SOUTH ORANGE – There was a chant of “we love Sha” for Seton Corridor basketball coach Shaheen Holloway.
And one other of “another yr” for standout level guard Kadary Richmond.
It was an evening for chants, roars and standing ovations – extra of a present than a recreation – at historic Walsh Fitness center because the Pirates rang up UNLV 91-68 in Wednesday’s NIT quarterfinals.
Conducting this symphony was Richmond, whose 16 factors, 10 assists and 5 steals supplied fairly the curtain name in what could be his ultimate dwelling recreation as a Pirate.
“I used to be simply enjoying with a free spirit,” he stated.
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The remainder of his teammates had been balling too as Seton Corridor (23-12) superior to the NIT semifinals for the primary time since 1953. Physique-slamming UNLV (21-13), the lone Mountain West Convention survivor within the occasion, appeared like karma for its NCAA Event snub – and the indignity of the Large East getting simply three groups into the Dance in comparison with six for the overrated Mountain West.
What’s transpired since then validated the beginning 5’s unanimous choice to just accept the NIT invitation, a alternative Holloway properly ceded to them (in comparison with St. John’s coach Rick Pitino, who threw within the towel on behalf of his gamers).
“It feels nice to be part of one thing, and never sitting round at dwelling enjoying (video) video games,” guard Al-Amir Dawes stated. “From the start all of us got here collectively collectively and stated we wished to play (within the NIT) and we’re going to complete it off robust. So we’re right here, three video games in.”
Added Richmond: “This an incredible feeling, after coming collectively, us 5 seniors saying, ‘If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it to win all of it.’ And we’ve got a possibility to do that at dwelling.”
Holloway, who shouldn’t be one to pretend reward, beamed like a proud dad or mum afterward.
“I’m tremendous impressed with these guys,” he stated. “It’s been an extended yr — some ups, some downs — however the best way these guys got here out and dealt with themselves and didn’t cry, didn’t fear about issues, caught to the sport plan, to play like we performed tonight for this to be our final recreation at dwelling was unbelievable. Unbelievable. I’m tremendous happy with these guys and the followers got here out big-time, so it was an incredible night time total.”
And the Pirates did it shorthanded.
Their solely two common subs had been sidelined: freshman wing Isaiah Coleman (flu) and backup heart Elijah Hutchins-Everett (higher physique harm). The flu has been circulating by way of the crew, leaving the 5 starters to do many of the work and not using a security web. They performed good protection, avoiding foul hassle, and received simply sufficient assist from deep reserves Jaquan Sanders, Sada Nganga, David Tubek to maintain the prepare rolling.
“As soon as everyone’s going, collectively we’re a beast,” Dawes stated.
For Seton Corridor, 23 wins is this system’s second-most in a season because the P.J. Carlesimo period resulted in 1994, behind solely the 25-win version that received the 2016 Large East Event.
FIVE TAKEAWAYS
1. Al Dawes’ second
Throughout pregame intros, Richmond sometimes is the ultimate Pirate to be launched. On Wednesday that honor went to Dawes, a Newark native enjoying in his ultimate collegiate dwelling recreation. He was greeted with an extra-loud roar – followers understood – and chalked up 21 factors, six boards and three assists.
His second-half 3-pointer from the Pirate brand – will need to have been 35 toes out – blew the roof off of Walsh.
“It was a warmth test,” he stated. “I stated, why not?”
After a tricky begin, Dawes has put collectively a memorable postgrad season. He’s additionally a superb man who’s well liked by all of his teammates. He’s left his stamp on this system, for certain.
An hour after the sport ended, Dawes was the final Pirate who remained on the court docket. He was speaking with mates, soaking all of it in. Because of this he transferred dwelling after three years at Clemson. You get the impression he’ll be a courtside fixture for years to come back as an alum.
“I’m happy with him and the best way he dealt with himself coming again dwelling, as a result of it’s not simple,” Holloway stated. “He received a uncooked take care of loads of followers; loads of followers didn’t perceive him and his recreation. I assumed he got here on this summer time tremendous targeted, with a chip on his shoulder, with one thing to show. He got here out and had an unbelievable senior yr, so I’m tremendous happy with him, I’m happy with the best way he dealt with himself, I’m happy with the younger man he’s changing into.”
2. Jaden Bediako, a person possessed
After two tough NIT outings, the postgrad heart was on the spot, with an absence of reinforcements if he received into foul hassle once more. He rose to the event, delivering his most amped-up, animated effort of the season, and did so with out fouling.
