Seton Hall Men’s Basketball announces 2015-16 non-conference schedule

[Halldan1]

Link will be up soon

For immediate release – Aug. 6, 2015


South Orange, N.J. – Exciting home matchups, a trip to Charleston and a rivalry road game highlight the 2015-16 Seton Hall men’s basketball non-conference schedule as the program announced its 12-game slate on Thursday.

“We are excited for our diverse non-conference schedule, which includes bringing strong basketball programs like Wichita State and Georgia to Prudential Center, two tough road games at George Washington and Rutgers as well as a very challenging tournament field in Charleston,” head coach Kevin Willard said. “The variety of our opponents and the styles they play will help prepare us for BIG EAST competition.”

The marquee game on the schedule will be a home date with Wichita State on Saturday, Dec. 19. The Shockers finished last season 28-4, was ranked No. 14 in the final Associated Press top 25 poll and reached the NCAA Tournament. It is one of six non-conference games the Pirates will play at Prudential Center with the first coming on opening night, Nov. 13, against Dartmouth. Other Pirates home games at The Rock include matchups with Georgia (Nov. 28), Troy (Dec. 10), Saint Peter’s (Dec. 13) and South Florida (Dec. 22).

The Hall will also play its annual regular season game on campus at historic Walsh Gymnasium on Sunday, Nov. 15 against Wagner.

For the second time in the last five years, Seton Hall will participate in the Gildan Charleston Classic Nov. 19-22. The Pirates will be joined by Bradley, George Mason, Long Beach State, Mississippi, Oklahoma State, Towson and Virginia. ESPN announced the tournament bracket today, and the Pirates will face Long Beach State in the opening round on Nov. 19 and will be paired against either Virginia or Bradley in the second round.

Also on the schedule is the second installment of the Garden State Hardwood Classic against Rutgers. The teams will meet on Dec. 5 in Piscataway with the Pirates looking to defend their trophy and New Jersey bragging rights after an 81-54 victory over the Scarlet Knights last season. The Rutgers game is the second of back-to-back road contests for the Pirates, who play at George Washington on Dec. 2.

The Pirates’ 18-game BIG EAST schedule will be released by the conference at a later date.

Season tickets for the Seton Hall men’s basketball team, which includes 15 games at Prudential Center and one at Walsh Gymnasium, are on sale now. Discounted tickets are available for alumni, and great seats are still available. Call 973-761-9679 to speak to a Pirates ticket sales representative today or visit HALLTix.com.

2015-16 Seton Hall Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule

Date Opponent Location

Fri.,, Nov. 13 DARTMOUTH Prudential Center

Sun., Nov. 15 WAGNER Walsh Gymnasium

Thu., Nov. 19 vs. Long Beach State Charleston, S.C.

Fri., Nov. 20 vs. Bradley/Virginia Charleston, S.C.

Sun., Nov. 22 Championship/Consolation Charleston, S.C.

Sat., Nov. 28 GEORGIA Prudential Center

Wed., Dec. 2 at George Washington Washington, D.C.

Sat., Dec. 5 at Rutgers Piscataway, N.J.

Thu., Dec. 10 TROY Prudential Center

Sun., Dec. 13 SAINT PETER’S Prudential Center

Sat., Dec. 19 WICHITA STATE Prudential Center

Tue., Dec. 22 SOUTH FLORIDA Prudential Center

 

[Save Continental]

Pretty satisfied with this schedule. 11/19 thru 12/2 is going to be very telling.

Wichita will be the most anticipated OOC game since NC State.

I'll go with a cautious prediction of 8-4 with losses to UVA, @ GW, WSU, and take your pick of 1 more (Georgia, another Charleston game, etc)

 

[mjs428]

Very disappointing that the Wichita St game will likely be a noon tip with the Devils playing at 7.

Schedule is decent. Could be good if we play Virginia.

Too many bad teams. Still not sure why we can't get a Manhattan or Iona instead of Troy or Wagner.

 

[Save Continental]

Very disappointing that the Wichita St game will likely be a noon tip with the Devils playing at 7.

Schedule is decent. Could be good if we play Virginia.

