Myles Powell had a terrific freshman season for Seton Hall, and then raised his game as a sophomore, averaging 15.5 points and 2.8 assists. As the leading returning scorer from a senior-laden team, Powell wants to take on even more responsibility, and not just on the stat sheet.
Powell knows he is being looked to as a team leader, and that’s something he embraces. He wants to follow the example set by former teammate Khadeen Carrington.
“Deeno always had me under his wing,” Powell said at Big East media day at Madison Square Garden. “Deeno was a great guy on and off the court. Even when he was going through slumps. his faith was always high."
“He never lacked confidence,” Powell added. “He never really cared what anybody said about him. At the end of the day he just wanted to do what was best for the team and I’m trying to take on that role right now, just trying to do what’s best for my team in order for us to win. Because that’s all that matters, us winning games.”
OPENING AT WALSH: When The Hall hosts Wagner on Nov. 6 in the season opener for both teams, it will mark the seventh straight year in which the Pirates have played one of their home games at their on-campus arena. They are 6-0 in those games, having beaten Missouri-Kansas City (75-36), Lafayette (90-58), Maine (72-43), Wagner (69-59), Fairleigh Dickinson (91-70) and Saint Peter’s (84-61) in those contests.
“We love playing at the Prudential Center,” senior forward Mike Nzei said, adding, “This is our one chance to play (at Walsh) and you have to enjoy it. … It’s a different feeling with the fans being close, with the noise and everything. It’s a good feeling.”
Seton Hall's head coach Kevin Willard said he actually doesn’t like it, noting that he usually has his team practice in the Auxiliary Gym in the Richie Regan Recreation Center.
“I did (like it) early on,” he said. “We don’t get to practice up there so there’s not much of a home court advantage. It almost feels like more of an away game than a home game."
“I just like the Prudential Center,” Willard added. “Our fans have done a great job of coming out and supporting us and giving us a real home-court advantage at the Prudential Center.”
MIC’S ON: Willard agreed for Seton Hall to play in FOX Sports 1’s so-called All-Access game, in which both head coaches are wired for sound during the broadcast. It seems an odd fit, considering Willard admits he’s known for his salty language during games and practices.
So what did it take for Willard to agree?
“A couple bottles of wine,” he joked, adding, “FOX really wanted to do it again and (FOX producer) Steve Scheer promised me he’d be doing the game. Steve’s a good friend he wanted to do it and that’s why I did it.”
The game will be against Butler on Feb. 2. FOX did it last season for a DePaul-Providence matchup.
“I’ve been practicing,” Willard admitted. “I do one segment of practice where I pretend like I’m on the All-Access. It’s hard because it’s not just what you say to the team, that’s easy (to self-censor). It’s the comments you say to yourself, ‘That was a stupid play call’ or ‘I can’t believe this (stuff).’ You can’t say that. That’s where it’s hard.”
He said he’s glad the game will be at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse.
“They have some of the nicest fans,” Willard said, “so I don’t have to worry about yelling at someone in the stands, so it took that out of the equation. I enjoyed watching Ed (Cooley) and Dave (Leitao) doing it and I’m looking forward to doing it.”
“I’m shocked, too,” Powell said with a smile when asked about Willard doing the All-Access game. “But we know when he’s yelling at us and getting after us it’s all out of love. … Coach is my guy on and off the court, I’ve got his back just like he’s got my back.”
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
Powell knows he is being looked to as a team leader, and that’s something he embraces. He wants to follow the example set by former teammate Khadeen Carrington.
“Deeno always had me under his wing,” Powell said at Big East media day at Madison Square Garden. “Deeno was a great guy on and off the court. Even when he was going through slumps. his faith was always high."
“He never lacked confidence,” Powell added. “He never really cared what anybody said about him. At the end of the day he just wanted to do what was best for the team and I’m trying to take on that role right now, just trying to do what’s best for my team in order for us to win. Because that’s all that matters, us winning games.”
OPENING AT WALSH: When The Hall hosts Wagner on Nov. 6 in the season opener for both teams, it will mark the seventh straight year in which the Pirates have played one of their home games at their on-campus arena. They are 6-0 in those games, having beaten Missouri-Kansas City (75-36), Lafayette (90-58), Maine (72-43), Wagner (69-59), Fairleigh Dickinson (91-70) and Saint Peter’s (84-61) in those contests.
“We love playing at the Prudential Center,” senior forward Mike Nzei said, adding, “This is our one chance to play (at Walsh) and you have to enjoy it. … It’s a different feeling with the fans being close, with the noise and everything. It’s a good feeling.”
Seton Hall's head coach Kevin Willard said he actually doesn’t like it, noting that he usually has his team practice in the Auxiliary Gym in the Richie Regan Recreation Center.
“I did (like it) early on,” he said. “We don’t get to practice up there so there’s not much of a home court advantage. It almost feels like more of an away game than a home game."
“I just like the Prudential Center,” Willard added. “Our fans have done a great job of coming out and supporting us and giving us a real home-court advantage at the Prudential Center.”
MIC’S ON: Willard agreed for Seton Hall to play in FOX Sports 1’s so-called All-Access game, in which both head coaches are wired for sound during the broadcast. It seems an odd fit, considering Willard admits he’s known for his salty language during games and practices.
So what did it take for Willard to agree?
“A couple bottles of wine,” he joked, adding, “FOX really wanted to do it again and (FOX producer) Steve Scheer promised me he’d be doing the game. Steve’s a good friend he wanted to do it and that’s why I did it.”
The game will be against Butler on Feb. 2. FOX did it last season for a DePaul-Providence matchup.
“I’ve been practicing,” Willard admitted. “I do one segment of practice where I pretend like I’m on the All-Access. It’s hard because it’s not just what you say to the team, that’s easy (to self-censor). It’s the comments you say to yourself, ‘That was a stupid play call’ or ‘I can’t believe this (stuff).’ You can’t say that. That’s where it’s hard.”
He said he’s glad the game will be at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse.
“They have some of the nicest fans,” Willard said, “so I don’t have to worry about yelling at someone in the stands, so it took that out of the equation. I enjoyed watching Ed (Cooley) and Dave (Leitao) doing it and I’m looking forward to doing it.”
“I’m shocked, too,” Powell said with a smile when asked about Willard doing the All-Access game. “But we know when he’s yelling at us and getting after us it’s all out of love. … Coach is my guy on and off the court, I’ve got his back just like he’s got my back.”
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
