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With a 14–2 start to the season, Seton Hall is off to its best start under Shaheen Holloway, Dan Hurley’s longtime friend, who is seeking his first NCAA Tournament appearance since leading Saint Peter’s to its magical Elite Eight run in 2022. Returning just 2% of its minutes from last season, this year’s roster is experienced (16th nationally in D-I experience) and a classic Holloway-coached team: physical, tough, and elite at two-point defense, generating blocks, steals, and gang rebounding on both ends. Offensively, they almost entirely eschew perimeter scoring outside of their top two scorers—guards AJ Staton-McCray and TJ Simpkins—as well as starting two-guard Mike Williams.
Seton Hall plays a deliberate, half-court–oriented offense that leans on physicality, post touches, and attacking mismatches rather than pace. They’re most effective when they generate second chances through offensive rebounding and draw fouls by playing through contact. Shot creation can be streaky, so their scoring often depends more on toughness and late-clock execution than on fluid ball movement.
Defensively, Seton Hall is built on pressure, physical on-ball defense, and making opponents uncomfortable for a full possession. They prioritize protecting the paint, contesting drives, and forcing teams into tough midrange shots rather than clean looks at the rim. While they may concede some spacing, their discipline and toughness usually keep games low-scoring and grindy.
One fun fact about the Pirates: they field the shortest roster in high-major basketball, with an average height of 76.2 inches. Their backcourt ranges from 5’10” to 6’4”, with a 6’6” duo making up the team’s rotation at the four.
Junior Adam “Budd” Clark is Seton Hall’s dynamic, undersized point guard, posting top-40 national rates in both assists and steals. With just 20 three-point attempts this season, Clark is strictly an interior facilitator—shifty, tough, creative, and in full control of the tempo who can slow it down or showcase his elite acceleration. It’s been fun seeing him play at this level after watching him live during his first two seasons at Merrimack.
Holloway calls starting two-guard Mike Williams his best all-around defender, who spearheads the team’s frontcourt press. Offensively, his lean frame makes it difficult for him to score efficiently at the rim, but he’s a solid secondary distributor and one of the team’s three reliable floor spacers. Like Clark, Williams has great athleticism and gear-shifting ability, making him a capable foul generator.
Starting three-guard AJ Staton-McCray is a sixth-year senior best classified as a 3-and-D guard and the team’s most versatile and efficient offensive weapon. He leads the team in scoring and three-point shooting, and when the ball is in his hands, he limits turnovers and is looking to score.
Starting power forward Elijah Fisher is back in the Big East after playing his junior season at Pacific, having previously suited up at DePaul. After spending most of his career as a wing, Fisher’s two-way effectiveness has reached career highs at Seton Hall while playing the four. He’s a versatile defender and a potent slasher who generates fouls, creates off the dribble, and finishes at the rim.
Fisher’s numbers have now decreased for five straight games, with backup power forward Josh Rivera earning more minutes than Fisher in the last two. More on Rivera later.
Super-sub TJ Simpkins is an adequate defender but is clearly the most offense-forward player on the roster. Logging starter-level minutes as a backup at the two and three, Simpkins is the highest-rated offensive non-big on the team thanks to his efficiency at all three levels. He’s Seton Hall’s best bucket-getter, yet he plays within himself and within Holloway’s system.
Starting center Stephon Payne has been one of the biggest surprises in the Big East after a solid but unspectacular first three seasons combined at Incarnate Word and Jacksonville. A tough, gritty defender who plays bigger than his size, Payne is among the nation’s best two-way rebounders and shot blockers. He’s a low-usage player offensively.
Backup center Najai Hines is one of the more exciting freshmen in the Big East. At 6’10”, 265 pounds, Hines—like Payne—is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker, but he adds low-post upside thanks to his size and footwork. A fantastic screener, he also shows strong potential as a pick-and-roll option.
The back end of Seton Hall’s rotation includes point guard Trey Parker and power forward Josh Rivera. A backup point guard and 2-guard, Parker struggles offensively but is a strong ball hawk and a surprisingly effective defensive rebounder at 6’0”, 180 pounds. Rivera spent the past two seasons at Fordham under Keith Urgo, so he’s comfortable in a high-pressure defensive system. At Seton Hall, his usage rate has dropped significantly, but he’s clearly the team’s best non-big offensive rebounder and is a high-effort defender.
