Seton Hall Basketball

Seton Hall got a verbal commitment from local product Isaiah Whitehead on Thursday, per Justin Tasch of The New York Daily News. That has turned some heads because Seton Hall is Seton Hall, a program without an NCAA tournament bid since 2006, and Whitehead is the 14th-ranked player in the class of 2014, according to Rivals.com. 

But what turned even more heads is what's believed to be the tactic for landing Whitehead. Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard, according to sources of The New York Post, is expected to hire Whitehead's high school coach, Dwayne "Tiny" Morgan. 

The knee-jerk response is that's dirty. 

Willard, you could say, stooped to a low level to get Whitehead. And maybe he did. 

But the NCAA has not outlawed such a practice, and Willard is coaching for his career. He needs players to turn Seton Hall, a once proud program, back into a winner. And Whitehead is a player. 

So is it really dirty? Or is it good business? 

Morton made it known last June that he wanted to be a Division-I assistant when St. John's assistant Mike Dunlap left to be the head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. 

It was no secret that Morton wanted to be a D-1 assistant, and you could say he has some credentials past coaching Whitehead. 

For 16 seasons, Morton has been the head coach at Lincoln High in Coney Island, one of the most well-known programs on the East Coast because it's produced players like Sebastian Telfair and Lance Stephenson. Morton was also the director of the AAU Juice All-Stars. 

It's not a stretch to say Morton could help Seton Hall in recruiting. It's not a stretch to say Morton could bring some value to the Seton Hall program. 

Maybe it is a stretch to say that Morton would never been in this position without Whitehead, Telfair or Stephenson. 

Coaching is a business, and it's difficult to make a move upward. And who you know—or who you coach—can be as valuable as anything else. 

Morton has value because of who he has coached and the relationships he has developed in the basketball community.

Every coaching staff has room for X and O guys and for recruiters. You have to find a healthy blend. Who are we to say that Morton cannot be a valuable asset? 

He believed he could be. He went out of his way to let St. John's know he was interested last year. And St. John's just so happens to be the school that finished as runner-up for Whitehead.

Yes, Morton played the game. So did Willard. And they did so, as far as we know, within the rules. 

It could blow up in their faces or it could turn into a relationship that benefits all parties involved. 

It's a risk, yes. Good business usually is.

The Seton Hall Pirates were robbed of a 2012 NCAA tournament appearance and given the consolation prize of a No. 1 seed in the NIT.

You can see Seton Hall’s region and the rest of the bracket right here.

While this isn’t what the team was looking for or expecting after a 20-12 year in which it beat No. 8 ranked Georgetown and UConn and started out 15-2.  However, the Pirates' stumble down the stretch doomed them and an early exit to Louisville in the Big East tournament was the nail in the coffin.

Now the Pirates are poised to make a deep run through the NIT and end their season on a positive note.

They have an easy matchup against Stony Brook to start the competition off before it gets a bit tougher against either Mississippi State or UMass.

However, this Seton Hall squad is angry about being snubbed and will take out their aggression on their opponents.

In an Associated Press story, it was rough for the Pirate seniors, which will give them extra motivation, according to coach Kevin Willard.

My two seniors (Jordan Theodore and Herb Pope) took it hard. Really hard. It was tough to console them, because it was a really emotional time for both of them. They both gave so much this year to us, and both have come through so much at this university.

Here are some other teams that also have a chance to make some noise in the NIT.

Miami (FL)

The Hurricanes are a good program that beat Duke and Florida State, two top-seeded NCAA tournament teams.

Their interior presence and overall all-around game will help them beat up on some of the lesser foes in this event.

St. Joseph’s

The Hawks were bound to head to the tournament as the A-10’s automatic bid, but were routed by St. Bonaventure before the finals of the conference tourney.

They’ll settle for an NIT spot and should do quite well. 

As the brackets were revealed, Seton Hall kept its fingers crossed as they held hope they would be included in the big dance.

Region after region, no Seton Hall.

The Tournament Selection Committee decided that the 20-12 Pirates were not worthy to contend for the National Championship.

Winning only five of their last 15 games, the Pirates disappointing stretch led to their demise. Early in the season, the Pirates went 15-2, on the verge of a breakout season. 

As always in the Big East, the tough conference schedule seemed to expose the Pirates.

