New Season, Fresh Start, Go Pirates

[Piratz]

Tomorrow night it all starts again. Everyone has a clean slate and opportunity to turn this program around.

Always an exciting time to start a new season. So that's simply what this post is all about... Getting something new started.

Looking forward to seeing if/how the current sophomore class has matured and if veteran transfers like Gordon and Anderson can be true "glue" guys and keep the team headed in the right direction. Also excited about the prospects of Singh and Nzei as both sound like very promising prospects, especially since Nzei was here last year and has a bit of familiarity, at least.

While Dartmouth and Wagner should be teams we beat this weekend, cannot take anything for granted. We've lost to teams of this caliber in the past at home.

Seeing how this team plays together will be quite revealing. Looking forward to it as I'm sure we all are...

 

[shupat08]

I'm sorry, Piratz... I just can't seem to get excited for this MBB season... The Women? YES!

But I think this is what we need to see from the MBB team this year, in no particular order.

1) Ability of guards to NOT foul... IW, KC & Gordon need to be on the court as much as possible in whatever roles they are given
2) Outside Shooters!... Singh & IW need to be close to 40% and we need 1 or 2 other players in the 32-33% range.
3) Angel needs to not hit the Sophomore Slump. Double-Doubles!
4) Big Man Depth... Ish/Nzei need to lock down the 4 spot & Anderson/Anthony need to be solid back ups to give Angel/Ish/Nzei some time on the bench.
5) Lockdown Defense? It better be. Or else.
6) We either need a legit offense... Or just let KC, IW, Desi, Veer, Gordon ball out and get the bigs involved whenever possible.
7) Fast-Paced play... Slow down half court will kill us on Offense. We need to PUSH PUSH PUSH.

I'll be at both games tomorrow, rooting as always.

 

[statenman]

This has the potential to be a very exciting season. Carrington, IW and Delgado can play and win against anyone on our schedule. I'm really looking forward to seeing what our players can do this year.

 

[Seton75]

Yes a new season of Seton Hall hoops! Every season excites me! Who knows how the season unfolds. I look forward to watching our talented sophs and the rest of the team and hope for the best.

 

[TheBluePirate]

Both solid lists from Piratz and ShuPat08 for what to look for! Not to mention the enthusiasm of Seton75.

Heck - I'm with Pat - I'm jumping for joy over the WBB program and cannot wait to see them play and WIN. That said, friendships and tradition demand observance of the MBB spectacle and so dutifully, Mrs BP and I shall plod to the Arena in Newark, looking forward to renewing the Mighty Band in section 9 behind the bench ("hoist the colors!!!") and well - hoping.

 

[TrueBlue1989]

Hope springs eternal. Lets go Pirates!

 

[Piratz]

Last year we went into the season wondering how things would play out with a highly touted, highly visible, star-studded recruiting class that was basically given carte blanche during their recruitment paired with a veteran starting core. All those questions were valid and, unfortunately, were answered in the negative. It imploded. The team was fractured, Gibbs bailed, Sina bailed, and here we are with a new team.

This year we go into the season questioning if we're mature enough and experienced enough. We are going to be one of the youngest teams in the country. The coach is fighting for his job and one star player - Whitehead - is playing to redeem his reputation, IMO. Do we have leadership for so many young players? I'm curious to find out. I hope it's answered positively this time around.

 

[jcalz88]

This season will either be one to remember or one we would love to forget.

 

[NYC Pirate]

One game at a time as I see it. As Blue Pirate said in another thread we'll have a good idea after the Charleston Classic.

Gibbs is certainly the big loss from last year. You could make the argument that Sina and Mobley are
replaceable. Quite a few holes in their games. We add Gordon, Singh, Nzei and Anderson. Hard for me to comment as I have never watched any of them play yet, although we had a glimpse of Gordon with UMass. Sonogo by some of your accounts is an improved player.

I would love to see Whitehead play more games this season at the level he played against Rutgers at Prudential. That was a game where he displayed NBA ability. He made everyone around him better also. In addition you want Angel Delgado to come out of the shoot this weekend with the fire and passion that made him a fan favorite. It is imperative that Carrington and Desi make that leap by the time Conference play gets going. Those 4 guys have to play with chemistry and toughness that they could not maintain in their first season. At times every one of them brought some high tier college play. Now we need more consistency from them as a group on a night in and out basis.

