Hines Instagram

Mar 13, 2021
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Someone mentioned on the Trove that he put up some sort of a countdown? Anyone have details? I don’t have Instagram.

(And yes, yes, sad that we’re in a world in which a teenager’s social media post is central to our next college basketball season, etc., but alas…)
 

Gritty5837

All-Conference
Nov 28, 2021
1,723
3,693
113
Yeah I can’t go they deep into it, but until Seton Hall can demonstrate an ability to retain their top players we should all be worried.

I'm assuming someone is going to pay him a ridiculous figure we cannot match and he'll be gone. I really hope I'm pleasantly surprised though.
 
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PirateBlue08

Junior
Jul 25, 2025
280
308
63
We want another big guy, we should be staking out all the TGI Fridays in north Jersey. Maybe our next big man loves their wings!
 

Merge

Redshirt
Nov 5, 2001
32
46
18
but until Seton Hall can demonstrate an ability to retain their top players we should all be worried.

I think I'm past worrying. More of the acceptance phase now.

Until we have some kind of regulation / salary caps, any star player that stays at SHU will be doing so for less pay than they would get elsewhere, and most players will leave. A few may stay here and there for specific reasons but I think they will be the outliers. Not going to get my hopes up on any of them.
 

Piratz

All-Conference
Mar 24, 2004
1,293
2,546
113
Maybe Mbaye stays and starts?
Thinking Scheming GIF
 

CTF591011

Freshman
Jan 24, 2026
153
62
28
Hines should be priority one and him leaving would obviously suck again and again prove how pathetic NIL era has become, but to be optimistic, it can maybe bring us more of our depth from Clark, Parker, Simpkims, and Dar.

I think Hines can be better than Delgado was, but end of day it's a money league. Still, you just got to have the best talent possible.

Clark has been the most important player even with my frustrations late in the year and doubt, but I get it he is the point guard and has shown to be well against middle of the pack to bad teams for us to stay afloat. If Hines leaves, we really need to lock down someone like Parker, even more than Simpkims cause I think Parker can be part of our future even as a role player. I believe he can be better than what Cale was to us and even possibly similar to Rhoden one of my favorite Pirates in recent years.

We also should try to get big on another transfer as well. But we really need better shooting or a really good wing or guard who is really great a s a three level scorer. The thing, ASM, Clark and Simpkims just didn't have is elite three level scoring. Having someone who could be a threat like Powell, Whitehead, or even Desi was with us, could've helped us win games this season, even with our poor shooting.
 

JTSHU

Junior
Feb 9, 2015
468
390
63
Im sorry but its time to take a chance. Spreading out budget over 10 didnt work. At best we were a play in game maybe 9 seed. Maybe spend it on starting 5, lock em in and play moneyball w the bench. If we lose najai this will do nothing for fan engagement and student turnout. Kids wana see budd fly up and down the court, make great passes, be a pest on D. They wana see najai dominate in the paint. If this program doesnt take chances we are a typical play in game type of team. Ita not like we are taking a chance on a player we have to keep for 4 yrs. If it doesnt work out we can move on to a different strategy. But why not at least try to keep najai? If i have to watch another steph payne type who cant score, who cant hold onto a rebound and hands of stone im gonna lose my mind. We have nothing to lose. This program isnt destined for a top 5 seed so roll the dice. 4 4.5 on najai and budd is steep. That only gives us 3.5-4 to fill out on starters and a bench, but if we get creative maybe just maybe we can generate more excitement and donors. I will tell u another team like this year didnt generate much attendance.
 
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Jerry1992

Redshirt
Sep 20, 2013
31
21
3
With no inside knowledge and no clue what this post means, I can make educated guess based on past with our best players and much higher NIL dollars other schools have vs. ours. Chances to retain Hines is slim. Clark probably 50/50. Just easier to accept it and hope to be proven wrong on Hines.
 

Merge

Redshirt
Nov 5, 2001
32
46
18
But why not at least try to keep najai?

Of course we should (and will) try but assume we offer him $2M and someone else offers offers $2.5 and we match. That other team isn't just going to sit back and let us keep him. They are likely going to raise their offer beyond what we can afford.

Only way we keep him is if he wants to stay in NJ more than he wants an extra several hundred thousand or so.
 
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Jun 3, 2001
212
272
63
I guess if there is a silver lining to him leaving is that we will have 2M more for other players. The model absolutely sucks.
The problem with this is, we now know our "ceiling" if you will: we cannot afford a player who, as a freshman played basically half the game, because of his potential. Therefore, whomever we do sign to replace him has to be worse than that...that is, he will be capable of playing less than half the game, with less stats, and less potential...otherwise, he will be out of our cost range.

Certainly not at the premium positions. Sure, maybe we sign Clark, and I want to, but let's face it, if he had the "potential" Hines has....he would also be gone...therefore he has limitations...which we all know.

And go get a good shooter? How can we afford that? We can't.

Guess I am just frustrated, but again, it is becoming clearer and clearer to me, we should drop down a level and play where we can compete, as in this new world order we are in a never ending chase that we simply cannot win.
 

NCAAsorBust

Junior
Jan 14, 2026
441
366
63
There's 2,500 players about to enter the portal. If he stays great. If he doesn't avoid all ledges and bridges, it's not the end of the world. Let's be honest he's got a ton of potential but he's far from a finished product. He's got a lot of work to do to stay on the court, pick up less fouls, and defend when he was pulled away from the basket. It was clear Sha didn't want him in with a 5 who can pull him away from the basket. $2.5 based on potential is scary. Curt Cignetti said something during the football season, he recruits based on what you did, not your potential.
 

Seton75

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
36,310
2,399
113
There's 2,500 players about to enter the portal. If he stays great. If he doesn't avoid all ledges and bridges, it's not the end of the world. Let's be honest he's got a ton of potential but he's far from a finished product. He's got a lot of work to do to stay on the court, pick up less fouls, and defend when he was pulled away from the basket. It was clear Sha didn't want him in with a 5 who can pull him away from the basket. $2.5 based on potential is scary. Curt Cignetti said something during the football season, he recruits based on what you did, not your potential.
Terrific post.
 

HALL85

Heisman
Jul 5, 2001
29,748
10,870
113
The same posters with the same” we should step down a level” NOT GONNA HAPPPEN
Not suggesting we step down, but the deck is now stacked worse than it ever was between the money differential and immediate transfer. Expect the annual pillaging.
 

dehere23

Senior
Feb 28, 2015
984
981
93
All that said, we were a few wins from the tourney in 2 of the last 3 years.
Agree with you for 2024, because if we had beaten SJU in the BE tourney 4/5 game I think we are in, bid stealers aside. We controlled our own destiny there.

This year I think that’s way overstating it. Losing 10 games in the league plus a weak OOC schedule is what did it.