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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Anali Okoloji likely to transfer at end of semester

Still not confirmed but it is looking more and more likely that Okoloji will transfer. If he transfers that leaves Willard with three scholarships to give out for 2011.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Is the Big East over-rated and why I think they can't produce final four teams

We have been hearing a lot (most notably from Charles Barkley) about how the Big East is over-rated due to their lack of Final Four teams. However, I find this to be utterly false. Here are my reasons on why I feel the Big East can't produce Final Four teams

1. The grind of the regular season and the conference play: I believe this is the biggest reason why the Big East fails to produce final four teams. No other conference in the country plays an 18 game schedule. No other conference in the country has only one or two teams each year that are considered "cupcakes". What I am going to do now is look at how many NCAA tournament teams each of the 11 teams in the conference that made the tournament played:
Pittsburgh: Texas, Tennessee, Connecticut, Marquette, Georgetown, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Villanova, St. Johns, West Virginia, Louisville, Villanova, and Conncecticut (15)
Notre Dame: Georgia, Wisconsin, Indiana State, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Georgetown, Syracuse, Connecticut, St. Johns, Marquette, St. Johns, Cincinnati, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Louisville, West Virginia, Villanova, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Louisville (20)
Syracuse: Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, St. Johns, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Villanova, Marquette, Connecticut, Georgetown, Louisville, West Virginia, Villanova, Georgetown, St. Johns, Connecticut (16)
Connecticut: Michigan State, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Texas, Villanova, Tennessee, Marquette, Louisville, Syracuse, St. Johns, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Louisville (21)
Louisville: Butler, UNLV, Kentucky, Villanova, Marquette, St. Johns, West Virginia, Connecticut, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Marquette, Notre Dame, Connecticut (18)
West Virginia: Oakland, Vanderbilt, St. Johns, Marquette, Georgetown, Purdue, Louisville, Cincinnati, Villanova, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Louisville, Marquette (16)
St. Johns: West Virginia, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Louisville, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Duke, UCLA, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Villanova, Syracuse (16)
Cincinnati: Xavier, Villanova, Syracuse, Notre Dame, St. Johns, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, St. Johns, Louisville, Georgetown, Connecticut, Marquette, Georgetown, Notre Dame (14)
Georgetown: Old Dominion, Wofford, UNC Asheville, Missouri, Utah State, Temple, Memphis, Notre Dame, St. Johns, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, St. Johns, Villanova, Louisville, Syracuse, Marquette, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Connecticut (21)
Villanova: Bucknell, Boston University, UCLA, Tennessee, Temple, Cincinnati, Louisville, Connecticut, Syracuse, Georgetown, Marquette, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, St. Johns, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh (17)
Marquette: Bucknell, Duke, Gonzaga, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Louisville, Notre Dame, Connecticut, Syracuse, Villanova, Georgetown, St. Johns, Connecticut, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Louisville (19)
*these don't include NCAA tournament games
Now, can you tell me who else in any other major conference played at least 14 and up to 21 teams that were in the tournament? I can't think of any.
This is my main argument. My other argument would be the following:
2. Lack of elite talent in the Big East: The Big East has a lot of good players but not many great players. The only great player this conference had this year was Kemba Walker. In fact, since Carmelo Anthony there has only been one all star from the Big East which is Rudy Gay. The reason for this is that usually out of the top 10 in ESPN top 150 go to non Big-East teams. The fact is, it takes elite talent to win in March and the Big East does not have elite talent.

These two things lead me to believe the following:
1. The Big East is the best conference in the nation
2. The Big East won't be very successful in March

I still believe that the Big East is the best conference because of their incredible depth and the fact that every team is playing double digit tournament teams every year. They won't be successful in March for that very same reason though. They beat each other up throughout the season which causes them to wear out by the time the Dance begins. So Charles Barkley, go to hell 

Saturday, March 19, 2011

It's a long road back

People that thought Kevin Willard would come in and get instant results were wrong in expecting that. It just doesn't happen. Unless you are a John Calipari and can get a #1 recruiting class, you are not going to be able to come to a program and instantly be successful. Just look at Mick Cronin and the University of Cincinatti as an example. Cronin took over a team that was in tatters and was entering the Big East. His 1st year he went 11-19. His 2nd year he went 13-17. His 3rd year he went 18-12. None of those years did they make the post-season. His 4th season they went 19-16 and won an NIT game. This year, an incredible 26-8 and took his team to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournamnet. His teams improved every season. He was dicisplined and installed a system and stuck with it. He kept preaching defense and being smart. He kept working on recruiting. He established a recruiting bed in a location full of talent and stuck with it. He recruited New Jersey. He got assistants that believed what he believed and he had a school that cared more about its image than instant success. All these things lead to this incredbile season. Coach Kevin Willard is essentially in the same spot as Mick Cronin was 5 years ago. He took over a program, that while it was filled with talent, it was undisicplined talent that were all me 1st players. He has already began the rebuilding image. It started with the benching of Herb Pope for the 1st half of the Arkansas game. It continued with the dismissal of Keon Lawrence and Jamel Jackson. It is happening right now by recruiting high character and hard working kids. Seton Hall won 13 games this year. Expecting 15 for next year is realistic. If Willard keeps sticking to his system and keeps coaching hard, Seton Hall will continue to improve. If Patrick Hobbs sticks with Willard for 5 to 6 years before expecting great things, Seton Hall can be the next Cincinatti. However, it is not going to happen overnight. It will take days, months, and years to get Seton Hall's image to where it needs to be. It will take years to get Seton Hall into a NCAA tournament staple that we can expect tournament results every year. However, for the next 2 to 4 years just enjoy the ride and hope that Seton Hall sticks with Kevin Willard for as long as it takes.

