PirateCrew: Seton Hall Pirates Football & Basketball Recruiting
The definitive source for all PirateCrew news.
Colin Rajala
Trove Correspondent
Bill Raftery
On the team’s potential...
I think they're really a team that can defend and now it's all up to the big guys and Sha told me today that he thinks they’re coming along pretty well upfront. I mean, that's the key really, in this kind of conference. If you can't defend, you’re in deep trouble, if you can't contest at the rim, you’re in for some problems as well, and if you can’t ring the bell on the other end, that puts you in a real dilemma. We know they will defend and they have guys that can score, so it seems like it will come down to the big guys and how they deal with the conference.
On the team’s outlook after being selected 9th in a loaded conference despite returning some serious talent...
I think you can use it as a tool, a chip on your shoulder kind of thing, which I think Sha will do. I think players are going to have to know that the winner [conference champion] may have five or six losses. So,
you’ve got to play well at home, protecting home court is essential. You can’t get too far down, actually you can’t get down after a loss because you've probably got somebody like a Providence or Xavier
coming in that you have to win after you played someone like UConn. I think mentally, Sha having been around and knowing what it takes will benefit them as well, but the players have to be resilient. I just
think that’s how you have to be in this type of conference with four or five top 25 teams.
On the team’s versatility one through four...
Well, threes are more important than ever, there’s no question about it. Whether it's a kick out three or ball screen three, it certainly loosens up the defense a little bit. Their perimeter guys are very talented,
so they can beat people off the dribble, where you have to convert is in the paint or convert on the kickout. Kadary can post up, he’s got a great post offense, just ask UConn. If you help on him, he can find a spot up guy, so I think they will do well because of their versatility.
Tony Bozzella
On if being selected fifth was bulletin board material or a sign of respect given their player turnover...
It’s kind of in the middle to be honest with you. We've graduated three players, two were unbelievable and one was a really good player, so for us to be picked fifth despite losing three starters says a lot about
where the program is and where we’re trying to be. I think it’s about right and obviously you have to play the games as the season goes. But I do think it shows respect for the program having lost the players
that we lost, but showing respect for the players that are coming back and coming in for the first time.
On his and his staff’s relationship with Amari Wright, who will be the true starting point guard for the first time in her career as a senior...
She did wait for her time, which is very rare and I'm glad you're asked about her because she is a special person. Nowadays, kids if they're not playing a ton of games they leave, but Amari has always been very loyal to the program, worked hard and helped us win a lot of games. I mean, she's played with LP [Lauren Park-Lane] and stepped in when LP missed a few games in the past. Amari started then and played really well in those games. She has always been a great team player. She's the smartest player I've ever coached. She makes it very easy for me as the head coach on the floor because she basically can run the offense herself. She is a different point guard than we've had in the past, we've had more scoring point guards in the past and she's more of a distributor. She’s also a tremendous defender, one of the best defenders I've ever coached and a highly intelligent player that makes everyone else around her really good. So, she's learned from previous great point guards in some ways, but she also has her own way, which is going to lead her to be one of the best players and one of the best point guards in the league, I really do believe. I think she's going to lead us to a lot of success.
On the team’s depth and ability to have a different leading scorer each game...
I think it says a lot about the overall talent that the staff has helped bring it. I mean Azana Baines is no question my mind a first team all-conference player, I know she got voted honorable mention, but she’s
going to be better than that. Sha Hagans had a great year for us [last year] before hurting her ankle at the end of the season, so I expect big things out of her this year. Kae Satterfield played all summer on the Puerto Rican national team and I think she's going to have a really good year for us. We also have some new players like A’Jah Davis and Micah Grey that are big time talented kids that could easily lead us in scoring. With all of these talented players, Amari is going to get the most out of them because of her way.
On how the team is progressing as the season approaches...
I think the team is progressing well. I think we are still learning each other. That's part of it too, returning only two starters but Amari’s done a great job of integrating everyone to be comfortable on the court
and off the court. She coaches them when she's not in during that part of practice and does a really good job with that. I think we’re going to have a different really good player each game, a couple of different really good players each game. I think Azana needs to be a consistent player as a first teamer, I really do, and I think Amari needs to be on floor for a majority of the game, but I think if those two things happen, there's no reason we can't be an NCAA team and have a chance to be really successful. I really like the team. I really like how hard we work. We will play a little differently this year, not quite as fast offensively, but we will still play with pace. And defensively, I think this will be one of our better defensive teams. It might take a little while, but we will we'll get there.
On why this team will be good defensively...
We have bought in and I think that's a big thing. It starts with Amari, I think Amari and Sha Hagans are a dynamic defensive backboard. I think when your backward is that dynamic defensively, everyone else
will be the better off defensively around them. Amari and Sha will do a great job disrupting other team's offense and I think the level and the intensity they defend at, if you [other Seton Hall players] don't jump on board with them, you're going to struggle with that.
