The pre-season buzz surrounding Seton Hall is as huge as it has been since 2000, with the Pirates a certainty to be in the top 20 in almost everyone’s national rankings.
But, according to assistant coach Grant Billmeier, the way to a potential fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance remains the same as the path to the previous four.
“I think we have a really good culture,” Billmeier told PirateCrew.com, “and we just try to take it one day at a time. We try not to look ahead. We just try to concentrate on what’s right in front of us.”
Is that a bit cliched? Maybe. But it also is absolutely true. Unless a Division I college basketball team has about two or three potential NBA lottery picks on its roster, dreaming in October and November about the NCAA tournament is a great way to ensure your team never makes it there.
And make no mistake, it will be a shock to the pundits and prognosticators if Seton Hall does not hear its name called again on Selection Sunday. The Pirates return four starters from a team that made a somewhat surprising run to the NCAAs, and one of those starters is Myles Powell, an Associated Press 2018/19 honorable mention All-American.
Still, the focus inside the program doesn’t change because of the opinions outside the program. And that culture has been shaped by 10th-year Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard.
“We literally take it one practice at a time,” Billmeier said. “Our approach and the way that we do things does not change because of expectations.”
Nor will the modus operandi of senior star shooting guard Powell be altered by the noise outside. Every day in practice, Billmeier sees the same player that fans see when the lights go on.
Powell, who averaged 23.1 points last season, “sets the tone for every workout, every practice, every warmup, every game,” Billmeier says. “He treats everything the same way whether it’s a walk-through, a workout, a practice, a Big East tournament game or an NCAA tournament game. He treats it all the same and he’s very competitive and he takes losing very hard. He sets the bar for all the other guys in the locker room.”
The unselfish Powell is concerned about the team, not his stat line.
Billmeier said, “If we win a game where he struggled, he’s the happiest person in the locker room. If he scores 30 points and we lose, he’s upset and he’s asking himself what he could have done better. He takes on great responsibility in being the leader of this team.”
It was the same in post-game interviews last season. Even after some of his most incredible performances, Powell would be quick to praise his teammates.
“I think (Powell) gives everyone else confidence,” said Billmeier, who will be in his ninth year on Willard’s staff (in two separate stints) and is entering his second season as the lead assistant. “He shares the ball. He doesn’t make it about himself. It’s always about the team.”
Powell and teammate Myles Cale were part of the United States squad in the Pan American Games in Peru over the summer, and Willard was an assistant on the coaching staff to his good friend, Ed Cooley, the Providence head coach. The team was composed of Big East players and coaches and took home the bronze medal.
“I think they realized how special an opportunity it is to have USA across your chest. To represent your country among other great countries is a tremendous honor,” Billmeier said. “Those three put everything into it and I know how much pride they had” in doing it.
Shortly afterward, Willard, Powell and Cale were on another trip, this time with the rest of the Pirates for a two-game tour of Italy. (The third game was not played because of a canceled flight that altered the schedule.)
Billmeier said of the trip, “I think it was beneficial for us to enable these guys to get outside the norm. it was good for them to see a different culture, a different way of living. … They got to experience a different culture, different cities, Rome and Florence and the history behind them. I took it all in (too). I got so much joy from seeing how intrigued and interested the players were in everything.”
The usual goal of such a trip is to build team camaraderie and chemistry. However, based on watching Seton Hall’s players before, during and after games last season, that kinship already had been well-established long before the Pirates got to Italy.
Billmeier said, “It is fun to coach a team like that where there are no egos and everyone has a common goal, to win the game. Whatever we need on a specific night from that person, that person is going to give it to us.
“It’s a group of guys,” he added, “that want to get better, want to listen and understand that Coach Willard is a really good coach. We have two very knowledgeable (assistant) coaches that we’ve added to our staff that have done great things as players.”
Billmeier is referring to Tony Skinn, who helped George Mason to a surprising Final Four appearance in 2006, and Duane Woodward, who was a standout on Boston College’s 1997 team that won the Big East tourney.
For all three of them, Seton Hall’s current run of NCAA tournament appearances is a big selling point when talking to recruits.
“I think our recent success certainly helps. We’re involved with a lot of really good players. I think that’s a really great stat indicating where the program is and where the program can continue to go if we get the right kids that fit our culture and want to keep Seton Hall basketball at a very high level.”
The current players are inspired by the former Pirates of recent vintage, many of whom have stayed connected with the program despite their commitments to overseas or G-League teams.
“The great thing about those guys is how invested they are in Seton Hall basketball,” Billmeier said. “And those guys are constantly around. (the current players) see how hard they work. … It’s great to have those guys around. It helps our culture. The (current players) want to replicate that success and they know that those guys have sat in the same locker room and the same film room and gone on to great things.”
