Seeing Seton Hall beat Xavier over the weekend got me thinking. Last year at around this time Seton Hall looked like a complete train wreck. Remember we beat them in the BE tourney by 20+ and it really wasn't that close. People were calling for Kevin Willard's head.
So today a year later SH sits firmly in the BE top 3 having just beat #5 Xavier. So what changed. Of the 9 players that played for SH in the final game against MU a year ago, 6 were freshman. SH was particularly inexperienced in the backcourt. But now four of those freshman lead SH in scoring as Sophomores and they are winning and heading to the NCAA tournament.
The comparison to MU this year is pretty apparent. SH did add a transfer Gordon who has helped but they are mostly the same guys a year older. I believe MU is much better now than SH was at the end of last season. And that offsets somewhat the likelihood that Henry will not be here next year.
Just some thing to help keep perspective regardless of what plays out over the next 2 weeks.
Quote from: NotAnAlum on February 29, 2016, 12:40:45 PM
Seeing Seton Hall beat Xavier over the weekend got me thinking. Last year at around this time Seton Hall looked like a complete train wreck. Remember we beat them in the BE tourney by 20+ and it really wasn't that close. People were calling for Kevin Willard's head.
So today a year later SH sits firmly in the BE top 3 having just beat #5 Xavier. So what changed. Of the 9 players that played for SH in the final game against MU a year ago, 6 were freshman. SH was particularly inexperienced in the backcourt. But now four of those freshman lead SH in scoring as Sophomores and they are winning and heading to the NCAA tournament.
The comparison to MU this year is pretty apparent. SH did add a transfer Gordon who has helped but they are mostly the same guys a year older. I believe MU is much better now than SH was at the end of last season. And that offsets somewhat the likelihood that Henry will not be here next year.
Just some thing to help keep perspective regardless of what plays out over the next 2 weeks.
Also lost Sterling Gibbs who is a great player.
Quote from: JamilJaeJamailJrJuan on February 29, 2016, 12:49:54 PM
Also lost Sterling Gibbs who is a great player.
While I don't believe that Sterling Gibbs was responsible for the lack of team chemistry that led to Seton Hall's implosion last year, he was certainly in the middle of the blast. Sterling's moving on has therefore had a big positive impact on their team, in spite of the loss of his considerable skills. For whatever reason, the rest of the team was behind Whitehead in his dispute with Gibbs.
Quote from: NotAnAlum on February 29, 2016, 12:40:45 PM
Seeing Seton Hall beat Xavier over the weekend got me thinking. Last year at around this time Seton Hall looked like a complete train wreck. Remember we beat them in the BE tourney by 20+ and it really wasn't that close. People were calling for Kevin Willard's head.
So today a year later SH sits firmly in the BE top 3 having just beat #5 Xavier. So what changed. Of the 9 players that played for SH in the final game against MU a year ago, 6 were freshman. SH was particularly inexperienced in the backcourt. But now four of those freshman lead SH in scoring as Sophomores and they are winning and heading to the NCAA tournament.
The comparison to MU this year is pretty apparent. SH did add a transfer Gordon who has helped but they are mostly the same guys a year older. I believe MU is much better now than SH was at the end of last season. And that offsets somewhat the likelihood that Henry will not be here next year.
Just some thing to help keep perspective regardless of what plays out over the next 2 weeks.
It's not just them being a year older, although that is undoubtedly a big part. Whitehead's conflicts first with Sina and then with Gibbs (the team's starting point guards at the the time of each conflict) had Seton Hall playing against itself from the time of their last top 25 ranking sometime in January through the end of the year.
Quote from: Crean to Ann Arbor on February 29, 2016, 12:56:40 PM
While I don't believe that Sterling Gibbs was responsible for the lack of team chemistry that led to Seton Hall's implosion last year, he was certainly in the middle of the blast. Sterling's moving on has therefore had a big positive impact on their team, in spite of the loss of his considerable skills. For whatever reason, the rest of the team was behind Whitehead in his dispute with Gibbs.
Yes. I am guessing Whitehead wanted it to be "his" team, and Gibbs, the JS junior took exception to that. Maybe the younger guys sided with Whitehead, or maybe Gibbs just decided to take his talents elsewhere and not deal with the BS from Whitehead. Either way, they lost a great player.
Wonder if Gibbs contributing to the underachievement so far of UConn?
Quote from: gepsguys on February 29, 2016, 01:16:02 PM
Wonder if Gibbs contributing to the underachievement so far of UConn?
His stats were better last year......http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/57408/sterling-gibbs
Seth Davis wrote this today
• I was more bullish on UConn to start the season than most people, but I have to say the Huskies have been a disappointment, primarily because Sterling Gibbs has not played well since the start of conference play. When Gibbs was at Seton Hall, he was the best and oldest player on a mediocre, young team. So he had the ball in his hands and could shoot whenever he wanted. Now, however, Kevin Ollie has asked him to play point guard and run a team. Gibbs has never had to do that, and he doesn't really know how. It is obvious he has lost confidence in his outside shot, which is fatal. UConn had a chance to strengthen its tourney chances over the weekend, but it lost to Houston in Gampel Pavilion. That's not a good look
Seton Hall has some serious size. MU, as the roster is currently and assuming Henry's departure, does not. Other than that, yes, there are certainly lessons to be learned.
Quote from: Crean to Ann Arbor on February 29, 2016, 12:56:40 PM
While I don't believe that Sterling Gibbs was responsible for the lack of team chemistry that led to Seton Hall's implosion last year, he was certainly in the middle of the blast. Sterling's moving on has therefore had a big positive impact on their team, in spite of the loss of his considerable skills. For whatever reason, the rest of the team was behind Whitehead in his dispute with Gibbs.
That's because the rest of the team is at Seton Hall only because of Whitehead. Willard promised his coach (Tiny Morton) an assistant job and his best friend (Khadeen Carrington) a scholarship. Morton then told Desi Rodriguez the only place he could play in college is at the Hall. Throw in Angel Delgado who committed before Whitehead but knew Whitehead was getting a deal in South Orange and you have the interesting makings of a program.
MU's young players should make less mistakes next year and be physically stronger. I think the strength of Villanova's players hurt us more than anything.