In their final regular season game, the Pirates dropped a 86-58 decision to lowly DePaul. This loss was a terrible way to make an impression with the committee. Being that Seton Hall did not make a deep run in the Big East Tournament, the loss to DePaul was essentially the final mark on their resume.

Although they were able to beat Providence and play Louisville tough in the conference tournament, the committee wanted to ensure that the teams selected were playing their best at this point in the season. This was certainly not the case for the Pirates. For the sixth-straight season, Seton Hall is nowhere to be found on the bracket.

The Big East led all conferences with nine included in the tournament.

He averaged 15.2 points per game, while leading the team in rebounding with 10.3 per game.

Next up, Seton Hall will accept their invitation to the NIT. Although disappointed about missing out on the big dance, a successful showing in the NIT is always a great way to cap off a season (especially for seniors).

With Seniors Jordan Theodore and Herb Pope leaving this year, the Pirates will need to find leadership on their roster going forward.

Theodore, the Paterson Catholic product, was a crafty point guard who's knowledge of the offense and ability to see the court will be sorely missed. He led the team in points (16) and assists (6.7) per game during his senior year.

Pope, the New Mexico State transfer, was an emotional leader on and off the court for the Pirates. His feel-good comeback story inspired the Pirates to perform well, with Pope's talent always shining on the court. His strength and aggressiveness on both ends of the court will be tough to immediately replace.

Head Coach Kevin Willard will look to a strong recruiting class to help a strong core of young players next season. Willard showed flashes of brilliance this year, something he looks to get back to after a productive off-season.

It's now old news that pint-sized Baltimore legend Aquille Carr shocked the country when he chose to continue his basketball career with the upstart Seton Hall Pirates last week. 

Now that all the dust has settled on his recruitment, there is another question looming on the horizon. What stars can he convince to make South Orange their future college home? 

One hot name that has surfaced in rumors is well-traveled 2013 shooting guard Chris Thomas. The 6'5" Denver native is spending this season at South Kent Prep School in Connecticut. While there is no denying his talent, considering that he's one of the top 20 players in America in his class, he carries some baggage. 

He has crisscrossed the country playing for several different high schools, and has had attitude issues in the past.

That being said, his talent is undeniable. He already has the body of an NBA shooting guard, he is exceptional in transition and is a smooth shooter. He is also an explosive athlete who is a creative passer.

If the 5'7" Carr can help lure the star shooting guard to Seton Hall, they would be a monster two-man class and most likely become the most explosive freshman backcourt in America. 

If Chris Thomas doesn't work out, there are a plethora of other high-level prospects that the Pirates are in the mix with. 

As we know, the state of New Jersey is always home to some of the most talented high school programs in the country, which are loaded with elite players. By landing a commitment as resounding as Aquille Carr's, a new door could be opened to Seton Hall.

Could it be possible that local kids will want to stay close to home and suit up for games at the Prudential Center? 

With Aquille Carr, anything is possible.

When you have played eight minutes in your entire college basketball career, finding ways to entertain yourself on the bench is a must.

Just ask Seton Hall senior guard Peter Gill.

Gill may be averaging one point and one rebound per game, but he leads the team in ridiculous celebrations.

ESPN took the liberty of providing us with a few of his high (or is it low?) lights:

First it was last year’s Big East tournament where Seton Hall drilled a three to tie up Rutgers as time was expiring. Gill leaped out of his seat and did the patented touchdown belt move that Aaron Rodgers coined and is now seen endless on that annoying State Farm commercial. It’s like he knew the three was going in and was ready for the move.

Then in last night 75-63 upset win over No. 8 UConn, Gill was acting a fool (literally).

It seemed like he had a different move for every made Seton Hall shot. He pretended to roll some dice, started doing some weird move where he looks to be dancing at the club and then the hammer plunge.

I actually think this one is hilarious, and by far the best of his moves. After a made bucket he leaps off the bench and cocks back his arm and pretends to throw the hammer down like he is trying to get hit 100 on the meter of a carnival event. Gill looks like he could chop some serious wood with that motion.  

With the way he throws it down I think even Bill Walton may be jealous.

The guy clearly has a set of moves in his mind before every game and stays focused on the game purely to be able to execute his game plan.

When you have scored two career points in your career, this is the most important thing to worry about on game day.  

