think we were going to be a bubble team with a credible argument to be in the dance. So while I thought we were an "NIT team", I didn't think we would be THIS type of NIT team.

What I was right about:

1. Bench. I didn't think we'd have a bench that helped much in league play, and that was the case.

2. Sanders. I didn't see him being the type of bench presence others projected, and that was true.

3. Coleman. Because of the pedigree and available PT, I thought he could at least contribute some, and he did.

4. Richmond. Thought he would be an all league player from the moment we got home from Cuse, and he disappointed the two prior years. Was never afraid to admit that reality, which is why I always brought it up when folks talked about him as such. But I bought into him elevating his play to be a first team all league player this year, and he was despite still having some of the consistency stuff can be puzzling at times.

5. NIT was where I thought we'd land and we did. But see above, because we still wildly outperformed my expectations. If we made the dance and won a game, it would have been 2022 Giants for me.

These are just some that come to mind.

NIL support -$90,503 raised and counting. ONWARD SETONIA!

Coach Sha and our Pirate athletes exceeded all preseason expectations, and were punched in the face by the NCAA selection committee. The NIT was not where our team expected to play, but they continue to fight and do their best to represent.

I'm acknowledging the team for their accomplishments and persistence, and will donate $100 to Onward Setonia for each game we play in the NIT.

Please consider a contribution for each game played in the NIT. $5, $10, or any amount, will help us continue to grow our success as we go forward.


GO PIRATES!!!

Public Welcome Home Celebration for the Championship Winning Seton Hall Men’s Basketball Team

Friday, April 5, 2:30 p.m.

The Seton Hall men’s basketball team won the 2024 National Invitation Tournament Thursday night, defeating Indiana State in the championship game in Indianapolis. The team is flying home Friday morning, and Seton Hall will welcome the champions back to campus with a public celebration on the green in front of the Seton Hall University Center. The Seton Hall University community and all Pirates fans are welcome to attend.

A brief celebratory program will occur with Seton Hall University Director of Athletics Bryan Felt, Head Men’s Basketball Coach Shaheen Holloway and the entire team. Media can conduct scrum and one-on-one interviews with the team after formal program concludes. Approximate time for this is 3 p.m.

Address: 400 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079

Exact Location: University Center + Green

Parking: Available in the campus parking deck, a short walk from the green

First Shot of the 8.1 Seconds

From the TV angle it is hard to see just wat happened on the first 3 that sent Dawes to the floor.

When I watched it in real-time I was relieved no foul was called.

It looked like the shooter lunged forward to draw contact but then just shot the ball straight up. Did Dawes get clean ball before he fell?

Did anyone have a better angle and could describe the shot and the block.

Regarding the second shot, Bediako's block was clean but again, not easily seen from the TV angle. The one still photo shows it well.


73213551007-usatsi-22944561.jpg

Deep Appreciation

With the NIT championship trophy now on the Pirate ship, some early reflections:

Dre is a warrior. big time player. plays tough in the paint. not given enough credit for his defense. when the Pirates needed a basket, it was often the reversal for the Dre post up - money!

Al Amir - as the year progressed and he started to take it to the rack, he got to the line where he was automatic. In the new game of basketball, free throws and treys make for wins. he was key, especially when he got to the line.

Dylan - every team needs at least one of his kind. he defends everyone from the 1 to the 5. He helped make the defensive rotations solid as the season wore on because he could switch off on bigs and with his strength could defend them. Hustle all the time. And for a while has hitting threes - gravy.

Bediako - a rock. so strong. good hands. plays within the flow on offense. great screener. relentless on the boards. defends. always with a positive attitude. And a throwback studying Classics.

Kadary - so special. Few players can take over a game - he can - ask UConn. Makes everyone else better. One of my all time favorites. Sees the game in slow mo. Old school when hoops was a game of free throws and shots at the rack.
EHE - has come around after a slow start. Although I love JB, after EHE got healthy never felt like we were playing with a sub.

Coleman - he's got game. Perfect situation to develop around the vets.

Sanders - the last several games seemed so much more confident. he can shoot with range. so happy to see him produce lately.

the non-rotation guys - every good team has guys that don't play much. They can be a problem. It appeared that Tubek, Nganga, Brown et al were always supportive of the team and weren't sulkers. Tubek has a BE body. Hopefully he stays and develops further.

But this year I most appreciated the maturity shown by this team. They played for each other, a sign of maturity. After the first 9 games, it didn't seem like there were any players who were playing for their own numbers. It was then that they became a real team. Seasons are not defined by their status at the beginning of the year - a reason why I loathe pre-season polls. Good teams evolve and grow as the season progresses. (Note to NCAA). This team usually didn't try to do things they weren't able to do. If you know as a team that you're not a good three point shooting team, you be selective on those shots, even if it negatively affects the holy grail of metrics. Another sign of maturity is the lack of overt showmanship when playing - no in your face jawing, no flashy signs after a made three, just straight forward ballin. I just love that about this team.

The Hall should have been selected for the NCAA Tourney. They weren't. Too many people around the country live by the glory of the big state schools. That includes the ill informed ADs and Commissioners who sit on the selection committee. In the end, it's their tourney and they can invite anyone they want. Even our board minimizes the capabilities of some schools because of their name. To quote an old school playground line: "Ball don't lie." The Hall team was the truth.

One last top 20?

1-Richmond, Dawes and Dre scoring the last nine points…all tough shots. Poise.

2-Kudos to Al going out in style and winning MVP.

3-Richmond stat line: 21 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and he controlled the tempo especially when needed most.

4-Dre makes that incredible winning shot with that sick drive and spin.

5-Avila’s chin getting in the way of Wusu’s elbow full force…ouch.

