Four days later, Myles Powell was still grappling with the reality that his college career was over without one final chance at a memorable March.
“I went to sleep Wednesday night and college basketball was over [the next day],” the Seton Hall superstar said on a Monday afternoon conference call. “It was time for the real world.”
The coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of the postseason, eliminating the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1938, and cutting short what the sharpshooting guard from Trenton was hoping would be an exclamation point to his four years in South Orange.
It did nothing, however, to dim his confidence. If not for the widespread virus that has shut down the sports world, Seton Hall was projected to be a third seed in the tournament, its highest since 1993, and Powell expected great things.
“We had the type of seed where we feel we were in a situation to make a run,” he said. “Once we got to playing basketball where [our opponent] didn’t know what to expect and people didn’t know the plays we were going to run, that’s where we would have been at our best.
“I feel like we would have made a run to the Final Four. All year everybody said we were a Final Four team, and I think we would have lived up to it.”
Powell remained incredibly proud of this season nonetheless. For the first time since 1993, Seton Hall earned a share of the Big East regular-season crown, finishing in a three-way tie with Villanova and Creighton. It was ranked as high as eighth in the country. It was on track to set a program record with five straight NCAA Tournaments berths. He became the school’s first Big East Player of the Year since Terry Dehere in 1993, finishing as the school’s third all-time leading scorer (2,252) behind Dehere and Nick Werkman, and could wind up as the program’s second Associated Press first-team All-American, and first since Walter Dukes in 1952-53.
“We had a great season and I’m going to try to keep my head up high,” he said. “The way we got to look at it is we still won a championship.”
The entire team met at coach Kevin Willard’s house for lunch on Sunday and wore March Madness shirts like it was still Selection Sunday. The Big East trophy was there, giving the Pirates one last chance to celebrate their season together. For the time being, Powell is staying at his South Orange apartment, in the same complex as most of his teammates, as Seton Hall has shifted to all online classes.
“We’re just trying to cherish these last couple of moments with our brothers,” Powell said.
Powell didn’t rule out returning, if the NCAA does grant another year of eligibility to seniors who had their seasons cut short. But it would depend on the feedback he gets from NBA personnel. He has yet to seriously look into hiring an agent.
Right now, most important to Powell is receiving his diploma, becoming the first member of his family to do so. He is on track to graduate. It remains uncertain whether Seton Hall will have its ceremony at Prudential Center in mid-May as planned. Powell is crossing his fingers.
“You guys know how much that means to me and my family, and I just don’t want that taken away from me,” he said. “Not only for myself but I want everybody in my family to experience that moment, so hopefully everything gets back to normal.”
Seton Hall forward Taurean Thompson entered the transfer portal on Monday, a source confirmed. Thompson, a transfer from Syracuse, appeared in just one game this season. Willard and St. Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway, the Pirates’ associate head coach during the recruitment of Thompson, each were given suspensions by the NCAA for tampering. Seton Hall also lost a scholarship for next year as part of the sanctions.