Friday, March 18, 2011

How Herb Pope, Fuquan Edwin, and Jordan Theodroe can improve to make next year's team competitive

We all know that losing Jeremy Hazell and wing defender Eniel Polynice is going to be hard to replace. I think we can replace JROB with a combo of Auda and Okoloji. But replacing Hazell and Polynice will take a trio of players to step up. Those 3 players are Herb Pope, Fuquan Edwin, and Jordan Theodore. Here is how those three players need to improve to carry Seton Hall next year:
Herb Pope:
Pope needs to improve a couple things. Offensively, he needs to work on a consistent back to the basket game along with a mid range jumper. If he can get a consistent 18 foot jumper and a consistent go to move when backing down, he can become a star big-man in the Big East. Defensively, he needs to avoid fouls. It seemed that at least 1 time a game he would either commit a reach or an over the back foul. He is too valuable to the team to be picking up stupid fouls. If he can improve these three things I think he can average somewhere in the neighborhood of 16ppg and 10rpg. 
Fuquan Edwin:
Edwin has a bunch of things he can improve to become a star. The 1st is his 3pt shooting. He was decent this year in the low 30's %, but to become a star he needs to be able to shoot 38 to 40 percent from 3. This will come with more practice. If he works on his form then he can continue to improve. The next thing he needs to improve is his ball handling ability. This year he did not do much if any ball handling. But next year, he will probably be asked to play a lot of 2guard so he needs to get better at dribbling the basketball. Like his shooting, it will just take hard work. The 3rd and last thing that he needs to improve offensively is his finishing in the lane. Countless times this year, we saw him grab an offensive board and blow the putback. If he works on finishing, along with the other 2 things, he can become a star offensive weapon. Defensively, he just needs to work on positioning. He had a few freshman lapses that I think will go away with experience. If he improves these things he could average somewhere near 13ppg, 5rpg, and 1.8spg.
Jordan Theodore:
I think the player most vital to our success next year is JT. When Jordan was on this year, he was incredible. When he wasn't, he was terrible. Jordan's biggest problem is consistency. If he becomes consistently good, like if he performs like he did in the Georgetown game, we will be a fairley good team. If he plays like he did in the West Virginia game, we will be terrible. If Theodore gets consistent, he can average 15ppg and 5apg.

If these three players raise their games to levels they are more than capable of, Seton Hall can have a decent season. I don't think they will make the NCAA tourney, but a 16 or 17 win season would definitely be possible.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

1st round upset has already happened

In an incredible game, Morehead State hit a 3 with 4.2 seconds left to give them a 1 point lead. Mara then had a 3pt attempt blocked and the game ended. I will update this thread as more upsets happen.

Upset #2: Richmond beats Vanderbilt (I picked this one)

Zaga is dominating St. Johns with 5:30 to go. Cincy has taken control over Mizzou. KSTATE up 8 with 11 to go. Will have a day 1 recap tomorrow afternoon.

Update on Michigan State as soon as the game ends.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Tips to picking the NCAA bracket and my bracket

