The 2018-2019 college basketball season will represent a major transition on the court for Seton Hall in addition to the bench, as the Pirates bid farewell to seniors Angel Delgado, Khadeen Carrington, Desi Rodriguez and Ismael Sanogo. That class had three 1,000 point scorers and capped off a four-year run that included NCAA tournament berths over the last three seasons and the 2016 Big East Tournament championship.
Seton Hall’s Round of 32 loss to Kansas left them a step short of where Carino had pegged the team – Sweet 16 – though he blames the mid-season lapse that dropped them to an 8 seed and not the valiant tournament loss.
“I wouldn’t call the season a disappointment, but I do think they fell one step short of what they could’ve done if everyone was pulling in one direction for the entirety of the season,” Carino said, highlighting the collective legacy the senior class leaves on the program in spite of the somber close to their careers.
Perhaps the largest hole to fill for the Pirates on the court will be the point guard position as the graduation of Carrington, not a true point guard, leaves the Hall without a natural successor for yet another season.
Coach Willard appears to be ready to convert another combo guard to the lead position, this time with sit-out transfer Quincy McKnight eligible after a year of development and freshman guard Anthony Nelson waiting in the wings.
Carino likens the Seton Hall staff’s recent trend of developing non-point guards to handle the position for the Pirates to that of Bill Belichick “coaching up” a defense for the NFL’s New England Patriots.
“Does Kevin have the track record of taking a guy who’s a combo like Quincy McKnight and making them a good lead guard with weapons around him? He does have that track record,” Carino said, acknowledging past successes of varying degrees with Isaiah Whitehead, Carrington and Madison Jones may lead to that mindset currently.
Willard certainly appears to have confidence in this year’s Pirates squad as the non-conference schedule can attest with home match ups against Louisville and Saint Louis and the perennial Garden State Classic opponent Rutgers, a road matchup at Maryland and a neutral tilt against the University of Kentucky at Madison Square Garden.
“He thinks they’re going to be really good and Kevin’s a glass half empty type of guy sometimes in his public perception,” Carino said, noting the good vibes from Willard extend to the next two years. “He doesn’t usually pump stuff up but he thinks this team is going to be very good this year and next year. Most of these are homes and homes so it’s a two-year cycle for a lot of these series. They’re loading up because they think the team’s going up. If you think your team’s going to be good, it’s on you to schedule up.”
While Carino is skeptical about the Hall’s chances of returning to the heights of the P.J. Carlesimo era – a top 10 team and final four contender – winning on a consistent basis as the program has over the last three years is an attainable goal moving forward.
“You’ve got to get a little lucky, get draws in the NCAA, have players you recruit who blossom beyond expectation,” Carino adds. “I don’t think it’s fair to say they can return to those heights during the PJ years, but you can say Seton Hall can win consistently and that’s where they are now.”
Institutional support from Seton Hall’s last two presidents, Drs. A. Gabriel Esteban and Mary Meehan, in addition to that of Athletic Director Pat Lyons has also proven pivotal in backing Seton Hall’s return to relevance according to Carino.
“It’s hard to change who you are and how they’re funding athletics,” he said of the school’s support. “That was the biggest thing they’ve overcome, ‘is Seton Hall up for funding this?’”
Carino believes Seton Hall’s transformation in recent years has made the program a national factor from a media perspective and to a lesser extent on the recruiting trail. But more than anything and perhaps most importantly, the recent success has changed the perception of what’s possible at Seton Hall from a coaching perspective.
“I don’t think it’s a great or plum job, but it’s no longer a poor job. When Kevin wants a guy like Tony Skinn, Kevin can get him because Seton Hall has gained stature under Willard,” Carino said, highlighting Holloway’s new position as the program producing a head coach.
“That’s maybe the most important thing, because you can now get a good assistant and whenever the head job opens up you’ll attract a better pool of candidates,” he continued. “It’s no longer a bad job and that’s a credit to Kevin and Pat and Shaheen, who have made it into an opportunity where you can succeed.”
Carino is more than happy to chronicle the success of Seton Hall and any Jersey hoops program moving forward. It’s a service he’s happy to provide because in New Jersey – and for Seton Hall in particular – there’s a readership that makes it worthwhile for him to continue to do so.
