Kevin Willard has a top-10 recruiting class signed for next year.
His current team could use some of those players now, as this season is quickly spinning out of control.
The fourth-year coach suspended senior starters Eugene Teague and Brian Oliver for Thursday night’s hard-fought 68-67 loss to St. John’s at the lightly attended Prudential Center, the Pirates’ third straight loss. They blew a nine-point first-half lead and a four-point edge with 2:05 remaining, falling to 13-12 overall and 4-8 in the Big East.
Teague, a co-captain and the team’s top inside threat, and the sharpshooting Oliver were left at Seton Hall’s campus because of their attitude in practice on Wednesday, Willard said on his pregame radio appearance on WNYM (970 AM).
“Brian and Eugene were suspended for their attitude,” Willard said afterward. “They’re suspended until their attitude gets better. If they have a good attitude [on Friday] …”
Seton Hall has enjoyed some nice moments this year, winning at Providence, Georgetown and Xavier, but the Pirates are just 1-5 at home in the Big East. They seemed to be in control down the stretch, but failed to score over the final 2:05, missing their final three shots.
Fuquan Edwin, who scored a game-high 25 points, had the final opportunity, a 3-pointer he missed from the top of the key with 27 seconds left, one of eight missed 3-pointers for the senior on the night.
The play was supposed to be a pick-and-roll with guard Sterling Gibbs, but Edwin was open with ample time left on the shot clock.
“Fu took a shot, I’ll live and die with Fu taking shots,” Willard said. “He’s a heck of a player. He gives all his effort. He’s been shooting 42 percent from the 3. It was good defense by them.”