I am no expert but over the last three years I place 2nd twice and won one time. So, here are some tips I use to pick my bracket:1. Advance the 1 seeds to the sweet Sixteen: I know Kansas lost last year to Northern Iowa but it is extremely rare for a 1 seed not to make it to the sweet 16. In fact, it has only happened four times since 1985. Just advance all four 1 seeds to the 16.
2. The number 1 overall seed has only won once in the last 10 years: That was UNC in 07. This means: Don't pick Ohio State to win. I think Ohio State is the best team with the least flaws but I am not picking them to win.
3. For the first round pick 2 upsets per day: One in the early games and one in the late games. Don't overkill with upsets. The 12 seed wins about 33% and the 13 about 31%. I usually pick 2 11 seeds, 1 12 seed, and 1 13 seed.
4. Pick 2 10 vs 7 winners and 2 9 vs 8 winners: This is just based off what I have seen. If you can get these games right it is points that a lot of others might not get. It might only be 8 points between these but they can be a big 8 points since not many people get these right.
5. Research the 7 vs 10 and 8 vs 9 games: As I said in #4, getting these games right can be huge in the long run. They are equal to getting one game right in the elite eight. So, if you can get these 8 games right you can gain a 9th elite eight pick essentially. With that said, don't just go up to the bracket and pick the games. Spend 3 or 4 minutes on each game and pick it after good research. See which team has the better guard play. However, if one team rebounds really well and one sucks on the glass take the rebounding team (see UNLV vs. Illinois this year)
6. Advance the 2-4 seeds to the 2nd round: There is an occasional upset in the 1st round of these seeds but it is extremely difficult to get it right. So, the safest thing to do is just advance them.
7. Pick one 7vs10 to beat a 2 seed in the 2nd round: This usually happens in every year. This year I have Washington beating UNC. This is because: 1. Washington has way more experience. 2. Washington has better guard play. Those two things are why I have them winning. UNC is a young team that is very turnover prone. Those types of teams don't fare well in the tournament (see Kentucky last year)
8. Pick Michigan State to the Sweet 16: I learned the hard way last year. I thought Michigan State was a sleeper team but I got nervous and changed it at the last minute. I should have stuck with my guts. Michigan State always gets to the Sweet 16. With that said:
9. Don't pick Michigan State to the Sweet 16: My normal strategy is to take Michigan State to the sweet 16. However, the risk is not worth the reward this year. Take Florida in round 2.
10. Look at Risk vs. Reward: Lets say for example, you have Kansas vs. Louisville in the sweet 16 and you think Louisville will win. But then you think Louisville will lose in the Elite 8. The risk of having a possible champion (Kansas) out in the sweet 16 is not worth the reward of advancing Louisville one more round. Therefore, even though you think Louisville will win, take Kansas in your pool. This is because, if Kansas does go onto win it all, it is much better to have them in the Elite 8 than the Sweet 16. Another example could be advancing Florida to the Final 4. If you get it right, it will be huge. But, Florida could very easily lose in any of its 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round games. The possibility of an early exit for Florida (maybe to Mich. State in Round 2) is not worth the reward of getting the Final 4 pick right.
11. Pick the safest teams to the final four: These are teams that are very consistent with none or one head scratching losses. They don't rely on any one aspect of their game. This years teams are: Ohio State, Syracuse, Duke, San Diego State, Kansas, Notre Dame, Purdue, Pittsburgh, and Florida. Now the problem is narrowing this down to four teams.
12. Do pick one surprise Sweet 16 team: This is a good example of risk vs. reward. Lets take for example Wisconsin vs. Belmont and then Belmont vs. Kansas State. Since it is very unlikely that Wisconsin or Kansas State make it passed the Sweet 16 and Pittsburgh, it is worth the risk to pick Belmont to the Sweet 16. If you are right then you get 1 point for the 1st round and 2 points for the second round. If Belmont losses in the 1st round you only lose 3 points. 3 points could lead you to victory but it probably won't cost you a victory.
13. Don't pick a Cinderella past the Sweet 16: It is very rare to get a George Mason or Davidson. However, it is very likely to get a Cinderella into the Sweet 16. So, don't take the chance of missing 8 points or even 16 points for a Final four for the chance at picking this year's Cinderella.
14. Do pick teams with incredible 3pt shooting to advance one round: Find a lower seeded team that can really stroke it from downtown, and move them forward one round only. For example, Villanova. But don't pick Villanova. They are slumping and cold from 3 and their star is hurt. Another possibility is Wofford.
15. Backfill your bracket: Put your 8 elite eight teams first and then fill in the sweet 16, round 2, and round 1. This prevents you from over-thinking and making dumb mistakes. You know in your mind who you think will make the elite eight but you might over-think a match-up in round 2 and eliminate them. For example, people don't think Pittsburgh matches up well with Old Dominon so they might take ODU. Dumb!
16. Have fun: No explanation needed. And now, my bracket:
East Region:
Round 1 Winners: Ohio State, George Mason,  West Virginia, Kentucky, Xavier, Syracuse, Washington, North Carolina
Round 2 Winners: Ohio State, West Virginia, Syracuse, Washington
Sweet 16 Winners: Ohio State, Syracuse
Elite 8 Winner: Ohio State
Explanations: I think Kentucky and North Carolina are set up for losing in round 2. They are inexperienced, have inconsistent guard play and 3pt shooting. They will both be facing tough defensive teams in Washington and West Virginia with Senior leadership and good guards. I think Syracuse vs. Ohio State will be a great game but I think Ohio States balance of size, shooting, experience, and smarts will win them the game. Jardine and Triche are awesome when they are on but they are inconsistent and vs. Ohio State they will falter. 
West Region:
Round 1 Winners: Duke, Michigan, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Connecticut, Temple, San Diego State
Round 2 Winners: Duke, Arizona, Connecticut, San Diego State
Sweet 16 Winners: Duke, San Diego State
Elite 8 Winner: San Diego State
Explanations: The first round upset for me is Missouri over Cincinatti. Cincy has inconsistent guard play and a big man in Yancy Gates that does not always try. Mizzou plays incredible high pressure defense and has great guard play. Texas is my second round team primed to lose. They have inconsistent guard play, can't shoot free throws, and have inconsistent defense. San Diego State vs. Duke will be a great game but I think SDSU's defense and length will frustrate Duke's 3pt shooters and SDSU will win in OT. 
Southwest Region:
Round 1 Winners: Kansas, UNLV, Richmond, Louisville, Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State, Notre Dame
Round 2 Winners: Kansas, Louisville, Purdue, Notre Dame
Sweet 16 Winners: Kansas, Purdue
Elite 8 Winners: Kansas
Explanations: Richmond is my upset pick in this region along with Florida State. Richmond is a streaky 3pt shooting team that when on can take over a game. They come into the tourney on a high and can upset Vandy, who has a history of losing in round 1. Florida State plays incredible defense and has Senior leaders. Purdue vs. Notre Dame will be a great game but I don't think Notre Dame can stop Johnson and Moore. Kansas should not have much trouble with Purdue. 
Southeast Region:
Round 1 Winners:  Pittsburgh, Old Dominion, Utah State, Belmont, Gonzaga, BYU, Michigan State, Florida
Round 2 Winners: Pittsburgh, Utah State, BYU, Florida
Sweet 16 Winners: Pittsburgh, Florida
Elite 8 Winners: Pittsburgh
Explanations: This is my upset filled region. I think Old Dominion will win by 10. Utah State is one of the best teams in college basketball. They are great on defense and offense and should be able to shock everybody. Belmont is one of my hot picks as well. They should have been a 10 or 9 seed and Wisconsin's offense is inconsistent. St. John's is missing D.J. Kennedy and Zaga is one of the hottest teams in the nation. Michigan State is a very good team that has a great coach. Utah State vs. Belmont will be a great game but I think Utah State prevails. Michigan State vs. Florida will also be another great game but I think Florida prevails. Gonzaga vs. BYU will be an incredible battle but I think the fighting Jimmer's will win. Pittsburgh should cruise through this region with relative ease and be ready for the final 4. 
Final Four:
Ohio State over San Diego State
Kansas over Pittsburgh
Explanations: Ohio State will be surprised by SDSU. SDSU will almost pull an upset but Ohio State will win in OT. Kansas will also struggle with Pittsburgh but I think Kansas wins because of the Morris twins. Pittsburgh will have a chance late but falter. 
Championship:
Kansas over Ohio State
Explanations: This is just me following my rules. The overall #1 seed almost never wins so I am taking Kansas. I do believe Kansas would win this matchup anyways though. The Morris twins and I think Josh Selby steps up big in this game and Kansas wins 85 to 83.

