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Heckuva year for the Pirates! Let's review them.

OUT:
*Myles Powell
*Quincy McKnight
*Romaro Gill

STAY:
*Shavar Reynolds
*Sandro Mamukelashvili
*Myles Cale
*Ike Obiagu
*Jared Rhoden
*Tyrese Samuel

IN:
*Takal Molson (Transfer from Canisius)
*Dimingus Stevens
*Jahari Long

My 0.02: I said this with Howard in the Marquette review and I'll say it for Powell in this one. It's a damn shame he didn't get to finish his marvelous career in NJ in the NCAA Tournament. I believed they were Final 4-caliber. Hall fans will sadly have to forever ask "What if?" Nevertheless, they got a decent team coming back. Sandro and Cale are good players and I've heard great things about Molson. SH may or may not take a step back next season. I say that because I thought they'd do so in 2018 after that amazing senior class left. I once thought Kevin Willard was awful but man, he's grown on me. For now, I think they're middle-of-the-pack but I can't say I'd be shocked if they ended up back on the dance floor next season.

They'll take a step back in that they won't likely be fighting for a 2 or 3 seed, but they should very much still be in the mix for a spot in the dance.

A few questions that'll determine just how good they can be:

Who's the starting point guard? A grad transfer may be the best option here.
Who's the go-to scorer? Scoring will be more balanced next year in general, but who has the ball when the game's on the line? Top candidates include Mamu/Rhoden/Cale.
Can Obiagu replicate (or even come close to) Gill's y1-y2 growth? He's going into the same spot where Gill blew up, 2nd year playing but 3rd with the team after a sit-out year.

You guys need Bryce Aiken bad....

Great year from the Hall. I would have really enjoyed watching that team in March. They would have been a really tough out.

Losing all time great Powell will hurt but losing McKnight is also very significant IMO. I really came to like how he played. I thought he represented how Willard wanted his team to play; made you work for everything and was sneaky good offensively. And Romero was a force, no doubt. Kid really made a difference for the Pirates this year.

So what happens next year? Instead of hoping Ike is Romero G part II, I'd play Mamu at the 5. Hope that Reynolds and Nelson can provide good lead guard play; hopefully Cale becomes more committed to the team and more consistent. I thought he was a going to be a break out player this year and it never happened. I think Rhoden can become a star, and Samuel will be a factor. I liked what I saw from him. I don't think SHU will battle for the BE title but they def have enough to be a tourney team. I have to admit that Willard has built a program--not just a team. They have some talent for sure.

Bryce Aiken announcing tomorrow. If he chooses Seton Hall, will definitely put them in NCAA contention and top half of Big East.

Jet915 wrote:Bryce Aiken announcing tomorrow. If he chooses Seton Hall, will definitely put them in NCAA contention and top half of Big East.

He's a Pirate.

NICE!!! Molson & Aiken - excellent gets.

I guess the Hall won't be "rolling over" next season after all.

Way to go SH...staying competitively in the mix.

And rumor has it they're not done...

Hall2012 wrote:And rumor has it they're not done...

Sanogo would be huge.

Burton will decide Monday:

https://247sports.com/college/xavier/Ar ... 145906674/