Gonzo Ball: FanShots

6'6 George Matthews (St. Mary's, Phoenix, AZ) Looking at WVU, Seton Hall, Marquette, BC

2010-07-29T02:55:39Z

6'6 George Matthews (St. Mary's, Phoenix, AZ) Looking at WVU, Seton Hall, Marquette, BC

Matthews, 18, a talented inside-outside player, who graduated in May from St. Mary's, said he still is not sure whether to join West Virginia now or wait a year and try to gain about 10 pounds of muscle and more emotional maturity.

It could get crazier come Thursday and Friday when college coaches can make contact.

Seton Hall, Marquette and Boston College also are quite interested in Matthews.

Rush the Court's Top 20 BIG EAST Players

2010-07-26T03:09:53Z

Rush the Court's Top 20 BIG EAST Players

Jeremy Hazell (#8) and Herb Pope (#12) both made Zach Hayes' preseason list, while Jeff Robinson checked in as an honorable mention.

"He can become too predictable and easy to defend with such an unbalanced offensive game. Even if the defense picks up on that and he’s covered, it really doesn’t matter: Hazell will shoot anyway. Still, make no bones about it, his return to The Rock for a senior campaign gives new coach Kevvn Willard a legitimate shot of dancing in March. He’s that explosive of a scorer."

6'11 Englishman, Aaron Geramipoor C, Signs With Pirates

2010-07-14T20:00:01Z

6'11 Englishman, Aaron Geramipoor C, Signs With Pirates

Nice work by Willard in landing a true center for the '10-'11 campaign. Geramipoor is 6'11/225 and a former teammate of fellow recruit, Patrik Auda, where the two played together for the Canarias Basketball Academy. Aaron averaged 20PTS/11REB/3BLK last season for CBA and is currently playing for England's U-18 national team.

UPDATE: 6'6F Jarrod Davis (Lakewood, NJ) Has Not Committed to Seton Hall (Class of 2011)

2010-07-08T03:24:54Z

UPDATE: 6'6F Jarrod Davis (Lakewood, NJ) Has Not Committed to Seton Hall (Class of 2011)

UPDATE 07/08 10:50AM Adam Zagoria is now reporting that Davis hasn't committed to Seton Hall:

"Seton Hall has taken no official commitment from Jarrod Davis, sources with knowledge said."

Original Post: Impressive work by Willard, reeling in another 6'6 forward, stockpiling depth. We still need a big man for this/future season(s) though.

Jeff Borzello reporting:

"It just felt the most comfortable and I have a great relationship with the coaching staff," Davis said Wednesday night. "I loved it on my visit. It felt like home and it’s close to home so my family and friends can come watch me."

Davis had originally trimmed his list to Seton Hall, Tennessee and Georgia Tech last month, but then completely reopened his recruitment heading into the live period.

"There were no finalists," he said. "After thinking it over, and after my visit, I was just sold and knew that’s where I wanted to be."

Former Pirates Head Coach, Bobby Gonzalez, Arrested for Shoplifting

2010-07-06T20:56:05Z

Former Pirates Head Coach, Bobby Gonzalez, Arrested for Shoplifting

I almost wish I was making this up. I can't determine whether this is a sad, desperate cry for help and attention or whether it is indeed a laughing matter. A man purse? Really Gonzo? If he honestly believed he was going to coach again, this very well may have been the final straw.

Seton Hall Lands 6'6 Wing, Eniel Polynice, Transfer from Ole Miss

2010-06-30T16:07:42Z

Seton Hall Lands 6'6 Wing, Eniel Polynice, Transfer from Ole Miss

Adam Zagoria reports that Eniel Polynice will suit up next season for the Pirates. Polynice earned his degree from Ole Miss and can play immediately for SHU as they offer a graduate program that Ole Miss does not. Last season he averaged 8.8PTS/4.1REB/3.9AST in 25MPG. Follow the link for more.

Good News, Bad News

2010-06-28T13:58:35Z

Good News, Bad News

The Good: Adam Zagoria reports that Kevin Willard has landed his first 2011 commit in 6'2 combo guard (Northfield Mount Hermon, MA) Aaron Cosby. He'll take the first of the remaining six scholarships Seton Hall has available.

The Bad: Seton Hall target, Carl Engstrom, a 7'1 Swede has chosen Alabama over the Pirates, reports TheTide.com

Seton Hall's BIG EAST Home and Away Schedule Announced

2010-06-24T21:43:27Z

Seton Hall's BIG EAST Home and Away Schedule Announced

Seton Hall's nine BIG EAST home games include Connecticut, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's, USF, Syracuse and Villanova. All nine games will be played at the state-of-the-art Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

The Pirates will travel to Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia.

Dana O'Neil gives props to SHU, giving them the title of, "sleeper" in regards to a tough schedule for Syracuse:

Syracuse, for example, has to play Georgetown, Villanova and sleeper Seton Hall twice (plus travel to Louisville, Marquette and Connecticut), while Villanova, one of the favorites, has repeats with Georgetown and Pittsburgh but has a slightly easier road slate.

Gonzalez: "Nobody’s gonna tell me how to run my (expletive) program."

2010-06-16T02:43:16Z

Gonzalez: "Nobody’s gonna tell me how to run my (expletive) program."

Well, maybe Bobby was right. Nobody was going to be able to get through to him and suggest things he could do differently for the betterment of the program. The problem with that attitude? It got him canned and rightfully so. Brendan Prunty reporting:

At the crux of the counterclaim are allegations of a profanity-laced phone conversation March 11 with Seton Hall law dean Patrick Hobbs in which Gonzalez told Hobbs: "Nobody’s gonna tell me how to run my (expletive) program. Not you, not Monsignor (Robert Sheeran), not (athletic director) Joe Quinlan. This is my (expletive) program. My (expletive) program."

