A QUANDARY

[49ers10]

I have purposefully stayed off our message so I do not have any knee-jerk and only emotional reactions to any posts from my fellow knowledgeable posters. However, I sincerely want to thank all who extended their well-wishes to this "sick old man" as I was referred to by "one young clueless poster" (You did not think that I was going to let that stupid comment go without a response, did you?) LOL?!?



Now, my thoughts and quick, honest comments, just for discussion purposes. For obvious reasons, e.g. the way this season turned out, etc. I would think some posters have a real problem, and are torn between two thoughts, do they root for our team to do well next year, the year after, etc. , and do I dare to say it, make the NCAA's or, do they hope our team does not do well (hard to do for any Pirate fan to admit). I will simply leave all with the following; either scenario does not guarantee anything.

 

[halltheway]

Just glad your better and posting!

 

[ArtieLange9]

I don't think any true Seton Hall fan roots for the team to do bad going into a new season.

The best and easiest solution for the program is for Willard to change/improve on in game coaching, roster management, chemistry managment, and recruiting. I really am hoping this happens over the next year.

I want to see us dance and do well. There is talent here to be in the top 5 in the conf.

If there isn't a huge improvement in what I outlined, there will and should be a call to look at the program's direction going forward.

 

[SnakeTom]

Originally posted by ArtieLange9:

I don't think any true Seton Hall fan roots for the team to do bad going into a new season.

The best and easiest solution for the program is for Willard to change/improve on in game coaching, roster management, chemistry managment, and recruiting. I really am hoping this happens over the next year.

I want to see us dance and do well. There is talent here to be in the top 5 in the conf.

If there isn't a huge improvement in what I outlined, there will and should be a call to look at the program's direction going forward.

I agree. the true fan always roots for his/her team to WIN !!!

If we don't, that should be addressed at the proper time.

GO PIRATES !!!

Tom K

 

[Vegas pj]

Originally posted by ArtieLange9:

The best and easiest solution for the program is for Willard to change/improve on in game coaching, roster management, chemistry managment, and recruiting.

Fat chance!

 

[49ers10]

Thanks Halltheway, it's good to be back. Although I disagree with some posters' comments at times (and who is to say which person is wrong or right), everyone is entitled to their opinion. Additionally, all want our team to do

 

[hallgrad80]

At the beginning of every season a true fan wants his team to win and achieve post season play , whether you're talking about a college or pro team. However that support can change depending on how the season goes and a classic example is the Knicks where the fans now want them to lose to improve their chance on getting the top pick in the draft. I can also see other circumstances where a season goes so badly that fans no longer care if the team wins or loses. As to the SH fan I believe that they want this year's team to succeed but I see a lack of confidence by many that they will for all the reasons discussed again and again on this Board .

 

[49ers10]

ArtieLange9 and hallgrad80 nailed it, let's just root for our ream to be the best it could be and things will eventually run their due course and everything will fall into place.
This post was edited on 4/12 1:55 PM by 49ers10

 

[lr591902]

This is easy. I am rooting for the team to make the elite eight and for Willard to become the new hot young coach. That way someone will recruit him away and we will have a great season.

 

[ironlung75]

Wouldn't the best thing be for the team to improve and for Willard to step up and prove a lot of people wrong? I for one do not believe it will happen, but I , as a fan would love for him to prove me wrong. I will cheer for the team and will be a supporter of their success. If Willard can do what most of us don't think he can do, which is change and become the coach I think we all wanted him to be, the question is what would be wrong with that? I actually think there are posters here who somehow would think that would be a bad thing? Am I wrong?

 

[Woah Bundy]

Originally posted by ironlung75:
Wouldn't the best thing be for the team to improve and for Willard to step up and prove a lot of people wrong? I for one do not believe it will happen, but I , as a fan would love for him to prove me wrong. I will cheer for the team and will be a supporter of their success. If Willard can do what most of us don't think he can do, which is change and become the coach I think we all wanted him to be, the question is what would be wrong with that? I actually think there are posters here who somehow would think that would be a bad thing? Am I wrong?

If Willard can change on a dime and start managing his locker room well, recruiting consistently year to year, and start churning out 11-7 12-6 type seasons I think everyone would be very happy. I would love a wildly successful year next year, I suspect everyone else here as dedicated Seton Hall fans talking on a message board in April would as well. Speaking only for myself, my main fear is that he clears the bare minimum benchmark next year. Let's say he scratches his way to 10-8 or so, which should be doable with the talent he has right now, and gets a 10 or 11 seed. Where does that leave us? Whitehead is probably gone after dragging Seton Hall to the NCAA's, Delgado may be gone, Gibbs who is not even certain to come back is done, and we have a coach who has managed one successful season in six tries. God forbid the administration extends him again, we're staring down the barrel of five more years of clapping and flailing.

