1/8 Nova at Seton Hall 7p ET CBSSN

[GumbyDamnit!]

Very proud of the effort tonight by Seton Hall. Facing the 8th ranked team in the country and missing arguably their 2 most valuable players, and they were right there pretty much the whole game. The game was certainly closer than the final score indicates. The Hall was very resilient and 'Nova didn't really put them away until the final minute or 2.

Considering they were missing 2 players, big props to the SHU players for giving it their all and playing well. Not to nit pick your comment above but SHU never got closer than 9 pts in the final 10 minutes. Not sure that signaled that the game was ever in doubt.

[Lavinwood]

I think SJ has a real chance to knockout Nova

1) Because it's been a while since we beat them…aka years
2) At MSG where we play our best
3) Because we came so close vs. #2 Cuse and hung with now #4 Wisconsin. We just got blown out back to back games shooting as bad as a man with his eyes closed. I just feel it's long overdue. A team that keeps losing close ones to good teams is due to take one sooner than later.
4) Because it makes zero sense and that's what SJ does…just like in 2011 we lose to Northeastern then ravage Duke.
5) Because we have to win a Big East game at some point

Then again, Nova can just as easily win by 30. The fact that a weakened PC beat a G'Town team by 20 that just raped us may indicate that the loss was even worse than expected. Losing big vs. Nova will cement the fact that the team is now a circus and Lavin hasn't the slightest clue.

[Hall2012]

Very proud of the effort tonight by Seton Hall. Facing the 8th ranked team in the country and missing arguably their 2 most valuable players, and they were right there pretty much the whole game. The game was certainly closer than the final score indicates. The Hall was very resilient and 'Nova didn't really put them away until the final minute or 2.

Considering they were missing 2 players, big props to the SHU players for giving it their all and playing well. Not to nit pick your comment above but SHU never got closer than 9 pts in the final 10 minutes. Not sure that signaled that the game was ever in doubt.

They never really threatened to steal it, but 9 points is still very much within striking distance. The point is, short Teague and Edwin (not just any 2 players, 2 who could start on any Big East team) SHU had every excuse to just roll over and get blown out, but they didn't. They hung around the whole whole time and were really just a break or 2 falling their way from being a serious threat. The way they played tonight against the clear #1 team in the conference, I'm confident that when (if) fully healthy, this SHU team will be fully capable of beating the middle tear and even upper middle tear teams in this conference.

[Lavinwood]

Very proud of the effort tonight by Seton Hall. Facing the 8th ranked team in the country and missing arguably their 2 most valuable players, and they were right there pretty much the whole game. The game was certainly closer than the final score indicates. The Hall was very resilient and 'Nova didn't really put them away until the final minute or 2.

Considering they were missing 2 players, big props to the SHU players for giving it their all and playing well. Not to nit pick your comment above but SHU never got closer than 9 pts in the final 10 minutes. Not sure that signaled that the game was ever in doubt.

They never really threatened to steal it, but 9 points is still very much within striking distance. The point is, short Teague and Edwin (not just any 2 players, 2 who could start on any Big East team) SHU had every excuse to just roll over and get blown out, but they didn't. They hung around the whole whole time and were really just a break or 2 falling their way from being a serious threat. The way they played tonight against the clear #1 team in the conference, I'm confident that when (if) fully healthy, this SHU team will be fully capable of beating the middle tear and even upper middle tear teams in this conference.

We lost to #2 Cuse by 5 then got blown out by Xavier and G'Town who just got killed by PC. I wouldn't get too excited yet. I need to see a bigger sample size from SHU.

[Friarfan2]

I don't think the score was different than how the game was played. Pretty dominant effort by nova all night. Pulled out to a double digit lead, seton hall never really got it to within 5, and the score hovered from 7-15 pt lead for nova most of the night. I never once thought the game was in doubt.

I do think seton hall's players are better than the sum of their parts. No excuse for that group of players to lose to mercer or fdu or st peters. They have some talent.

Hey, if some of their upperclassment can continue to improve, they might be able to develop something. I'm not all down on seton hall. I just am not impressed with what I have seen with their coach.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Very proud of the effort tonight by Seton Hall. Facing the 8th ranked team in the country and missing arguably their 2 most valuable players, and they were right there pretty much the whole game. The game was certainly closer than the final score indicates. The Hall was very resilient and 'Nova didn't really put them away until the final minute or 2.