1. Herb Pope is looking more like the Herb Pope of 2009

So far this season, the senior has averaged 22.5 PPG and 11.5 RPG, including two double-doubles in Charleston. Last night against Northwestern, Pope put the team on his shoulders with a career-high 32 PTS and 9 REB. It’s also important to note that his conditioning has improved drastically, thanks to those offseason workouts with John Lucas. As long as he keeps out of foul trouble and stays healthy, he’s going to have a monster year. Just please, Herb, stop taking three pointers.

2. Jordan Theodore is embracing the captaincy

Statistics aside, it’s obvious that Theodore is the leader on this team. He’s been more vocal and is setting a great example for the younger players. He’s been putting up great numbers, although he should have more assists for a point guard. Look for Theodore’s hardworking play to inspire the rest of the team during tough stretches of games.

3. Patrik Auda has been disappointing to say the least

Auda was supposed to be a key player for the Pirates this year, but has had a poor start to the season thus far. The sophomore scored a combined 10 points in the three games in Charleston, while being held scoreless in the final despite playing 23 minutes. Auda was also ejected in the game against VCU for swinging his elbows at an opposing player. The Pirates can’t rely on just Pope and Theodore, so Auda will have to pick it up for the team to have success.

4. Bench production has been awful

We knew that depth would be an issue, but it’s been pretty bad this season. In Charleston, the bench players combined for 16 points in three games. That’s just pitiful. The only bright spot has been Haralds Karlis, who has been consistent in the first few games. Other than that, the bench has been non-existent, which will not bode well for the rest of the year.

5. The Pirates have a resilient attitude  

Down by seven at the half to St. Joseph’s and 10 to Northwestern, the Pirates have shown some grittiness by making runs in both games. Although the Northwestern comeback ended in a loss, it was still the type of effort you like to see. That attitude is going to go a long way when Big East play begins next month.

I know that this site usually only has stories about professional and NCAA collegiate sports but this story is one that should be told about how an intramural basketball team at Seton Hall University proved how sports never really are "just a game."

Many people participate in intramural sports for fun, pride, and the quest for the championship t-shirt. One team this season, JAM, had a lot more on the line.

JAM is an acronym that stands for Jessica Ann Moore, the student victim of the September 25 shooting only a few blocks from Seton Hall’s South Orange campus.

JAM won the B Division championship game on a buzzer beater with the score of 26-23, on March 20 in the Walsh Gymnasium. They faced a team, Real Men of Genius, which they had previously beaten earlier in the season in another single-digit victory.

Sophomore JAM captain and leading scorer throughout the season, Jon Frazier, said that the team felt Moore’s presence; they played the entire game with only five players and kept fighting for their win and their friend.

Sophomore Kevin Brooks twisted his ankle within the first five minutes of the game, but without any substitutes available, he continued to play through the injury.

The other members of the team who participated in the championship game were: sophomores Chris Bradley, Dominick Cuccinello, and Mike Klotz.

Klotz sank that last second three-point shot that decided the victory for JAM, and was the high scorer of the game with 17 points.

“I knew Jess was with me when we were down eight points with just less than three minutes to go in the game and I hit my first three-point shot,” Frazier said. “I looked over at the chair we set up before the game and told myself ‘Come on Jon, you can do this.'”

The empty chair which was set up at every game and sat on JAM’s bench symbolized Moore's being the team’s “sixth man.”

Frazier said that he decided to dedicate his team to Moore the first day he saw the intramural basketball sign-up poster; “she was on my mind that day in the gym.”

“Jess and I always went back and forth on who had a better jump-shot, and I knew that every shot I took this season was all for her,” Frazier said

The team ordered and wore bright orange shirts with JAM written on the front to remind themselves exactly who they were playing for.

Two shirts were also ordered for sophomores Melissa Silva and Julie Straubinger, who were friends of Moore's and attended all of JAM’s games to support the team.

Frazier said that the team knew that Moore was their main inspiration for the season but the shirts served as constant motivation.

The game had multiple lead changes, but JAM accomplished a goal that Frazier said his team had set from the beginning: to play and win in honor of Moore’s life, as well as of her memory.

The gym was the most crowded for this game, out of all the championships played that day. Many fans and friends of the players on JAM came out to the game on Sunday to cheer their team to victory.

