PirateCrew: Seton Hall Pirates Football & Basketball Recruiting
The definitive source for all PirateCrew news.
By JP Pelzman
Looking back at Seton Hall's win over Texas and looking ahead to its battle with Rutgers:
Strong start. At 8-1, this is The Hall’s best start since the 2017-18 squad--the one loaded with decorated, talented seniors--began with a 9-1 record and eventually reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, losing a hard-fought game to Kansas in Wichita.
“We never see ourselves as underdogs,” Bryce Aiken said. “That’s the approach that we take. That’s the mentality that we have.”
Actually, the Pirates were not underdogs by the time the game tipped off. Texas opened at minus-2,5, but The Hall closed at minus-2.
Sixth man. “It was a great atmosphere,” senior wing Jared Rhoden said, referring to the crowd of 10,481.
“Electric,” Aiken echoed, coming into the interview room after Rhoden. “It was amazing in there. Love that crowd. We need that every game. (We) definitely appreciate everyone coming out and showing love.”
“Our fans were great,” coach Kevin Willard said. “Our student section was phenomenal. I’ve never seen so many students at a game, I think that’s by far the most students we’ve ever had at a game.
“I know this team and all my teams,” he said, “have really appreciated the students making the effort to come out and really get us going.”
Teed off. Official James Breeding slapped Myles Cale with a technical for some apparent mild trash-talking after a three-pointer that put The Hall ahead 14-6.
Granted, Breeding was not at fault for the book mix-up later that halted the game with 3:40, and credit to him Ron Groover and John Gaffney for doing their due diligence to get the foul situation straight and make sure Texas wasn’t awarded a one-and-one it hadn’t earned.
And believe me, I'm not a fan of trash-talking. But sometimes, a warning will do. An official doesn’t need to insert himself (and now, herself, as female officials are beginning to work men’s games) into the proceedings. Let the players play.
Willard's milestone. Willard's 212th victory tied him for second-place on the all-time Seton Hall victory list with P.J. Carlesimo.
Rhoden said, “Coach Willard is a phenomenal coach. I'm at a loss for words for what he’s done for me as an individual player (and) what he’s done for this Seton Hall program. He's just an amazing person, on and off the court. As you guys all know, he’s just a warrior.
“I think he’s really excited,” Rhoden added with a smile. “He’ll probably go home, get some wine and celebrate. But we have to get right back to work because we have a big one on Sunday. No days off.”
Rivalry rejoined. Of course, the big one Rhoden mentioned is the resumption of the Garden State Hardwood Classic after a one-year hiatus. The Hall is still smarting from a drubbing at The RAC in December 2019 and will have a score to settle at The Rock on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
“Rutgers is a good team. They’re obviously our rival,” Rhoden said, “and not playing them last year kind of hurt because they beat on us two years ago at the RAC. I'll never forget that 14-0 start (by Rutgers). That’s kind of a bad taste I've still got in my mouth, so I'm looking forward to that.”
Other than Rhoden, Cale and Obiagu (whose status is iffy because of his ankle injury), Seton Hall suddenly is short on players who have experienced the intensity of this rivalry.
“I’ve never been a part of this Seton Hall-Rutgers tradition,” Aiken said. “We’re excited.”
Scouting Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights (5-4) have struggled mightily at times, losing to Lafayette, Massachusetts and DePaul and getting drubbed by 35 at Illinois. Yet they also scored a huge victory Thursday night, knocking off No. 1 Purdue in Piscataway on Ron Harper Jr.’s 40-footer at the buzzer.
“I think they’re a very good team,” Willard said, “they kind of gone through a little bit of a lull throughout the season. And when I watch them, I see a team that’s physical, I see a team that rebounds, I just see a team that’s struggled shooting the basketball a little bit this year. The thing for me is, two years ago, we were in the RAC and it was the hardest place I’ve ever played, and so I guarantee--I know for a fact--that Purdue is going through the same thing that we went through.”
Harper scored 30 points and is averaging 16.4 points and 8.6 rebounds as he has been forced to carry a heavy load recently with Geo Baker out. The star guard has missed four consecutive games with a hamstring injury and now the flu.
Getting Baker back will be crucial for RU. It also will be interesting which team can come back down off the high more quickly. For each, having a rival up next should help.
