NCAA Basketball: Seniors who never got their moment in NCAA Tournament

Myles Powell, Quincy McKnight and Romaro Gill – Seton Hall Pirates

The Pirates are currently experiencing their best five-year stretch in program history. They have experienced 20 wins in five straight seasons, which also would have been five straight NCAA tournament appearances. The most prior this point was four appearances in a row under former coach PJ Carlesimo. The group of seniors on this team had a chance to accomplish something that no program in Seton Hall history had ever done.

That accomplishment was winning a national championship. While the prospects of Seton Hall winning the title were not as great heading into the tournament as they were at the start of the year. When you have three players the caliber of Powell, McKnight and Gill anything can happen. Powell is the decorated player and his accomplishments while at Seton Hall are endless. He was in the running for the National Player of the Year the last two seasons and he was the engine that made Seton Hall go. He averaged over 20 points per game in his last two seasons. His accomplishments stand on their own even without the run in the NCAA tournament.

Romaro Gill made his way to Seton Hall from a Junior College and arrived on the scene this year. He earned the Big East defensive player of the year and is a dominant force on the defensive end. He may have been the most important piece to the Pirates’ success this year. The Pirates were able to use their defense to get them back into games many times this year especially when starting slow. Gill is one who would have had his moment in the NCAA tournament and it would have been a huge moment. Whether it was blocking a shot or making a clutch basket or getting a rebound his moment was coming.

Quincy McKnight is another player who started his career elsewhere. McKnight started his career at Sacred Heart and transferred to Seton Hall for a chance to make the NCAA tournament. McKnight finished his career out with a bang as he ran the offense for the Pirates and ran it efficiently. He was huge for Seton Hall this year when Powell was out and picked up his scoring to make up for the absence of their star.

McKnight was another player who was still waiting and hoping his senior moment could come in the NCAA tournament.  This Seton Hall team will be remembered for having one of the best runs in school history. Not participating in the NCAA tournament won’t take that away from them.