Seton Hall, ranked No. 12 in an AP preseason poll, is beginning its most hyped and anticipated season in recent memory without its head coach.
Kevin Willard is serving a two-game suspension for allegations of transfer tampering involving junior forward Taurean Thompson and sat out the Pirates’ final exhibition contest Tuesday night against Division III Misericordia -- a 112-38 blowout -- and will miss the regular-season opener Nov. 5 against Wagner. He would be eligible to return Nov. 9 against Stony Brook.
Thompson, a 6-foot-11 forward from New York City, transferred from Syracuse two years ago. The news was first reported by Gannett New Jersey and the New York Post. Assistant coach Grant Billmeier led the Pirates Tuesday night in Willard’s absence.
Willard did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim declined comment by text. A Seton Hall spokesman said the school would have no comment other than the press release it issued.
“Seton Hall University has been working collaboratively with the NCAA enforcement staff to address an infraction within our men’s basketball program,” the school said in a statement. “Our department has been proactive in our review and has been fully cooperating with the NCAA enforcement staff. As head coach, Coach Willard assumes responsibility for the program, including this underlying violation, and has agreed to sit out the October 29 exhibition contest and the November 5 game. This matter is still in review, and as a result, we will refrain from commenting any further until it is resolved. Seton Hall is and always will be committed to a culture of compliance, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure it.”
Thompson is one of several transfers on the roster. He abruptly left Syracuse in the late summer of 2017 and Seton Hall announced his addition that September.
“Taurean is a terrific addition for the Seton Hall men’s basketball program,” Willard said at the time. “He is long and athletic with good post skills and the ability to step out and shoot. We will work with him during his sit-out year to further his development both on the court and in the classroom and expect him to be ready to compete for Seton Hall next season.”
Willard, 44, is entering his 10th season with the Pirates and is 169-126, with four straight NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure.
The Pirates were picked to win the Big East regular-season title and are eyeing a deep run in March.
“You know, anything less than championships in the Big East or making a deep run in the [NCAA] Tournament, we’ll be selling ourselves short,” first-team All-American guard Myles Powell said in a recent interview.
Billmeier, who refused to comment on the suspension, said Willard’s message to him was “Have fun, be yourself."
Billmeier added: “It’s certainly a lot different than being an assistant. The one thing I’ll say about Coach Willard is he prepares everyone to be In that spot and [to] one day have their own program. He does a great job preparing us in case we are fortunate enough to get a head coaching job one day.”