It wasn’t the way Seton Hall wanted to go out this season. Looking back, however, the season didn’t start the way they wanted.
The Pirates are likely going home after losing to a surprising Georgetown team, 66-58, in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament. With a final record of 14-13, all signs are pointing towards the Pirates not hearing their name called on Selection Sunday.
It’s a bitter pill for this team to swallow. Seton Hall was aiming for a fifth-straight NCAA Tournament bid, but their resume this season just doesn’t have enough to justify strong consideration.
Head coach Kevin Willard’s team, tough and battle-tested, limped into the postseason. The Pirates dropped four of their last five regular season games, including the last four games. Moreover, the season didn’t start off on the right foot with losses in three of their first four games.
After the loss to Georgetown, junior Jared Rhoden summed it up best.
“Every team goes through their bad times,” said Rhoden, who led Seton Hall with 22 points and was the Pirates’ only player to reach double figures. “I felt like we hit our bad time at the wrong point in the season.”
What I can tell you about Seton Hall, however, is this… they’ll be back.
Rhoden, if he doesn’t jump to the NBA, is next up for the Pirates as the face of their team. They’ll need upgrades at point guard, but Willard will have Seton Hall ready to compete again next season, they’ve earned that belief in them.
Furthermore, there’s no shame in losing to the eighth-seeded Hoyas. What Patrick Ewing is doing with his program at Georgetown deserves national attention and has them one win away from an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
In a season where the COVID-19 pandemic impacted every team, the Pirates did their best to navigate through before ultimately coming up short.
Image: USA Today Sports
