Seton Hall basketball: 2021-22 non-conference schedule announced

Once again, the Seton Hall basketball team’s non-conference schedule is not for the faint of heart. The Pirates face five high-major opponents, at least four of which were in the NCAA Tournament last March. 

This has been coach Kevin Willard’s modus operandi since the program turned the corner in 2016. The Hall’s 2021-22 slate, announced Monday, includes two surefire preseason top 10 teams in Michigan and Texas, plus a return of the Garden State Hardwood Classic against Rutgers after the rivalry game fell through in 2020.

The showdown with Michigan is the Pirates’ first since 1989, when they squared off in the national championship and then again that December.  

RELATED: Seton Hall-Michigan is a long-awaited rematch

Planned visits from Penn State and Rhode Island, the back end of two home-and-home series begun last season, are tabled until 2022-23 because of scheduling conflicts.

The 20-game Big East schedule will be out later this month. Action will commence around Christmas. Pending the details, it's possible the Hall might play just two games over the final 19 days of December.

Here are three takeaways on the 11-game schedule, which is listed below.

1. One tremendous week

Since the dawn of the Big East era in 1979, Seton Hall never has played two non-conference teams the caliber of Texas (Dec. 9) and Rutgers (Dec. 12) in a one-week homestand. Nothing even close. A 2-0 week would be a huge statement. An 0-2 week would be a huge disappointment.

Both contests easily should sell out the Prudential Center’s lower bowl and the atmosphere should be juiced after a fan-less 2020-21. Will Seton Hall administrators open the upper bowl for either? Depends on the pace of ticket sales. That decision gets made around six weeks in advance, so keep an eye on the seating chart as October winds down. 

RELATED: Jerry Carino's Big East projections 1-11

2. Early proving ground

The Pirates likely will be underdogs against Michigan and Ohio State, so earning a split away from home would get things off to a good start. All told, playing four games away from the Rock should help harden this team for the Big East grind. Side note: This marks the third time in the past four seasons that the Hall has taken on three Big Ten opponents. All told, Seton Hall has gone 10-5 vs. the Big Ten under Willard. 

3. Weak spot

It’s never a good look for a high-major program to schedule a sub-Division I foe. Division II Nyack, a late addition to the slate, is Seton Hall’s first since Caldwell in 2006 (Bobby Gonzalez’s debut). Saint Peter’s would have looked good there, but alas, the Peacocks open MAAC play Dec. 3 and 5. At some point the Pirates should give favorite son Shaheen Holloway a game.

Non-conference schedule

Wed., Nov. 10 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson

Sun., Nov. 14 vs. Yale

Tue., Nov. 16 at Michigan (Gavitt Tip-Off Games)

Mon., Nov. 22 vs. Ohio State in Fort Myers, Fla. (Fort Myers Tip-Off)

Wed., Nov. 24 vs. Cal/Florida in Fort Myers, Fla. (Fort Myers Tip-Off)

Sun. Nov. 28 vs. Bethune-Cookman

Wed. Dec. 1 vs. Wagner

Sat., Dec. 4 vs. Nyack in Walsh Gym

Thu., Dec. 9 vs. Texas

Sun., Dec. 12 vs. Rutgers

Sat., Dec. 18 vs. Iona in Madison Square Garden

Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.