Season Recap Part 3 - go 8 minutes without scoring and blow a big 2nd half lead era

The title was basically what this 13 game part of our season was. But here is more details:

Hazell made a sudden and brilliant return on January 12th vs. Depaul. He scored 23 points and it looked like he never lost a step. Seton Hall won 78 to 67. Our next game was a rather embarrasing performance vs. Pittsburgh. We lost by a score of 74-53. Hazell was bottled up scoring just 9 points. JROB had a decent 3pt shooting day at 2-5. Our next two games were perhaps the most heart-breaking of the season. At a game I attended, Seton Hall took on Georgetown in front of a packed house at The Rock. We made a great run in the 2nd half to take a lead but when Pope fouled out with 2 minutes left we struggled and lost by 5 points. Hazell had 15pts but he was just 1-7 from 3. My theory is that he took a shooting lesson from JROB before the game. Nonetheless, our next game was vs. Rutgers at home. We came out flat and were embarrased. We lost by only 6 points but it was pathetic. Hazell was again bottled up scoring just 15 points on 2-11 from 3pt shooting. JROB was 2-7. I still don't understand why Hazell decided to take shooting lessons from JROB for two games? Our next two games were awesome. We went to the Carrier Dome and destroyed Syracuse beating them 90-68. Hazell scored 28 points to lead 5 Pirates in double figures. WE then went on to beat Providence at home. We were now 4-6 in the conference and on a 2 game winning streak. But another offensive joke put an end to those highs. Our ensuing game vs. WVU we scored just 46 points and lost. Our next game home vs. Uconn, we blew a 14 point second half lead and lost by 2. This was the most pathetic 11 minutes I have ever seen. We made ZERO field goals in 11 minutes. We were a joke. Embarrasing. I am just going to stop here because I am getting upset. The last 7 games will be tomorrow

