PirateCrew: Seton Hall Pirates Football & Basketball Recruiting
The definitive source for all PirateCrew news.
By JP Pelzman
Thoughts and observations on Seton Hall’s comfortable victory over Rutgers, plus a look ahead to Iona at MSG on Saturday:
Transfers made the difference. Even with Jamir Harris (American) going scoreless in eight minutes on 0-for-4 shooting, The Hall received 12 points from Kadary Richmond (Syracuse) and 10 points, plus an unexpected four assists, from Alexis Yetna (South Florida). Contrast that to the five points Rutgers got from Aundre Hyatt (LSU) and two from Ralph Agee (San Jose State).
Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell has done an incredible job in bringing the program back to the NCAAs for the first time in 30 years, but must get more help from the transfer portal next off-season. He does deserve credit for making sure this game was played again after a one-year hiatus.
“As you can see, the environment was unbelievable,” he said afterward. “I think it's a great game for New Jersey. I don't care who the coach is, I think we should play this game every year. I am thankful that Kevin (Willard) played it, but I wish we played better.”
How much it means was reflected in the fact that Jared Rhoden had saved an AP photo from the 2019 game of the aftermath of him diving for a loose ball by the Rutgers bench, with then-Rutgers walk-on Luke Nathan looking on.
Rhoden referred to Nathan as “Some kid on the bench at Rutgers that was screaming in my face when I fell on the floor.”
He added, “That’s something that’s resonated with me forever. Every time I think of Rutgers, I think of that moment, so I knew I was going to come out here and try to be a dog as much as I could. … I take everything like that personally.”
Cale a difference-maker. Myles Cale’s early-game defense on Ron Harper Jr., the hero of the Scarlet Knights’ upset of Purdue, set the tone. Harper never found the range and finished 3-for-12 for 10 points after scoring 30 against the Boilermakers.
Willard noted, “I’ve said this all along for the past four years--Myles Cale is one of the best players I’ve ever coached. It doesn’t show up in the stat sheets, but when he’s on the court, I’m a better coach (and) we’re a better basketball team. I love the fact that he’s been much more aggressive on the defensive end, he’s going for steals, he’s getting in passing lanes. He’s the best defender in college basketball.”
Richmond and Aiken combo. Willard reiterated that he enjoys playing Richmond and Bryce Aiken at the same time, and also noted their different on-court styles.
“Kadary’s been great,” Willard said. “I loved how aggressive he was in the first half. It was just phenomenal. … They play at two different tempos.
“(Richmond) will probe you,” Willard added. “He’ll probe you. He’ll look, he’ll attack you. I could post Kadary while Bryce is a little bit more of a scoring guard, takes a little bit of pressure off of Jared and Myles, or whoever’s in there with him. So, we have two completely different offenses when those guys are in there. I’d like to get to the point where we can play them together, because I think it would help the other guys on the floor.”
Richmond had all 12 of his points before halftime Sunday.
“K was electric in the first half,” Aiken said.
Obiagu sits out. Center Ike Obiagu sat out because of the ankle injury he suffered early in the victory against Texas, a game in which he played only five minutes.
Truth be told, this wasn’t his type of game anyway, considering that Rutgers’ Cliff Omoruyi, who scored 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting, is the type of mobile big Obiagu often struggles against. But Obiagu’s presence will be needed again, sooner rather than later. It is unclear if he will be ready for Iona on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
Did you know? Seton Hall, which just moved up to No. 16 in the AP poll, has outscored each of its 10 opponents in the second half, including in its lone loss to Ohio State in Fort Myers, Fla. Considering the Pirates’ depth, it is not surprising.
Scouting Iona. The Gaels (9-2) are a lot different than the team The Hall drubbed, 86-64, a year ago in coach Rick Pitino’s first game with the school. Since then, Iona overcame numerous COVID pauses last year to reach the NCAA tournament, where the Gaels lost to Alabama in the first round. No matter. They avenged that with an upset of the Crimson Tide on a neutral court last month.
Tyson Jolly (14.6) and Nelly Junior Joseph (14.3) lead four double-figure scorers for the Gaels, who limit opponents to 26.1% shooting from beyond the arc. The Gaels have size in 6-9 Junior Joseph, who has shot 71 free throws, but hits only 67.6%. Pitino's team can play at different tempos, much like Willard’s.
Of course, Willard once was a Pitino assistant at Louisville before leaving to be the head coach at Iona. Willard said Sunday night that Pitino is “like a second father” to him.
