Seton Hall basketball 2024-25 preview: Reasons to hope, must-see games, our prediction

SOUTH ORANGE – Seton Hall’s basketball players were gassed. At the end of a two-hour practice, after two full-court wind sprints, it was time for free throws.

Here is how the Pirates’ free-throw drill works: Each player takes one shot. If more than three guys miss, the shooting cycle restarts until they get through the entire team with fewer than four misses.

Sophomore wing Scotty Middleton, who’s been a partial participant in this practice because he’s still recovering from a hamstring injury, goes first.

Swish.

The makes keep coming: postgrad guard Chaunce Jenkins, freshman forward David Tubek, freshman guard Jahseem Felton…in all, 12 of 14 players converted, minus only a walk-on and a freshman center. Practice is over – or maybe not.

Head coach Shaheen Holloway, standing at center court, wants to see more 5-on-5 action. He looks right to the scorer’s table, at his managers.

“Put 10 more minutes on the clock,” he said.

This was the scene in Walsh Gym Wednesday, five days before the Pirates open their 2024-25 season against Saint Peter’s Monday night. With 10 new scholarship players in the program, Holloway is trying to will this group up to his high standard for mental toughness. Aside from the three returnees, they’ve never been coached like this.

“Physically we’re fine; I’m worried about our mental,” Holloway said. “Some of these guys are not used to it – the grind of practice, the intensity, me. But this why they came here; this is what they wanted.”

‘We have a chance’

During the recruiting process, Holloway did not sugarcoat what was ahead.

“Every last guy, I told them the same thing: This is an unbelievable opportunity, and you’re going to get pushed – you’re going to get coached hard,” he said. “But not just coached hard. I’m going to be able to coach you that way because I’m going to get to know you. These guys, I get to know them off the court, so I know how to coach them a certain way.”

This group’s been together…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/seton-hall-basketball-2024-25-105207161.html

Author : App.com | Asbury Park Press

Publish date : 2024-11-01 10:52:00

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