“Because of the fans I’ve been able to maintain Seton Hall as a focus of our organization,” he said. “Thanks to them for the readership and for the great interactions I have online, through e-mails and in person. Thanks to all and keep doing what you’re doing. You represent your school well and that should be a source of pride to everyone.”
COMMENTS
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
Seton Hall’s Round of 32 loss to Kansas left them a step short of where Carino had pegged the team – Sweet 16 – though he blames the mid-season lapse that dropped them to an 8 seed and not the valiant tournament loss.
“I wouldn’t call the season a disappointment, but I do think they fell one step short of what they could’ve done if everyone was pulling in one direction for the entirety of the season,” Carino said, highlighting the collective legacy the senior class leaves on the program in spite of the somber close to their careers.
Perhaps the largest hole to fill for the Pirates on the court will be the point guard position as the graduation of Carrington, not a true point guard, leaves the Hall without a natural successor for yet another season.
Coach Willard appears to be ready to convert another combo guard to the lead position, this time with sit-out transfer Quincy McKnight eligible after a year of development and freshman guard Anthony Nelson waiting in the wings.
Carino likens the Seton Hall staff’s recent trend of developing non-point guards to handle the position for the Pirates to that of Bill Belichick “coaching up” a defense for the NFL’s New England Patriots.
“Does Kevin have the track record of taking a guy who’s a combo like Quincy McKnight and making them a good lead guard with weapons around him? He does have that track record,” Carino said, acknowledging past successes of varying degrees with Isaiah Whitehead, Carrington and Madison Jones may lead to that mindset currently.
Willard certainly appears to have confidence in this year’s Pirates squad as the non-conference schedule can attest with home match ups against Louisville and Saint Louis and the perennial Garden State Classic opponent Rutgers, a road matchup at Maryland and a neutral tilt against the University of Kentucky at Madison Square Garden.
“He thinks they’re going to be really good and Kevin’s a glass half empty type of guy sometimes in his public perception,” Carino said, noting the good vibes from Willard extend to the next two years. “He doesn’t usually pump stuff up but he thinks this team is going to be very good this year and next year. Most of these are homes and homes so it’s a two-year cycle for a lot of these series. They’re loading up because they think the team’s going up. If you think your team’s going to be good, it’s on you to schedule up.”
While Carino is skeptical about the Hall’s chances of returning to the heights of the P.J. Carlesimo era – a top 10 team and final four contender – winning on a consistent basis as the program has over the last three years is an attainable goal moving forward.
“You’ve got to get a little lucky, get draws in the NCAA, have players you recruit who blossom beyond expectation,” Carino adds. “I don’t think it’s fair to say they can return to those heights during the PJ years, but you can say Seton Hall can win consistently and that’s where they are now.”
Institutional support from Seton Hall’s last two presidents, Drs. A. Gabriel Esteban and Mary Meehan, in addition to that of Athletic Director Pat Lyons has also proven pivotal in backing Seton Hall’s return to relevance according to Carino.
“It’s hard to change who you are and how they’re funding athletics,” he said of the school’s support. “That was the biggest thing they’ve overcome, ‘is Seton Hall up for funding this?’”
Carino believes Seton Hall’s transformation in recent years has made the program a national factor from a media perspective and to a lesser extent on the recruiting trail. But more than anything and perhaps most importantly, the recent success has changed the perception of what’s possible at Seton Hall from a coaching perspective.
“I don’t think it’s a great or plum job, but it’s no longer a poor job. When Kevin wants a guy like Tony Skinn, Kevin can get him because Seton Hall has gained stature under Willard,” Carino said, highlighting Holloway’s new position as the program producing a head coach.
“That’s maybe the most important thing, because you can now get a good assistant and whenever the head job opens up you’ll attract a better pool of candidates,” he continued. “It’s no longer a bad job and that’s a credit to Kevin and Pat and Shaheen, who have made it into an opportunity where you can succeed.”
Carino is more than happy to chronicle the success of Seton Hall and any Jersey hoops program moving forward. It’s a service he’s happy to provide because in New Jersey – and for Seton Hall in particular – there’s a readership that makes it worthwhile for him to continue to do so.
“Because of the fans I’ve been able to maintain Seton Hall as a focus of our organization,” he said. “Thanks to them for the readership and for the great interactions I have online, through e-mails and in person. Thanks to all and keep doing what you’re doing. You represent your school well and that should be a source of pride to everyone.”
COMMENTS
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
