Kevin Willard quote book: Xavier

On Jared Rhoden:

“I think Jared’s starting to get back to the way he was playing before the COVID shutdown. He’s playing really simple basketball, letting the game come to him, he’s not forcing it and I think he’s just playing nice and simple. He’s stepping in, shooting the basketball, and he’s just playing simple basketball, which when he does that, I think he’s as good as anybody. We just put more time in him understanding what, more or less trying to make the game simpler, to be honest with you, Zach.”

“We came out of COVID — he had it, he spent 13 days in his house — and I think everyone was excited to get back playing, but you lose a rhythm. And I think he’s just finally getting back into a rhythm. I think it takes that time…Tyrese Samuel is just now getting back into a rhythm and he spent 13 days with COVID. So I think his frustration is a little bit of the fact that he was trying to do things that he was able to do in December, and when he came back out in January, you’re not able to do that, you start pressing. And I think for him, it was just him understanding, ‘I gotta get back to just being simple, I gotta get back into really good shape,’ which was really hard for us in January.”

On whether or not Seton Hall is back to its old form:

“I think we’re close. I don’t think we’re quite back. If we get BA back, I think that’ll be a big boost. I think Kadary Richmond’s playing phenomenal, but he’s logging a lot of minutes and Jamir’s doing a really good job of kind of being that second guard, but I’d like to have Jamir being a little bit more aggressive on the wing and getting some more shots. I like the way we’re progressing, I like the way — for the most part — we’re defending. We’re getting there, Jerry.”

On Rhoden’s refusal to be denied:

“I think Jared’s progression as a leader, again, I think he’s gotten in much better shape. He understands he’s going to be out there for 36 minutes, and I think he’s worked really hard on just simplifying the game.”

On Seton Hall’s 17 offensive rebounds:

“When we rebound and defend the three, we’re pretty good. I don’t know what our numbers are, I think they’re pretty darn good when we outrebound and defend the three. I think we’re undefeated or we only have one loss, and that was when we only had seven guys, so I think our front line guys are really, really playing well. Tyrese is back, Lex is really playing aggressive, Tray was out two days of practice with a sprained ankle, so I thought he looked a little bit rusty today, but I think all four of them are really doing a great job.”

On Bryce Aiken:

“There’s no update, Adam. He won’t be back Saturday, I don’t expect him back anytime soon. The human brain is a crazy thing, so he’s doing all the exercises, he’s doing everything he needs to do — everything — he got hit really, really hard and it’s just taking him some time. I have no timetable on the injury, on anything. I have no idea. He could be back next Saturday or he might not be able to back, I have no idea.”

On how Seton Hall has adapted without Aiken:

“I think getting back on a regular schedule, Jerry, more than anything, has been huge. Getting two good days of practice, playing, lifting…those three games in five days without him was really hard to adjust. It was impossible to adjust, so the fact that we got one of those and then we’re able to get Jamir to play some backup point guard, able to get him back into a rhythm, able to get Jared back into a rhythm, I think more than anything, has given us a chance to be the team we were in December.”

“This is a great group, this is a fun group to coach. They could be frustrating at times just like any other group, but they’ve had a great attitude the whole time, they really have. They practice hard, they’ve gotten after each other, and Myles and Jared — and even BA, even though he’s been out, he’s been around practice — he’s been talking to these guys. So the senior leadership has really been huge.”

On looking forward to facing Villanova and UConn:

“No. I know you guys love that s***, but no. I gotta spend the next four hours watching film and breaking everything down, and have everything ready by tomorrow at 8 a.m., so if you find that enjoyable, I’ll switch and I can ask you questions. Are you going to enjoy your subway ride?”

“I know where my team is at. It’s definitely going to be a measuring stick, I think it’s the two toughest road places I think we play. I think Eric Dixon, the way Eric Dixon’s playing is off the charts. He could be a first team all-Big East guy right now, to be honest with you, and I think Brandon Slater, the way those two guys are playing, have made them kind of almost like a Villanova team that reminds me of my first couple years in the league, where they pound it inside and just made you defend. They’re such a good passing team, and I think UConn’s athleticism and length is off the charts. So it’s going to be two big tests, but no, I’m not looking forward to it.”