Willard has stated publicly that if something happened to him during a game, such as an ejection, Billmeier would be the acting head coach. Billmeier appreciates that trust and said Willard has that faith in all of his assistants.
“It really helps us build relationships with the players,” Billmeier said, “knowing that we’re active in practice and knowing that we all have a voice. It gains their trust so we can help mentor them on and off the court.”
As for his specialty, tutoring the frontcourt players, Billmeier says he likes what Romaro Gill has been doing. Gill averaged 2.3 points last season but was an intimidating presence in the middle, blocking 34 shots in 27 games.
“He’s working extremely hard,” Billmeier said. “His confidence is right there and even though Ro is older and had redshirted, you still don’t know what it’s like until you really go out there and do it. He had a really good summer and he gained some confidence playing two games in Italy. He just has a different way about him now that he’s a senior and I think he’s really excited to have a really good year.”
Florida state transfer Ike (pronounced I-KEY) Obiagu redshirted last season but gained valuable experience in practice.
“He’s gaining confidence and as the season goes on he’s only going to get better and better,” Billmeier said. “By the time January and February roll around we’re going to see the best version of him."
Sophomore forward Jared Rhoden came on strong in the latter stages of his freshman season. Billmeier noted that he had shoulder surgery in the off-season before the 2018-19 campaign, which perhaps set back his progress at that time.
“Once he finally understood how to slow down a little bit and let things come to him, we saw a great version of Jared and a version we expect to see a whole lot of this year.”
Billmeier said of Sandro Mamukelashvili, who averaged 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds last year, “We want him to be aggressive. His confidence is really growing as a player.”
Billmeier thinks point guard Anthony Nelson will continue to make strides after breaking through with an impressive performance off the bench against Villanova in the Big East title game last season.
“I think he’s going to give us a really good sophomore year,” Billmeier said, adding, “I’m just really excited about everybody on the team. Everyone has worked really hard and gotten better individually and that’s going to make our team better.”
He looks forward to the challenge of a schedule that includes Michigan State, Maryland, Oregon, possibly Gonzaga, and of course, the usual meat grinder of the Big East.
“Coach Willard takes a lot of time to put together a schedule that will be beneficial for us,” Billmeier said, noting that Willard crunches “all the metrics and all the other things that go into that.”
Finally, he says, “We’re really excited for the season. Our fans have really been strong the last few years. Our players really feed off that. … You can’t overstate what it means to have a real home court advantage. I’m excited to see our passionate fans all year.”
And to help give them a lot to be excited about. After all, it's all about the Pirate's culture.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
COMMENTS?
But, according to assistant coach Grant Billmeier, the way to a potential fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance remains the same as the path to the previous four.
“I think we have a really good culture,” Billmeier told PirateCrew.com, “and we just try to take it one day at a time. We try not to look ahead. We just try to concentrate on what’s right in front of us.”
Is that a bit cliched? Maybe. But it also is absolutely true. Unless a Division I college basketball team has about two or three potential NBA lottery picks on its roster, dreaming in October and November about the NCAA tournament is a great way to ensure your team never makes it there.
And make no mistake, it will be a shock to the pundits and prognosticators if Seton Hall does not hear its name called again on Selection Sunday. The Pirates return four starters from a team that made a somewhat surprising run to the NCAAs, and one of those starters is Myles Powell, an Associated Press 2018/19 honorable mention All-American.
Still, the focus inside the program doesn’t change because of the opinions outside the program. And that culture has been shaped by 10th-year Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard.
“We literally take it one practice at a time,” Billmeier said. “Our approach and the way that we do things does not change because of expectations.”
Nor will the modus operandi of senior star shooting guard Powell be altered by the noise outside. Every day in practice, Billmeier sees the same player that fans see when the lights go on.
Powell, who averaged 23.1 points last season, “sets the tone for every workout, every practice, every warmup, every game,” Billmeier says. “He treats everything the same way whether it’s a walk-through, a workout, a practice, a Big East tournament game or an NCAA tournament game. He treats it all the same and he’s very competitive and he takes losing very hard. He sets the bar for all the other guys in the locker room.”
The unselfish Powell is concerned about the team, not his stat line.
Billmeier said, “If we win a game where he struggled, he’s the happiest person in the locker room. If he scores 30 points and we lose, he’s upset and he’s asking himself what he could have done better. He takes on great responsibility in being the leader of this team.”
It was the same in post-game interviews last season. Even after some of his most incredible performances, Powell would be quick to praise his teammates.
“I think (Powell) gives everyone else confidence,” said Billmeier, who will be in his ninth year on Willard’s staff (in two separate stints) and is entering his second season as the lead assistant. “He shares the ball. He doesn’t make it about himself. It’s always about the team.”
Powell and teammate Myles Cale were part of the United States squad in the Pan American Games in Peru over the summer, and Willard was an assistant on the coaching staff to his good friend, Ed Cooley, the Providence head coach. The team was composed of Big East players and coaches and took home the bronze medal.