6-Wusu making the big steal and dunk that stopped momentum.

9-Bench providing big minutes, especially EHE and Jaquan.

10-Sha picking up Avila’s chin (probably still sore) and consoling him at the end.

11-Nice to see Coleman cutting down the nets and being part of the celebration.

12-Hinkle…SHU’s home away from home.

13-EHE’s pass to Richmond for the and one was Richmond-like.

14-Credit to ISU. Prize fight that went back and forth…both teams gave 40 minutes of max effort.

15-Only 8 turnovers…

16-Jaden…best post game smile.

17-Go UConn…two SHU PG’s as championship coaches.

18-Glimmer of hope Kadary, Dre and Wusu all back?

19-Enjoy it Sha…well deserved. It’s only just beginning.

20-oldalum…thank you one last time for the notes and news threads!

The SUPERIOR Team Tore Their Hearts Out!

What a finish! Sure shut that crowd up!

Mission completed! So proud of this team. Loved seeing the guys go out with a win! Everything was stacked against them, but they exceeded and prevailed! Credit to ISU, but they were gifted everything, not the least of which were two home games to close out the tournament.

We truly deserved to be in the dance. I hope Sha lets the media know and gives them a piece of his mind. He’s earned it.

NIT CHAMPS! Pirates Down Indiana State to Claim 2024 NIT Title


resize


Box







Indianapolis, Ind. - Dre Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored the game-winning layup with 16 seconds remaining as the Seton Hall men's basketball team took home the 2024 NIT championship with a victory over Indiana State, 79-77, on Thursday night inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The win gives the Pirates, who ended the game on a 9-0 run over the final 2:38, their second NIT title in program history and first since 1953. Al-Amir Dawes (Newark, N.J.) capped off his strong tournament with a game-high 24 points, while Kadary Richmond (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Richmond, Dawes and Davis were all named to the NIT All-Tournament Team and Dawes was named the NIT's Most Outstanding Player.

The team is flying home Friday morning, and Seton Hall will welcome the champions back to campus with a public celebration on the green in front of the Seton Hall University Center. The Seton Hall University community and all Pirates fans are welcome to attend. A brief celebratory program will occur with Seton Hall University Director of Athletics Bryan Felt, Head Men's Basketball Coach Shaheen Holloway and the entire team.

How It Happened

Seton Hall led 16-10 with 13:49 left in the first half as the Pirates found success capitalizing off of multiple Indiana State turnovers. The Sycamores would go on to rattle off 10-straight points to jump in front by three, 19-16, before an 11-3 run by the Pirates, including five-consecutive made free throws by Dawes, put The Hall back ahead, 27-22, with 8:06 to go before halftime.

A Davis three-pointer at the 3:30 mark in the first half gave the Pirates their largest lead of the game, 39-28, but the Sycamores would use a half-closing 11-0 run to tie the score up at 39-39. Despite the momentum switch in the Sycamores' favor in the latter stages of the first 20 minutes, the Pirates came out strong in the second half as Davis scored seven of The Hall's first 12 points that gave the Pirates a nine-point lead, 51-42.

Indiana State made it a one-point game, 58-57, with 10:17 left when a Richmond layup, a defensive stop and a lefty layup from Dylan Addae-Wusu (Bronx, N.Y.), pushed the Pirates' lead to five, 62-57. A 12-5 run by the Sycamores gave them their first lead since the 10-minute mark in the first half and they would later lead by seven, 77-70, with 3:03 left in the game. That's when the Pirates' three captains — Dawes, Davis and Richmond — took over the game. Richmond's layup off of his own offensive rebounds with 2:38 left made it a five-point game before five-consecutive points were scored by Dawes, including an off-balance three-pointer that tied score up at 77-77 with 1:05 to go. With under a minute left, the ball was Davis' hands and his patented spin move in the lane put the Pirates in front for good at 79-77 with 16 seconds remaining.

On the final possession of the game, a block by Bediako on an Indiana State shot beyond the three-point line helped seal the NIT championship for the Pirates. The Seton Hall defense held Indiana State scoreless over the last 3:03 and the Sycamores missed their last seven shots.

Inside the Box Score

  • Both teams shot well from the floor as Indiana State shot 47 percent and Seton Hall shot 45 percent.
  • The Pirates shot 35 percent from deep and Indiana State shot at a 38 percent clip a the three-point line.
  • The Pirates shot 89 percent (17-of-19) from the free throw line and the Sycamores shot 90 percent (9-of-10).
  • There were nine ties and 12 lead chances but Seton Hall held the lead for 26:23 of game time.
  • The Pirates owned a 38-30 edge in points in the paint.
  • Seton Hall scored 20 points off of 15 Indiana State turnovers
  • The Sycamores finished plus-four on the glass, 35-31.
News & Notes

  • This is Seton Hall's second NIT championship in program history and its first since 1953.
  • Seton Hall's 25 wins this season is tied for the fourth-most in program history and the most since the Pirates' 25-win BIG EAST Tournament championship season in 2015-16.
  • Head coach Shaheen Holloway is now 6-0 in the city Indianapolis with wins over Kentucky and Murray State in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, two road wins over Butler and two wins this year's NIT over Georgia and Indiana State.
  • Seton Hall has won five straight games at Hinkle Fieldhouse including eight of its last 10 contests.
  • Dawes finishes his career with 169 made three-pointers, which ranks 14th in program history.
  • Dawes' 91 made three-pointers this season is tied for the eighth-most in a single season in program history.
  • Dawes finished with 12 20-point games this season and 20 in his career.
  • Richmond notched his eighth double-double of the season and the 11th of his career.
ADVERTISEMENT

Filter

ADVERTISEMENT