Can someone explain to me all the love (and fear) that many are expressing for coach Holloway? I get that he has done a nice job of winning in what is a very, very weak conference and also that he had a great 2 weeks this month. I honestly don't know a lot about him other than he had a nice career as a college player at SHU. Why do so many think that this hire by SHU is a homerun?
Shaheen Holloway
- Thread starter Big boy stan
- Start date
Apparently he's the Grim Reaper, Freddie and Jason all rolled into one for some RU fans.
For some reason many believe him to be Coach Cal or a Young Pitino. The expectation is that he’ll recruit at an elite level, out coach everyone, and basically cause the demise of RU.
And then there are others who think he’ll basically have SHU in the mix to make the tournament just about every year, out recruit us most years, and maybe even win the Big East here or there. You know — just like the last guy (Willard)
And then there are others who think he’ll basically have SHU in the mix to make the tournament just about every year, out recruit us most years, and maybe even win the Big East here or there. You know — just like the last guy (Willard)
From an SHU standpoint, we love him and its a home run for us. I don't compare the hire to what does it mean for us and RU. We are in different leagues, we don't typically compete for the same recruits, so it's a game we play every year, albeit a major rivalry.
He was a great assistant, has outstanding connections with the NY/NJ AAU, prep and HS coaches. Unknown on whether he can close on recruits, but did a nice job at SPC with no resources. Has a short body of work as a HC, but it's more than a three game winning streak. I'm not convinced he will pull in 5 star recruits; we still have the same resource challenges, but he will get players that he can coach.
He's the favorite son coming home and although anything is possible, he's likely the head coach here for the next 25 years.
He was a great assistant, has outstanding connections with the NY/NJ AAU, prep and HS coaches. Unknown on whether he can close on recruits, but did a nice job at SPC with no resources. Has a short body of work as a HC, but it's more than a three game winning streak. I'm not convinced he will pull in 5 star recruits; we still have the same resource challenges, but he will get players that he can coach.
He's the favorite son coming home and although anything is possible, he's likely the head coach here for the next 25 years.
For me, it's the way St. Peter's played. They ran a good system, got themselves good shots, played outstanding defense against superior teams and athletes, and were just FEARLESS.
It didn't seem like a "low major" scrapping and clawing against bigger schools having "off" nights, and just getting lucky. It's just seemed like college basketball games between equals, going toe to toe without nerves. That's a pretty big accomplishment in and of itself, setting aside the fact that he managed to recruit and develop some pretty good players.
It didn't seem like a "low major" scrapping and clawing against bigger schools having "off" nights, and just getting lucky. It's just seemed like college basketball games between equals, going toe to toe without nerves. That's a pretty big accomplishment in and of itself, setting aside the fact that he managed to recruit and develop some pretty good players.
The BE aint the MAAC...there will be a learning curve, even though he was an assistant, theres lots to things to cover. Roll the dice...
Some people are just paranoid. That’s all there is to it. Even if Holloway somehow elevates SHU to a perennial top-10 program there’s still no reason why RU couldn’t be successful as well.
This. Some RU sports fans live by self-loathing, fear, paranoia and the sky is falling at every moment mentality. Wilting flowers that never celebrate or enjoy the successes, the small ones or the bigger ones. Every new hire or recruit at a school in our conference or State is a worst case scenario/we are doomed situation. What a way to live.
He is an excellent recruiter who has a great relationship with AAU coaches who have the most influence in deciding where high level recruits will play. Whether that plays out at SHU is another story.
This. We have to get out of this mindset that anything good for another team automatically equals bad for RU.
They ran a junk zone and a press (proven that is does not work at high major level anymore since so many guys can handle the rock just look at how much less huggy bear is pressing)
Let’s stop acting like this guy is Don Nelson inventing the 5-out offense.
And if he is maybe we should ask the Siena coach what he did. Or is he the next Phil Jackson?
They played like Shaheed played when he was in college. He has four very good playmaking guards that controlled the tempo and a bunch of mobile, undersized big men that held their own defensively against much bigger and talented front lines.
I don't think his hiring changes anything with how RU performs. Did hiring Pike effect anything that SHU did? Of course not.
