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

Overview for Seton Hall this upcoming season

When it comes to expectations, this year will be a 180-degree turn from the year prior, where the Pirates were considered by some to be a darkhorse Final Four candidate. This time around fans will be happy just to make the Big Dance.

Clearly, the coaching staff is high on this team, not even willing to provide them with a bunch of non-conference cupcakes to get the new players comfortable early on. Between the non-conference and Big East play, there’s as many as 16 tier-1 or tier-2 games on the schedule. With Kentucky and Villanova as the only clear favorites over the Pirates, opportunities are plenty to get the big wins needed for their resume.

As far as where Seton Hall stands in the Big East, it’s truly anyone’s guess. Villanova’s clearly No. 1 and DePaul is likely finishing last again but there have been many arguments regarding the rest of the teams for 2-8. The Pirates are arguably the most debated, with half viewing them as a top-half team and the other as not as high.

Put me in the first category, as Willard and Seton Hall have earned the preseason benefit of the doubt. Powell is a Big East Player of the Year candidate and Thompson could be one of the best transfer pickups who sat out last season. Look for the defensive intensity to return for the program as well, as it slipped a bit in 2017-18 in favor of more offense. As long as Powell continues to get better and the transfers perform as expected, look for the Pirates to go dancing once again this year.