It’s a tough time to be a Seton Hall Pirates fan. This Tuesday, Marquette’s men’s basketball team arrived at the Prudential Center, looking to bounce back from its first Big East loss. It’s the same building where the Golden Eagles lost to the Pirates last year. While everything from the ground to the arena felt the same, something was noticeably off, unfortunately drawing attention.

It was the empty Prudential Center. Just a couple of minutes before the game started, photos circulated online showing the arena nearly empty. The 10,481-seat lower bowl appeared void of crowds and cheers, a stark contrast to an arena once sold out.

There were reportedly only 2500 in attendance, probably the lowest since the program was moved to the Big East conference in 2007. It wasn’t a pretty sight for the Pirates on a 4-game losing streak, including the one against the Golden Eagles Tuesday night.

Isaiah Coleman put up a 27-point performance, but the team’s mere 9.1% shooting from beyond the arc, 24 turnovers, and 15 offensive rebounds by Marquette, left the Pirates trailing throughout the game. Kam Jones had a better night, recording 19 points with 3 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the Golden Eagles to a 76-59 victory. Seton Hall fell 6-13 overall and 1-7 in the conference to occupy the last spot on the table. 

It has been a downhill for the Pirates this season, losing one of their star players, Kadary Richmond, due to insufficient NIL funds. The guard was a regular on the team, averaging 15.7 points and 7 rebounds before he transferred to St. John’s during the off-season for a better NIL deal. It proved costly for Seton Hall when he led the Red Storm to a dominant 79-51 victory right at the Prudential Center.

The 6’6 guard delivered a solid performance, scoring 12 points, dishing six assists, and grabbing five rebounds. However, the crowd at the Prudential Center didn’t hold back. They booed him every time he touched the ball.

“Look, every one of those students and everybody in the building would have done the same thing [Richmond] did,” shared St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino. “If the money was the same, he would be playing for Shaheen [Holloway].” Richmond isn’t the only loss that has hurt Seton Hall’s basketball team.

Seton Hall battles the NIL crisis as it adjusts to a new era

Another star, Dre Davis, left a void in Seton Hall’s roster when he, too, departed for programs offering better NIL opportunities. “Right now, [Seton Hall] doesn’t have the revenue that most of the other teams have. Probably it’s the lowest in the league,” Pitino admitted, highlighting a broader issue.

While NIL has been a boon for some players, it’s becoming hard for certain teams to compete, and Seton Hall is just one of them. However, head coach Shaheen Holloway remains undeterred. “This is the hand I was dealt. I’m not gonna complain, I’m not gonna argue. I’m still going to coach, and keep coaching and keep trying to fight and fight and get better,” he said, staying stoic in the face of challenges.

All of this has left fans struggling to adapt to the new reality. “It’s just the reality of the situation. It’s really hard… you get attached,” shared Athletic Director Bryan Felt.

The struggles extend to the court as well. With second-leading scorer Dylan Addae-Wusu sidelined due to injury, the Pirates lacked firepower against St. John’s. Seven weeks left and it is proving challenging for Seton Hall to build a good resume for the post season.