Holloway is clearly a good coach and will probably be at Seton Hall for a long time. But there are lots of good coaches in college basketball and his current team caught lightning in a bottle. Not sure he will be any better than Willard in the long run.
Lowest budget in conference took over 9th place team, finished 2nd twice and 4th iirc in first 4 years plus elite 8 lol c’mon bro
Over the past three seasons Holloway has done a good job in a one bid conference. Kinda like Pike did just over a longer period of time.
Holloway is a SHU alum and wants the job so SHU fans are naturally excited about him.
Media guys think it is a good hire either because that's what they do for almost every hire or because they truly think it is a good hire.
The three wins in the NCAA Tournament isn't the demonstration of Holloway as a good coach.
Saint Peter's is a HARD job. The fact that he built a team over the past four years that competed at the upper end of the MAAC and was in a position to get to, and win, NCAA games is the real accomplishment. That team wasn't built on the back of some superstar player, but rather hard work, strong defense, and good guard play. That stuff doesn't happen without Holloway as the coach.
The wins in the NCAA were icing on the cake, but those games weren't total flukes. They controlled the tempo of the game against Kentucky, Murray State, and Purdue as a result of coaching decisions.
I don't know what the ceiling is for Holloway at Seton Hall, but am pretty sure he will have hard nose, scrappy, tough teams. He did a lot, with very little, at Saint Peters.
Saint Peter's is a HARD job. The fact that he built a team over the past four years that competed at the upper end of the MAAC and was in a position to get to, and win, NCAA games is the real accomplishment. That team wasn't built on the back of some superstar player, but rather hard work, strong defense, and good guard play. That stuff doesn't happen without Holloway as the coach.
The wins in the NCAA were icing on the cake, but those games weren't total flukes. They controlled the tempo of the game against Kentucky, Murray State, and Purdue as a result of coaching decisions.
I don't know what the ceiling is for Holloway at Seton Hall, but am pretty sure he will have hard nose, scrappy, tough teams. He did a lot, with very little, at Saint Peters.
Hollaway is a HC that seems to be on the way up because of St Pete's play in NCAA,
But the jury should be out, about being a real good one, until he proves he can do a better job at the Hall than Willard did.
Ifd he does worse or about the same, he'll be an adequate HC that can win, but not win big like he did running the Peacocks.
Win big and do well in the NCAAs then it can be said Seton Hall made a great choice
But the jury should be out, about being a real good one, until he proves he can do a better job at the Hall than Willard did.
Ifd he does worse or about the same, he'll be an adequate HC that can win, but not win big like he did running the Peacocks.
Win big and do well in the NCAAs then it can be said Seton Hall made a great choice
By not glorifying Sha I feel like I’m knocking him — and that’s not my intent. I expect him to be a very solid. He’s the perfect hire for SHU. Right man at the right time. But, again, let’s not overstate what he did. With the team we saw this past 2 weeks he didn’t manage to win a notable OOC game and lost to a lot of bad teams in MAAC. He finished 4th in a league where the dominant team (Iona) got tripped up in the tournament.
Now, Sha might be one of those guys who can build a team and have them peak at the right time. That’s obviously what he did this year. Of course, he’s also the guy who lost in the first round of MAAC last year as the higher seeded team.
Now, Sha might be one of those guys who can build a team and have them peak at the right time. That’s obviously what he did this year. Of course, he’s also the guy who lost in the first round of MAAC last year as the higher seeded team.
I think all of this is fair. It remains to be seen whether he can sustain success at Seton Hall, but he did show that he can get a rag tag group of low-level college basketball players and turn them into a decent low-level team. He also showed that he can take those same players and, for a week and a half, at least, instill in them enough confidence and grit to execute a strong game plan and take down some much more talented teams. A bad coach wouldn't be able to do that, nor would a coach simply get lucky and have all that happen.
I don't think if he stayed at St. Peter's the rest of his career that he would ever replicate what just happened, but I do think he would have that program competing for an NCAA spot most years.
This is the best summary of Holloway that I've read and that includes the SHU board.
Yeah, no. St Peter’s doesn’t come close to allocating funds to athletics the way other teams in the conference do. Holloway replaced John Dunne who jumped at the chance to move over to Marist for a substantial raise
He can certainly build a team. I saw him interview in the last game right before half SP was struggling. The lasting impression on me was his body language, it was poor - head down. In my book a coach needs to show more positivity than that, I coach soccer and would never hang my head regardless of the score.
