On Oct. 18, players, coaches and media members from the Big East gathered where the conference left fans last spring, inside Madison Square Garden.
The Seton Hall men's basketball team garnered a lot of the media attention, partly because of the program's proximity to the Garden, but also because of its high expectations heading into this season.
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Greg Medina/Photography Editor[/caption]
Here are a few of our key takeaways from the event:
Seton Hall ranks second in the Preseason Big East Coaches' Poll
Seton Hall men's basketball ranks second in this year's Preseason Coaches' Poll, falling behind first-place Villanova and ahead of third-place Xavier. https://twitter.com/BIGEASTMBB/status/920625708128522240 When asked about whether there was any pressure felt about being picked to finish second in the Big East in the preseason coaches' poll, Khadeen Carrington said the ranking is in line with the team's attitude going into the season. "It's excitement," Carrington said. "We don't really put pressure on ourselves." Seton Hall received one first-place vote in the poll from Providence coach Ed Cooley. https://twitter.com/SetonianSports/status/920687183450820613 Carrington and Angel Delgado were also named to the All-Big East Preseason First Team, while Desi Rodriguez was named an honorable mention.The Pirates want another Big East Championship
Both Carrington and Rodriguez referred to their senior seasons as "the fourth time is the charm." In that, they both want another Big East Championship ring. For Rodriguez, winning the league championship ranks at the top of his list of expectations for this season. "That's the No. 1 goal, I think we need that Big East Championship to give us a lot of confidence going into the [NCAA] Tournament," Rodriguez said. "I feel like winning that will be big for us." Carrington agreed that a Big East Championship win is something this team has its eyes set on. "I feel like we can win a Big East Championship, I feel like we have enough talent for that. I feel like we have enough talent for a deep run in the [NCAA] Tournament," Carrington said. "I definitely think we can do that as long as everyone is on the same page, listening to each other, listening to coach and just playing hard like we usually do."One NCAA Tournament win is not enough
Winning a game in the NCAA Tournament would be one big step for Seton Hall after exiting in the first round the past two years, but with the confidence around the team this season, one win is just a stepping stone for what it wants to accomplish. "I feel like we can take it all, I just want to be humbled by it and work hard," Rodriguez said. "I think it will come, it will show that we put in a lot of work. Definitely, my expectation is to make it out of the first round. We haven't done that in the past two years, so this year make it out of the first round then go as far as we can." Carrington won't be happy unless the team advances in at least three or four rounds of the tournament. "No, I don't think winning a game is enough," Carrington said. "I think making a deep run, at least three, four games. Not that that's gonna be enough, I think that's where we need to set our level and just achieve from there." For Delgado, it's all or nothing. "This team has a lot to prove," Delgado said. "Winning a game isn't enough. Only a national championship will be enough."Delgado's return to Seton Hall
Delgado fielded many questions about his decision to return to Seton Hall for his senior season. The big man stated that Willard was the first person he made aware of his decision to return and that the decision was one made to ensure that he finished what he started with his fellow seniors: Carrington, Rodriguez and Ismael Sanogo. "I called coach, I said 'Coach, I can't leave,'" Delgado said. "'I want to come back and finish my senior year with these guys because we came together and we leave together.'" Willard added that Delgado's decision to return was an "educated" one, rather than an emotional decision. If Delgado enrolled in the draft, he was projected to be picked around the 50's of the second round, according to Willard. By returning, Delgado is able to give NBA scouts another year to analyze his game and prove to be one of the best players in the country. Delgado went on to say when asked about high expectations that he does not think the team right now is nearly as good as it could be. "I still think that we've got a lot to improve; to show people what we can do," Delgado said. "I think this team is a really good team, but they need to work harder than we're working right now. And we going to prove ourselves. Right now, for me, we're not that good."Kevin Willard being candid
In a long discussion with the media, head coach Willard discussed how he does not want his players to feel the weight of needing to achieve something this year, but rather to experience the joy of playing what will be for most of his core players, their final collegiate season. "I thought to myself [last season], 'why was I a better coach.' Then I realized, the pressure I put on myself, I was putting on my players," Willard said. "So I don't put that pressure on myself, because, I don't want them to have that pressure. I want them to enjoy playing for me, and I want to enjoy coaching them." [caption id="attachment_20160" align="aligncenter" width="1215"]
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On the other side of Pirate basketball, the women's basketball team held media availability in the afternoon. With a lot of new faces, coach Tony Bozzella and a few of the women's players gave their thoughts for the upcoming season:
