fall 2007 - Seton Hall University

SPORTS |
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GONZALEZ 2.0
THE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM STARTS ITS
SECOND SEASON UNDER COACH BOBBY GONZALEZ.
T
he Seton Hall men’s basketball team marches into year two
of the Bobby Gonzalez era and the Pirates are eager to build
off a season of learning and growth. Although they went
only 13-16 last year, the youthful Pirates opened some eyes
with their up-tempo, run-and-gun offense and their feisty,
turnover-inducing defense.
In addition to bringing back their top five
scorers from a year ago, the Pirates will
enter the season with a clean bill of health.
The Pirates will look to their lone returning
captain, senior Brian Laing, for
leadership both on and off the court this
season. The Bronx, N.Y., native tied for fifth
in the BIG EAST in scoring at 16.5 points
per game and was a Second Team All-Conference
selection. He also led the team in
rebounding and double-doubles.
Seton Hall’s other senior, Jamar Nutter,
will also be asked to be a regular scorer and
the Pirates’ top three-point threat. Last year,
for the second straight season, he averaged
better than 12 points per game.
The Pirates’ third and final captain, Paul Gause, earned
the reputation as one of the BIG EAST’s best
defensive players, leading the conference
with 3.1 steals per game last season while
setting Seton Hall’s single-season record
with 90 steals for the year.
Freshman Eugene Harvey tied Laing for
fifth in the BIG EAST in scoring with 16.5
points per game last season and was one of
only three unanimous selections to the conference’s
All-Rookie Team. Another impact
newcomer last season was 6-3 guard Larry Davis. A versatile
player, he has good length on the defensive end and
provides the Pirates with another potent three-point threat.
Healthy and stronger, redshirt sophomore John Garcia
will look to shoulder much of the frontcourt load this season.
Joining the six aforementioned returning players this
season are six newcomers, which form Coach Gonzalez’s
second consecutive impact recruiting class. The additions
of 6-11 Mike Davis, 6-11 Augustine Okosun, 6-9 Brandon
Walters and 6-6 Michael Glover restock and fortify a formerly
thin frontcourt. Jeremy Hazell and Chris Smith will
provide additional scoring punch and depth at the guard
positions.
The Pirates are ready to take the next step in their
ambitious goal of returning to elite status in the BIG EAST
Conference. Add in the Prudential Center, a new, state-ofthe-art
arena, and Seton Hall fans have
more than one reason to be excited
about the 2007-08 season.
“Last year we set the foundation in
terms of playing everyone hard and
being a tough out,” Gonzalez said. “We
established a style of play and created
an identity for ourselves. Now we need
to take the next step.”
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