https://setonhall.rivals.com/
Part 2
By Colin Rajala
Q: I appreciate your insights on the recruiting trail. While I have you, I think it would be good to maybe shift gears and touch on recruiting more broadly. Willard had a tough job rebuilding Seton Hall, but the back half of the decade has been some of the best basketball the school has seen since the P.J. Carlesimo years. Despite the success, it appears that Seton Hall continues to lag behind its conference-mates in terms of recruiting and securing commitments from high-profile players. Why do you think they are struggling to land those high-profile players?
A: I don’t know if they are even missing out on many guys. At the end of the day, you don’t want to look at it like this, but Seton Hall isn’t really a destination program. Some kids grow up and they dream about playing at a Duke, a Kentucky or in the Northeast, a Connecticut. They are behind the eight-ball there. I think what Kevin Willard and his staff have done a great job of, is pinpointing the under the radar or three-star players that can play like four-star players and four-star players that can play like five-star players. He identifies kids that haven’t really touched their basketball ceiling per se and might have more growth ahead of them. Like I said, the development abilities in the program under Willard, especially Billmeier with the big men, it definitely shows with the success they have had in recent years.
Q: I agree with you there. It’s unfortunate that there is a sentiment out there that the staff cannot bring in the high-profile stars and Eddie Griffin isn’t walking through the door tomorrow, but at the end of the day, I would much rather be top three in the conference with a bottom three recruiting class than bottom three in the conference with a top recruiting class.
A: I think you would rather finish with the tangible, physical side on playing the games than the made-up recruiting rankings. I couldn’t agree more.
Q: I know that Seton Hall’s facilities are sub-par compared to the rest of the Big East and other high- major universities. While they are looking to improve them to bring them up to a comparable level, how much of a factor do you think the facilities are to some of the recruits and at the end of the day, do you think an upgrade of the facilities will be enough to swing a recruit or two that that they may have lost out on previously?
A: I think so. I remember visiting a place like Nebraska and their mind set was always, if we can get the kids on campus, we can get them. That is because Nebraska has some of the best facilities I have ever been a part of. I think that can be true for Seton Hall as well. If they can upgrade facilities, and we’re not asking for the Taj Mahal, we’re talking comparable facilities alongside a Villanova, a Marquette, a Creighton. With the snowball effect of success that Kevin Willard and staff have created alongside upgraded facilities there is a chance that even more valued talent is attainable.
Q: I appreciate that perspective. I think it is helpful for the fans to have that perspective about what needs to be lined up to be highly successful in recruiting. Being the off season without much news on the recruiting front, UConn rejoining the Big East has received a lot of attention. They are an interesting case because of the storied past, but also the underwhelming results during their tenure in the AAC. I am curious what your sentiments are on how UConn is going to do transitioning into the new Big East? I have a hard time putting them as a top three team in the league given them moving up in competition and dealing with the conference’s physicality, but at the same time the Big East’s three through seven or eight always seems to be pretty fluid.
A: I think it is going to be a toss-up. I think Villanova is the team to beat this year with who they return and who they are bringing in, it is a pretty special group. Creighton is right behind them, but I think three through six or seven is a toss-up like you said. I think you have UConn, Providence, Seton Hall and Xavier, Butler and Marquette are right there as well. I can see them finishing third because of James Bouknight and the other kids coming in there, the talent is definitely there. On the other side as you said, it’s a big step up. The Big East is one of the best leagues in any given season and the physicality is certainly there. I think that this upcoming year is one that Danny Hurley has been slowly approaching with the proper mindset. It is going to be intriguing to see how it all plays out.
Q: It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Bouknight was playing great basketball at the end of his freshman year and I am curious to see how he performs as the lead dog with more defensive attention and maybe some bigger, longer defenders matching up with him. Ultimately, I think the recovery of Akok’s ACL injury may be the biggest x-factor if they are to finish third. Now, you had mentioned Jordan Hawkins recruitment wrapping up soon and the expectation is that he is headed to Storrs. How is Hurley able to sell recruitment's on that UConn pedigree despite it not being as evident in the last five years or so?
A: We are still talking about a program that has won the most national titles this century. UConn has a name and reputation that overshadows the last few years. I think Danny has really sold the kids on the idea of joining the Big East. It is a strong fan base and a strong brand that is recognizable and far-reaching nationally. He has also put together a really strong staff with Tom Moore, Kimani Young and Kenya Hunter. You also have more talent coming up in the Northeast and the prep-ranks, so when you put all of that together you have a UConn resurgence as a national contender.
Q: I am glad you touched on the assistants. I think that trio is as solid as they come. Tom Moore is an experienced former head coach and Kimani is a shark. With all of this talk about them rejoining the league, it’s getting me excited for the season. How do you see the upcoming season unfolding – starting on time, starting in January with conference play or another option? I know Willard has been a big proponent of starting the season in November once students have left school so the teams can use the campus as a pseudo-bubble.
A: I think it is a matter of what if right now. I think that it’s going to take some more time to let it all play out with football. I would be surprised if we have a non-conference season honestly. These buy games are not really needed from the high-major side if there are not people in attendance. I can see a Battle 4 Atlantis and Maui Invitational taking place, but I think it is going to be more about a conference season, whether it is prolonged to 20 games apiece for each league over a three- or fourth-month time so quarantines and cancellations and postponements can happen.