Friday, March 11, 2011

Season Recap Part 2 - The Hazell-less era

After two promising victories over Cornell and Alabama, Seton Hall found out that Jeremy Hazell would be out for 4 to 6 weeks with a broken wrist. They had just 12 hours to make a gameplan to face Xavier without Hazell. What us fans would watch, was 40 minutes of the worst offensive basketball ever (or so we thought). Seton Hall came back from a 10 point defecit at halftime to tie the game with about a minute left but than a ridicoulous Tu Holloway 3 Pointer clinched the game. Seton Hall's first game in four years without Hazell was an embarrasing 57-52 loss. This was the beginning of what was to come over the next 2 months. The next game was more of the same. Another embarassing offensive effort led to a 64-58 OT loss to Clemson. The rough times were just getting going. Our next game was a not so easy win against St. Peters. St. Peters hung around for a while because of pathetic offense by SHU but a couple late runs and SHU won 69-49. Our next game was another embarassing one. Herb Pope was benched for the 1st half for missing curfew and not shockingly we got out-rebounded like a billion to 1 in the 1st half. We were down 12 at half time. We made a couple runs in the 2nd half but ultiamtely fell short and lost by 9. The final score was71-62. Things were just getting going. Our next too games were @ UMASS and home vs Longwood and NJIT. Not surprisngly we averaged 83.3 ppg in that span and won all three easily. But that was too be expected. Things were going to take a turn for the worse now. Our next two games were home games vs. Dayton and Richmond. We blew 2nd half leads in both games and lost. In those two games we scored 63ppg. Back to the woeful offense and back to losing. We finished non conference play at 6-6. But things could get better. Hazell was supposed to be back in just 4 games for Syracuse. Well anyways, now conference play was starting with a very winnable home game against South Florida. And Seton Hall delivered. Even though we won the game by 9, perhaps this game was a foreshadowing of things to come. JROB was 1-5 from 3pt and the team shot just 3-13 as a team from 3pt. But we won the game despite scoring just 64 points. The next 3 games would feature perhaps the worst offense of all time. We scored 53, 54, and 56 points in the three games. In those three games we shot 33.3%, 29.0%, and and 31.3%. In the 3rd game, vs. Syracuse, we missed all 17 3pt shots in the 1st half. The only two players on our team that played well in the Syracuse game as JROB and Herb Pope. BTW, we lost all 3 games. This was the worst things could get, right? (also, I chose not to address the embarssment vs. Louisville between the Cincinatti and Syracuse games to avoid having to relive that).

So to recap, we were a woeful 5-8 in the 13 games without Hazell and we averaged 64.9 ppg. It was some of the worst basketball I have ever seen. But there was still reason to hope. Just before the Depaul game, we found out that Hazell would be playing in the game. Look for part 3 tomorrow.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Season Recap Part 1

This is part 1 of my season recap. I will split this into 4 parts:
Part 1: the 1st 3 games
Part 2: the ensuing 13 games without Hazell
Part 3: the next 12 games where Hazell was back but still not himself
Part 4: The last 3 games of the season where Hazell was back and himself

So, without further ado, here is Part 1 of my season recap

The season started out with a showdown @ Temple. As we all know, Temple is ranked and should fare pretty well in the tournament. Well, what we saw in the 1st game of the Willard era was great defense but one of the worst offensive performances I have ever seen (up to that point. There would be far worse performances to come). Seton Hall lost the game and shot a woeful 29 percent. Hazell led all scorers with 17 points. The next game, was our first home game vs. Cornell. Seton Hall destroyed them led by Jeremy Hazell. Jeremy had 28 points on 8-11 shooting from the floor and 8-8 from the line. JROB had 16 points and Seton Hall's defense stifled Cornell. We won the game 92 to 68. Our next game was the 1st game of the Virgin Island tournament. We faced Alabama. What we did not know at the time was Bama would go on to win the SEC West. This game we were again led by Jeremy Hazell. Hazell scored 27 points on 6-12 from the floor, and 5-6 from 3 along with 10-16 from the line. Seton Hall overcame a 5 point half time defecit to win 83 to 78. My confidence in Seton Hall was at an all time high. After the showing the last 2 games, I was starting to realize that we could very easily be a tournament team. What I did not know that night was that Jeremy Hazell had fractured his wrist and would miss the next 13 games. I woke up the next morning and went to southorangejuice.com and saw just that horrible news. I was crushed. Part 2 to come tomorrow.

Analyzing the 2011 Seton Hall recruiting class and looking at possible recruits for the next couple years

The 2011 Seton Hall recruiting class is a very unknown class. There are a lot of players in it that have the potential to be very good but they could also turn out very bad. They are all good character guys that work hard. Here are the current commits.
Commits that have signed letter of intent:
1. Aaron Cosby, PG/SG, Northfield-Mt. Hermon School: Cosby is rated as an 88 out of 100 on the ESPN rankings. Here is an ESPN analysis of his skill set.
Strengths:
Cosby is a scoring lead guard who takes and makes big shots. He has really improved the consistency of his three-point shooting within the last 15 months and is capable of getting his shot off with very little separation and connecting from deep ranges. He can also be dangerous with his dribble, both using a ball-screen, and in isolation situations and has more strength and explosiveness this year than he has in years past.
Weaknesses:
Cosby is much more of a scorer than a distributor and doesn't necessarily make those around him better. He is a good, not great, shooter who has a tendency to settle for too many jumpers as opposed to attacking the rim or distributing the ball. He also needs to become a more consistent finisher around the rim by showing more of a willingness to go into contact. Defensively, he has the physical tools to be effective but needs to make more of a commitment on that end of the floor.
Bottom Line:
Cosby is a scoring guard who makes shots in bunches and has shown an ability to make tough shots during the course of his high school career but needs to develop into more of a pure point guard and prove that he is more than a volume shooter.