Considering they were missing 2 players, big props to the SHU players for giving it their all and playing well. Not to nit pick your comment above but SHU never got closer than 9 pts in the final 10 minutes. Not sure that signaled that the game was ever in doubt.

They never really threatened to steal it, but 9 points is still very much within striking distance. The point is, short Teague and Edwin (not just any 2 players, 2 who could start on any Big East team) SHU had every excuse to just roll over and get blown out, but they didn't. They hung around the whole whole time and were really just a break or 2 falling their way from being a serious threat. The way they played tonight against the clear #1 team in the conference, I'm confident that when (if) fully healthy, this SHU team will be fully capable of beating the middle tear and even upper middle tear teams in this conference.

2012 if I were a fan of SHU, this year would frustrate me. I agree that you guys clearly have enough talent to threaten 6-7 place in the league, and make a post season tourney (NIT). Injuries always suck and it's particularly been tough on you guys and PC this year. What you'd want to find out this year is if Willard can coach. If he showed the ability to maximize talent, knock off a couple good to very good teams, and start building a "we're not going to back down to anyone" mentality then you can start to see a base being built. Now start mixing in a higher class of talent with returning players who can teach the young guys how to truly prepare and compete at this level, and SHU will start climbing up the conf ladder. My fear is that IW is to SHU what Rosario was to Rutgers. He comes in without good upper classmen role models, into a program that doesn't know how to win, with a coach that hasn't yet figured how to run a big time program, and little changes. I really hope you guys can at least figure out if Willard truly can coach them up. Because if that is still the big question mark going into next year, frustrations might continue.

I hope you don't see my comments as anything other than being honest and in wanting SHU to do well. Good luck the rest of the way, other than your visit to Nova.

[Hall2012]

2012 if I were a fan of SHU, this year would frustrate me. I agree that you guys clearly have enough talent to threaten 6-7 place in the league, and make a post season tourney (NIT). Injuries always suck and it's particularly been tough on you guys and PC this year. What you'd want to find out this year is if Willard can coach. If he showed the ability to maximize talent, knock off a couple good to very good teams, and start building a "we're not going to back down to anyone" mentality then you can start to see a base being built. Now start mixing in a higher class of talent with returning players who can teach the young guys how to truly prepare and compete at this level, and SHU will start climbing up the conf ladder. My fear is that IW is to SHU what Rosario was to Rutgers. He comes in without good upper classmen role models, into a program that doesn't know how to win, with a coach that hasn't yet figured how to run a big time program, and little changes. I really hope you guys can at least figure out if Willard truly can coach them up. Because if that is still the big question mark going into next year, frustrations might continue.

I hope you don't see my comments as anything other than being honest and in wanting SHU to do well. Good luck the rest of the way, other than your visit to Nova.

I don't disagree with you regarding next year. Seton Hall is bringing in a lot of talent, but they're still all freshman and the Hall is losing a lot for next year- Edwin, Teague, and Oliver, as well as Aaron Geramipoor are all graduating seniors. The incoming freshman may be able to adequately replace them talent-wise, but they can't replace the experience and leadership. Leaning heavily on a freshman is a dangerous thing. As much as they want to make Whitehead the "face of the program," they need to keep his ego in check and make sure he knows his role. They'll still have Sterling Gibbs a year better, and a couple of good seniors in Auda and Mobley (both of whom will hopefully develop into strong leaders). IW may instantly become the go to scorer, but the point guard and seniors need to be the ones in control.

[TheHall]

I don't disagree with you regarding next year. Seton Hall is bringing in a lot of talent, but they're still all freshman and the Hall is losing a lot for next year- Edwin, Teague, and Oliver, as well as Aaron Geramipoor are all graduating seniors. The incoming freshman may be able to adequately replace them talent-wise, but they can't replace the experience and leadership. Leaning heavily on a freshman is a dangerous thing. As much as they want to make Whitehead the "face of the program," they need to keep his ego in check and make sure he knows his role. They'll still have Sterling Gibbs a year better, and a couple of good seniors in Auda and Mobley (both of whom will hopefully develop into strong leaders). IW may instantly become the go to scorer, but the point guard and seniors need to be the ones in control.

Not sure what you mean by either of these statements. Plenty of top 25 teams are depending heavily on freshman right now, too many to bother listing. Depending totally on freshman like St. John's, Rutgers, even Kentucky a few years ago is dicey, but that's not going to be the case at SHU with a core of Gibbs, Sina, Auda & Mobley returning.

