Mockery Thrown at Seton Hall as ‘No Money’ in Big East’s College Program Blamed for the Poor Run

NIL! A term that has been a game-changer in college basketball. Some programs are thriving, while others are barely hanging on. And unfortunately for Seton Hall, they’re on the wrong end of the spectrum. The Pirates have been struggling, and it’s not just about poor play. It’s about money or rather, the lack of it. Two of their key stars left the program because of NIL issues, and the result is a disastrous season with just six wins.

Their latest loss made things even worse. Seton Hall just got absolutely destroyed by Butler—84-54. Yes, that’s a 30-point beatdown. Jon Rothstein, a well-known college basketball insider, didn’t hold back, writing on X.

“Seton Hall’s athletic department needs to think long and hard about what it wants to be moving forward. The Pirates can’t remain in their current state and be competitive in the Big East. Lost by THIRTY to a sub .500 Butler team at home,” he penned. 

Honestly, he’s right. This is bad.

Look at this. Two teams on ugly losing streaks—Seton Hall and Butler—were both desperate for a win. Butler (9-13, 2-9) has been struggling, losing 12 of their last 14 games. Seton Hall (6-16, 1-10) is dead last in the conference, riding their longest losing streak (seven games, now eight!) since the 2012-13 season. 

But losing by 30 at home to a team barely hovering above .500? That’s a whole new level of embarrassment. The loss guaranteed that the Hall would finish under .500 in the Big East for the first time since 2015.

It’s officially a disaster!

But honestly, Seton Hall’s season went downhill the moment they lost Kadary Richmond. And why did they lose him? NIL money. The guard, who was averaging 15.7 points and 7 rebounds, left for St. John’s, where he found a much better NIL deal. And just to twist the knife, he led St. John’s to a dominant 79-51 victory right in Seton Hall’s home.

Richmond wasn’t the only loss, though. Dre Davis also walked away for better NIL opportunities. St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino Pitino even said, “Right now, [Seton Hall] doesn’t have the revenue that most of the other teams have. Probably it’s the lowest in the league.”

And that’s exactly the issue. Seton Hall simply doesn’t have the funds to compete at a high level. NIL money is making all the difference, and for programs that can’t keep up, the results are showing on the court. Fans and analysts alike are calling it out because, at this point, this is directly impacting what the team can bring to the game.

Seton Hall’s ‘money’ woes, fans sound off

“They have no money and not a large alumni pool to get NIL donations from,” one fan pointed out on X. And yes, while the program has produced a few stars, including current head coach Holloway, there aren’t many former players pouring NIL money into the program. 

It’s a tough spot because, in today’s college basketball world, if you’re not paying up, you’re falling behind. And then, to make matters worse, injuries have piled up. “3 starters out and the smallest NIL in the conference… it’s not the coach, it’s the circumstances,” another fan noted. 

Dylan Addae-Wusu (ankle), Chaunce Jenkins (hamstring), and Scotty Middleton (ankle) are all out, leaving the team without some serious firepower. Fans are backing Holloway here because, well, what exactly is he supposed to do with a roster missing key pieces?

Even the HC himself said, “I have two guards, three guards right now. You can’t play like that in this league — in any league. I’ve got to figure out if Scotty’s out, if Chaunce’s out and Dylan’s out, how we can play bigger. We’re not playing the way we’re capable of playing.”

But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: money. “Have to start paying their kids more,” someone said, and it’s just the brutal truth. College athletes these days know their worth, and if a program isn’t offering the right NIL deals, players will walk.

That’s exactly what’s happening at Seton Hall, and it’s not just hurting the roster, it’s killing fan attendance. 

There was a historic low at the Prudential Center during a game against Marquette, and honestly, with the way things are going, it’s hard to blame the fans for checking out.

“This isn’t even a competitive NEC roster. Worst season of Seton Hall basketball in its glorious history,” another fan complained. When you lose two key players to bigger NIL deals and then get hit with injuries, what else can you expect? This is a program that’s been to the NCAA Tournament 14 times and was the national runner-up in 1989. But now, they’re at rock bottom.

And finally, one expressed, “I hope they see this.” Because at this point, Seton Hall’s administration has some serious decisions to make. Either they start investing in their players, or this downward spiral is only going to continue. 

Let’s see if Seton Hall can regroup, attract more donations, and make a comeback next year. The fans are watching, and they’re eager for a turnaround.