Credit: GR Productions
Kevin Willard Returns to Prudential Center for Highly Anticipated Matchup with Pirates
Published: Monday, December 22, 2025
by Ryder Nuesell
NEWARK, N.J. -- The Seton Hall Pirates (11-1, 1-0) look to continue their unexpectedly strong start to the season against familiar foe Kevin Willard and his Villanova Wildcats (9-2, 0-0) on Tuesday evening.
The Pirates return from their trip to Rhode Island, where they took down Providence
for their first conference win of the season, 72-67. The effort was led by forward
Stephon Payne and guard Tajuan Simpkins, as the two had arguably their best performances
in the white and blue yet.
Payne notched 18 points and 16 rebounds for his first double-double, and Simpkins
dropped 22 points off of the bench, highlighted by his clutch go-ahead three-pointer
with 1:02 left in the game.
Now, a familiar face returns to Newark, as twelve-year Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard
is set to make his return. Willard will face off against his former assistant coach
Shaheen Holloway and will be going against the Pirates for the first time since his
departure from the program.
Willard led Seton Hall to the 2016 BIG EAST Conference Championship, as well as a
2020 regular-season title. The eleventh winningest coach in BIG EAST history also
guided the Pirates to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, with a fifth cancelled
due to COVID-19. In his final season with Seton Hall in 2022, Willard’s Pirates danced
one last time.
While his departure for Maryland University was sudden and left a bitter taste in
the mouths of many Pirate fans, Willard gave Seton Hall Men’s Basketball some of the
best years in program history.
However, his immediate exit paired with his newfound home with the rival Wildcats
is likely a recipe for a rude reception at the Prudential Center on Tuesday.
Regardless of fan reaction, the battle between Seton Hall and Villanova is always
a fun one, and this year there will be a little extra motivation for the home side.
The matchup will be the Wildcats’ conference opener, as they are 9-2 on the young
season throughout non-conference play.
Each member of Villanova’s starting five averages double digits in scoring, and the
Wildcats as a team average 80.0 points per game. However, the Pirates’ defense is
a key to the identity that they have established this season. Seton Hall allows an
average of just 62.1 points per game, which ranks sixth in the nation.
Bryce Lindsay will be the main threat for the Pirates to watch out for, as the redshirt-sophomore
guard is averaging 16.7 points per game thus far. But the Pirates have thrived this
season in shutting down opponents’ leading scorers, highlighted by Kansas State’s
PJ Haggerty, who is second in the nation with his 22.8 points per game.
Seton Hall got 49 votes in the AP Poll this past week and sits at 36th in the NET
Rankings, whereas Villanova did not receive votes, but finds themselves at 29th. The
matchup will be a test for both squads, who look to make a statement not only to the
rest of the BIG EAST, but for the rest of the nation as well.
Tune in for tipoff at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday evening where Joe Morales and Chris Heite
will have the call for 89.5 FM WSOU.
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