Busting Brackets
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Big East Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

By Thomas Giustino

Mar 13, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Georgetown Hoyas players celebrate after defeating the Creighton Bluejays in the final game of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Georgetown Hoyas players celebrate after defeating the Creighton Bluejays in the final game of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball
Big East Basketball Jared Rhoden Myles Cale Seton Hall Pirates (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

2020-2021 Record: 14-13 (10-9)

Probable Starters: Kadary Richmond, Myles Cale, Jared Rhoden, Alexis Yetna, Ike Obiagu

Bench: Bryce Aiken, Tyrese Samuel, Jamir Harris, Jahari Long, Tray Jackson, Brandon Weston (ACL tear in high school), Ryan Conway, Tyler Powell, Jo Smith, Sylwester Granda

Seton Hall finished tied for fourth in the league with St. John’s, ending up as the 5 seed in the Big East Tournament, missing the NCAA tournament. The Pirates fell off a bit towards the end of the season, losing 5 of their last 6. They also lost Co-Big East POY in Sandro Mamukelashivili who led the team in scoring (17.5 PPG) and rebounding (7.6 RPG).

Shavar Reynolds, their starting point guard, also transferred. So, the Pirates lost two key starters, and those two shared a lot of the ball handling duties. However, this also means that they return three starters: Myles Cale, Jarden Rhoden, and Ike Obiagu, and brings in a top 30 recruiting class, headlined by Brandon Weston.

This team will go as far as Jared Rhoden can carry them, good thing he is built like a tank. Last season he was a solid player for the Pirates. Rhoden averaged 14.9 PPG in just shy of 35 MPG. He shot just 30% from deep though. He will have to improve here if the Pirates want to make a push towards the top of the Big East, but Kevin Willard brought in some help by way of the transfer portal.

Jamir Harris averaged 20.5 PPG and 3.5 APG for American University last season (in 10 games). He also led the nation making 3.9 3-point field goals a game. I don’t think he will necessarily have that kind of production in the Big East, but his shooting and offense will be a welcomed addition to a team that struggled to shoot from deep last season (32.1% for the year).

The Pirates also bring in Kadary Richmond, a guard from Syracuse, and big man Alexis Yetna from South Florida. I am not as high on Kadary Richmond as others. Richmond never really seemed to get a fair chance at Syracuse; his minutes varied over the course of the season and dropped off towards the end. Still, he was able to contribute 6.3 PPG, 3.1 APG, and just 1.6 turnovers a game and he will be a great defender for the Pirates.

The problem I have is that Seton Hall will likely need Richmond to be a true point guard, but he profiles as more of a combo guard. Can he make that transition successfully and will Seton Hall have enough options around him to score? I already hear you saying, but what about Bryce Aikens. He is a phenomenal talent when healthy, but until he can stay healthy, I’m not going to pencil him in as a factor for the Pirates.

The transfer I am high on, who others seem to be overlooking, is forward Alexis Yetna. If Yetna remains healthy, I think he is a day 1 starter at the 4 spot and provides the Pirates with a nice offensive and defensive presence. He is a rebounding machine and picks his spots wisely. If he and Tyrese Samuel can play consistently well they will help solidify the Seton Hall frontcourt.

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