Seton Hall Pirates
2021-2022 Overall Rank: #37
Conference Rank: #3 Big East
Conference Rank: #3 Big East
Seton Hall had their worst win percentage in a single season since 2014-15. The Pirates had made the last four NCAA Tournaments and would have gone in 2019-20 if it had not been cancelled. Kevin Willard has turned Seton Hall into a consistent contender in the Big East and it seems unlikely that they would suffer consecutive disappointing seasons. Co-Big East Player of the Year Sandro Mamukelashvili leaving will sting, but two double-digit scorers return along with experienced seven-footer Ike Obiagu. The Pirates also add a few impact transfers and a solid recruiting class which will help them get back in the NCAA Tournament discussion this season.
2020-21 Record: 14-13, 10-9
2020-21 Postseason: None
2020-21 Postseason: None
Coach: Kevin Willard
Coach Record: 205-149 at Seton Hall, 250-197 overall
Key Departed Players:
Sandro Mamukelashvili, Forward, 17.5 ppg
Shavar Reynolds, Guard, 7.7 ppg
Takal Molson, Guard, 5.3 ppg
Sandro Mamukelashvili, Forward, 17.5 ppg
Shavar Reynolds, Guard, 7.7 ppg
Takal Molson, Guard, 5.3 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Jared Rhoden, Senior, Guard, 14.9 ppg
Myles Cale, Senior, Guard, 11.6 ppg
Bryce Aiken, Senior, Guard, 5.7 ppg
Tyrese Samuel, Junior, Forward, 5.4 ppg
Ike Obiagu, Senior, Center, 4.9 ppg
Tray Jackson, Junior, Forward, 1.3 ppg
Jahari Long, Sophomore, Guard, 1.0 ppg
Jared Rhoden, Senior, Guard, 14.9 ppg
Myles Cale, Senior, Guard, 11.6 ppg
Bryce Aiken, Senior, Guard, 5.7 ppg
Tyrese Samuel, Junior, Forward, 5.4 ppg
Ike Obiagu, Senior, Center, 4.9 ppg
Tray Jackson, Junior, Forward, 1.3 ppg
Jahari Long, Sophomore, Guard, 1.0 ppg
Key New Players:
Ryan Conway, Freshman, Guard
Jamir Harris, Senior, Guard, Transfer from American
Tyler Powell, Freshman, Guard
Kadary Richmond, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Syracuse
Jo Smith, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Junior College
Brandon Weston, Freshman, Guard
Alexis Yetna, Senior, Forward, Transfer from South Florida
Ryan Conway, Freshman, Guard
Jamir Harris, Senior, Guard, Transfer from American
Tyler Powell, Freshman, Guard
Kadary Richmond, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Syracuse
Jo Smith, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Junior College
Brandon Weston, Freshman, Guard
Alexis Yetna, Senior, Forward, Transfer from South Florida
Projection:
Sandro Mamukelashvili led the Pirates in scoring and rebounding on his way to earning Co-Big East Player of the Year honors last season. His departure will be difficult to replace, but Seton Hall does still return several key pieces from last year’s team. Jared Rhoden broke out as a junior, averaging 14.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals. Rhoden could be next in line of stars that Kevin Willard has developed at Seton Hall. Myles Cale bounced back after a tough junior season and averaged 11.6 points as a senior. This year, Cale elected to return for his extra year of eligibility and gives Seton Hall a key experienced guard. 7-2 big man Ike Obiagu is also back for his senior season. Obiagu is a force on the defensive end, as he led the Big East in blocks with 2.9 per game. The play of Bryce Aiken will be a major X-factor for Seton Hall’s success this season. Aiken is entering his sixth collegiate season and his second with the Pirates. Aiken was a star at Harvard and averaged 22.2 points in 2018-19, but he’s battled injuries ever since then and never quite looked fully healthy last season. Similarly, transfer Alexis Yetna has looked like a budding star throughout his career, but has battled injuries the last couple of seasons. Yetna was AAC Rookie of the Year at South Florida in 2018-19, but he missed all of 2019-20 and was limited to 16 games last season. Jamir Harris is a transfer from American who averaged 20.5 points last season. American’s program was limited to just 10 games all season, but Harris put up monster numbers. The Big East won’t be as easy, but Harris still gives Seton Hall another experienced member of the backcourt with scoring potential. Kadary Richmond is a former top-100 recruit who averaged 6.3 points, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals in just 21 minutes per game at Syracuse last season. Seton Hall also brings in three freshmen, including four-star, top-100 recruit Brandon Weston. Kevin Willard should have more than enough talent on his roster to get the Pirates back to the NCAA Tournament this season.
Sandro Mamukelashvili led the Pirates in scoring and rebounding on his way to earning Co-Big East Player of the Year honors last season. His departure will be difficult to replace, but Seton Hall does still return several key pieces from last year’s team. Jared Rhoden broke out as a junior, averaging 14.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals. Rhoden could be next in line of stars that Kevin Willard has developed at Seton Hall. Myles Cale bounced back after a tough junior season and averaged 11.6 points as a senior. This year, Cale elected to return for his extra year of eligibility and gives Seton Hall a key experienced guard. 7-2 big man Ike Obiagu is also back for his senior season. Obiagu is a force on the defensive end, as he led the Big East in blocks with 2.9 per game. The play of Bryce Aiken will be a major X-factor for Seton Hall’s success this season. Aiken is entering his sixth collegiate season and his second with the Pirates. Aiken was a star at Harvard and averaged 22.2 points in 2018-19, but he’s battled injuries ever since then and never quite looked fully healthy last season. Similarly, transfer Alexis Yetna has looked like a budding star throughout his career, but has battled injuries the last couple of seasons. Yetna was AAC Rookie of the Year at South Florida in 2018-19, but he missed all of 2019-20 and was limited to 16 games last season. Jamir Harris is a transfer from American who averaged 20.5 points last season. American’s program was limited to just 10 games all season, but Harris put up monster numbers. The Big East won’t be as easy, but Harris still gives Seton Hall another experienced member of the backcourt with scoring potential. Kadary Richmond is a former top-100 recruit who averaged 6.3 points, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals in just 21 minutes per game at Syracuse last season. Seton Hall also brings in three freshmen, including four-star, top-100 recruit Brandon Weston. Kevin Willard should have more than enough talent on his roster to get the Pirates back to the NCAA Tournament this season.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.3 (173rd in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 69.7 (154, 5)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.1 (170, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.1 (165, 7)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.7 (235, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.1 (251, 9)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.2 (88, 5)
Rebound Margin: 0.2 (178, 6)
Assists Per Game: 12.9 (195, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.0 (159, 8)
Madness 2021 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#75 Brandon Weston
#133 Ryan Conway
#135 Tyler Powell