The Big East is more fun when Seton Hall is good, and under Shaheen Holloway, they’re one of my favorite teams in the conference to root for. It’ll be a tough rock fight in Newark, and in my opinion, it’s anyone’s game.
Seton Hall plays a deliberate, half-court–oriented offense that leans on physicality, post touches, and attacking mismatches rather than pace. They’re most effective when they generate second chances through offensive rebounding and draw fouls by playing through contact. Shot creation can be streaky, so their scoring often depends more on toughness and late-clock execution than on fluid ball movement.
Defensively, Seton Hall is built on pressure, physical on-ball defense, and making opponents uncomfortable for a full possession. They prioritize protecting the paint, contesting drives, and forcing teams into tough midrange shots rather than clean looks at the rim. While they may concede some spacing, their discipline and toughness usually keep games low-scoring and grindy.
One fun fact about the Pirates: they field the shortest roster in high-major basketball, with an average height of 76.2 inches. Their backcourt ranges from 5’10” to 6’4”, with a 6’6” duo making up the team’s rotation at the four.
Junior Adam “Budd” Clark is Seton Hall’s dynamic, undersized point guard, posting top-40 national rates in both assists and steals. With just 20 three-point attempts this season, Clark is strictly an interior facilitator—shifty, tough, creative, and in full control of the tempo who can slow it down or showcase his elite acceleration. It’s been fun seeing him play at this level after watching him live during his first two seasons at Merrimack.
Holloway calls starting two-guard Mike Williams his best all-around defender, who spearheads the team’s frontcourt press. Offensively, his lean frame makes it difficult for him to score efficiently at the rim, but he’s a solid secondary distributor and one of the team’s three reliable floor spacers. Like Clark, Williams has great athleticism and gear-shifting ability, making him a capable foul generator.
Starting three-guard AJ Staton-McCray is a sixth-year senior best classified as a 3-and-D guard and the team’s most versatile and efficient offensive weapon. He leads the team in scoring and three-point shooting, and when the ball is in his hands, he limits turnovers and is looking to score.
Starting power forward Elijah Fisher is back in the Big East after playing his junior season at Pacific, having previously suited up at DePaul. After spending most of his career as a wing, Fisher’s two-way effectiveness has reached career highs at Seton Hall while playing the four. He’s a versatile defender and a potent slasher who generates fouls, creates off the dribble, and finishes at the rim.
Fisher’s numbers have now decreased for five straight games, with backup power forward Josh Rivera earning more minutes than Fisher in the last two. More on Rivera later.
Super-sub TJ Simpkins is an adequate defender but is clearly the most offense-forward player on the roster. Logging starter-level minutes as a backup at the two and three, Simpkins is the highest-rated offensive non-big on the team thanks to his efficiency at all three levels. He’s Seton Hall’s best bucket-getter, yet he plays within himself and within Holloway’s system.
Starting center Stephon Payne has been one of the biggest surprises in the Big East after a solid but unspectacular first three seasons combined at Incarnate Word and Jacksonville. A tough, gritty defender who plays bigger than his size, Payne is among the nation’s best two-way rebounders and shot blockers. He’s a low-usage player offensively.
Backup center Najai Hines is one of the more exciting freshmen in the Big East. At 6’10”, 265 pounds, Hines—like Payne—is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker, but he adds low-post upside thanks to his size and footwork. A fantastic screener, he also shows strong potential as a pick-and-roll option.
The back end of Seton Hall’s rotation includes point guard Trey Parker and power forward Josh Rivera. A backup point guard and 2-guard, Parker struggles offensively but is a strong ball hawk and a surprisingly effective defensive rebounder at 6’0”, 180 pounds. Rivera spent the past two seasons at Fordham under Keith Urgo, so he’s comfortable in a high-pressure defensive system. At Seton Hall, his usage rate has dropped significantly, but he’s clearly the team’s best non-big offensive rebounder and is a high-effort defender.
The Big East is more fun when Seton Hall is good, and under Shaheen Holloway, they’re one of my favorite teams in the conference to root for. It’ll be a tough rock fight in Newark, and in my opinion, it’s anyone’s game.
