Seton Hall Pirates
2019-2020 Overall Rank: #19
Conference Rank: #2 Big East
Seton Hall has been a very good team lately, but success in the NCAA Tournament continues to elude them. Last year the Pirates won 20 or more games for the fourth straight season, but bowed out of the tournament in the first round. The return of Myles Powell could lead to a deeper run. The senior is one of the best scorers in the country and averaged 23.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals last season. Powell can take this team a long way, but three other starters are back too and that makes this a very experienced Pirates team that can compete for a Big East title after finishing third in each of the last four years.
2018-19 Record: 20-14, 9-9
2018-19 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Kevin Willard
Coach Record: 169-126 at Seton Hall, 214, 175 overall
Key Departed Players:
Michael Nzei, Forward, 9.0 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Myles Powell, Senior, Guard, 23.1 ppg
Myles Cale, Junior, Guard/Forward, 10.2 ppg
Quincy McKnight, Senior, Guard, 9.4 ppg
Sandro Mamukelashvili, Junior, Forward, 8.7 ppg
Taurean Thompson, Junior, Forward, 4.6 ppg
Jared Rhoden, Sophomore, Guard/Forward, 3.4 ppg
Anthony Nelson, Sophomore, Guard, 2.4 ppg
Romaro Gill, Senior, Center, 2.3 ppg
Shavar Reynolds Jr, Junior, Guard, 2.0 ppg
Darnell Brodie, Sophomore, Forward, 0.8 ppg
Key New Players:
Ike Obiagu, Soiphomore, Center, Transfer from Florida State
Tyrese Samuel, Freshman, Forward
Projection:
Myles Cale and Quincy McKnight will join Powell in the backcourt. Cale was second on the team in scoring last year and is another dangerous outside shooting threat. McKnight is a decent scorer as well, but he will make a bigger impact with his passing and defensive abilities. If McKnight can be more consistent shooting the ball, it would keep the opposition honest. Anthony Nelson, Jared Rhoden and Shavar Reynolds are all back to add quality depth to the perimeter. The frontcourt must replace Michael Nzei, the only consistent interior scoring threat on the team. Sandro Mamukelashvili had a decent sophomore season, averaging 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds. He will stretch the defense with his outside shot, but has not been particularly consistent. Taurean Thompson showed some flashes as a sophomore and Tyrese Samuel is a versatile athletic forward who has the potential to make an impact as a freshman. But it will likely be the other newcomer, Florida State transfer Ike Obiagu, who makes the biggest impact in the frontcourt. The 7-2 sophomore may not be the interior scoring threat this team needs, but he will make a big impact on the other end of the floor. This is a deep and talented Seton Hall team. Winning 20 games again should not be a problem at all and from there it is all about finally having some NCAA Tournament success.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.8 (132nd in nation, 6th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 71.8 (188, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 43.9 (201, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.8 (119, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.1 (245, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.4 (278, 10)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.6 (173, 7)
Rebound Margin: 0.0 (194, 8)
Assists Per Game: 13.6 (169, 8)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.4 (125, 4)