2. Freddie Wilson, PG, James E. Hillhouse: Wilson is a pure PG prospect that loves to pass first. He also has a very good 3pt shot. He is an 86 out of 100 on ESPN rankings. Here is ESPN's analysis about his skills.
Strengths:
A creative playmaker with the ball in his hands, Wilson excels at making plays for both himself and others. He is an equally effective creator playing north to south or east to west who sees the floor both in transition as well as the quarter court. He is particularly effective coming off ball screens where he is a threat to both turn the corner as well as reject the screen and can make a pull-up three if his defender goes under.
Weaknesses:
Wilson has a tendency to pound the ball and be too flashy for his own good. His decision making has improved but is still a cause for concern and while he isn't a pure point guard he definitely needs the ball in his hands to be effective. He needs to prove he can shoot the ball consistently off the catch from behind the three-point line, improve his defensive discipline and effort, and get stronger physically.
Bottom Line:
Wilson is an undeniable offensive talent who plays his team in and out of games. He has an excellent ability to make plays off the dribble but will have to learn to get his offense within the flow of the team's system and give a more diligent defensive effort.
3. Sean Grennan, PG/SG, Monsignor Donovan: Grennan has as pure of stroke as a player can have. He is also a very smart player. He is an 80 out of 100 on ESPN's rankings and here is what they say about him:
Strengths:
Grennan is a big time shot maker who plays the game with great confidence and flair. He has exceptionally deep range on his jumper, a super quick trigger, and is virtually un-guardable once he gets hot. He has a European type feel for the game, varying his speeds off the dribble, moving well without the ball, and being very crafty offensively. Physically, he has worked hard to add muscle to his frame and plays strong with the ball around the perimeter, snapping his passes and pounding his dribble.
Weaknesses:
Grennan isn't quite a pure point guard and still tends to think shoot first pass second. While his body has improved quite a bit within the last year he still needs to continue to get bigger and stronger in order to withstand the physical toll of playing at the next level. Grennan also needs to become a more consistent finisher at the rim as he tends to shy away from contact and consequently convert a low percentage. He also needs to play with more of a sense of urgency on the defensive end of the floor.
Bottom Line:
Grennan is a big time shot maker who likely would have earned plenty of high-major opportunities had he not committed early to Davidson. He projects as an ideal fit in Davidson's offensive system and has the potential to make an immediate contribution there.
4. Haralds Karlis, SG/SF, Canary Basketball Academy: Karlis is not well known at all and ESPN does not have an evaluation on him. He comes from the same school as Patrik Auda and Aaron Geramipoor so he will definitely be a smart player that can defend. From what I have heard, he has a good jumper and is a great defender.
Committed but not yet signed:
1. Isaiah Hill, C, God's Academy: Hill is by far our best recruit. He averages nearly a triple double in HS, at 15ppg, 12rpg, and 8bpg. He is a 91 out of 100 in the ESPN rankings and here is what they say about him:

Strengths:
Hill is a true center that has a big body, good hands and footwork. He has improved rapidly since his arrival in Texas from Indiana. He runs the floor well for a player his size and is more agile and athletic than he looks. Scores on drop off passes created by dribble penetration, power drops through contact and with his jump hook over his left shoulder. He can also face and hit the 10-12 footer with needed time and space. Hill is an excellent passer to cutting teammates and can hit an open shooter on the weak side. He rebounds on both end in his area and blocks shots at an high rate. Hill has great upside and reminds his coach of a young Andrew Bynum.
Weaknesses:
Hill is a good not great back to the basket scoring threat and must work to develop counter moves and his ability to use his left hand. He has a big body that needs to be tightened up by adding muscle and get his playing weight down to about 255-260 pounds. Body improvement and maintenance will be key to long term success.
Bottom Line:
Hill is a true center that has improved very quickly. He is limited with his back to the basket moves but can score enough to maintain the defenses full attention although he will need to add to he post move package and develops his left hand. Hill is a good passer, area rebounder and shot blocker. He must work to add muscle and take care of his body but his upside is tremendous.

Seton Hall has 2 spots left on the roster for next year. It is reported that one will be a transfer and the other could be either Junior Fortunat or Brandon Mobley.  Both of those players are big men and Willard has said the transfer will be a big man as well. We will know about who these two players will be by mid April. I will update as we get news about them.

