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Seton Hall Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Pirates

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 06: Angel Delgado
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 06: Angel Delgado
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WICHITA, KS – MARCH 17: Head coach Kevin Willard of the Seton Hall Pirates talks to the team as the huddle together as they take on the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
WICHITA, KS – MARCH 17: Head coach Kevin Willard of the Seton Hall Pirates talks to the team as the huddle together as they take on the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Seton Hall Basketball went to their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance last season. Can the Pirates do it again after losing the team’s top scorers?

After missing out on the NCAA Tournament for nearly a decade, Seton Hall Basketball has turned the corner as a program. Three straight 20+ win seasons as well as invites to the Big Dance. It’s been the longest stretch of quality for the Pirates in decades, putting them on the positive end of the hierarchy in the newly-formed Big East.

That position may be in jeopardy for this upcoming season after the players responsible for this recent golden era have all graduated. Desi Rodriguez (17.8 ppg), Khadeen Carrington (15.6 ppg and 4.4 apg), and all-time rebounding monster Angel Delgado (13.6 ppg and 11.8 rpg) won’t be around, forcing new Pirates to become the faces of the program.

But head coach Kevin Willard was already prepared for the situation, bringing in two quality transfers that should make a huge impact for Seton Hall from the get-go. There’s also some incoming freshmen that Pirates fans should keep an eye on.

The big question for Seton Hall this upcoming year will be whether or not the team can make their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Defending champions Villanova are a preseason top-15 team again, with the rest of the Big East still looking strong.

So where does Seton Hall fit in? And what should be the true expectations of the team? Find out more in the Pirates preview for the 2018-19 season.