Seton Hall reached its big preseason goal by qualifying for the 12-team Big East Tournament. But a first-round loss continued the team's late-season slide to the finish, and after not receiving a phone call from the NIT, the school elected to turn down a bid to the brand-new CBI Tournament.

That wasn't the only bad news coach Bobby Gonzalez received in March. In the wake of a defeat to Rutgers that ended the regular season, Gonzalez and Rutgers coach Fred Hill interacted with each other and the officials in a way that Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese called an embarrassment. Not wanting to wait for the league to take action, athletic director Joe Quinlan announced that Gonzalez would be suspended for the Big East opener in 2008-2009.

The Big East has never suspended a coach, and the odds that it would have done so here is minuscule. Doubtless, any real or perceived conflict between the coach and the athletic director won't help as Gonzalez hits the recruiting trail during the offseason.

That recruiting is badly needed. Though the Pirates took a big step forward, the team loses Brian Laing and Jamar Nutter to graduation. Laing was the team's leader and best player, while Nutter took, and hit, numerous key shots for the team as a senior. Both will be sorely missed.

Jordan Theodore signed with Seton Hall in November and will compete for playing time right away in the backcourt. Paul Gause also is expected back after an injury-plagued junior season. They'll join talented but inconsistent Eugene Harvey, star freshman Jeremy Hazell and Larry Davis in a small but quick rotation in the backcourt and on the wings.

John Garcia emerged as a sophomore to take charge of the paint, but Mike Davis could challenge him after suffering through growing pains in his freshman season. Augustine Okosun is back as well.

Gonzalez wants to sign at least one more player to augment his talent base heading into 2008-2009. After improving to 11th place in the Big East in his second season at Seton Hall, he's looking to get a bid to one of the postseason tournaments in Year Three.

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