If there’s one story that’s turning heads in the Big East this season, it’s the resurgence of Seton Hall basketball. Just one year removed from a brutal 7–25 campaign and a last-place prediction in the Big East preseason poll, the Pirates have flipped the script in dramatic fashion. Under fourth-year head coach Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall enters Friday night’s matchup at Providence on December 19 with an impressive 10–1 record and a growing sense that something special is happening in South Orange.
The contrast from last season couldn’t be sharper. A year ago, wins were hard to come by and confidence was even harder to sustain. This season, the Pirates are playing with edge, belief, and identity—hallmarks of a Holloway-coached team. Their only blemish so far is a narrow two-point loss to USC in Hawaii, a game that came against the eventual Maui Invitational champions. Rather than derail the season, that loss seems to have validated just how competitive this group can be.
A major reason for Seton Hall’s surge has been the rapid impact of its rebuilt roster. After last season, Holloway aggressively attacked the transfer portal, bringing in 10 new players who fit his style of play—tough, defensive-minded, and unselfish. Transfers like Budd Clark, AJ Staton-McCray, Tajuan Simpkins, Mike Williams, Elijah Fisher, and Stephon Payne have quickly bought into the system and helped change the culture.
The results are showing up not just in the win column, but in conference recognition as well. Junior guard Budd Clark was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll, the conference announced Monday morning. Clark’s honor continues a strong trend for the Pirates, marking the third straight week a Seton Hall player has earned weekly Big East recognition. Graduate guard AJ Staton-McCray has also been a key contributor, averaging 14 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.5 steals during a stretch that included statement victories over NC State and Kansas State.
Those wins, along with the Pirates’ consistency on both ends of the floor, have sent a clear message: Seton Hall is no longer a rebuilding program—it’s a problem. The Pirates defend with intensity, force turnovers, and play with a chip on their shoulder that reflects their coach’s personality.
Holloway, of course, knows a thing or two about exceeding expectations. Before arriving at Seton Hall, he famously led Saint Peter’s on a Cinderella run to the Elite Eight in 2022, captivating the college basketball world. Now in his fourth season with the Pirates, he appears to be laying the foundation for sustained success, not just a one-year bounce-back.
As Seton Hall prepares to face Providence on the road, the buzz around the program continues to grow. What was once a team picked to finish last is now one of the early surprise stories of the Big East. The turnaround is real, the belief is strong, and under Shaheen Holloway, the Pirates look like they’re just getting started.