Goodman: On Willard's Transition, Oliver to Transfer

2010-06-09T11:31:16Z

Goodman: On Willard's Transition, Oliver to Transfer

As we reported a few weeks ago, Mel will be transferring:

"Eugene Lawrence, Robert Mitchell and Melvyn Oliver – who will transfer – are all gone from the Gonzo Era.

Willard said he has already watched every game from last season and about 50 Big East games since getting the job, he hasn’t given much thought to whether his new team can make a run at an NCAA tournament berth next year. "

European Prospects: 7 Footer from Sweden, Carl Engström target of Seton Hall and Alabama

2010-06-06T21:18:25Z

European Prospects: 7 Footer from Sweden, Carl Engström target of Seton Hall and Alabama

European Prospects recently tweeted:

"NCAA: Carl Engström, raw 2m13 from Sweden, is apparently also a target of Seton Hall. Other school interested Alabama."

From EuropeanProspects.com:

Engström is still a pretty raw player as he started to play basketball only in 2008 after having been a Handball Junior National Team player for Sweden. He played with the Swedish U18 Basketball National Team in 2009 where he averaged 4.1ppg 6.0rpg and 0.6bpg in 21 minutes per game. He features an excellent physical skill set due to his Handball past, but he needs to learn the game from scratch as he never played Basketball on a serious level before.

Quinlan: Pope Resting at Home

2010-06-02T01:46:54Z

Quinlan: Pope Resting at Home

Brendan Prunty reporting:

Quinlan did say that Pope intends to return to Seton Hall sometime this summer to continue with his education. He will be a senior when the fall semester begins in September.

"He’s going to take some time and focus on schoolwork and that," Quinlan said. "That’s the next part of this. That’s what he’s going to focus on."

Pirate Primetime with JP

2010-05-29T19:33:09Z

Pirate Primetime with JP

Hey guys- tune in this Sunday night from 7-8 pm as yours truly hosts the final Pirate Primetime before the summer hiatus. We'll be talking plenty of SHU hoops, so tune in to 89.5 FM WSOU this Sunday!

Herb Pope Released From Hospital

2010-05-23T17:09:30Z

Herb Pope Released From Hospital

From Jeff Goodman:

Source has told FOXSports.com that Seton Hall's Herb Pope was released from hospital on Thursday and is "steadily improving each day."

Seton Hall Signs Patrik Auda, 6'9 PF

2010-05-19T02:07:49Z

Seton Hall Signs Patrik Auda, 6'9 PF

One day until the spring signing period was set to expire, the Pirates landed Patrik Auda, a power forward who attended high school in the Canary Islands, by way of the Czech Republic. Jerry Carino reports:

"Patrik Auda, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward who hails from the Czech Republic and attends high school in the Canary Islands, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Hall in the fall according to his coach, Rob Orellana.

Auda attends the Carnarias Basketball Academy, which just produced a commitment to Oklahoma in classmate Abdi Sabour Ahmed. In February’s 31-team National Prep School Invitational, which was held in Rhode Island, Auda was selected to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 17 points and nine rebounds per game."

Charles Smith: Pope Expected To Make Full Recovery

2010-05-13T11:11:27Z

Charles Smith: Pope Expected To Make Full Recovery

From Adam Zagoria:

Seton Hall sophomore forward Herb Pope is expected to make a "full recovery" from his April 28 collapse and could return to the basketball court next season, multiple sources with knowledge said.

"Yes. Should be a full recovery!" Charles Smith, the former NBA player who now serves as a mentor to Pope, wrote in a text message.

Amazing.

Jordan Theodore Sprains MCL

2010-05-06T21:39:45Z

Jordan Theodore Sprains MCL

According to a tweet from Jordan Theodore, he sprained his MCL this afternoon:

"I sprained my MCL in open gym today. In the training room getting treatment. I feel like [redacted]."

It can't be all good news can it? Just hours after SHU learned Hazell and Robinson would return, JT gets injured. Let's hope it isn't serious.

Welcome Back JRob, Hazell, Pope

2010-05-06T16:00:20Z

Welcome Back JRob, Hazell, Pope

As expected, Jeff Robinson and Jeremy Hazell have withdrawn from the NBA Draft and will return to Seton Hall University. Great news for KW and staff, hopefully this is just the beginning of good news to come.

Update 05/07 CBS Sports is reporting that Herb Pope has also withdrawn from the NBA Draft.

Obviously, his health is more important than his future in basketball, yet it's more good news for South Orange. Assistant AD Matt Sweeney made a statement today that Pope would return to school, yet wouldn't comment on his current condition. Basketball or no basketball, at the very least, it would be tremendous if Pope could return to school and leave campus with a SHU degree.

Herb Pope Hospitalized

2010-04-28T23:40:47Z

Herb Pope Hospitalized

Adam Zagoria reporting:

"According to a report from the school newspaper, The Setonian, the 6-foot-8 Pope "was carried out of the Rec Center around 4:10 p.m. this afternoon, according to footage from video cameras at WSOU-FM and eyewitness sources."

The Setonian added: "The video footage showed Pope being removed from the building’s elevator. He was placed in an ambulance in front of the Rec Center and driven away shortly thereafter. Outside the varsity weight room in the Rec Center, medical supplies were found on the floor in the stairwell in addition to vomit."

Update 7:49PM Pope was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital.

Damn, hopefully Herb is ok. It goes without saying, his health is more important than basketball. Keep Herb in your prayers. Get well soon.

Follow Kevin Willard on Twitter

2010-04-27T23:37:32Z

Follow Kevin Willard on Twitter

@KevinWillard: "Great couple of weeks so far - guys working hard and making great progress" 8:09 AM Apr 25th via web