Now, moving on to some of the big time targets Seton Hall is looking at for the next couple years.
2012:
Kyle Anderson, PF/SF/SG/PG, St. Anthony's: Anderson is #25 in ESPN's super 60 sophomores and I have gotten to see him play multiple times. Willard has had Anderson to at least 6 games this year and is heavily recruiting him. Here is what ESPN says about him:
Strengths:
Anderson is a very unique talent. Anderson is a skilled small forward that can play all three perimeter positions. He is a great passer with excellent court vision and is a good decision maker and is probably best playing a 'point forward' position where he is a match up problem. He is a solid shooter with range to 17 feet. He is not the quickest or most athletic player but knows how to change speeds and play angles in order to be effective. He is a solid rebounder where his size is an asset. Anderson does a great job of finishing deep in the lane with his length. Kyle has added a post up game. He can post smaller defenders and shoot over them or score with power through contact.
Weaknesses:
Anderson sometimes struggles in space with speed and quickness especially when he is forced to be the primary ball handler and he needs to play with more energy and urgency especially on the defensive end when guarding the ball or when forced to be physical in the low post. Anderson must add strength and increase his range to where he can be a more consistent three point shooter.
Bottom Line:
Anderson is a very skilled perimeter player with great size. He is a match up problem on both ends because he can score inside and out in addition to being an excellent passer and ball handler. Anderson must play harder on both ends especially defensively. He is very talented, versatile and has great upside.
Kareem Canty, PG, Bridgton Academy: Canty is the number 13 PG in the 2012 class. He is an incredibly tough player and has narrowed his list to Rutgers, Seton Hall, Oklahoma, and Alabama. Here is what ESPN says about him:
Strengths:
He's a competitor who wants to be a good player. The New York native strikes a balance between passing and scoring. As a playmaker, he excels off the drive and finds teammates out to the line. When he flips it into scoring mode, he's more than capable of taking his medicine and accepting contact. His shot isn't textbook, though he's a volume shot-maker, especially off the dribble.
Weaknesses:
He needs to avoid getting frustrated and knocked off task as sometimes his competitiveness works against him. His shot selection can be flighty at times while he can also be careless with the basketball. He is terribly un-vocal for a point guard and can turn off teammates when his on-court temperament leads to poor decisions.
Bottom Line:
The kid loves to win and he's the kind of guy you trust to make a play in end of game and shot clock situations. More often than not, he's going to deliver and he'll be a mainstay for a good program. His toughness will open doors for him from a recruiting perspective.
2013: 
1. Austin Colbert, PF, St. Patrick's: Colbert is a 96 out of 100 in the ESPN rankings and is the #14 player overall in the class of 2013. Willard has been heavily involved in St. Pat's 2013 and 2014 class as you will see with the next player as well. Here is what ESPN says about him:
Strengths:
Colbert is a long and athletic post with a nice skill set for a young big man. He is a high level athlete who runs, jumps, and plays above the rim on both ends. He knows how to post, catches in traffic, and scores inside the paint utilizing a high release. He is most comfortable facing up with a smooth stroke and good 1-2 dribble game from the high post or the short corner and can even extend his shooting range out to 20 feet. Defensively, he is a big time shot blocker with timing and also projects as someone who could eventually defend multiple positions thanks to his length, agility, and lateral quickness at his size.
Weaknesses:
Colbert has a long and lanky build that is in desperate need of muscle and while he has a pretty good motor he also needs to become a more assertive player on both ends and impose his will on the game more consistently. Colbert should also be a better rebounder given his physical tools and would do well to develop a go-to move with his back to the basket.
Bottom Line:
Colbert has a tremendous combination of size, length, agility, athleticism, and skill. He has the potential to develop into an extremely versatile big game who can change the game both inside and out on either end of the court.

2014:
1. Dakari Johnson, C, St. Patrick's: Johnson is an absolute best. I have gotten to watch him play multiple times against elite competition and as a freshman he has dominated some of the best Juniors and Seniors in the nation. Here is what ESPN says about him:

Strengths:
Dakari is a true force whenever he steps on the court. He plays up a grade in the 15 & Under division and he is still dominant. He has a strong body and good hands. His feet and footwork are good for a player so young. He is an excellent scorer inside and his teammates make a concerted effort to get him the ball in the paint. He scores mostly off short face up shots in the lane but will show an occassional post move scoring over his left shoulder. Johnson is an excellent rebounder with his big body and strong hands.
Weaknesses:
He is not an elite level athlete so he is not an avid shotblocker but he is effective using his body to clog the lane.
Bottom Line:
Johnson is an excellent prospect and has to be considered at or near the top of the 2014 class at this point.

These are not all the recruits Willard is involved in but they are the biggest names. Throughout the next week I will talk more about some potential recruits for next year. 



 



Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Why Jeremy Hazell will be a good NBA player

This post will illustrate why I believe Jeremy Hazell will be a good to great pro player in the NBA. Lets get to it:

1. His ability to score the ball: I was going to write his ability to shoot the ball but that is not the only way he scores. Before this season, he was considered only a shooter. But after this season, it is clear he can score in many ways. This year he showed us his ability to finish in the lane, force fouls, hit the mid range shot, and obviously hit the 3 ball. His ability to score the ball is simply unprecedented and will make him an offensive asset on any team.
2. His ability to defend: Before this year, defense was viewed as Jeremy's biggest flaw. However, this year, he lead Seton Hall in steals with 2.3 per game (according to Yahoo Sports) and was consistently their best man to man defender. He closed out on jump shots and really caused havoc on opposing players. His ability to defend multiple positions will also help him. He has the size and length to guard positions 1 to 3 in the NBA.
3. His work ethic: Jeremy Hazell was one of the hardest working players in college basketball. We hear many stories about how he would show up multiple hours before gametime to shoot around with SHU Assistant Coaches. This work ethic will allow him to make the transition to the NBA game with relative east on the court.
4. His leadership ability: Before the season, Seton Hall was looking for a leader. Jeremy Hazell answered by becoming the unquestioned leader of this team and really showed it throughout the season. He was constantly instructing players where to be and when he was injured, he would help coach the team during timeouts.
5. His basketball IQ: When I watched Jeremy Hazell play this year I noticed this. He would never clog a side on offense, and on defense he would always be in the right spot. This IQ will be another big factor in his NBA success.

Ultimately, these 5 things (along with many others), will cause Jeremy Hazell to become a good to great NBA player. I think that given proper coaching and playing time, he could average 18ppg, 4rpg, 2apg, and 1.5spg in the NBA. I think he will be one of the biggest steals of this draft as he will likely go in the 2nd round. I am hoping the Knicks get him just so I can watch him 82 times a year.

