By ADAM ZAGORIA
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — Khadeen Carrington is playing professionally in Montenegro and Angel Delgado and Desi Rodriguez are both in training camp with the L.A. Clippers.
It’s a new era at Seton Hall and the guys who were synonymous with the program for four years are gone.
After stopping by practice on Wednesday, here are five takeaways heading into the 2018-19 season, which begins Nov. 6 when the Pirates host Wagner.
1-It’s definitely weird that last year’s seniors are gone
Carrington, Delgado, Rodriguez and Ish Sanogo were the program’s “Core Four” for years, leading them to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and it’s odd to see the Pirates running up and down the court without them.
“It’s weird to be honest,” head Pirate Kevin Willard said. “It took me a little time to get used to it. But it’s kind of fun with the new guys. It’s a different energy level.”
2. Junior guard Myles Powell and senior forward Mike Nzei are the co-captains
Powell and Nzei have stepped into the leadership vaccum left by last year’s seniors.
“It’s probably the best leadership we’ve had,” Willard said. “Myles Powell’s been phenomenal and Mike Nzei’s been phenomenal. Mike just from a maturity standpoint of how to come each day and Myles Powell stepped into that big void that those guys left and has just been a good vocal leader.”
The 6-2 Powell is a borderline first-team All-Big East selection entering the season and figures to be the focal point of opposing defenses after averaging 15.5 points with 94 3-pointers a year ago. He looks fit and motivated and is always in the gym. On Wednesday, he put up several difficult shots with defenders on him and made them.
Myles Powell just swished a 24-foot shot falling backward with Mike Nzei’s hand in his face.
Then swished a 22-footer over the 6-10 Thompson with an inch of space.
Big year ahead.— Jerry Carino (@NJHoopsHaven) September 26, 2018
3. There will be new faces at the point
Junior guard Quincy McKnight, a 6-4 transfer from Sacred Heart, and freshman Anthony Nelson, the 6-4 New York native who finished up at South Kent (Conn.), will share point guard duties. Both look strong, athletic and agile enough to score the ball on offense and also play better defense than Seton Hall has had at the point in recent years. Nelson had a monster dunk over 7-1 Ike Obiagu during practice.
“I think Ant and Q,” Willard said. “I have a lot of confidence in what those guys can do. They’re different. Both are going to be high-level defenders, which is a little different than what we’ve had the last couple of years.”
As for McKnight, he averaged 18.9 points and 4.9 rebounds two seasons ago at Sacred Heart.
“I think his biggest progression has been balancing going from being the main guy in scoring the basketball to just handling the basketball and getting everyone involved,” Willard said. “The fact that he was with us for a year really helped him understand what he’s gotta do for this year.”
4. This is a very big team
Between 7-foot-2 Romaro Gill, 6-11 Taurean Thompson, 6-10 Sandro Mamukelashvili and 6-9 Darnell Brodie, this is one of the biggest Seton Hall teams in recent memory.
Gill figures to be a shot-blocker and rim protector, Brodie a rebounder and enforcer-type and Thompson and Mamukelashvili two-way players who will be counted on to score along with Powell, McKnight and sophomore wing Myles Cale.
“I think [Thompson] really is a special type pick-and-pop four man,” Willard said of the Syracuse transfer. “He can be physical but he also has the ability to pick-and-pop and space the floor.”
“I think Sandro is really going to take a huge jump,” he added. “He really showed towards the end of the year, with his maturity, his passing and his shooting ability.”
.@SetonHallMBB has its biggest team in a while with 7-2 Romaro Gill, 6-11 Taurean Thompson, 6-10 Sandro Mamukelashvili and 6-9 Darnell Brodie. pic.twitter.com/7seFbtyJup
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 26, 2018
5. The schedule is very impressive
Sensing that the Big East may be down a little bit this year, Willard really beefed up the schedule. In November, the Pirates play at Nebraska, home to Saint Louis, and then face Grand Canyon, Hawaii or Utah and potentially Miami in Fullerton, Calif.
In December, things really get exciting with Saturday games against Louisville, Kentucky (at MSG), Rutgers and at Maryland before opening the Big East slate against a loaded St. John’s team Dec. 29.
“I think the schedule’s great,” Willard said. “I think it’s extremely balanced from November until the end of March. I thought with the emphasis on Quadrant-1 games, you have to go out and you have to try to schedule aggressively.”
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