There have been times where KW teams have shown a great deal of promise only to Fizzle in a big way. I'm hoping that KW and his team can finally get over hump. Maybe having less options on the bench will force the core group to stay on the court without some of the crazy substitution patterns from KW. I don't expect any new plays or an upgrade in the offensive system that we have been screaming for. So this has to be a case where the NYC kids play with iron wills and refuse to lose. I'm also hoping that they'll find the toughness to win some road games on their own instead of the usual banter that the coach gives about how hard it is to accomplish. Let's see what happens

 

[Piratz]

Gibbs is certainly the big loss from last year. You could make the argument that Sina and Mobley are
replaceable.

Agreed. For one reason or another both had disappointing seasons. Neither were strong defensively and both shot very poorly from 3 (Sina = .320, Mobley = .316).

When you're a 6-12 team, there's a lot of bad production up and down the roster that isn't hard to replace provided the new guys are well coached.

 

[Halldan1]

The issues last season were more than just on the court. Once the losing started the problems began in the locker room.

The team now is closer than last year's. That counts as much if not more than just losing players via transfer or graduation.

 

[Seton75]

I am hoping more talent and more athleticism will help. I like the talent of four starters, with PF being unknown so far. It is accurate to say the same about SF and 2G I guess, but I feel good about KC and about the two SFs. Can we deal with the lack of depth at guard and will it hurt us defensively? Is Isaiah ready to be the players his HS career predicted for him (I say hell yes!)? Is something up with Angel? I say no, he will be fine. Will Angel get real help on D and the boards? Yeah!! I think Ish, Mike and one of the other guys will emerge as players who can hold their own.

Think of any aspect of the game and we have questions. Like was said above, there are a lot of reasons why a team finishes so poorly as we did last year. But I predict I will not be saying "a lotta pain" to prof ed so often this year! I see Isaiah having a season that we are talking about in 15 years (and 25 years for you younger guys...). I think the team is going to gel behind his offensive onslaught and surprise us.

I can't help myself.

 

[Piratz]

The issues last season were more than just on the court. Once the losing started the problems began in the locker room.

The team now is closer than last year's. That counts as much if not more than just losing players via transfer or graduation.

I hope so. Last offseason when we questioned the cohesiveness it sounded as if it would not be another 2000-01 episode, but it was. The team even looked really good playing together down at the Paradise Jam and obviously the great 3-1 record to start the Big East season and #19 nationally ranking.

But when the struggles began, they folded like a cheap suit.

Power has been consolidated to the 2014 recruiting class. Its their locker room. But like most teams, we probably won't know for sure until they face some adversity. Will they fall down and roll over? Will they start blaming each other? We'll see.

 

[catholicman]

Fresh, clean slate for the 2015-2016 Pirates. Lots of talent, much youth. One game at a time. But first big goal of season, beat LB state so we can play Virginia. That's a reasonable goal.

 

[Fzacsattac]

Let's hope no injuries occur during the season! I am optimistic and hope everything gels. If not I hope the administration does something to remedy the ship!

 

[HallLine69]

I am always pumped for the start of a new season. And the fact that I can watch the games on live TV here in Atlanta is a thing of wonder. Dartmouth game is on a Fox regional channel and Wagner game on FS1.

 

[bd98]

After 21 years as a season-ticket holder and 28 years as a fan I won't be watching a single second of Seton Hall basketball this season. I thought as the season got closer maybe I'd feel the pull. I don't. All the years of losing didn't chase me away. What happened last season did. To those of you are putting yourself through this again...uh, good luck with that I guess.

 

[TheBluePirate]

After 21 years as a season-ticket holder and 28 years as a fan I won't be watching a single second of Seton Hall basketball this season. I thought as the season got closer maybe I'd feel the pull. I don't. All the years of losing didn't chase me away. What happened last season did. To those of you are putting yourself through this again...uh, good luck with that I guess.

BD, purely out of curiosity will you let us know if and when you change your mind? And why? Maybe it is finally an easy decision but never is a long time.

 

[Seton75]

You could stomach Gonzo's last year? Or maybe a cumulative effect.

 

[bd98]

You could stomach Gonzo's last year? Or maybe a cumulative effect.

After what went on that year changes were made. There were still some people associated with the program I didn't love (nut-punchers, wrong-way Parkway drivers) but yes I could stomach it. What went on around this program last year I can't stomach. And no changes were made. Status quo.

This isn't like professional sports where you just pick any old team and root for them. A college sports team is supposed to represent something. If you went to that school that program, and everyone in it, represents you. I don't want this program, and its leader, representing me. And it has nothing to do with losing. I've seen nearly 30 years of losing. If I cared about losing I'd have left long ago. I care that Seton Hall is represented by people worthy of doing so. There are things more important than winning basketball games. Seton Hall is a university that happens to have a basketball team. Too many people act like Seton Hall is a basketball team that happens to be attached to a university.