One fan even videotaped the game-winning shot, available for viewing on YouTube.

 “It meant a lot to me to have a group of people that respected the cause we were playing for,” Frazier said.

With the 2010-11 college basketball season officially over, introduce yourself to one of the most determined and disciplined managers in the sport, Adam Satz.  Who in the world is Adam Satz, you may ask?  

Satz is one of the most knowledgeable young basketball minds around today, and he's eager to prove his worth to all of his doubters.  With great determination and hard work, Satz has quickly become one of the best managers in the country, while maintaining a 3.6 average at Seton Hall University.

Satz has recently been one of four finalists recognized for the Manager of the Year Award, presented by The UPS Store to celebrate the logistics experts of college basketball. 

I had the chance to sit down with Adam and talk about his future managing and coaching plans, as well as what he did during the course of his stay at Seton Hall to make such a lasting impression on his team and university.

B/R: How long have you been managing? What sports have you managed?

AS:  I have been a manager for eight years. I was a boys’ basketball manager all through high school, and it was something I really wanted to continue doing into college. I started at the University of Miami (FL), but came to Seton Hall University after one semester to find a better opportunity where I could be more involved in the program.

B/R: What are your career aspirations? Future Coach? What level of play? Possibly at SHU?

AS:  Ideally, moving forward I would love to be able to stay in coaching. I don’t know if there is any precedent for someone who was born with a disability coaching professionally, but that’s something I try not to think about. There are a lot of really talented, experienced people in this business who are looking for a job just like I am. That’s just the nature of the profession.

I am just hoping that someone will give me the opportunity to show that I know this game, and I’m going to come to work every day with a smile and work my butt off. Obviously there’s a level of comfort and familiarity that I have with the program here, and I think Coach Willard and his staff are building the foundation to do something special that I’d love to continue to be a part of.

That being said, I am willing to go anywhere to try and establish myself, pay my dues, and contribute in any way possible to another program, if I’m lucky enough to have that opportunity.

B/R: Who is your role model?

AS: My role models are my parents. They could have taken a lot of different approaches when it came to raising me. The way they kind of just threw me out there and let me take my lumps and figure things out for myself rather than sheltering me and telling me what I was capable of played a big role in who I am today. 

B/R: Who has been most helpful or influential to you while at your stay at SHU?

AS: It would be difficult and unfair to single out one person who’s been the most supportive or helpful during my time here, because the overall support I’ve received from both coaching staffs, the athletic department and the greater Seton Hall community has been tremendous.

I would like to make a point to thank my fellow managers though, especially the ones that have been with me all four years. Without their support and understanding, I wouldn’t have been able to be as involved as I was. The fact that my story has gotten such a great response is really a reflection of how hard we’ve worked together. It also shows how important the fact that they created an environment that was comfortable and fun for me to work in has been to me during my time here.

B/R: What are your strengths as a manager? Any weaknesses or places to improve?

AS: I think to be a good manager, you need to recognize your role in the program. Just bringing a positive attitude and being willing to contribute to whatever needs to be done, however trivial it may seem at the time, is so important. I think that’s what I was best at; I wanted to have my hands in everything, and I wanted to contribute in any way possible.

There’s always room for improvement, though, and looking ahead if I want to stay in this business, there’s still so much for me to learn about the game and finding ways for me to be effective as a coach given my abilities. There is a lot of work that needs to be done, but I can tell you that I am going to love every second of it.

B/R: Where would you like to be, career wise, five years from now?

AS:  Five years from now, hopefully I am on a college basketball staff in some capacity. I also hope to have started basketball camps for kids with disabilities.

B/R: What's your favorite sport after basketball? Ever thought about being involved with that sport?

AS: It’s kind of a shock to most people, but my second favorite sport is soccer. I am a big New York Red Bulls and Juventus fan. The passion you see from the fans is unrivaled by any other sport, and that creates an atmosphere that is special to be a part of. I’ve never really looked into a professional future on the business side of soccer, simply because I’m not ready to give up my basketball dream yet.

B/R: What is your prime motivation?

AS: I think my motivation is all the people who have supported me throughout my whole life. Yeah, I do have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder and feel like I might have something to prove because of my disability, but that’s not the main thing that keeps me going. I have been blessed with a great family, tremendous friends and have benefited from the kindness and understanding of so many people that I feel I almost owe it to them to make something significant of myself.

