Overview: Background and Injuries

The Seton Hall Pirates have never been a team catching too many highlight reels.  However, during the 2011-2012 season, they had a shot at the big dance, the NCAA National Tournament.  They wound up taking a #1 seed in the NIT, instead.  They were eliminated by the UMass Minutemen at Walsh Gym in only the 2nd round.  Since then, they have graduated Herb Pope and Jordan Theodore, and Peter Dill.  Together, the Herb Pope and Jordan Theodore accounted for 1,045 of 2,324 points, or about 45% of the team’s points.  They were the cornerstones of the Pirates, and now, they needed to be replaced. Peter Dill, on the other hand, was a motivator, rather than a player.  A walk-on, he supported the team and even managed to make a SportsCenter highlight reel (see below).

The 2012-2013 SHU Pirates have had their fair share of struggles.  For a squad riddled with injuries, many players are forced to play with fewer breaks and rests.  Players last year averaged a little over 19 minutes per game, or almost half of the game time.  This year, Seton hall is forced to keep players in for nearly 25 minutes on average.  Although 6 minutes may not seem like a big difference, that time consists of 15% of the game, a substantial amount when it comes to resting time.  Out of the 13-player roster, one player has transferred and six players have been injured.  At one point during the season, the Pirates were forced to play with a seven-man roster, leaving only two players for substitution. 

Aaron Cosby missed the very first two game of the season against the UMKC Roos and the Norfolk State Spartans.  His team was able to compete without him, winning both by a combined 52 points.  Brandon Mobley was shortly later, hyperextending his knee in the 3^rd minute of the 3^rd game of the season against the Washington Huskies.  He would miss 3 games with the injury.  Next was Patrik Auda, who suffered a broken foot against the Maine Black Bears in only the 5^th contest out of the 31-game season.  Then was Aaron Geramipoor, who suffered a stress fracture against LSU, and missed 9 games during the season.  Kevin Johnson announced he would be having arthroscopic surgery on his knee and would miss the next 3 games.  Next, was Brian Oliver, a relatively quiet player.  However, he exploded mid-December, dropping 13, 13, and 20 in three consecutive games.  He then sprained his ankle, missing 4 games, and possibly more.  Kevin Johnson announced he would be having arthroscopic surgery on his knee the game after Oliver went out, and he would miss the next 3 games.  The most recent injury to the Pirates is once again, Brandon Mobley, but this time, it was his shoulder against the Providence Friars.

Number	Player	Position	Games Missed
1	Aaron Cosby	Guard	2
2	Brandon Mobley	Forward	3+
22	Brian Oliver	Forward	4+
32	Kevin Johnson	Center	3
33	Patrik Auda	Forward	12+
50	Aaron Geramipoor	Center	9

+ Indicates a player is still injured and may miss more games during the season

As the team enters Big East play, the Pirates can only pray that their luck turns.  They start off easy against the DePaul Blue Demons, but are then followed by #21 Notre Dame, #3 Louisville, and the Providence Friars.

Jordan Theodore (Graduated)

Herb Pope (Graduated)

Patrik Auda's injury

Pete Dill (Graduated) on SportsCenter last season

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