Too many bad teams. Still not sure why we can't get a Manhattan or Iona instead of Troy or Wagner.

The only 2 cupcakes are Wagner & Troy. What's the big deal? You play a crap team like that and it gives you a Walsh game too. There should be absolutely no issues with this schedule. Every team throws in a couple layups.

 

[mjs428]

St Peters, Rutgers, and South Florida are all cupcakes. Chance of playing Bradley in the 2nd rd of the charleston classic. Plenty of cupcakes. Why not Manhattan, Iona, or a decent local mid major instead of TRoy?

When it was announced we were not in the Big East - Big 10 challenge, we should have been trying to schedule another high major.

 

[Save Continental]

I'll give you USF, they had a dreadful kenpom of nearly 300. I don't put teams inside the top 200-ish in cupcake territory. I reserve that for 250 and over.

The bottom line is your OOC should be set up in such a way that it gives you a few cupcakes, a chance for good eye opening wins, and a few solid wins over probably NCAA teams so that you can muster a respectable resume. This schedule does all that and is 10x better than all the slop we've been fed in the past.

 

[knowknow456]

If St. Peter's is to be considered a cupcake so should Iona and Manhattan since all three play in the MAAC. Rutgers and USF are high major teams and no matter how poor they may be should never be considered cupcakes. The schedule as it is configured is good enough.

 

[Bobbie Solo]

8-4 and you can forget anyone's delusions of a bid. Assuming you get UVA in Charleston, SHU would need to go 10-2 w/only losses to UVA & WSU to be in good shape come 12/30. 9-3 would mean SHU would need to do serious work in conference. You need 2 quality (or for what passes for quality) wins somewhere between UVA, WSU, Miss. St/Okla St., Georgia & GW. The only guaranteed tourney teams are UVA & WSU, with Georgia most likely in & Okla. State questionable (probably on the wrong side of the bubble). I think Miss. State drops away from the tourney picture as the season progresses, and unless GW brought in some big time transfers (no, not f'ing Sina) or recruits, I don't think they will be good.

 

[hallgrad80]

Just think if we played Harvard instead of Dartmouth you not only would have improved your SOS but because of TA it's a game that would have drawn considerable interest and would have been a good early test.

 

[Save Continental]

8-4 and you can forget anyone's delusions of a bid. Assuming you get UVA in Charleston, SHU would need to go 10-2 w/only losses to UVA & WSU to be in good shape come 12/30. 9-3 would mean SHU would need to do serious work in conference. You need 2 quality (or for what passes for quality) wins somewhere between UVA, WSU, Miss. St/Okla St., Georgia & GW. The only guaranteed tourney teams are UVA & WSU, with Georgia most likely in & Okla. State questionable (probably on the wrong side of the bubble). I think Miss. State drops away from the tourney picture as the season progresses, and unless GW brought in some big time transfers (no, not f'ing Sina) or recruits, I don't think they will be good.

Just for clarification purposes, I don't have any delusions of a bid.

 

[SPK145]

8-4 and you can forget anyone's delusions of a bid. Assuming you get UVA in Charleston, SHU would need to go 10-2 w/only losses to UVA & WSU to be in good shape come 12/30. 9-3 would mean SHU would need to do serious work in conference. You need 2 quality (or for what passes for quality) wins somewhere between UVA, WSU, Miss. St/Okla St., Georgia & GW. The only guaranteed tourney teams are UVA & WSU, with Georgia most likely in & Okla. State questionable (probably on the wrong side of the bubble). I think Miss. State drops away from the tourney picture as the season progresses, and unless GW brought in some big time transfers (no, not f'ing Sina) or recruits, I don't think they will be good.

It's Ole Miss not Miss. State.Ole Miss will be decent.

GW loses Savage but nothing else and brings in good Dartmouth player in immediately eligible Alex Mitola and 6-9 pretty decent big man Tyler Cavanaugh from Wake Forest (sat out last year as a transfer) plus it's on the road and GW has a very good coach.

I see 3-4 OOC losses.

Chemistry is still a big issue.

 

[PeterN]

First time I have read "Rutgers" and "tough" in the same sentence.

 

[knowknow456]

Chemistry is still a big issue.

