Whitehead is coachable

[buckfoston824]

Yes, he is coachable, and he is also a human being and student of our blessed Seton Hall University.

The first time I met Isaiah was at the Mary Kline Classic last year. I walked up to him before the game when he was warming up with Delgado. They were playing a little bit of 1v1 and Isaiah was jacking shots from 25-28 feet and draining them half the time. When he sat down on the bench I tapped him on the shoulder and went for a handshake. He looked down and saw I was wearing a blue Seton Hall jersey and he immediately went in for the one handed hug instead of a handshake.

I told him that we appreciated him choosing our school over St. John's and also noted that once you join the Seton Hall community, you become a part of a large, ever growing family.

He thanked me and told me he was excited to see what a the Seton Hall crowds are like since our small group was in fact the largest representation of any metro college at the tournament that day. For those who were there, we definitely gave them a very warm welcome.

I guess all I really want to say to the board is that as an armchair coach this year I have said awful things about each player on this team, including the coach, but have had restraint (other than one dumb post about the coach) when sharing my views online. These kids all use social media, some of them might read the board but all of them look to the students and alumni of Seton Hall University for support.

My message is that if you have anything negative to say about these kids or their coach, tell your wife, tell your kids, hell even tell your therapist. Just don't put it online for the whole planet to read and interpret as hate for this great school's basketball team.

Go Pirates!

This post was edited on 3/8 9:05 PM by buckfoston824

 

[Garibaldi]

Well said buckfoston824. We are all very fortunate to have Isaiah wearing Pirate Blue and very proud of this amazing young man!! We are with you all the way, Isaiah!!

 

[MDshu2005]

Great post

 

[Hall91]

No one hates IW. Since when are opinions of how a player is playing viewed as hate? The kid needs better guidance and direction. I hope he gets it with our current Coach.

 

[SHUMA04]

I agree with everything you have said about Isaiah and all the players. Well said.

I feel bad for Isaiah and the rest of the players, especially the seniors. This season should have been a lot more special.

 

[SHUMike]

When Whitehead was benched for the final minutes of the Georgetown game, he still was cheering and supporting his team. Before he leaves SHU, he will be known as a Pirate great.

 

[lwyrup]

Isaiah is a good kid. To say he is "uncoachable" discredits the hard work he's put in his entire life to become a better basketball player. Isaiah's is the most talented player we've had in a very long time and, with the proper coaching, he will be a great professional player and make Seton Hall fans proud. It's unfortunate that some fans are calling a freshman's abilities into question. He needs time to develop and I have no doubt he'll get there.

The questions isn't whether Isaiah is coachable. The question should be whether we have the right coaches to help him get to the next level.

 

[lwyrup]

FYI, since the original thread, Isaiah has protected his twitter account. The kids read the board.

This post was edited on 3/8 10:29 PM by lwyrup

 

[Joe045]

Isaiah is great kid. That's all anyone needs to know.

 

[Jerry1992]

He will make us proud in time. Tough spot for him this year with the added pressure, media bs and injury. Keep working Isaiah. We are rooting for you.

 

[halltheway]

We are so lucky to have him and be grateful he chose us..thank you!

 

[HALL28]

Whitehead is the most talented player we've had at SHU in 15 years.

Which is why the frustrations of our fans have been so extreme and so harsh at times. Because when you get that type of player and a whole lot of other talent to go with him, you don't want to squander it so badly.

 

[chickenbox]

So tired of and confused by the continued trashing of Isaiah. I just don't get it.

 

[Seton75]

Lots of fans have made IW the bad guy based on innuendo, which is typical.

 

[lwyrup]

Originally posted by Seton75:
Lots of fans have made IW the bad guy based on innuendo, which is typical.

It's incredible how those people who are supposed to be his biggest supporters are creating additional adversity for Isaiah and the rest of the team (the fans -- myself included, at times) . I'm not saying that our comments are or are not warranted, and I understand our actions are normal, but I don't believe in piling on when things are going in the wrong direction on the court. In fact, when Isaiah goes 0-10, we should be supportive, because they're all just kids. They aren't professionals.

This post was edited on 3/9 9:40 AM by lwyrup

 

[Flnj86]

Isaiah Whitehead is a great kid, who had an injury that set him back for two months, but he is going to have a great 2nd season at Seton Hall. Congrats on making the BE All Rookie Team. He is a special player and I am very pleased he chose to attend Seton Hall, looking forward to watching him and the team have a break out season next year.

This post was edited on 3/9 9:25 AM by Flnj86

 

[Pirate6711]

Originally posted by chickenbox:
So tired of and confused by the continued trashing of Isaiah. I just don't get it.

Join the club.

 

[HallLine69]

Bravo, buckfoston. Well-said.

 

[anon_ezos2e9wn1ob0]

Great post.

I guess some people feel now that Willard won't be gone, we'll just start bashing our players. Maybe then they'll leave town.

IW is going to be a player, no doubt and all I have seen from him is a passion to win. The rest has been innuendo and rumors, which are almost never true.

 

[Burnsly]

FYI, since the original thread, Isaiah has protected his twitter account. The kids read the board.

If that's indeed the case, this board has to go.

 

[hallball95]

to be coachable, their needs to be a (real) coach. Willard is a sham.

