Seton Hall Gets Massive Pick In Big East: ‘They’re just playing right into Sha’s hands’
NEW YORK — Last year, Seton Hall was predicted to finish ninth in the 11-team Big East, but they surprised everyone by finishing fourth and missing out on an NCAA Tournament bid before ultimately winning the NIT championship.
This year, with a revamped roster, the coaches have picked the Pirates to finish 10th, providing Shaheen Holloway’s team with added motivation and bulletin-board material as they head into the 2024-25 college basketball season.
“They’re playing right into Sha’s hands by doing this,” Seton Hall AD Bryan Felt told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday at Big East Media Day at Madison Square Garden. “That’s what it is—just that.”
Felt highlighted Holloway’s track record, noting, “If you look at his history as a coach, both at Saint Peter’s and here, he’s been underestimated, but he has consistently overachieved. I fully expect him to do it again, and I believe this team will follow suit.”
.@UConnMBB picked to win the Big East@StJohnsBBall 5th@SetonHallMBB 10th https://t.co/i80tgVCQkc
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) October 23, 2024
Holloway, who led Saint Peter’s to an Elite Eight and won an NIT title with Seton Hall, maintained his usual composure when asked about being selected 10th.
“It is what it is, brother,” Holloway stated. “It’s crazy that people have the time to sit around and evaluate other teams. I’m not focused on anyone else; I let my assistant coaches handle that.”
He added, “If you know me, I don’t really care if we finish first or last.”
With eight new transfers and two freshmen, Holloway emphasized his enjoyment of the team’s depth, noting he plans to use 10-11 players, similar to how he did at Saint Peter’s during their Elite Eight run.
“You know me and my teams; we improve as the season progresses,” Holloway said. “Right now, I’m happy with where we are, but I believe we’re going to be really good.”
The Pirates lost key players including Kadary Richmond, now an All-Big East First-Team selection at St. John’s, as well as Dre Davis (Ole Miss) and Al Dawes (Greece). However, Holloway has learned not to get too attached to players in the transfer-heavy environment.
“My wife really connected with Dre Davis and the mother of his child, and I told her not to get too attached moving forward. Just focus on the school and the name on the front of the jersey, not the back because every year will be like this,” he said. “We all have to adapt; that’s just how it is.”
Some returning players, including sophomore wing Isaiah Coleman, are expected to take on larger roles.
“I definitely am,” Coleman told NJ Advance Media, stating that the departures of Richmond, Davis, and Dawes “give me more space to operate, to be honest.”
He continued, “I’ll be more involved in play-making and handling the ball.”
Coleman, along with his teammates, expressed his surprise at missing out on the NCAA Tournament last year, aiming to secure a spot in the Field of 68 this season.
“It hurt us; we were definitely supposed to be in there, I feel,” Coleman reflected. “That experience helped us win the NIT championship, and that became our history.”
Felt mentioned he has observed practices and believes “the sky is the limit” for Holloway’s new team, despite the 10th-place prediction.
“I’ve spent time with this group, and I believe they’re truly special with a lot of talent,” he stated. “The way he runs practices is very high-energy and intense. He’ll carry that same energy onto the court, so it’s hard to predict how we’ll perform—honestly, the sky’s the limit.”