Seton Hall Depth Chart Ahead of March Madness

Seton Hall fans did not expect the season that the Pirates gave them: finishing 3rd in the Big East, a 20 win season, the runner-up in the Big East Tournament, and two players on the All-Tournament Team. As Myles Powell puts it, “No one expected us to be here.” Seton Hall has taken an unlikely road to the NCAA Tournament, but not many teams have the momentum that the Pirates are riding. 

Now that the Pirates have made the big dance, the next question is: Who will start?

In the Big East Tournament, where the Pirates looked the best they have all season, Kevin Willard chose to play only nine players. With such positional flexibility evident, Taurean Thompson and Darnell Brodie’s minutes have disappeared. 

Even though Quincy McKnight should play on Thursday, he will likely not be 100%. Anthony Nelson, who has seemingly leapfrogged Shavar Reynolds on the team’s depth chart, scored 12 points in 17 minutes against Villanova on Saturday, a career high. I expect Nelson’s minutes to increase throughout the Hall’s tournament run.

Myles Powell and Myles Cale are necessary to the Pirates’ success in March. Their scoring is integral to Kevin Willard’s game plan, and both will be expected to play 35+ minutes regardless of opponent. When looking at the Seton Hall bench area during games, it is no surprise that Jared Rhoden’s seat is so close to the scorer’s table. Seton Hall’s sixth man has been asked to play as a forward and a guard, and his constant effort on both sides of the ball goes unmatched on this year’s team. After a strong finish to his regular season play, Rhoden was a total non-factor in the Big East Tournament, with only four points in three games, shooting 1/11 from the field. Rhoden will be asked for more against Woffard, and he has to for the Pirates to be successful.

With Thompson and Brodie seemingly out of the picture, Michael Nzei, Romaro Gill, and Sandro “Mamu” Mamukelashvili will be asked to man the front court. All three have played very well in recent weeks, with Sandro’s game reaching new heights with his ever-increasing rebounding totals. Gill’s size is impossible for opponents to deal with, and Nzei has been himself: a reliable starter and intelligent scorer.