Zagoria bumped into Kevin Willard on the recruiting trail yesterday. The story is linked on the front page.
A comment made by Willard caught my eye and I thought it was worth discussing.
First the comment.....
When the Big East schedule came out recently, it was obvious that the schedule-makers didn't do Seton Hall any favors despite their championship last March at Madison Square Garden.
On six occasions, Seton Hall will have fewer preparation days than their opponents. And five of those times, Seton Hall's opponent is coming off a bye week where they have six or seven days between games.
"It's going to be extremely tough," Willard said. "When you're at a disadvantage in a league like ours, it makes preparation so much harder. It's something we have to deal with."
Most here know that I think Willard is an excellent coach. Something I have said even during the darkest days taking much grief. My concerns about him had little to do (with very few exceptions) with just the BB side of the equation. Instead my criticisms have had more to do with off the court stuff.
I have always believed that coach was a half empty type guy focusing too much on things he can't control. Above, again he is worrying about supposed opponents advantages inherent in the schedule.
I have been told that one of the first things KW does when the schedule comes out is look for disadvantages and then focuses (complains) on them throughout the season. To me that's something that a quality coach (and he is that) should certainly look at but NEVER complain about in public. Clearly he gave permission to Zagoria to write that and to me it just comes off small. Full of excuses.
Willard is coming of a Big East Co-COY season. One well earned. Time to forget the small stuff like this move forward and do the same great job this year you did last.
A comment made by Willard caught my eye and I thought it was worth discussing.
First the comment.....
When the Big East schedule came out recently, it was obvious that the schedule-makers didn't do Seton Hall any favors despite their championship last March at Madison Square Garden.
On six occasions, Seton Hall will have fewer preparation days than their opponents. And five of those times, Seton Hall's opponent is coming off a bye week where they have six or seven days between games.
"It's going to be extremely tough," Willard said. "When you're at a disadvantage in a league like ours, it makes preparation so much harder. It's something we have to deal with."
Most here know that I think Willard is an excellent coach. Something I have said even during the darkest days taking much grief. My concerns about him had little to do (with very few exceptions) with just the BB side of the equation. Instead my criticisms have had more to do with off the court stuff.
I have always believed that coach was a half empty type guy focusing too much on things he can't control. Above, again he is worrying about supposed opponents advantages inherent in the schedule.
I have been told that one of the first things KW does when the schedule comes out is look for disadvantages and then focuses (complains) on them throughout the season. To me that's something that a quality coach (and he is that) should certainly look at but NEVER complain about in public. Clearly he gave permission to Zagoria to write that and to me it just comes off small. Full of excuses.
Willard is coming of a Big East Co-COY season. One well earned. Time to forget the small stuff like this move forward and do the same great job this year you did last.