 

[SHUmash90]

After 21 years as a season-ticket holder and 28 years as a fan I won't be watching a single second of Seton Hall basketball this season. I thought as the season got closer maybe I'd feel the pull. I don't. All the years of losing didn't chase me away. What happened last season did. To those of you are putting yourself through this again...uh, good luck with that I guess.

than why are you still hanging around this board. Go back to your dark lonely place and let the rest of us enjoy our team.

 

[sami]

bye, I guess

 

[hbkmyr]

I'm excited for the season. I've avoided much of the basketball talk, etc. So I'm going into the season with a clean slate. We have some very talented players and I'm looking forward to some exciting individual performances. Whether that translates into good team performances and wins...well the jury is out.

 

[TheBluePirate]

I think BD is explaining some very important things in a pretty heartfelt manner. I know that if you asked me in May or June or even July would I renew, I do not think I was ready to say yes, I was that angry about last season and the bind we seem to be in regarding our administrative and financial decisiveness. If this season, results and aftermath are the same, I do not think I could find the happy place again.

When you are married ten years, you think it is forever. When you are married twenty years you get a very different perspective. And thirty years?

Look, we are blessed by forever fans like the fellow Joe who just delurked and says he has been a fan since the dawn if time. Awesome.

But BD lasted 28 years, that is a really long time. Let us show him some compassion.

 

[Pirate64]

"Seton Hall is a university that happens to have a basketball team." BD 98 has it right.

As long as the team behaves-no punches, bad sportsmanship, or other incidents- and wins and loses gracefully is all that matters to me.

Good luck to MBB in the upcoming season.

 

[shu09]

I don't blame bd98 at all. He's entitled to his opinion and can do what he chooses. He makes a lot of great points. After what went on last year, the fact that nothing changed shows me the administration does not treat men's basketball as a priority. But the time for that discussion has come and gone.

I'll still be at every game this year, as well as Charleston, but if I told you my passion for the program hasn't changed over the last couple of years, I'd be lying to you.

This will be an interesting season.

 

[Piratz]

I can definitely see bd98's point for sure. It's been 10 years since we even made an NCAA Tournament. It's been a sustained circus.

The swift handling of Bobby Gonzalez was refreshing. That was the worst. That was embarrassing. To see my alma mater in the national news for such behavior was disgusting, not to mention the fact that it was in the news made it a conversation point everywhere.

I have growing apathy towards the current regime as well - which sucks because Holloway and Billmeier are two of my favorites - but not at a point to call it quits.

 

[HALL85]

I can definitely see bd98's point for sure. It's been 10 years since we even made an NCAA Tournament. It's been a sustained circus.

The swift handling of Bobby Gonzalez was refreshing. That was the worst. That was embarrassing. To see my alma mater in the national news for such behavior was disgusting, not to mention the fact that it was in the news made it a conversation point everywhere.

I have growing apathy towards the current regime as well - which sucks because Holloway and Billmeier are two of my favorites - but not at a point to call it quits.

+1. Well stated Piratz. bd is acting on the way most of us are feeling, and I respect him for that. Personally, I'm not going to any OOC games and will wait for January to determine if it's worth investing the time to travel to the Rock. If the weather stays seasonable, I'll be spending my leisure time on the golf course.

 

[piratesfan48]

After 21 years as a season-ticket holder and 28 years as a fan I won't be watching a single second of Seton Hall basketball this season. I thought as the season got closer maybe I'd feel the pull. I don't. All the years of losing didn't chase me away. What happened last season did. To those of you are putting yourself through this again...uh, good luck with that I guess.

44 years here and I'm hanging by a thread. Sunday I'm bringing my 4 year old granddaughter to her first Seton Hall game, along with the wife and two daughters. I'm giving the team until The Big East schedule begins. I'll know by then if I travel south or freeze my a$$ off another winter. Can't stand LOSING anymore.

 

[hallgrad80]

Why should there be any criticism when a long time fan and season ticket holder decides that he's seen enough and SH basketball no longer holds the attraction it once did. He's certainly not alone in making that choice and it's happening at other schools as well where losing and other issues have soured fans who no longer enjoy going to games . bd98 , thanks for your loyal support for over 25 years and the door is always open for your return hopefully when this program turns around.

