Seton Hall’s Holloway Criticizes ‘Awful’ Big East Schedule Following Win

Seton Hall achieved a critical victory against Butler, winning 63-56 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. This win, secured on Sunday night, keeps the Pirates’ NCAA Tournament aspirations alive. With this second consecutive triumph, Seton Hall boasts an 18-8 overall record and an 8-7 mark in the Big East.

Coach Holloway’s Concerns About the Big East Schedule

Despite the victory, Coach Shaheen Holloway expressed dissatisfaction with the Big East scheduling. He specifically criticized the heavy workload placed on the team, noting that they had to play three games within a week since February 7. Holloway stated, “You can’t play three games in a week in February. It just can’t happen.” His comments reflect concerns about player fatigue and the overall fairness of the schedule.

NCAA Tournament Outlook

Seton Hall remains on the cusp of the NCAA Tournament. The team is likely to need wins against ranked opponents, including No. 17 St. John’s and No. 6 UConn. Additionally, a strong performance in the upcoming Big East Tournament will be crucial for their chances.

Upcoming Challenge Against DePaul

The Pirates are scheduled to face a revitalized DePaul team on Wednesday at the Prudential Center. DePaul is coming off a close win against Creighton and will enter this matchup well-rested, having had a bye.

Game Highlights

• AJ Staton-McCray was instrumental for Seton Hall, scoring 15 of his 19 points in the second half.
• Budd Clark contributed significantly with seven assists, despite struggling with his shooting.
• Tajuan Simpkins was a surprise starter, contributing 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
• Seton Hall shot poorly from the free-throw line, finishing at 10-of-22.

Holloway emphasized the importance of this victory, indicating the need for the team to build on this momentum. “We got a quick turnaround,” he explained, “but this is a big win, and we just got to build from it.”