 

[Flnj86]

There are some posters on this board that are not really Seton Hall fans, real fans do not post some of the b.s. on this board!

 

[lwyrup]

Originally posted by Burnsly:
FYI, since the original thread, Isaiah has protected his twitter account. The kids read the board.

If that's indeed the case, this board has to go.

I used to sit behind Marcus Toney-El in one of my classes back in 2002, I believe. For an hour and a half, he would be on Piratecrew, reading every single thread.

 

[chickenbox]

Originally posted by Pirate6711:

Originally posted by chickenbox:
So tired of and confused by the continued trashing of Isaiah. I just don't get it.

Join the club.

I'm a founding member. Been saying the same thing since the Sina situation and the torrent of whispers and innuendo about the horrors that happened inside the locker room and how insanely awful it will be when the truth comes out. Many, many freely ascribed the character of villain to Isaiah despite any evidence and, in fact, statements to the contrary. Eventually, an article stated Sina's departure had nothing to do with Whitehead and the chatter died down, but the damage was done and apologies were not forthcoming. Additionally, all the insider talk of how what transpired in the locker room will put even Gonzo misdeeds to shame and just how very very bad players and coaches are going to look when truth comes to light have now completely vanished as the proverbial other sneaker has failed to drop. Again, the damage to the program has been done, likely far worse than if the actual facts of the situation were presented (imagined evils are generally scarier and allow for such outcomes). Now, could it be that there really were human sacrifices and other assorted atrocities being committed behind closed doors but the program has successfully imposed an airtight cover-up that will see all parties, friendly and hostile, take the truth to their graves? I suppose, but if we were competent enough to pull that off we'd surely be able to finish at or above .500 in conference at least once in five years.

 

[donnie_baseball]

Actually, the article said the departure had nothing to do with race, C-box, but you seem to have run with that, too. Wasn't there some Sina quote, to the Setonian, that was tweeted and then taken down?

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

Originally posted by donnie_baseball:

Actually, the article said the departure had nothing to do with race, C-box, but you seem to have run with that, too. Wasn't there some Sina quote, to the Setonian, that was tweeted and then taken down?

Yea, some kid from the Setonian tweeted a completely irresponsible tweet to that effect. Then deleted it, and didn't respond to a bunch of tweets asking him why he deleted it. Perfect example of how dangerous social media can be.

I'm not sure I remember what article you guys are referring to though.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

BTW, I don't know what was happening in the locker room, but Sina was lauded for how he handled his statement. Meanwhile it landed us on Deadspin and just about everywhere else. If it was my kid and the intention was to take the high road, I would have told him to issue the statement saying he was leaving for "personal reasons" and left it that.

 

[donnie_baseball]

Agree, phi_pirates; this isn't the first reference I've heard to an article that supposedly exonerates Whitehead from involvement with Sina's departure from the team. I'd sure like to read it.

 

[chickenbox]

I'm not referring to the not about race article. However, I can't recall off hand which other article had the not about Whitehead claim. Hopefully someone else does and can link it up. It was a legit news story, not randoki student tweet. If but, I'll try to do some digging when I'm at a computer.

 

[SHUMike]

Maybe Sina is just a quitter and nobody else is to blame.

 

[donnie_baseball]

Maybe, but that story doesn't fit very well. If I had to put odds on it, based on all the facts and leaks that I have heard, I would say that's a 50-1 proposition.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

For those looking for any glimmer of good news IW and SG just tweeted out a photo of the two of them from a BE tourney photo shoot. Hey, I'll take what I can get at this point. Lol

 

[Flnj86]

We are going to be very good next year, adding Amarveer Singh, Mike Nzei, Dalton Soffer and one or two additional 2015 recruits.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

But will we be a top 3 team and make the ncaa tournament?

 

[PMB Pirate]

That is an outstanding post buck, I am dating myself but most of the bashing of players and or coaches I ever did was sitting on a bar stool in Bunny's after a few cold ones, still do.

It is a different world we live in with social media/boards, in some ways more transparent, in others very frustrating hearing people crush players, coaches, administrations. I am old school ( look for the positive ) but have no problem with the cynic looking for truth, just hate the comments that are snotty and condescending, no need for that.

Go Pirates !!

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

Bunny's still have free pizza for HH? Id kill for a few slices of those right now.

 

[PMB Pirate]

Still free Za at Bunny's at HH, have to eat it hot, don't let it sit !! For some crazy reason my bill is higher that usual ..... free Za means more beer orders ?

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

Of course it is lol. Bunny's knew about bar science when john taffert was still in diapers.

Can't beat star tavern for my $ though, even if I have to use it to get the pizza. That's my bargaining chip to get the wife up to the Rock every year.

 

[PMB Pirate]

Star is awesome, number 2 behind Resi ? My hometown favorite. ( SO guy here )

 

[chickenbox]

Originally posted by donnie_baseball:
Agree, phi_pirates; this isn't the first reference I've heard to an article that supposedly exonerates Whitehead from involvement with Sina's departure from the team. I'd sure like to read it.

Also vaguely recall I believe Dan stating that Sina's issue with freshman did not include Isaiah. Certainly could be wrong but if that's the case maybe he can shed some light.