Gibbs is Gone

[Irishdawg]

Interestingly...Yahoo Sports named Marquette as a possible suitor (just speculation on their part as far as I know). Is there a graduate student exception to the no intra-conference transfer rule? Or does the writer just have no clue what he's talking about?

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/seton-hall-transfer-sterling-gibbs-will-have-a-long-list-of-suitors-201421145.html

Adam Zagoria ‏@AdamZagoria 4m4 minutes ago Manhattan, NY
One coach estimated 35-40 schools would ask for a release on Sterling Gibbs, who can't transfer to a Big East school per league rules.

[XUFan09]

Disagree. Gibbs was seton hall's best player.Don't think this helps them.

Disagree with your disagreement.

During the 8 conference games in which Seton Hall did not have Whitehead:
Average offensive rating - 1.05
Average defensive rating - 1.07
Sterling Gibbs' average offensive rating - 1.17

During the 11 conference games after Whitehead's return:
Average offensive rating - 0.98
Average defensive rating - 1.14
Sterling Gibbs' average offensive rating - 1.02

part of Seton Hall's drop in offensive efficiency was Whitehead simply returning because he was not efficient offensively this year. However, the precipitous drop in their defensive efficiency paired with Gibbs' drop-off in offensive production and issues that he suddenly started having both on the court and in the locker room, it appeared to me to be a pretty toxic situation. Based on Williard's decision to bring on Tiny Morton in order to get Whitehead, as well as to help get Delgado, Rodriguez and Carrington, it's kind of a no brainer on Gibbs being the guy to leave. It should improve the environment in the locker room, but how much that helps the Pirates on-court performance remains to be seen.

Gibbs leaving as opposed to Whitehead, et. al., is probably the best situation, but it's still unfortunate, because he is really good. If they could have functioned on the court together, Seton Hall would have been very dangerous. They'll still be good, but Gibbs + good chemistry would have been worth a few more wins.

I guess Whitehead is the starting point guard now? Though he paired it with a high turnover rate this season, he's the only returning player with a good assist rate, and no doubt he has playmaking ability.

[Jet915]

Seton Hall wasnt gonna do anything with Gibbs due to the chemistry issues anyway. Maybe they might function better without him, either way, they probably arent gonna make the tourney either way.

[hoyahooligan]

a VT graduate senior transferred to GT this offseason. From my understanding the rules don't ban you from transferring within the BE you just are required to sit out 2 years instead of the usual 1 year. But it seems like there may be an exception to that rule for graduate transfers, so he might be able to end up in conference.

as for whether or not Seton Hall is better with out Gibbs we'll just have to agree to disagree. Here's how I would rank the possible iterations of Seton Hall next year:

1) Seton Hall with Gibbs and Whitehead and them getting along
2) Seton Hall with Gibbs and No Whitehead
3) Seton Hall with Gibbs and Whitehead but them not getting along
4) Seton Hall without Gibbs, but with Whitehead

Gibbs is a much better player than Whitehead. Willard was an idiot to give the keys to the freshmen last year and not his upperclassmen. He destroyed that teams chemistry when he put whitehead above the upperclassmen.

[Irishdawg]

Gibbs is a much better player than Whitehead. Willard was an idiot to give the keys to the freshmen last year and not his upperclassmen. He destroyed that teams chemistry when he put whitehead above the upperclassmen.

This much I can definitely agree with. But when you've kind of sold your soul in order to get this 5 star freshman and his talented friends, not bending over backwards to make him happy and favoring Gibbs (whether it makes more sense to do it that way or not) is just a quicker ticket to the unemployment line for Willard as well as his assistants.

I don't think either player handled adversity particularly well last season, and it appeared to infect their entire team and as you said, that's on Willard. I'm not close to the program at all, but I have to think that if they have another year like last season, this is probably it for him.

[BEhomer]

I agree gibbs was the best player on that team but when he was in the game their offense was stagnant. he holds the ball too long and takes too many last sec shots. with IW i see him at least forcing the drive to the basket and looking for his teammates.

Didn't like gibbs body language either especially after the suspension. he looked like he was going thru the motions.

I expect to see better chemistry next year and i will take that over any individual player. I also believe a year like last year makes you a better coach. I would give willard one good last look next year and judge him based on how this team performs.

[stever20]

Sounds like Gibbs going to UConn
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports. ... -to-uconn/

what is interesting about this as well- Gibbs has a brother who is rated #66 in 2016's class. So will be interesting to see if this gets UConn the younger brother as well.... Though the story said they haven't been involved with him yet- would think that could change pretty quickly.

[hoyahooligan]

Sounds like Gibbs going to UConn
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports. ... -to-uconn/

what is interesting about this as well- Gibbs has a brother who is rated #66 in 2016's class. So will be interesting to see if this gets UConn the younger brother as well.... Though the story said they haven't been involved with him yet- would think that could change pretty quickly.

Uconn was already involved in Temple's recruitment despite what that article says.

[friars321]

Providence has been strongly recruiting the younger Temple Gibbs.
Hopefully this turn of events does not allow Uconn to steal him.

[XUFan09]

Providence has been strongly recruiting the younger Temple Gibbs.
Hopefully this turn of events does not allow Uconn to steal him.

Temple Gibbs might have more Big East schools after him than any other recruit in the 2016 class.

Xavier
Providence
St. John's
Georgetown
Seton Hall (who knows if they stay on this list)