Throughout the next week I will be posting articles about Seton Hall's first season under Willard, Herb Pope, Jeff Robinson, and the incoming recruiting class. Next week I will post preliminary information about our schedule next year and what I expect for next season.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Game Recap: Seton Hall blows 8 point lead and loses in OT 76-70

Here is a quick recap. Rutgers came out and scored the first 9 points. From that point on, Seton Hall outscored Rutgers 32 to 17 by attacking the basket and getting open shots. In the second half, Seton Hall built the lead up to 8 points with a Jeremy Hazell layup with about 8 minutes left. Over the next 7:40 they made no field goals. Let me repeat that: for 8 minutes about, they made no field goals. Down by 3 with 10 seconds to go, the Pirates ran a great play and Jeremy Hazell knocked down a 3 from NBA range to go to OT. But, in OT we made a whopping 1 field goal and missed crucial FT's. Game over. Season Over. Now for some other things:
1. By far the worst player on the floor today was Seton Hall's Jeff Robinson. He was a pathetic 0-7 from 3 but that did not stop him from shooting them. I am so happy to see him out of a Seton Hall uniform. He is selfish and only cares about his draft stock, which right now is Europe. He is not an NBA shooter when he can't even shoot college 3's.
2. Jeremy Hazell was himself. He hit big shots at big moments and also made smart cuts and played great defense. He was, however 5-10 from the line and that ultimately cost us the game. But with 27 points, Haz kept us in the game. I can't wait to see him in the NBA and I look forward to it. (I will have a post about why I think Jeremy will succeed in the NBA this week).
3. Herb Pope was non existent. He was woeful. He had a measly 4 points and 4 rebounds. He fouled out in OT. If he wants to play in the NBA someday, he will need to be more consistent next year. He should average 15ppg and 10rpg with ease but he does not for some reason. (I will have a post about Herb Pope this week as well).
4. Jordan Theodore and Eniel Polynice played very well: JT had 12 points, 5reb, and 3ast. Polynice had 5pts, 8reb, and 6ast. However, they had a few too many turnovers and that is another big reason why we lost.
5. The Refs were atrocious. I am not going to blame the refs for the loss, but at least 5 times in the 2nd half, SHU played perfect defense and was called for a foul. Those extra FT's could be contributed greatly to our loss.

That is it for me now. I am very dissapointed about this loss and this season. Expect a season recap, a post about Jeremy Hazell and Herb Pope, a post about why I am happy I will never see JROB in a SHU uniform again, and a post about what Willard needs to do to improve his offense next year within the next week.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Game Preview: 13. Rutgers vs. 12. Seton Hall in opening round of Big East tournament

When: 2:00 P.M. on 3/8/11
Where: Madison Square Garden
What: Opening Round game between Seton Hall and Rutgers.

Key Matchups and items of this game:
1. Seton Hall must contain Jonathan Mitchell:  Mitchell is Rutgers best wing scorer and Seton Hall needs to stop him. He is a good 3pt shooter and we need to close out on him. I expect Fuquan Edwin and Eniel Polynice to cover him when we play man.
2. Seton Hall must rebound: Gilvidyas Biruta has been on a tear lately and he destroyed SHU in both games this year. Pope. JROB (Jeff Robinson), Auda, and Geramipoor need to collectively focus on boxing him out and contesting his shots.
3. Can Seton Hall continue to drain 3pt shots? In the last two games, SHU has hit 24 3pt shots. If we keep shooting with this kind of efficiency we can beat anybody.

Rutgers wins if:
1. They contain Jeremy Hazell. Dane Miller has done a great job guarding Jeremy but Haz has only been fully healthy for the last two games. Previously, he was playing with a brace that really affected him. If Dane Miller stops Jeremy and holds him to under 15 points, Rutgers will probably win.
2. Gilvidyas Biruta continues to destroy the Pirates: In both games this year, Biruta has destroyed Seton Hall. If he continues to do that and they contain Hazell, Rutgers will win with relative ease.
3. Jonathan Mitchell plays well: In the two games vs. SHU, Mitchell played well in their win, and bad in their loss. He needs to play well to give them a chance.
Seton Hall will win if:
1. Jeremy Hazell continues to play well: Hazell has been great in the last two games, scoring 31 and 21 points respectively. If he continues to score while being efficient SHU has a great chance of winning.
2. They contain Biruta and Mitchell: These are Rutgers two best players and if we hold them to under 30 points and 15 rebounds, I think Seton Hall will win.
3. They continue their hot 3pt shooting: The last two games, SHU has been incredible shooting the 3. If they continue this, they will win the game.

My Prediction: Seton Hall: 83, Rutgers: 68
Standout Player: Jeremy Hazell: 30 pts, 6reb, 3ast, 2stl

Welcome to The Seton Hall Blog

I am Adam Ross. I am 18 years old and a die hard Seton Hall fan. I will be posting the following on this site:
1. Game Previews/Recaps
2. Recruiting news
3. Season Previews
4. News about Seton Hall basketball