B/R: What were your expectations going into your stay at SHU? And how did those expectations pan out?

AS: My experience as a manager here far surpassed any expectations I could have had. Coming in, I just wanted to work hard and be around the game I love, but my time here has given me so much more. I have come out of this experience with great friends and memories as well as being much more well equipped to pursue a future in this game

B/R: What were your duties/responsibilities at SHU and how did they develop or increase in importance throughout your stay (may be to similar to the previous question, skip it if you think it is)?

AS: As a manager, I was responsible for typical duties such as equipment and practice preparation, but I also took on various administrative tasks as well. I ran our film exchange program with other schools and coordinated our scouting video library through the three DVR's that we have available to us. I would also participate in basic scouting video tasks, scouting report preparation as well as duties associated with coordinating our recruiting efforts.

B/R: In which aspects of the game do you feel you are most knowledgeable?

AS: Like I said, there’s still so much I need to learn about the game. I feel like I have a good grasp on things for someone with my experience, but if I am really going to make my mark in this business, I need to develop into one of the best basketball minds out there. I am pretty good at scouting plays and tendencies, but I need to watch more basketball, more instructional DVDs and get to the point where it’s less mechanical and more natural.

B/R: Who are favorite coaches that are currently active, and favorite coaches of all-time?

AS:  It’d be easy for me to sit here and rattle off the Auerbach’s and Carnesseca’s of the world, but I find that I have a special affection for guys that really had to fight and scrap to get to the height of this profession. For that reason I’ve always looked up to guys like Lawrence Frank, Tom Crean, Buzz Williams and of course Coach Willard and Coach Gonzalez.

B/R: How have you become a better manager since at SHU? Did you learn anything that may make you a better coach or person in the future?

AS: I think the biggest lesson I learned from being a manager is that I’m not above anything. What that means to me is that when you are part of a team and you know that something needs to be done, you do it without asking for thank you’s or congratulations. No matter what your title or role is, you are there to contribute and if you give anything less than your best effort then you’re cheating yourself and those around you, and perhaps more importantly those that would love to have the same opportunity that you do.

B/R: What would you bring to the table as an assistant coach?

AS: As an assistant coach, if I am ever lucky enough to get to that position, I can guarantee that nobody would work harder than me. I would work tirelessly to thoroughly scout opponents and prepare our team for upcoming games. Also, I know that there are going to be barriers associated with perception that will be difficult to navigate but I do believe I can develop into a strong recruiter. I am a very personable guy once you get to know me and I am very loyal to the people that I develop relationships with. It’s all about getting the experience that I need and taking full advantage of any opportunity to develop as a professional that is available to me.

Support Manager Adam Satz____________________________________________ 

**To view Adam Satz's video, view this link http://ups.promo.eprize.com/madness/video.html?video=2

***To vote Adam Satz as Manager of the Year, "like" The UPS Store on Facebook and "like" his video

Steve Lavin's first season as head coach of the St. John's Red Storm has been nothing short of spectacular.

After finishing towards the bottom of the conference last season at 13th, the Red Storm have gone 19-9 (11-5 in conference) this year and have reached their highest national ranking in over a decade.

They have consistently proven that they can beat top-ranked opponents both in and out of the Big East and either at home or on the road, as they are currently riding a six-game win streak that includes wins over Villanova and Pittsburgh.

While St. John's is ascending back towards its glory days, Seton Hall, on the other hand, is not. The Pirates are a mere 11-17 overall while posting an unworthy 5-11 conference record. In the new high-octane Big East Conference, Seton Hall is looking more like a middle-of-the-pack Atlantic 10 team.

With that being said, the Pirates have still been able to provide good competition for some of these conference powerhouses and have even stolen a few wins against quality teams such as Syracuse and Alabama.

If the Pirates are looking to snag one from local rival St. John's tonight, they're going to need to get movement on the offensive side of the ball early on in the game. The Johnnies play a very aggressive zone defense, but a little penetration and a few Herb Pope buckets will help to open it up.

They're also going to need to put a big body on red-hot Dwight Hardy and try to tamper with his shot. Hardy has been playing out of his mind recently and is even being considered for Big East Player of the Year.

Failure to do these things will and should result in what would be the Red Storm's seventh straight victory.