Wow

[anon_ezos2e9wn1ob0]

First post since the excellent win yesterday, wanted to digest it to try and rationalize what it means!

I've been a huge Willard basher the past few years, but he earned his paycheck today. I am hopeful maybe he is ready to turn the corner and bring this program with him.

That was the best defensive effort I can remember in a long time that we witnessed in the second half. Wichita State was constantly harassed and open looks from the first half were mostly gone.

This team is built for the Big East. We've got great length and can get into the defense. We have to bring that defensive intensity on a nightly basis. The rebounding should remain strong as Sanogo is proving to be an excellent player next to Delgado.

I am cautiously optimistic!

 

[Pirate64]

As a fellow Willard basher maybe he has turned the corner. No more friendly big brother- good to see.
The talent is there. I still don't understand our poor offensive spacing though . Open looks are as rare as hens teeth.

 

[HALL85]

Not a fan of KW either, but he did a good job yesterday. Winning is what matters and he won a game he needed to. Defense played much better; offense still weave/1:1 and ragged; shortened the bench; and subbed well.

I dislike the "turned the corner" talk this soon. It was one game....remember last year? Next six weeks will answer that question.

 

[HallX2]

As a fellow Willard basher maybe he has turned the corner. No more friendly big brother- good to see.
The talent is there. I still don't understand our poor offensive spacing though . Open looks are as rare as hens teeth.

The poison is gone as well.

 

[anon_x0d8d0dquuo4t]

Last year they were "young and stupid," per the coach--the "old and smart" guys have now moved n. The good news is the returnees are less "young" and stupid." Coach was joking last year but the point was inexperience. I've never seen anyone on the court the last two years afraid to take a shot. To me that's confidence.
Here is a group of confident, skilled players who will gain experience. And defense is all heart and desire. Yesterday the D was impressive in the second half. Do what they did yesterday on the road a couple of times while gaining experience and confidence, this could be an interesting year, cause this team will get better. Singh's three points t shot might have been the biggest play that has gotten no mention. Ish's two foul shots in that same span. Guys step up and it's contagious. Maybe it is easier to coach guys the longer you've seen them play.
You can bet Coach will have Singh out there again in a similar game situation.

 

[wpc75]

Better players make better coaches. If you watch fox promo on our five super soph starters one of them said "we have a great coach".

 

[anon_x0d8d0dquuo4t]

Desi got 18 points all in the second half. There three other guys who can do the same-- Isaiah, Khadeem and Angel. I can't recall another Pirate team in recent memory with that much firepower. Plus another Handful of role players. I always found I worked best for a boss I liked, so if the players like Coach, that's another intangible in their cap. Good to hear they said that.

 

[Halldan1]

The players have always liked Willard. With rare exception that has not been an issue.

But now he also has their total respect as well, born of his new found toughness with them.

Trove readers will verify that I posted this in the preseason but it understandably fell on deft ears with a wait and see attitude by most everyone.

 

[Piratz]

The players have always liked Willard. With rare exception that has not been an issue.

But now he also has their total respect as well, born of his new found toughness with them.

Trove readers will verify that I posted this in the preseason but it understandably fell on deft ears with a wait and see attitude by most everyone.

I can certainly verify HallDan's point and I too fall in that "wait and see" group because we've been scorched too many times during the KW era.

However, so far this has been the case and if it's the case it's hard to believe it will change, but you never know. Loved the attitude after the game that yesterday as just one game with 19 to go.

Not sure what has taken KW so long to realize that he's their coach not their friend, but if this realization has finally come to pass, then I hope we have something here. A really good start this year.

 

[Halldan1]

Yesterday he was both and I don't have an issue with that once in a while.

In the media room he was stoic and said all the right things. But before and after that I saw him in the bowels of the Rock and he was happier than a

Plus his players mobbed him right after the game rubbing his head in their joy.

Some coaches will not tolerate that. But to me I have no problem sometimes showing your softer side. As long as the respect remains.

 

[HallX2]

Williard is a good guy. Worth repeating at this time of year. His coaching and its results are fair for comment and criticism. Those with the ad hominem attacks (many of you also lambasted Tony's B's hiring) should ask for a better you for Xmas. I know you all are capable of better discourse.

 

[Warners0]

Willard has to do well this year. This is year 6. I want him to succeed because it looks like recruiting is really going in the right direction. And I don't want this team to have to hire a new coach that has to re establish relationships with top players.

But if he can't make the tournament with this team then he doesn't need to be here. I haven't seen one game this year where we haven't had a talent advantage in the backcourt.

No team can stay in front of our guards we always get teams in the double bonus first because of how easily we get into the paint.

So hopefully it continues to go well.

At this point if we got 11-7 in the big east we should be tournament bound.

That means sweep a bad DePaul and St Johns team and pretty go .500 against everyone else. We honestly should do better than that but if we just do that I won't complain.

New Jersey and New York are too much of a hotbed for talent for Seton Hall to be this bad for so long. Its time to start moving in the direction of competing for Big East Championships and eventually national championships.

 

[HALL85]

Williard is a good

i don't think that is shared by many but it doesn't matter. He's paid to win and that's all he needs to do....good guy; bad guy, etc.

 

[Muggsy Blue]

Let's not go crowning him yet. Let's see how the BE goes down.

 

[HallX2]

i don't think that is shared by many but it doesn't matter. He's paid to win and that's all he needs to do....good guy; bad guy, etc.

85. You dont know him. Nor do the rest of the folks whose words last spring should embarrass them. Say he's not a good coach but to speak to his quality as a person should make you choose your words carefully.

 

[Piratz]

Thing is, who is going to be disappointed if Willard wins this year? Nobody! There's no "gotcha" trump card to pull out if he wins as everyone will be happy anyway!

 

[HALL85]

85. You dont know him. Nor do the rest of the folks whose words last spring should embarrass them. Say he's not a good coach but to speak to his quality as a person should make you choose your words carefully.

Stop the lecture. He's done things publically that demonstrate otherwise. Nothing ever is black or white; I don't think he's a bad guy, but he's also shown to be a jerk on more than one occasion. Like I said before, he just needs to win.

 

[sportsfantatic44]

Have to give Willard a ton of credit on his 2nd half adjustments and having the stones to sit Whitehead in OT (which is not an easy think to do).

My biggest concern is we have been a terrible road team vs. the top half of the league since Willard arrived. Need to find a way to steal 1 or 2 of them on the road in conference play.

 

[Halldan1]

I agree. Starting to feel that this team has now progressed and will compete on it's home court with anyone on the schedule.

The next hurdle is playing well on the road.

 

[TheBluePirate]

Not sure what has taken KW so long to realize that he's their coach not their friend, but if this realization has finally come to pass, then I hope we have something here. A really good start this year.

Totally agree. The corner that had to be turned was in the man himself. If that corner is turned, he's going to discover a wave of support he never expected. Growing up is hard to do, LOL!

 

[Seton75]

If we play defense like we did Saturday, who knows. This team is not like previous teams. We have a bunch of guys who can get on your face and stay there. And good defense is a good way to quiet down the home team fans and keep you in the game when shots are not falling.

 

[HallLine69]

Thrilled with the win, but have been consumed in holiday stuff since Friday. All I know is the final score...have the game on DVR and will watch later today. I have certainly been a major Willard basher, too. So in fairness I will give him props for this very big win. Hoping this trend continues into the league schedule.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.