In my opinion probably not ready for the level he is going to move into but that is just one take from a fan of college BBall. And when he spoke I though he sounded apologetic about his team's performance. I didnt expect that type of response, maybe a little nitpicky but I am happy for SHU it appears to be a good fit but in my book the jury is certainly out. He is a young coach that looks like he needs more seasoning.
In my opinion probably not ready for the level he is going to move into but that is just one take from a fan of college BBall. And when he spoke I though he sounded apologetic about his team's performance. I didnt expect that type of response, maybe a little nitpicky but I am happy for SHU it appears to be a good fit but in my book the jury is certainly out. He is a young coach that looks like he needs more seasoning.
They are going to want sweet 16s every year
Shu has had decent success..are their expectations to large for a tiny school
Good luck with Nova and Uconn standing in their way and strong Midwest schools plus the guy at PC is a better coach.
Holloway is in the bottom 4 coaches right off the bat in a tough league at a pretty unattractive school
Shu has had decent success..are their expectations to large for a tiny school
Good luck with Nova and Uconn standing in their way and strong Midwest schools plus the guy at PC is a better coach.
Holloway is in the bottom 4 coaches right off the bat in a tough league at a pretty unattractive school
They had a down year before he took over. Two years before, SPU finished second, and 4th the year before that. The MAAC is a joke.
What besides budget makes it a hard job? How does his budget compare to others in the MAAC?
Being in jersey city provides him access to a lot of bball talent. And the biggest schools he’s competing against locally are RU, SHU and St John’s, rather than the Dukes and UCLAs of the world.
These are honest questions, not trolling.
lol…Sweet 16’s every year? There’s a handful of coaches in the entire country.
Wright is in a class by himself and then Cooley and McDermott are right below.
Then another group that would include Smart, Stubblefield, Anderson, Hurley…Hurley can recruit but he is not close to the top 3.
Ewing, Jordan and Steele (fired) are at the bottom. Holloway has more NCAA wins than the three combined.
It is the worst job or close to it in the MAAC. Money, support, arena, campus, history (well until this March) all lacking. I think he will do well at SHU and it is an obvious hire but it won't be easy. Unlike his predecessors he has to face a competent RU now with oodles of cash and a snazzy practice arena with a whole different value prop (Big Ten etc) for recruits than what SHU offers. And for the recruits who want the Big East/Garden etc he has to battle Nova UConn SJU Providence et al for those. Not easy.
Crap shoot right now.
- Obiagu, Yetna, Cale, Aiken gone
- Ja. Harris, Rhoden long shotmaybe (Sha recruited Rhoden)
- Richmond, Jackson, Samuel core holdovers
- Weston, Conway, Smith, Powell no clue - Sha will need to re-recruit depending on what he/they want
- Jq. Harris, Sanders, Daniels incoming freshmen first two have already said they are staying
I expect a lot of roster turnover and Sha hitting portal with some ex-NY/NJ transfers. Low expectations next year. NIT?
Do I think Holloway will recruit well / use the transfer portal well? Yes.
Is he the right hire for SHU? Yes
Is he a good coach? Appears so.
Holloway will get the recruiting bump he deserves given the St Peters run but he'll need to succeed in his first few years - otherwise the recruiting edge he has will evaporate quite quickly.
One thing for sure: I have a feeling with Holloway as HC at SHU - the RU - SHU Rivalry will remain quite heated.
As I have stated before, Holloway just rubs me the wrong way - but maybe thats the edge his players respect / yearn for.
Is he the right hire for SHU? Yes
Is he a good coach? Appears so.
Holloway will get the recruiting bump he deserves given the St Peters run but he'll need to succeed in his first few years - otherwise the recruiting edge he has will evaporate quite quickly.
One thing for sure: I have a feeling with Holloway as HC at SHU - the RU - SHU Rivalry will remain quite heated.
As I have stated before, Holloway just rubs me the wrong way - but maybe thats the edge his players respect / yearn for.
Visit SPU and you’ll have the answer to your question. It is the poorest of the poor.
For reference Iona has an endowment 5X of SPU. Siena 4x.