Monmouth basketball: Seton Hall highlights brutal schedule for young Hawks

It will be trial by fire for a young Monmouth basketball team next season.

Because while the Hawks will have a completely new rotation after losing six seniors, including four fifth-year players, they’ll face a non-conference gauntlet that would give seasoned performers nightmares.

Highlighting the lineup is a showdown at in-state rival Seton Hall, as former Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway returns to his MAAC roots by scheduling his close friend, Monmouth head coach King Rice. It marks the first time the two schools have played since 2017, and could signal the renewal of a rivalry that was once an annual event, with the two playing eight straight seasons between 2001 and 2008.

In their last meeting, Monmouth lost to No. 23 Seton Hall, 75-65, in Newark on Nov. 12, 2017. Monmouth is winless in 13 all-time meetings with the Pirates.

While most of the details have not been announced Monmouth will play at least four games against high-major foes, including a clash with Illinois, which got a share of the Big Ten regular season title last season.

Already announced were games at Virginia on Nov. 11 and at Syracuse Dec. 12.

Monmouth is also expected to have non-conference games against Norfolk State, coming off a 24-win season in which it lost to Baylor in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament; and at Colgate, the defending Patriot League champs who lost to Wisconsin in the NCAAs. In addition, Monmouth is expected to play at Princeton and Lehigh.

And that’s before they get into their inaugural Colonial Athletic Association campaign, which ranks as the program’s toughest league lineup ever.

“I might have scheduled too hard with going to a new league, but that’s not the first time,” Rice said. “It’s been OK for us in the past this one will work out, too.

“This is the hardest one we’re done in terms of putting a schedule together, and we still need two more. I wish I could find somebody that isn’t a 50-50 game, or 60-40. I wish I could find a 90-10 with all the other games we have.”

Holloway and Rice last squared off in the MAAC Tournament title game in March, with Saint Peter’s winning to set the stage for its stunning NCAA Tournament run to the Elite Eight before losing to North Carolina.

Back to work

The Monmouth players have been back on campus since July 5, training and practicing as Rice looks to mold a team devoid of any seniors.

But with star players like Deion Hammond, George Papas and Shavar Reynolds having departed over the past two seasons, it’s the core group of young players that must now move to the forefront.

“That is what we’ve talked about,” Rice said. “When you’re not getting a lot of chances you have a lot of things to say. And then your role changes because those guys are all gone now, and you’re the lead. So now you don’t get to have a bad day, you don’t get to come in a little bit tired, you don’t just get to be one of the guys. Now you have to be the best guy every day, and that takes some getting used to for all of them.”

Part of the process involves having players emerge to fill the leadership vacuum, with a list of candidates topped by redshirt junior forward Jarvis Vaughan, junior point guard Myles Ruth, junior forward Myles Foster and sophomore guard Tahron Allen.

“Since the end of the season, Jarvis has been as good as anybody in trying to get out of his comfort zone and lead,” Rice said. “I think Tahron is a kid that is a leader. That is who he is and how he gets down. And Myles Foster has become more of a leader, because he is a very talented basketball player and we are just going to push him to try to be great.”

More to come

Monmouth still has a pair of scholarships to fill on its roster. And while Rice did not get into specifics, he indicated they have a pair of players targeted to fill those spots.

“We’re in strong with some kids. We’ve got guys ready to come but they have a little bit of work they have to finish up,” Rice said. “One is an older guy who could be an impact guy, and one is a younger guy we think has a chance. But they have some more school work to do and when they get it done they will be here with us, as long as they get it done.”

Rice hit a pair of home runs last year with Reynolds, a Seton Hall transfer, and big man Walker Miller, a transfer from North Carolina. They both emerged as All-MAAC performers.

Paint presence

Rice went out of his way to talk about junior Klem Vuga, a 6-9 forward from Slovenia. Vuga, a strong presence inside, played in 12 games last season, providing brief glimpses of his potential.

“He’s been incredible,” Rice said. “The last three weeks we’re all like ‘wow.’ It’s been really cool. We’re hoping he’s taken that next step because he’s been really good.”

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth basketball: Seton Hall on brutal schedule for young Hawks