Part 2
By Colin Rajala
Q: I appreciate your insights on the recruiting trail. While I have you, I think it would be good to maybe shift gears and touch on recruiting more broadly. Willard had a tough job rebuilding Seton Hall, but the back half of the decade has been some of the best basketball the school has seen since the P.J. Carlesimo years. Despite the success, it appears that Seton Hall continues to lag behind its conference-mates in terms of recruiting and securing commitments from high-profile players. Why do you think they are struggling to land those high-profile players?
A: I don’t know if they are even missing out on many guys. At the end of the day, you don’t want to look at it like this, but Seton Hall isn’t really a destination program. Some kids grow up and they dream about playing at a Duke, a Kentucky or in the Northeast, a Connecticut. They are behind the eight-ball there. I think what Kevin Willard and his staff have done a great job of, is pinpointing the under the radar or three-star players that can play like four-star players and four-star players that can play like five-star players. He identifies kids that haven’t really touched their basketball ceiling per se and might have more growth ahead of them. Like I said, the development abilities in the program under Willard, especially Billmeier with the big men, it definitely shows with the success they have had in recent years.
Q: I agree with you there. It’s unfortunate that there is a sentiment out there that the staff cannot bring in the high-profile stars and Eddie Griffin isn’t walking through the door tomorrow, but at the end of the day, I would much rather be top three in the conference with a bottom three recruiting class than bottom three in the conference with a top recruiting class.
A: I think you would rather finish with the tangible, physical side on playing the games than the made-up recruiting rankings. I couldn’t agree more.
Q: I know that Seton Hall’s facilities are sub-par compared to the rest of the Big East and other high- major universities. While they are looking to improve them to bring them up to a comparable level, how much of a factor do you think the facilities are to some of the recruits and at the end of the day, do you think an upgrade of the facilities will be enough to swing a recruit or two that that they may have lost out on previously?
A: I think so. I remember visiting a place like Nebraska and their mind set was always, if we can get the kids on campus, we can get them. That is because Nebraska has some of the best facilities I have ever been a part of. I think that can be true for Seton Hall as well. If they can upgrade facilities, and we’re not asking for the Taj Mahal, we’re talking comparable facilities alongside a Villanova, a Marquette, a Creighton. With the snowball effect of success that Kevin Willard and staff have created alongside upgraded facilities there is a chance that even more valued talent is attainable.
Q: I appreciate that perspective. I think it is helpful for the fans to have that perspective about what needs to be lined up to be highly successful in recruiting. Being the off season without much news on the recruiting front, UConn rejoining the Big East has received a lot of attention. They are an interesting case because of the storied past, but also the underwhelming results during their tenure in the AAC. I am curious what your sentiments are on how UConn is going to do transitioning into the new Big East? I have a hard time putting them as a top three team in the league given them moving up in competition and dealing with the conference’s physicality, but at the same time the Big East’s three through seven or eight always seems to be pretty fluid.
A: I think it is going to be a toss-up. I think Villanova is the team to beat this year with who they return and who they are bringing in, it is a pretty special group. Creighton is right behind them, but I think three through six or seven is a toss-up like you said. I think you have UConn, Providence, Seton Hall and Xavier, Butler and Marquette are right there as well. I can see them finishing third because of James Bouknight and the other kids coming in there, the talent is definitely there. On the other side as you said, it’s a big step up. The Big East is one of the best leagues in any given season and the physicality is certainly there. I think that this upcoming year is one that Danny Hurley has been slowly approaching with the proper mindset. It is going to be intriguing to see how it all plays out.
Q: It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Bouknight was playing great basketball at the end of his freshman year and I am curious to see how he performs as the lead dog with more defensive attention and maybe some bigger, longer defenders matching up with him. Ultimately, I think the recovery of Akok’s ACL injury may be the biggest x-factor if they are to finish third. Now, you had mentioned Jordan Hawkins recruitment wrapping up soon and the expectation is that he is headed to Storrs. How is Hurley able to sell recruitment's on that UConn pedigree despite it not being as evident in the last five years or so?
A: We are still talking about a program that has won the most national titles this century. UConn has a name and reputation that overshadows the last few years. I think Danny has really sold the kids on the idea of joining the Big East. It is a strong fan base and a strong brand that is recognizable and far-reaching nationally. He has also put together a really strong staff with Tom Moore, Kimani Young and Kenya Hunter. You also have more talent coming up in the Northeast and the prep-ranks, so when you put all of that together you have a UConn resurgence as a national contender.
Q: I am glad you touched on the assistants. I think that trio is as solid as they come. Tom Moore is an experienced former head coach and Kimani is a shark. With all of this talk about them rejoining the league, it’s getting me excited for the season. How do you see the upcoming season unfolding – starting on time, starting in January with conference play or another option? I know Willard has been a big proponent of starting the season in November once students have left school so the teams can use the campus as a pseudo-bubble.
A: I think it is a matter of what if right now. I think that it’s going to take some more time to let it all play out with football. I would be surprised if we have a non-conference season honestly. These buy games are not really needed from the high-major side if there are not people in attendance. I can see a Battle 4 Atlantis and Maui Invitational taking place, but I think it is going to be more about a conference season, whether it is prolonged to 20 games apiece for each league over a three- or fourth-month time so quarantines and cancellations and postponements can happen.
