By ADAM ZAGORIA
NEW YORK — If Myles Powell is looking for motivation, he doesn’t have to look far to find it.
Seton Hall was picked eighth in the Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll, and that came after Powell was left off the Jerry West Shooting Guard list.
“Yeah, it’s a motivation,” the 6-foot-2 Powell told me Thursday at Big East Media Day at Madison Square Garden. “Each game is an opportunity, so we can’t really do nothing about that.”
Seton Hall lost four key seniors in Khadeen Carrington, Angel Delgado, Desi Rodriguez and Ish Sanogo, and the league’s coaches obviously aren’t too high on the Pirates’ chances this season.
“We know losing our four seniors, that was well expected,” Powell said of being picked eighth out of 10 teams. “They did a lot for us. Angel’s the all-time leading rebounder. Khadeen and Desi, both 1,000-point scorers. So being eighth like that, we can’t do nothing about that.
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”
The All-@BIGEAST Preseason Second Team features @DePaulHoops‘ Max Strus, @MarquetteMBB‘s Sam Hauser, @StJohnsBBall‘s Justin Simon, @SetonHallMBB‘s Myles Powell and @NovaMBB‘s Phil Booth. #BIGEASThoops pic.twitter.com/iKi7bksuDe
— #BIGEASThoops (@BIGEASTMBB) October 25, 2018
The Trenton, N.J., native was named to the Preseason All-Big East Second Team, but he was somehow left off the Jerry West list of top shooting guards. That list did include St. John’s Mustapha Heron and Syracuse’s Tyus Battle, among others.
“That hit me but it’s motivation going into the season,” he said. “I know I still have a lot to prove. I was Most Improved last year, I improved my game this year. I’m getting my team involved, being the leader, so I definitely have a lot to prove this year.”
Pirates coach Kevin Willard, who has led his club to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, believes Powell will showcase a whole new range of skills this year.
“I think Myles Powell is probably going to be, by the time it’s all said and done, maybe one of the best scorers in the league,” Willard said. “He’s changed his game. He’s not only a shooter now. He’s really starting to put the ball on the floor now, he’s getting guys involved. He’s become a great leader for us. When he steps in the gym, he’s in range, which is a really nice feeling to have.
“And I love his work ethic and I love his leadership right now.”
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