Myron Medcalf
ESPN Staff Writer

We're accustomed to projecting the college basketball players we expect to excel each season via our preseason honors lists. Coaches usually have to wait until their season is over, however, to get the same accolades.

Until now.

Here, we've predicted the top 2022-23 men's college basketball coach in each league based on the following criteria: the talent they've retained or added to their roster -- critical in the transfer portal and NIL eras -- their history of exceeding expectations and their ability to help their squad reach its highest potential. We've also looked at the coaches who could give our candidates their stiffest competition.

Yes, some of this is subjective. Most of the coaches are at this level because they've proved they're good at what they do.

Send all complaints to my fellow ESPN experts Jeff Borzello and John Gasaway. Kidding.

https://www.axios.com/2022/10/20/latino-voters-midterms-republicans-democrats-crime-abortion

interesting trends both ways.

During the upcoming weeks I will post a series of pressing questions as pertains to the program.

Today we'll discuss the team's recruiting strategy.


It's a new world in college basketball. A major shift caused by recently passed rules and regulations that have shifted the long tenured balance of power from the NCAA and it's member schools to the players.

First players no longer had to sit out if they wanted to transfer. They no longer had to deal with an immediate need for a waiver to play the following season. It was a given. But then an even more devastating rule came into being. Players could now make money off of their Name, their Image, their Likeness (NIL). In June of 2021, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the NCAA in NCAA vs. Alston that the NCAA could not limit education related payments to student-athletes.

Amateurism which has been part of the fabric of collegiate sports since the NCAA’s earliest inception is a thing of the past. To oversimplify it, players could not be paid to play. Student athletes received only scholarships. Now that is no more. And with those changes comes the shift noted above.

The two rules combined without many guardrails at this time have created a new template for college coaches to structure their roster every single year. In short college basketball until further notice is in an era where free agency reigns and it reigns every single year. Which brings us to the current question in Seton Hall's own backyard of what will be the school's and new head coach Shaheen Holloway's recruiting strategy.

To date, and it's too early to form a pattern, Holloway has shot for the stars, literally. In the form of 4 and 5 star players. Unsuccessful so far yes, but is this an approach that will continue, one that will bear fruit in the long run?

Impossible to know. Especially as collectives have sprung up throughout the country at most high D1 schools to help finically support college programs for retention and restocking of the roster. Something that at this time has not happened in South Orange. Meaning that NIL options for the Pirates cannot come close to meeting those of its peers. A disadvantage further exacerbated by New Jersey not allowing, like most states have, to permit its individual schools to deal directly with the new financial regulation.

Which brings us back to SHU's recruiting strategy. How does its new head coach traverse the difficult terrain in front of him? Should he continue to battle the best for the premier players knowing he does not have the funds needed to garner most of the players he seeks? If so does he try and secure one player hoping to possibly open up the flood gates? After all, basketball is not football. One or two stars can change the direction of your program allowing it to compete against the very best. Or does he lower his sights? Take the best and more easily secured 3 star players hoping to sprinkle in an occasional 4 star player and then fortify the roster with transfers after each season concludes?

Really, no one knows in the ever changing world of college sports. Especially with the possibility that just as these new rules seemed to have come fast and furious, changes in those rules if the NCAA has its way could at least be mitigated.

My opinion regarding Holloway and Seton Hall is at least early on follow the path now established. It only takes one high value star to meet your current goal. There is no doubt, even with the restrictions Holloway faces, that he is in his element as pertains to dealing with youngsters, their families and their entourages. His reputation as a recruiter and now builder of a program is well established. His work ethic is second to none and his comment that he made when hired by Seton Hall that he cannot, will not, fail speaks to his ambition to not only keep Seton Hall on the path of success established by former coach Kevin Willard, but to surpass it. For that to happen you can't be afraid to shoot for the 'stars'. You should make that your goal, NIL or not.

Holloway did it as a high school player winning MVP honors over Kobe Bryant in the McDonald's All American game. He did it at Seton Hall playing the point in the school's last Sweet 16 appearance. And he did it last year shocking the basketball community while guiding St Peter's to an Elite 8 appearance in the Dance. Why would anyone bet he can't do it one more time his way now as a coach in the Big East?

Did shu pursue as assistant?

A bold move.

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By Zach Braziller

There have been games of brilliance, performances that wow you, instances when Kadary Richmond showcases his immense talent.

But that has also been followed far too often by quiet nights, nondescript games, contests in which the Brooklyn native hardly makes an impact.

That’s where Shaheen Holloway comes in. The new Seton Hall coach got more out of less at Saint Peter’s, becoming a March hero by leading the 15th-seeded Peacocks to the Elite Eight. He transformed a team of unranked prospects into everyone’s Cinderella. Now, for the Pirates to reach the NCAA Tournament in Holloway’s first season, to prove the Big East coaches who picked them seventh wrong, Holloway has to reach Richmond.

“We need him,” Holloway said on Big East media day of Richmond, who averaged 8.8 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds as a sophomore. “We need him to play at a high [level] for us to be good.”


Kadary Richmond playing for Seton Hall on Jan. 26, 2022.
Bill Kostroun

The league’s coaches thought highly enough of the mega-talented Richmond that they voted him an all-league second team preseason selection, the only Seton Hall player to receive an individual honor. Connecticut coach Dan Hurley saw how dynamic Richmond can be last year, when he poured in 27 points in an upset victory over the Huskies, the kind of tantalizing performance that Holloway wants to see on a consistent basis this season.

“Just from a physical talent and skill standpoint at the guard position, you just don’t come across many 6-foot-6 physical, gifted, strong, athletic players with his type of game off the dribble and his ability to physically get to the rim,” Hurley said. “He’s really a gifted player. It will be interesting to see what kind of jump he can make under Shaheen’s leadership.”

Seton Hall forward Tyrese Samuel believes Richmond is ready to be a consistent performer. He’s noticed a more vocal player, someone who is eager to lead, a teammate that understands how important he is to the Pirates’ success. He is frequently talking and playing at a fast pace, a departure from the sometimes quiet and passive Richmond of last winter.



Kadary Richmond playing against Georgetown on Feb. 1, 2022.
AP

“I know he’s going to have a big year this year and he’s going to really turn heads,” Samuel said.

That, of course, is to be determined. Holloway still believes Richmond can get into better condition and has to want to bring 100 percent effort on a daily basis. Asked what the new coach is working on with his star, Holloway bluntly said, “from the shoulders up.”

“I tell him every day, ‘we can’t turn the switch off and on,'” Holloway said. “You have to prepare yourself every day to be ready. … If he’s in shape and his mind is right, he’s going to be a good player.”

The coach added: “He’s got to understand that being in college now three years, there’s certain expectations. He wants to be at the next level, so every day you got to prepare to be at the next level. I think he’s starting to understand that right now.”

It's undeniable that he is the best ever at QB. But he acted like a real a*hole this weekend. He was shown giving his offensive line a ton of s**t during their loss to Pittsburgh. Low-life move, imho. And now we learn he was away from the team for the weekend up until yesterday morning so he could attend Robert Kraft's wedding. Again,no denying his legendary career on the field but he strikes me as a true egotistical jerk.

Here was my experience at Bunny's after the Saturday Blue/White scrimmage

I got to Bunny's around 230PM to set up our area which was the back part of the restaurant which covered about 10 tables and has a seating capacity of around 50 people. Unfortunately at that time most of the tables had customers there and the waitresses were still seating customers. Seeing that I sought out the manager on duty, Britney, a young and very pleasant lady. She told her staff to not seat anyone else as that area was designated for our event.

During that time many SHU people, mostly all from our board started to trickle in and sit in our area ordering food and drink on their own tabs. That continued until 3PM when the players (pictures later in the day curtesy of Harty9) came in and sat at the back tables allowing for easy access to the Pirate fans, both young and old.

Still, there were customers seated in the area finishing their meals and drinks causing some confusion as I was trying to ensure only those who paid were allows access to the area. In fact multiple people, many of them unpaid SHU students started to fill the area and had to be weeded out without disturbing the paid patrons.

Eventually those patrons left their tables by 315PM and from that point on I was able to control access.

I would estimate over the next hour plus we had a total of 80 people in the area talking SHU basketball, meeting the players, having children bring items to sign or have the players sign pictures of the roster I supplied. During that time Bunny's brought out pizzas to every table non stop until the event closed ship around 340PM or so. Here I want to plug Bunney's because there is no doubt they lost money as the rest of their restaurant was packed, both inside and outside. Losing 10 tables and making about 35-40 pies gratis was a gesture that all SHU fans should thank and in the future when anyone here is looking for a place to eat look no further than Bunny's, who supports the Hall as well as if not better than any restaurant in the Village.

