Easy with this. Willard was a JOKE for 5 years. He inherited a situation far better than what our staff got. And they didn't make the tourney for 5 years. They are on a great run but, as I've said repeatedly, if we have 5 years like Willards first 5, this board will combust.
If you are going to praise the Hall right now as a SJU fan you better have lots of patience for what this staff is taking over, and be pleased with incremental process. Otherwise you are a hypocrite.
Bingo! Many on this board would've gone ballistic.
Not to mention, this doesn't mean it'll be sustained success, although they're currently riding high. If they're able to catapult their program from this, then the hiring of Morton and Antigua to land players paid off. Otherwise, this season could be just a brief, albeit successful, blip on the radar.
Many Seton Hall fans were fed up with Willard and wanted him gone a couple years ago. It was only the fact that he had this core of a roster returning for this year (and the fact that SHU is cheap and didn't want to pay his buyout) that got him to this year in the first place.
His chances on hiring Tiny and Antigua has already paid off. He won a championship. The program may not continue this type of success but they will never be worse off for having brought them in. If everybody returns for them next year they will be REALLY good.
It's paid off short term, but we don't know how it'll play out long-term. Not to mention, Willard won a conference championship. We all know that's totally different than winning a national title. If Willard wins a national championship this season (or any, other season for that matter), then it doesn't matter what happens long-term, as it would means his moves have definitely paid off.
If the Hall wins, at least, a game or two in the tournament, and Whitehead plays big, then I believe he's a goner. If everyone returns, then they should be extremely good, and probably would be a top 10-15 preseason pick.
Another thing.... Will Willard be able to sustain recruiting over the long haul?