Please clarify.

All sources of conflict from last year have either transferred or graduated. Have you identified new sources of conflict? If so, can you elaborate?

 

[Seton75]

Some real good players have a lot to prove. SHU fans are way underestimating how good the sophs are.

 

[SPK145]

All sources of conflict from last year have either transferred or graduated.

Says who?? The coaching staff, LOL???

 

[knowknow456]

Says who?? The coaching staff, LOL???

I do not claim to be privy to the inner workings of the team that you have. That is why I am asking for clarification.

The narrative at this time last year was importance of the integration of the freshman with the upper classmen. No matter how we want to spin it, chemistry became an issue. There are no longer upper classmen to battle - Gibbs, Sina, Mobley, Karlis, and Manga are gone. So if chemistry remains an issue, it is either between last year's class (internal) or between last year's class and the new incoming players.

Please elaborate.

 

[SPK145]

I do not claim to be privy to the inner workings of the team that you have. That is why I am asking for clarification.

The narrative at this time last year was importance of the integration of the freshman with the upper classmen. No matter how we want to spin it, chemistry became an issue. There are no longer upper classmen to battle - Gibbs, Sina, Mobley, Karlis, and Manga are gone. So if chemistry remains an issue, it is either between last year's class (internal) or between last year's class and the new incoming players.

Please elaborate.

You know I can't do that but you're a smart man.

 

[Halldan1]

Right now there are no chemistry issues. Not one. But at this time last year the same was said and it was accurate.

I was in the locker room area after every home game leading to the Nova win and whatever issues that eventually sprung up
were concealed by winning.

Not saying that Gibbs or Sina were bad kids, but they were at the center of the problems opposite the NY players. With the former
duo gone the latter group is getting alone well. Problem is the good will never lasts once the losing starts.

That's where the staff most control any behind the scenes nonsense. Something that has not happened in the last five years.

 

[bobojcd]

Right now there are no chemistry issues. Not one. But at this time last year the same was said and it was accurate.
Problem is the good will never lasts once the losing starts.

Actually good coaches can keep the good will going after the losing starts. But our coach has proven beyond a doubt that on his team the losing WILL start, and chemistry issues WILL arise. It happens every year.

 

[knowknow456]

The price of free information is that it is often difficult to tease out.

SPK alludes to chemistry issues but can't confirm either theory. Dan says that as of right now there are no chemistry issues but I should wait until the losing starts to find out.

Based on that, I can only conclude the chemistry issues are internal between last year's class but for the moment are ironed out. I don't think there has been enough time for chemistry issues to crop up and be resolved between the two groups.

 

[hallgrad80]

If chemistry or locker room issues emerge again this season and let's hope they don't , why would anyone think that this staff can deal with it. As Dan points out its something the staff has not been able to do in any of the past five seasons.

 

[400SOAVE]

The name of this site should be changed from PirateCrew to As the Board Turns.

 

[SHUHoopsFan]

When it comes down to it, I think most players on most teams can get along between April and October. The issues tend to arise once games start and guys whether they are simply competitive or selfish don't get the shots, minutes, freedom on the court, time with the ball, etc. they want. Then issues arise. Talk is cheap. Right now there may be no chemistry issues which is great. But it's time to talk the talk and make it from November - April with minimal chemistry issues. Every team will have it's issues from time to time, but keeping the issues minimal so it doesn't have any impact on level of play would be nice for a change.

 

[Halldan1]

 

[Piratz]

Right now there are no chemistry issues. Not one. But at this time last year the same was said and it was accurate.

I was in the locker room area after every home game leading to the Nova win and whatever issues that eventually sprung up
were concealed by winning.

Not saying that Gibbs or Sina were bad kids, but they were at the center of the problems opposite the NY players. With the former
duo gone the latter group is getting alone well. Problem is the good will never lasts once the losing starts.

That's where the staff most control any behind the scenes nonsense. Something that has not happened in the last five years.

I don't think Willard or staff are suddenly going to learn how to manage such things. What we need is the players to police. Now that the program officially belongs to the Class of 2014 recruits, let's hope that happens.

I like the schedule. Should be a good one for this group.