A special shout out to Harty 9 who....

1. Took pictures for this site and for Eric's site.

2. Brought past Seton Hall superstar Glenn Mosley to the event.

3. Paid for Mosley's ticket as Glenn has faced difficult times financially and health wise.

Staying with Glenn....during the time there I introduced him to the team but as expected none of them knew who he was. After all he played decades before the SHU players were born. But once I told them of his feats at the school and the fact that he was a first round NBA draft choice that changed as you were able to see his interactions with the players. In short I told them that Glenn accomplished in the 70s what they desire to accomplish now, play BB at the highest level.

The final thing we did was to go outside and have multiple team picture taken by both Harty and Britney and then the event was over.

Bunny's handled everything so well that I sought out the staff and gave them a $200.00 tip. Money they earned as they no doubt lost tips from normal patrons in the 2 hours we had the area.

Bottom line, this went so well that I hope it becomes a yearly event. Everyone had a great time, Piratecrew was incredibly generous with their support and the players were well behaved and extremely cordial to everyone.

You here, the players and Bunny's made the end of University Day special.

Thank you all.

5. New York Giants (5-1)​

Week 6 ranking: 11

The Giants weren't expected to win many games this season (my projection was six). You blame me? They hadn't topped six wins in any of the previous five seasons. But all they've done so far is find ways to win, whether it's by going for two in the opener, shutting out Aaron Rodgers in the second half or getting their first interception of the season to win them the game against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. It doesn't matter that the Giants are 23rd in total offense and 15th in defense. Coach Brian Daboll has this team believing and finishing. They've outscored opponents 87-49 in the second half of games. -- Jordan Raanan

9. New York Jets (4-2)​

Week 6 ranking: 16

The rookie class is developing quicker than expected. Cornerback Sauce Gardner and running back Breece Hall, in particular, have made such an impact that they have to be considered candidates for Defensive and Offensive Rookie of the Year, respectively. Gardner has eight pass breakups, one interception and has allowed only one reception in man coverage, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Hall replaced Michael Carter as the RB1 and is ninth in the league with 609 yards from scrimmage. Growing pains? Not at all. -- Rich Cimini

A total, complete stiff

Jaden Daly on Holloway's staff, Tony Bozzella, the Big East and more​

BY JP Pelzman


J.P. Pelzman: In terms of assistants, what does Rasheen Davis bring to the table? I know Sha has a lot of trust in him.

Jaden Daly: I've known Rasheen Davis for almost 10 years, since he was with Steve Masiello at Manhattan. He's a man who builds relationships. He will get to know you and your family before he pays attention to what your game is like and how you are on the floor. That is going to make him an elite recruiter at this level. Rasheen Davis is going to be someone who is going to have Seton Hall in play for a lot of top 100, top 200 prospects just because of his ability to connect with young men.

It's almost at the level of Sha’s ability to connect with these young men. He will take an interest in you and what you’re interested in and use that to help evaluate what he’s looking for on and off the floor. His ability to build relationships is something that Seton Hall hasn’t had on staff for a long time. I really can’t remember an assistant that Kevin (Willard) had, other than Sha, that was as good with that. Rasheen is going to be for Sha what Sha was for Kevin. I really believe that.

Just a reminder....

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Weather is going to be great for University Weekend. 70 degrees and sunny.

And then for those that sign up...........
Meet the men at Bunny's starting at 3 PM

Pirates picked seventh in the BIG EAST preseason poll​

NEW YORK - Seton Hall men's basketball junior guard Kadary Richmond (Brooklyn, N.Y.) has been named to the BIG EAST Preseason All-Conference Second Team, the BIG EAST Conference announced at its annual media day on Tuesday.

The preseason order of finish, according to a coaches vote, was also unveiled Tuesday, and the Pirates have been picked to finish seventh. The last time The Hall was slotted seventh in the preseason poll was 2015-16. The Pirates would go on to win the BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden in March of that season.

A long, rangy point guard, Richmond is coming off of a solid sophomore campaign in his first season with the Pirates where he averaged 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He finished fourth in the conference in assists per contest and fifth in steals. Richmond battled through injuries during conference play and helped lead the Pirates to their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six contested.