 

[knowknow456]

I am looking forward to going to tonight's game.

New season, fresh start, let's go Pirates!

 

[Halldan1]

I have the same concerns and frustrations you all do but like spring training in baseball I anxiously await the start of a new season with hope and enthusiasm as I choose to give my full support to the team and the school, win or lose.

We all have to make our choices. That's mine.

 

[Seton75]

After what went on that year changes were made. There were still some people associated with the program I didn't love (nut-punchers, wrong-way Parkway drivers) but yes I could stomach it. What went on around this program last year I can't stomach. And no changes were made. Status quo.

This isn't like professional sports where you just pick any old team and root for them. A college sports team is supposed to represent something. If you went to that school that program, and everyone in it, represents you. I don't want this program, and its leader, representing me. And it has nothing to do with losing. I've seen nearly 30 years of losing. If I cared about losing I'd have left long ago. I care that Seton Hall is represented by people worthy of doing so. There are things more important than winning basketball games. Seton Hall is a university that happens to have a basketball team. Too many people act like Seton Hall is a basketball team that happens to be attached to a university.

I assume you mean keeping the coach is unforgivable? IMO, the performance of his team has been subpar to say the least. But academically our team is better than ever. He has the kids active in the community.

 

[Seton75]

I am excited to see the frosh class from last year become sophs. I still think there are big things for them. Hopeless optimist am I. But I like it like that.

 

[Shuathelete]

We need to support Isaiah Whitehead. Kid is our biggest recruit since been, and our best shot at the NBA in a while. A kid with as high of expectations as him can become mental if things start going south. I think he got a bad rep last year, and we need to go out and show its his team and we all want him to succeed. IW balling out and going to the NBA would be huge for SHU's recruiting game (especially area recruiting).

It seems like he has his back up against the wall, but we all need to make it clear we are on his side 100%.

That goes for the rest of the team as well.

Go Pirates!

 

[Piratz]

We need to support Isaiah Whitehead. Kid is our biggest recruit since been, and our best shot at the NBA in a while. A kid with as high of expectations as him can become mental if things start going south. I think he got a bad rep last year, and we need to go out and show its his team and we all want him to succeed. IW balling out and going to the NBA would be huge for SHU's recruiting game (especially area recruiting).

It seems like he has his back up against the wall, but we all need to make it clear we are on his side 100%.

What's going on here is a good life lesson for Whitehead. You have to earn everything. He had a lost season as a freshmen between injury, inconsistent play, and seeing what happens with a dysfunctional team at this level.

Earlier last year he struck me as a savvy player with good court vision and willing to distribute. By the end of the year he seemed more like a me-first guy. emblematic of what was going on with the entire team. He has the opportunity to make whatever reputation he wants for himself on the court.

 

[Seton75]

We need to support Isaiah Whitehead. Kid is our biggest recruit since been, and our best shot at the NBA in a while. A kid with as high of expectations as him can become mental if things start going south. I think he got a bad rep last year, and we need to go out and show its his team and we all want him to succeed. IW balling out and going to the NBA would be huge for SHU's recruiting game (especially area recruiting).

It seems like he has his back up against the wall, but we all need to make it clear we are on his side 100%.

That goes for the rest of the team as well.

Go Pirates!

Exactly. He showed loyalty to us after such disappointment. He is an honor student. He scored 40 points in the exhibition and drew yawns. We have to wake up and get behind him. I think he shows everyone this year what all the fuss was about. I expect a huge season from him and think the team will get behind him and band together.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

I'm with bd with regards to how I felt after last season compared to Gonzo's last year. There were no legal issues last year that I'm aware of, but for whatever reason the feeling was much different. (much worse). Probably, as bd noted, because changes were made after the Gonzo season, and as also was noted, maybe it's also just the cumulative effect.

Where we differ is that I'm def. not jumping ship and l'm looking forward to this season. Pi$$ed the game tonight doesn't appear to be on in the Philly area (FIOS). I'm guessing there are no more of those websites that stream the games anymore? Haven't had a need to look for one since I think every game was televised last year.

 

[Piratz]

You'd really like to see this team come out of the gate strong this weekend. String together two victories that are never in doubt, played crisply.

 

[Section112]

Exactly. He showed loyalty to us after such disappointment. He is an honor student. He scored 40 points in the exhibition and drew yawns. We have to wake up and get behind him. I think he shows everyone this year what all the fuss was about. I expect a huge season from him and think the team will get behind him and band together.

Agree.

Let's get the "Zeke" chant going at the games this year and show him we are behind him.