As far as IW having an ego, you have to back that up. Dude has been a humble promoter of the Seton Hall program since committing, not himself. He's a true PG who leads his team & gets teammates like Desi Rodriguez involved on offense. He's helping recruit players who he probably won't even be at SHU to play with in 2016 & 2017. Make sure he knows his role? C'mon man, his role is PG.

[Hall2012]

I don't disagree with you regarding next year. Seton Hall is bringing in a lot of talent, but they're still all freshman and the Hall is losing a lot for next year- Edwin, Teague, and Oliver, as well as Aaron Geramipoor are all graduating seniors. The incoming freshman may be able to adequately replace them talent-wise, but they can't replace the experience and leadership. Leaning heavily on a freshman is a dangerous thing. As much as they want to make Whitehead the "face of the program," they need to keep his ego in check and make sure he knows his role. They'll still have Sterling Gibbs a year better, and a couple of good seniors in Auda and Mobley (both of whom will hopefully develop into strong leaders). IW may instantly become the go to scorer, but the point guard and seniors need to be the ones in control.

Not sure what you mean by either of these statements. Plenty of top 25 teams are depending heavily on freshman right now, too many to bother listing. Depending totally on freshman like St. John's, Rutgers, even Kentucky a few years ago is dicey, but that's not going to be the case at SHU with a core of Gibbs, Sina, Auda & Mobley returning.

As far as IW having an ego, you have to back that up. Dude has been a humble promoter of the Seton Hall program since committing, not himself. He's a true PG who leads his team & gets teammates like Desi Rodriguez involved on offense. He's helping recruit players who he probably won't even be at SHU to play with in 2016 & 2017. Make sure he knows his role? C'mon man, his role is PG.

He's more of a shooting guard than a point guard- we can call him a combo guard if you want. As far as a big ego, can't really say I'm all that sure. His quote in the zagsblog article you posted over in recruiting conerns me a bit though. Speaking about if Briscoe joins him at SHU- "I don't think anybody could beat us." Maybe I'm reading into it too much, but thinking thinking he's unbeatable before ever playing a college game could be a slight cause for concern. The fact that he seems to expect to be 1 and done doesn't help either.

I'm not saying I think IW is gonna be but at Seton Hall. I think he will do well. I'm just saying don't expect him to be a savior and instantly turn SHU into a top 10 team or something. The potential is there, but it's not as simple as throwing him a ball and telling him to play. Willard's just gotta manage his team well and get the players to gel.

[TheHall]

He's more of a shooting guard than a point guard- we can call him a combo guard if you want. As far as a big ego, can't really say I'm all that sure. His quote in the zagsblog article you posted over in recruiting conerns me a bit though. Speaking about if Briscoe joins him at SHU- "I don't think anybody could beat us." Maybe I'm reading into it too much, but thinking thinking he's unbeatable before ever playing a college game could be a slight cause for concern. The fact that he seems to expect to be 1 and done doesn't help either.

I'm not saying I think IW is gonna be but at Seton Hall. I think he will do well. I'm just saying don't expect him to be a savior and instantly turn SHU into a top 10 team or something. The potential is there, but it's not as simple as throwing him a ball and telling him to play. Willard's just gotta manage his team well and get the players to gel.

No way Hall...you gotta watch him play more, he is a PG. The stereotype is at 6-5 he must be a combo, but why. People are assuming either he can't shoot or doesn't pass, neither is true at the hs level. If you want to say you don't think he can play PG at the next level so be it we will see. But he's not Lance Stevenson (combo guard) he's Deron Williams. Khadeen Carrington is a combo guard, and a good one, IW game is nothing like KC's game.

Seton Hall signee Isaiah Whitehead put his passing ability and court vision on full display against Montverde at the 2013 City of Palms Classic. Whitehead is a fearless competitor that is not only one of the most consistent players, but is amongst the top overall guards in the nation. Stay tuned for more of the Brooklyn native and City of Palms Classic, coming soon from Scarberry Media.

On the ego thing, lighten up man, he's recruiting for us. What's he supposed to say to get Briscoe to come here- we'll be OK if you come to SHU. The importance for SHU to follow up 2014 with a great 2015 class can't be understated so I'm glad he's out there promoting future success at the Hall. Also if you noticed in the Zags article, IB agreed with IW!