2006-2007 Big East Preview: #8

#8- Seton Hall Pirates

Last season: 18-12 (9-7), lost to Wichita State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Coach: Bobby Gonzalez (1st year). 0-0 at Seton Hall.

Much like their in-state rival Rutgers, Seton Hall begins a new era in 2006-2007. Gone are the inconsistencies of Louis Orr's tenure and in is a coach who doesn't tolerate losing. Last season, Seton Hall was one of the most inconsistent teams in recent memory. They lost by 53 to Duke, 42 to Connecticut, scored just 42 points in a home loss to Big Ten bottom feeder Northwestern, were down 20 points midway through the 2nd half at home vs. St. John's and won that game, beat NC State on the road by 18, beat Syracuse in the Carrier Dome, beat West Virginia, lost three consecutive games in February to Notre Dame, St. John's, and Depaul, beat Pittsburgh on the road, and ended the season with a 20 point flame out loss to Wichita State in the NCAA Tournament. If that boggles your mind, you aren't alone.

Gonzalez landed a top notch recruiting class all within the span of his first three weeks as coach. Eugene Harvey, Larry Davis, and Kashif Pratt all join the Pirate ship in 2006. Harvey will start at point guard from day one and quickly bring Hall fans back to the days of Shaheen Holloway and Andre Barrett. Davis is a sharp shooter out of Christ the King High School in New York. He originally committed to NC State, but was released from his commitment after the Herb Sendek fiasco. He will see time off the bench along with Pratt, a solid player also from New York City.

In the backcourt, Seton Hall will be led by junior guard Jamar Nutter. Nutter averaged 14.6 ppg in Big East play (12.1 overall) last season, and will be counted on to provide most of the offense with the departures of Kelly Whitney and Donald Copeland. Nutter has the talent to be all-Big East if he becomes more consistent. Davis will be his backup as mentioned above, and Gonzalez will also turn to sophomore guard Paul Gause for an offensive spark. Brian Laing also will see time at the 2-guard, but he really is a small forward and will thrive in Gonzalez's up-tempo, run 'till you puke system.

Up front, Seton Hall is VERY thin. Returning for his senior campaign is center Grant Billmeier, nothing more than a role player who is good for 5 points and 5 fouls a night. He is one of two players on the roster 6-9 or taller. The other is John Garcia who redshirted last year. Garcia figures to be back in early January after recovering from another knee surgery over the summer. He will make the Hall's frontcourt a bit more formidable come Big East play. Stan Gaines will start at the 4, but he just doesn't shoot the ball enough. He is, however, a tremendous defender who will anchor the Pirate defense.

I expect Seton Hall to be pretty good, but come up short of making the NCAA Tournament. If they get hot, I believe they can make it, but I just don't see that happening at this time. I see them hovering around .500 throughout the duration of Big East play. They have a very easy non-conference schedule, in addition to drawing Rutgers, West Virginia, and Providence twice during the Big East year. The goal for the Pirates should be 5 wins in those games. Gonzalez could win 3-4 close games by himself just by having his team conditioned and giving an all out effort for 40 minutes every night, something that was missing under the previous coach.

Schedule and predictions:

11/11 vs. Caldwell College (D2)- W
11/18 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson- W
11/25 @ Morgan State- W
11/27 vs. St. Peter's- W
12/2 vs. St. Mary's- W
12/4 vs. Monmouth- W
12/9 vs. Penn State- W
12/21 vs./@ Virginia Tech- L (Aeropostale Classic)
12/23 vs. Pennsylvania- W
12/28 vs./@ Oral Roberts- W (BYU Holiday Classic)
12/29 vs./@ Liberty- W (BYU Holiday Classic)
12/30 @ BYU- L (BYU Holiday Classic)
1/3 vs. Rutgers- W
1/6 @ Providence- L
1/11 vs. St. John's- W
1/14 @ Notre Dame- L
1/17 vs. Providence- W
1/19 vs. Georgetown- L
1/24 @ Marquette- L
1/27 @ Rutgers- W
1/29 vs. Princeton- W
2/3 vs. West Virginia- W
2/10 vs. Villanova- L
2/14 @ Connecticut- L
2/17 @ West Virginia- W
2/19 vs. Pittsburgh- L
2/24 vs. South Florida- W
2/28 @ Cincinnati- W
3/4 @ Louisville- L

Projected record: 19-10, 18-10 D1 (8-8).
Postseason: NIT 4th round.