by Josh Adams

 

NEW YORK-  

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”- Confucius 

As the 2019-2020 Big East season dawns, the Seton Hall Pirates have been picked to be the preseason favorite to win the conference. Their star player, Myles Powell, was picked to be the preseason Big East Player of the Year.

At Big East Media Day the story was the small school from South Orange, NJ.  The Pirates swept all the preseason accolades with their peers voting them the favorite to hoist the Conference Championship back here in Madison Square Garden in April.

“It’s been a journey to get to this point. It’s a great accomplishment but a great challenge at the same time.”, said head coach Kevin Willard when asked about his team’s high expectations at media day on Thursday. Speaking about Powell, Willard offered his senior the highest praise for his maturity and leadership. “I wouldn’t be the coach I am today without Myles” , Willard told the press scrum on the basketball floor at the Garden.

 

(Kevin Willard answers Josh Adams question about the strength of the Big East this season)

The compliment was echoed by Powell who told the press Willard dropped everything and flew to the west coast when Powell was going through the process of trying out for NBA teams. Powell reached out his coach confused and frustrated by the process and Willard guided him through his distress. The bond between the star player and his coach is evident. The rest of the conference recognizes it as well. “I think this league has done an unbelievable job in developing players.”, said Willard, “To have someone like Powell return who is an exceptional player and an exceptional person is great for the conference”

A special season is ready to to take off in South Orange. No one is pretending that anything short of a Big East Title won’t be a disappointment.