Richmond posted one of the top single-game performances in the BIG EAST last season when he dropped a career-high 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field in a 90-87 victory over Connecticut on Jan. 8 at Prudential Center. 25 of Richmond's 27 points were scored in the second half, including a stretch where he alone outscored the Huskies, 17-7.

Led by head coach Shaheen Holloway '00, who returned to his alma mater in March after leading Saint Peter's to the 2022 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, Seton Hall boasts a wealth of experience on the roster with five returning Pirates from last season and five transfers that combine for 13 years of Div. I basketball experience. In total, this veteran Seton Hall team has appeared in 775 career collegiate games and combined for 6,019 points, 2,971 rebounds and 1,072 assists.

The Pirates, which have finished in the top half of the BIG EAST standings in each of the last seven seasons, are coming off a fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six contested.

Single-game tickets for the 2022-23 Seton Hall men's basketball season at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Single-game prices start at $30 with 15 games to choose from, including Seton Hall's annual matchups against BIG EAST foes Providence (Dec. 17), St. John's (Dec. 31), Connecticut (Jan. 18), Marquette (Jan. 21), Xavier (Feb. 24) and Villanova (Feb. 28) as well as the Gavitt Tip-Off Games contest against Iowa on Nov. 16.

The full schedule features a wide variety of options that offer all Pirates fans the opportunity to visit The Rock and cheer on The Hall, including seven weekend games and five weeknight games that start at 7 p.m., or earlier.

Season tickets, which start at just $195 per seat plus a $60 Priority Seat Premium, and a six-game mini-plan, which starts at $240 per seat, are also available through the Seton Hall ticket office. Current Seton Hall basketball season ticket holders can also purchase discounted single-game tickets to all games by calling the ticket office at (973) 275-4255.

What a great day, buoyed by sunny skies and low 70s temperatures.

I'll summarize my day below......

Park-Lane was one of only four unanimous selections.​

NEW YORK – Seton Hall women's basketball graduate student Sidney Cooks (Kenosha, Wis.) and senior Lauren Park-Lane (Wilmington, Del.) were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team on Tuesday during the conference's annual media day.

Named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, Cooks was everything the Pirates had hoped she would be in her first year in South Orange. Named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Dec. 27, and to the Weekly Honor Roll on Feb. 28, she ranked sixth in the BIG EAST with 15.9 points per game, fourth with 7.9 rebounds per game and fourth with 1.5 blocks in 30.7 minutes per game. Cooks topped 20 points in a single-game eight times, and 30 points twice including a career-high 35-point outburst against Butler on Feb. 22. Twice Cooks made 15 field goals in a game, which tied the program record for a single-game. Her seven blocks against DePaul on Jan. 30 are the second-most ever for a Pirate and the most since former Pirate Kelley Moore blocked seven against Pittsburgh on Jan. 8, 1990. She was named to the WNIT All-Tournament Team.

Named All-Met Division I Player of the Year, Park-Lane was a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team and earned Nancy Lieberman National Point Guard of the Year Watch List recognition. Park-Lane finished third in the BIG EAST in scoring with 18.3 points per game and set Seton Hall's single-season points record. As a playmaker, she led the nation in total assists and set Seton Hall records for assists in a season (260) and in a single-game (18). Her 152 assists in BIG EAST play set a new conference mark. Named to both the BIG EAST and WNIT All-Tournament Teams, Park-Lane averaged 21.3 points and 5.6 assists per contest in nine postseason games. Named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll seven times, she also led the nation with 1,420 minutes played and 38.4 minutes per game. This is Park-Lane's second straight placement on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. She was one of only four unanimous selections this year.

BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Maddy Siegrist, Villanova, Sr., F*

BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Freshman of the Year
Ayanna Patterson, UConn, Fr., F

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team ^
Caroline Ducharme, UConn, So., G
Aaliyah Edwards, UConn, Jr., F
Azzi Fudd, UConn, So., G *
Lauren Jensen, Creighton, Jr., G
Emma Ronsiek, Creighton, Jr., F *
Aneesah Morrow, DePaul, So., F *
Jordan King, Marquette, Sr., G
Janai Crooms, Providence, Sr., G
Kadaja Bailey, St. John's, Fifth Year, G
SIDNEY COOKS, SETON HALL, Grad., F/C
LAUREN PARK-LANE, SETON HALL, Sr., G *

Preseason Honorable Mention
Dorka Juhász, UConn, Grad., F
Morgan Maly, Creighton, Jr., G/F

*unanimous selection
^ extra player added due to a tie in voting

An NIL is possibly being set up for Saturday Oct 15 after the men's open practice at Walsh. It will depend on availability and cost of a restaurant in the South Orange Village area. I am working on that right now.