“I think they realized how special an opportunity it is to have USA across your chest. To represent your country among other great countries is a tremendous honor,” Billmeier said. “Those three put everything into it and I know how much pride they had” in doing it.
Shortly afterward, Willard, Powell and Cale were on another trip, this time with the rest of the Pirates for a two-game tour of Italy. (The third game was not played because of a canceled flight that altered the schedule.)
Billmeier said of the trip, “I think it was beneficial for us to enable these guys to get outside the norm. it was good for them to see a different culture, a different way of living. … They got to experience a different culture, different cities, Rome and Florence and the history behind them. I took it all in (too). I got so much joy from seeing how intrigued and interested the players were in everything.”
The usual goal of such a trip is to build team camaraderie and chemistry. However, based on watching Seton Hall’s players before, during and after games last season, that kinship already had been well-established long before the Pirates got to Italy.
Billmeier said, “It is fun to coach a team like that where there are no egos and everyone has a common goal, to win the game. Whatever we need on a specific night from that person, that person is going to give it to us.
“It’s a group of guys,” he added, “that want to get better, want to listen and understand that Coach Willard is a really good coach. We have two very knowledgeable (assistant) coaches that we’ve added to our staff that have done great things as players.”
Billmeier is referring to Tony Skinn, who helped George Mason to a surprising Final Four appearance in 2006, and Duane Woodward, who was a standout on Boston College’s 1997 team that won the Big East tourney.
For all three of them, Seton Hall’s current run of NCAA tournament appearances is a big selling point when talking to recruits.
“I think our recent success certainly helps. We’re involved with a lot of really good players. I think that’s a really great stat indicating where the program is and where the program can continue to go if we get the right kids that fit our culture and want to keep Seton Hall basketball at a very high level.”
The current players are inspired by the former Pirates of recent vintage, many of whom have stayed connected with the program despite their commitments to overseas or G-League teams.
“The great thing about those guys is how invested they are in Seton Hall basketball,” Billmeier said. “And those guys are constantly around. (the current players) see how hard they work. … It’s great to have those guys around. It helps our culture. The (current players) want to replicate that success and they know that those guys have sat in the same locker room and the same film room and gone on to great things.”
Willard has stated publicly that if something happened to him during a game, such as an ejection, Billmeier would be the acting head coach. Billmeier appreciates that trust and said Willard has that faith in all of his assistants.
“It really helps us build relationships with the players,” Billmeier said, “knowing that we’re active in practice and knowing that we all have a voice. It gains their trust so we can help mentor them on and off the court.”
As for his specialty, tutoring the frontcourt players, Billmeier says he likes what Romaro Gill has been doing. Gill averaged 2.3 points last season but was an intimidating presence in the middle, blocking 34 shots in 27 games.
“He’s working extremely hard,” Billmeier said. “His confidence is right there and even though Ro is older and had redshirted, you still don’t know what it’s like until you really go out there and do it. He had a really good summer and he gained some confidence playing two games in Italy. He just has a different way about him now that he’s a senior and I think he’s really excited to have a really good year.”
Florida state transfer Ike (pronounced I-KEY) Obiagu redshirted last season but gained valuable experience in practice.
“He’s gaining confidence and as the season goes on he’s only going to get better and better,” Billmeier said. “By the time January and February roll around we’re going to see the best version of him."
Sophomore forward Jared Rhoden came on strong in the latter stages of his freshman season. Billmeier noted that he had shoulder surgery in the off-season before the 2018-19 campaign, which perhaps set back his progress at that time.
“Once he finally understood how to slow down a little bit and let things come to him, we saw a great version of Jared and a version we expect to see a whole lot of this year.”
Billmeier said of Sandro Mamukelashvili, who averaged 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds last year, “We want him to be aggressive. His confidence is really growing as a player.”
Billmeier thinks point guard Anthony Nelson will continue to make strides after breaking through with an impressive performance off the bench against Villanova in the Big East title game last season.
“I think he’s going to give us a really good sophomore year,” Billmeier said, adding, “I’m just really excited about everybody on the team. Everyone has worked really hard and gotten better individually and that’s going to make our team better.”
He looks forward to the challenge of a schedule that includes Michigan State, Maryland, Oregon, possibly Gonzaga, and of course, the usual meat grinder of the Big East.
“Coach Willard takes a lot of time to put together a schedule that will be beneficial for us,” Billmeier said, noting that Willard crunches “all the metrics and all the other things that go into that.”
Finally, he says, “We’re really excited for the season. Our fans have really been strong the last few years. Our players really feed off that. … You can’t overstate what it means to have a real home court advantage. I’m excited to see our passionate fans all year.”
And to help give them a lot to be excited about. After all, it's all about the Pirate's culture.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
COMMENTS?