Our situation reminds me a lot of St. John's with Norm Roberts. A well regarded coach who worked as an assistant under a high profile coach and was brought in to clean up a program. After five years it was apparent Norm was not capable of getting the job done.Since he was well regarded by the administration and he had a large class of his guys becoming juniors he got a sixth year. Most St John's fans were not happy then as most of us are not happy now. Of course there are always some loyalists who may know the coach personally or have some type of insider access to the program, but by and large the fan base was aligned in wanting Roberts gone after five. He didn't get it done with his players in the sixth year and was replaced by Lavin, who got them to the tournament the next year.

TL;DR I would love Willard to start succeeding here but don't think he has it in him.

 

[HALL85]

Originally posted by ironlung75:
Wouldn't the best thing be for the team to improve and for Willard to step up and prove a lot of people wrong? I for one do not believe it will happen, but I , as a fan would love for him to prove me wrong. I will cheer for the team and will be a supporter of their success. If Willard can do what most of us don't think he can do, which is change and become the coach I think we all wanted him to be, the question is what would be wrong with that? I actually think there are posters here who somehow would think that would be a bad thing? Am I wrong?

Obviously the answer is yes. There is nothing wrong with Willard changing and being successful...we would all shower him with all the accolades he would deserve. We all want the program to be a success.

You hit the nail on the head...the frustration is like you, most don't believe it will happen based on the awful five years we've endured.

Most important part of this thread is that Paul is well....great to hear.
This post was edited on 4/12 9:20 PM by HALL85

 

[Piratz]

I'll be rooting for the team to win next year. I am disgusted with the ineptitude that has been tolerated and has lingered on for 5 years now. But they're trusting in their man (KW) for one reason or another.

So I'll be hoping for this grand epiphany.

 

[Dog3]

Yes, I want the team to win next season. Do I think that will happen once we hit the BE part of the schedule? Not likely unless our coaching staff has undergone a complete reversal of their past 5 years. Possible? Of course. Likely? No. As a poster said earlier, there are times in a season when you may have to bite the bullet and consider the alternatives to winning to create a greater good. That can happen and does happen to all sports fans and they are not being truthful if they deny it, IMO. Go Pirates.

 

[buzzershot]

Paul-

So glad you are back on the board.

 

[Seton75]

I got the feeling from reading the board years ago that some rooted against Orr finishing well cause they wanted BG. Most just want SHU to do well. Me included.

 

[Burnsly]

Yup. That's why I don't pay attention to a word he says anymore.

 

[hallgrad80]

You can't change what you don't acknowledge and it seems to me that Kevin doesn't believe the problem with the team is him and until he accepts that nothing will change.

 

[garyshu71]

Originally posted by Seton75:
I got the feeling from reading the board years ago that some rooted against Orr finishing well cause they wanted BG. Most just want SHU to do well. Me included.

I sure wish Orr would have done better. He flamed out at the end of his last season and everyone piled on.

 

[Piratz]

Originally posted by Dog3:
Yes, I want the team to win next season. Do I think that will happen once we hit the BE part of the schedule? Not likely unless our coaching staff has undergone a complete reversal of their past 5 years. Possible? Of course. Likely? No. As a poster said earlier, there are times in a season when you may have to bite the bullet and consider the alternatives to winning to create a greater good. That can happen and does happen to all sports fans and they are not being truthful if they deny it, IMO. Go Pirates.

This is the profile of Kevin Willard teams. Can get off to good starts and make you believe, but then the second complacency or adversity hits, they fold like cheap suits.

 

[SOSHU]

I have seen cheap suits that look way better than the fragile culture that Willard has instilled within our program.

 

[Bobbie Solo]

He should probably...you know...be fired then. So you know...Fire Coach Willard.

 

[Turiddu]

Glad to hear from you Paul. I have heard that you are on the mend and ready to resume attendance at the games. Miss seeing you at the Arena. Hope that this is a great year for you physically and that the Hall rebounds from last season.

 

[sportsfantatic44]

I always want Seton Hall to win but this is the first time where I see absolutely no hope with this head coach to turn it around. The bigger question is if the Hall does not make the tourney this season will the administration eat Willard's buyout and try to lure Danny Hurley here with a pretty big financial deal. My guess is no. And we will probably try again with another coach at a lower level D1 school to make the jump and hope for the best. I think the basketball program is on life support at this point and see us as bottom feeders for a very long time to come.