If the price is right and we get enough people to attend, with the help of Eric all the team members (minus Samuel, Yetna and Ndiaye) will appear for 2 hours to sign autographs and talk to everyone in attendance.

The cost will be $100.00 per person. That will include piazza along with the access to the players. There will also be a cash bar for drinks.

100% of the money earned minus the cost of the restaurant will go to the players. Neither Eric or I will charge for our services.

For this to happen we need at the very least 50 people, but would want many more. Meaning I need to know who here wants to be involved. And I say that asking for those that respond that they are coming to actually come and not change their minds at the last minute. To ensure that does not happen Eric will want to be paid ASAP if this event is scheduled. Details on that would be posted next week.

So many people wanted to get involved but Eric only dealt with large donors. To give you an idea how large, my donation of $1,000.00 was the smallest he secured. That now changes if we can get enough posters here plus others that are being informed of this event to attend.

Please reply on this thread if you are definitely interested. And if you're not sure then please do not reply.

An NIL is possibly being set up for Saturday Oct 15 after the men's open practice at Walsh. It will depend on availability and cost of a restaurant in the South Orange Village area. I am working on that right now.

If the price is right and we get enough people to attend, with the help of Eric all the team members (minus Samuel, Yetna and Ndiaye) will appear for 2 hours to sign autographs and talk to everyone in attendance.

The cost will be $100.00 per person. That will include piazza along with the access to the players. There will also be a cash bar for drinks.

100% of the money earned minus the cost of the restaurant will go to the players. Neither Eric or I will charge for our services.

For this to happen we need at the very least 50 people, but would want many more. Meaning I need to know who here wants to be involved. And I say that asking for those that respond that they are coming to actually come and not change their minds at the last minute. To ensure that does not happen Eric will want to be paid ASAP if this event is scheduled. Details on that would be posted next week.

So many people wanted to get involved but Eric only dealt with large donors. To give you an idea how large, my donation of $1,000.00 was the smallest he secured. That now changes if we can get enough posters here plus others that are being informed of this event to attend.

Please reply on this thread if you are definitely interested. And if you're not sure then please do not reply.

Bunny: An open, uncontested shot, usually a layup, put-back or dunk.

This past Saturday HallDan hosted an event at Bunny’s with the men’s basketball team to give Seton Hall fans the opportunity to be a part of supporting an NIL with 100% of the proceeds going to its players. It was a highly successful event as everyone who contributed, even the smallest amount, did so out of their love for Seton Hall.

I was touched to meet a fan who lost his job and couldn’t afford much but still wanted to contribute $100 so that he could be a part of it. There were retirees and young people who were barely beginning their working careers. There were kids with star-struck happy faces and players graciously taking pictures and signing autographs.

Saturday was a truly a magnificent day for the Seton Hall Community and the Seton Hall campus was a lively festival arranged in a stunningly transformative quad area with new construction that seamlessly blends deep-rooted and contemporary architecture. A new, innovative, state of the art practice facility is on the horizon and we have a coach named Holloway who is universally loved by the fan base, a favored son who promotes heart, hustle and a bright future.

When you hear about BIG schools with BIG campus buildings making BIG contributions to NIL, it’s so good to see Seton Hall’s grassroots level campaign at work making small (Bunny) contributions from our passionate fan base. This will surely lead to larger involvement from those who can contribute major money.

I say cheers to HallDan who has mentioned doing this on an annual basis. I think it’s a ‘Slam Dunk’ a ‘Bunny’. Small contributors make the BIGGEST impact.



‘Bunny-Up’ Go PIRATES!!!

If the giants lost and ru played, i could read about football here all weekend.

How bout them Giants.

How bout them Jets.

Over the Willard term does anybody know where I can find a list of Sha gets?

#20 Villanova
#22 Creighton
#27 UConn
#37 St John's
#38 Xavier
#48 Seton Hall
#57 Providence
#76 Marquette
#88 DePaul
#102 Georgetown
#130 Butler

I don’t think Villanova or St. John’s will finish that high though