Let’s be real for a second. If you were following the Big East last year, you probably remember that gut-punch feeling on Selection Sunday. Seton Hall had 20 wins. They beat the eventual national champion UConn by double digits in December. They took down Marquette. And yet, when the bracket flashed on the screen, the Pirates were nowhere to be found.
It was a snub. Honestly, it was one of those moments that makes you question if the selection committee even watches the games or if they just stare at a spreadsheet all day. Coach Shaheen Holloway didn't let that bitterness linger, though. He took that team and went out and won the NIT. That's the Holloway way. You don't whine; you win.
Fast forward to right now—January 2026. If you're looking at Seton Hall March Madness prospects for this spring, the vibe in South Orange is completely different. This isn't a "bubble" team anymore. They’re ranked 25th in the AP Poll, sitting at 14-3, and they look like the kind of squad nobody wants to see in their region come tournament time.
The Shaheen Holloway Effect: From Snubbed to Dangerous
You can't talk about this program without talking about Holloway. This is the guy who took Saint Peter's to the Elite Eight. He knows the "March Madness" DNA better than almost anyone in the country. After the 2024 snub, he basically hit the reset button on the roster, bringing in a massive wave of transfers.
We’re talking about ten new faces. Ten!
Most coaches would struggle to get ten new guys to share a locker room, let alone win games in the toughest conference in America. But Holloway has them playing a brand of defense that is frankly suffocating. They are currently 6th in the nation in points allowed per game.
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Think about that.
They held Georgetown to 33% shooting just a week ago. They’ve held 14 of their 16 opponents under 70 points. In a high-scoring era of basketball, Seton Hall is out here turning games into a street fight, and they usually win the fight.
Who are these guys?
The heartbeat of this team is Adam "Budd" Clark. He’s a junior transfer from Merrimack, and he’s only 5'10", but he plays like he’s 6'6". He just dropped 22 points on Georgetown and has been the closer Holloway needed.
Then you’ve got Tajuan Simpkins, the Elon transfer who has been a spark plug off the bench. And don't forget Mike Williams from LSU. It’s a roster built on "second chances"—guys who were maybe overlooked at bigger programs or stars at smaller ones who wanted to prove they belong in the Big East.
Why the 2026 Seton Hall March Madness Run Feels Different
So, what’s actually changed? Why should we believe they won't get snubbed again?
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For starters, the "NET" rankings—that controversial metric Rick Pitino called "fraudulent" last year—actually love them this time. Their strength of schedule is top-tier because they aren't just playing cupcakes; they are winning road games in the Big East.
The Resume So Far
- The Record: 14-3 overall (4-2 in the Big East).
- The Big Wins: They went into Milwaukee and beat Marquette 79-73. They took down a ranked Creighton team at the Prudential Center.
- The "Good" Losses: Even their losses are impressive. They just lost a 5-point game to #3 UConn where they actually outplayed the Huskies for a good 15-minute stretch.
The committee looks for "quadrant one" wins. Seton Hall is stacking them like cordwood.
Breaking the 1989 Curse
Every time Seton Hall March Madness comes up in conversation, older fans immediately start talking about 1989. The PJ Carlesimo era. The one-point loss to Michigan in the national championship game. It’s the "almost" that has defined the program for three decades.
But Holloway isn't coaching in the shadow of '89. He’s building something that feels more sustainable. The Pirates aren't relying on one superstar to carry them. On any given night, it could be Clark, it could be Simpkins, or it could even be the 7'2" sophomore Assane Mbaye protecting the rim.
The depth is what makes them a nightmare for a tournament setting. In the NCAA Tournament, you usually have a one-day turnaround between games. If your star has an off night, you're going home. With this Seton Hall team, they have so many different ways to beat you. If the shots aren't falling, they'll just guard you until you give up.
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Practical Steps for Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to track their progress toward the tournament, keep an eye on these specific things:
- The St. John's Matchup: The rivalry with Rick Pitino's squad is personal now. Winning that game on January 20th at Madison Square Garden would be a massive statement for their seeding.
- Road Performance: The committee rewards teams that win away from home. Their upcoming games at Butler and Creighton are basically "seeding" games.
- Turnover Margin: Seton Hall lives on the fast break. If they keep forcing 14+ turnovers a game, they are a lock for a top-6 seed.
- Health of Budd Clark: He is the engine. If he stays healthy, this is a Sweet 16 team.
The reality is that Seton Hall has transitioned from a team that "hopes" to get in to a team that "expects" to make noise. They aren't asking for permission anymore. They are taking it.
Watch the remaining Big East schedule closely. If they finish in the top 4 of the conference—which they are currently on track to do—you aren't just looking at a tournament team. You're looking at a dark horse that could end up in the second weekend or beyond.
The snub of 2024 is officially in the rearview mirror. The "Hall" is back, and this time, the bracket makers won't be able to ignore them.