“The sport plan was to do my work early (getting place), after which placing my palms up and never get in foul hassle as a result of that’s been a problem,” Bediako defined.
He set the tone early with a defining play, catching a Dawes skip move in full stride and slamming the ball dwelling by way of heavy contact.
“That was a hell of a end by JB,” Dawes stated. “It was nice to get him again going, getting stops, rebounding, seeing the ball undergo the ring.”
Bediako completed with 11 factors on 5-of-5 capturing, 4 boards and 4 blocks, persistently denying UNLV’s 6-foot-9 Boone brothers inside. And his power was infectious.
“It felt good, man, to be again on the market,” he stated.
Pirate legend Jerry Walker, who is aware of a factor or two about beasting opponents beneath, was exhorting Bediako from his courtside seat. It was fairly the generational intersection.
3. Corridor followers, take a bow
When Dylan Addae-Wusu took a steal again for a dunk proper earlier than the halftime buzzer, sending the Pirates into the locker room up 44-26, the noise explosion may have awoken the useless. There have been a number of moments like that Wednesday, which was the loudest of the three raucous NIT video games right here.
Within the fashionable historical past of this program, you would be hard-pressed to discover a time when the fan base did extra for the gamers than these previous eight days.
“They might have had a bitter style of their mouth and never confirmed up after what occurred on Choice Sunday,” Richmond stated. “We respect them for being robust and sticking with us by way of all of it.”
The NIT is what you make of it. Pirate supporters determined to make it an enormous deal, and – coupled with the comfortable allure of the previous gymnasium – created a feel-good week for Seton Corridor basketball that shall be remembered for a very long time.
“It’s all the time particular, man, enjoying right here, enjoying at Walsh, it’s all the time completely different than enjoying down in Newark on the Pru,” Holloway stated. “They’re on prime of you, they’re loud, they’re after it. Our followers had been into it from the St. Joe’s recreation all the best way till now, and I believe our guys fed off of it.”
The Pirates are 431-143 all-time at Walsh and are 33-1 in opposition to non-conference opponents right here since 1989.
“I’ll be sincere with you, I’m unsure we’d be enjoying like this if we performed on the Pru, as a result of the Pru’s a bit larger, it’s sort of spaced out,” Holloway stated. “These followers received these guys going all three video games. There’s little doubt about that.”
4. ‘I am the coach of Seton Corridor’
If the cheers appeared a bit louder than traditional when Holloway was launched, that was no accident. The second-year head coach rebuffed Louisville’s advances for its head-coaching emptiness (Charleston coach Pat Kelsey received the nod). The transfer affirmed his loyalty to his alma mater, and a well-deserved contract extension is on the best way.
Holloway squeezed each drop out of this group, and his potential to inspire them for the NIT when the opposite Large East entrants crapped out speaks volumes.
Properly after the ultimate horn, Holloway remained on the court docket talking with followers, posing for photographs and soaking within the second. That is dwelling for him, and doubtless shall be for a few years to come back.
Afterward he was requested about being linked to the Louisville job. His response was pitch-perfect.
“What’s understood don’t should be stated, brother,” he stated. “I’m the coach of Seton Corridor, interval.”
5. NIT semifinals subsequent
It’s onto Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the place Seton Corridor will face Georgia Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2). The fourth-seeded Bulldogs (20-16) topped Ohio State of their quarterfinal. The Pirates are 1-0 in Hinkle this season, having crushed Butler there. It is also a homecoming for senior wing Dre Davis, who hails from Indianapolis.
On the opposite facet of the bracket, fellow Choice Sunday snub Indiana State (31-6) will tackle Utah (22-14) at 7 p.m.
For the primary time since 1989, Seton Corridor will play basketball in April.
“Completely happy for these guys, blissful that we get to go to Indy and play in entrance of Dre’s hometown, get an opportunity to play within the ultimate 4 of the NIT,” Holloway stated. “Like I informed these guys, basketball is basketball this time of yr. You’ve gotta be actual appreciative of being on the market.”
Tuesday’s tragic bridge collapse in Baltimore helped reinforce the purpose.
“We had a second of silence yesterday for the stuff that’s happening in Baltimore with the bridge, and I informed these guys, you’ll be able to’t take nothing as a right,” Holloway stated. “Something can occur at any given time, so whenever you’re on the market, don’t cheat the sport.”
They definitely did not.
Jerry Carino has coated the New Jersey sports activities scene since 1996 and the school basketball beat since 2003. He’s an Related Press High 25 voter. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.