It started January 15 of this year. With time winding down in an eventual one point loss to Marquette, Bryce Aiken was called for a foul when on a jump shot the shooter leaned into him hitting Aiken in the chin.
The outcry from Pirate fans re the foul call was loud, but what was not known at the time was that Aiken would never play another second for the Hall. His career in Pirate Blue was over. But not for the reason that most believed.
5 days later Aiken did a virtual interview with the SHU beat writers. In that interview he spoke about playing at the Garden in 2 days against St John's. To everyone talking to him that day he seemed (and was) healthy. But hours later in a Seton Hall practice preparing for the Saturday contest Aiken took a vicious shot in the head from a teammate in the course of the action. I will not name that player because it was an accident and to bring up his name wouldn't be proper.
That's when the concussion and all that followed happened. Nothing was reported until two days later and on that morning before the SJU game the media got wind of a player who was going to miss the game. That player being Aiken when the school released their pregame lineup shortly before the match-up.
Now, here's credit to Willard, and deservedly so. For the next couple of weeks, as expected, Willard covered for his player. Even giving timelines for Aiken's return based on information from the school's doctors. But those timelines passed without Aiken taking the court and the SHU coach got wrongful criticism for that.
Especially when word leaked in a Jerry Carino article quoting (correctly) Chris Chavannes, Aiken's HS coach, noting that Aiken had passed concussion protocols. He did, but the player not feeling well not only didn't suit up but he couldn't stay on the bench for more than a few minutes during the following games.
Eventually, near the end of the season Willard was going to announce that Aiken's season was over. But the day that announcement was expected both the player and his mom contacted Willard and asked him not to make the announcement and give Aiken one more chance to see (his) doctor. One who specializes in nerve damage and eye sight. If that doctor gave Aiken the OK to play, then play he would.
And he did.
From that point on the goal was for the PG to suit up in the Dance. Aiken with that goal in mind started to workout with the team toward that end. With the question being would Aiken disrupt the chemistry of the team since he hadn't played for slightly over 2 months. Opinions were mixed, but the final call was Willard's.
Here's where I do not have solid info, just news that I was not able to 100% verify. Willard did want Aiken to play (that's confirmed) but the PG as the game neared didn't feel he was right after missing so much time and made the decision that it was in the best interest of the team that he sit out.
The Pirates lost that game and the career of Bryce Aiken was over.
The outcry from Pirate fans re the foul call was loud, but what was not known at the time was that Aiken would never play another second for the Hall. His career in Pirate Blue was over. But not for the reason that most believed.
5 days later Aiken did a virtual interview with the SHU beat writers. In that interview he spoke about playing at the Garden in 2 days against St John's. To everyone talking to him that day he seemed (and was) healthy. But hours later in a Seton Hall practice preparing for the Saturday contest Aiken took a vicious shot in the head from a teammate in the course of the action. I will not name that player because it was an accident and to bring up his name wouldn't be proper.
That's when the concussion and all that followed happened. Nothing was reported until two days later and on that morning before the SJU game the media got wind of a player who was going to miss the game. That player being Aiken when the school released their pregame lineup shortly before the match-up.
Now, here's credit to Willard, and deservedly so. For the next couple of weeks, as expected, Willard covered for his player. Even giving timelines for Aiken's return based on information from the school's doctors. But those timelines passed without Aiken taking the court and the SHU coach got wrongful criticism for that.
Especially when word leaked in a Jerry Carino article quoting (correctly) Chris Chavannes, Aiken's HS coach, noting that Aiken had passed concussion protocols. He did, but the player not feeling well not only didn't suit up but he couldn't stay on the bench for more than a few minutes during the following games.
Eventually, near the end of the season Willard was going to announce that Aiken's season was over. But the day that announcement was expected both the player and his mom contacted Willard and asked him not to make the announcement and give Aiken one more chance to see (his) doctor. One who specializes in nerve damage and eye sight. If that doctor gave Aiken the OK to play, then play he would.
And he did.
From that point on the goal was for the PG to suit up in the Dance. Aiken with that goal in mind started to workout with the team toward that end. With the question being would Aiken disrupt the chemistry of the team since he hadn't played for slightly over 2 months. Opinions were mixed, but the final call was Willard's.
Here's where I do not have solid info, just news that I was not able to 100% verify. Willard did want Aiken to play (that's confirmed) but the PG as the game neared didn't feel he was right after missing so much time and made the decision that it was in the best interest of the team that he sit out.
The Pirates lost that game and the career of Bryce Aiken was over.
