The last time Kevin Willard walked off the floor of the Prudential Center, his Seton Hall basketball team was in the midst of a six-game winning streak that locked up an NCAA Tournament bid.

That was in 2022, and it capped a mini-golden era for the Pirates: six NCAA Tournament seasons, two Big East titles, seven straight Big East records of .500 or better, and a return to national relevance after inheriting a pile of ashes left by his predecessor.

So Willard’s return to the Rock Dec 23 as the head coach of rival Villanova is a big deal. But how will he be greeted? That’s the first of three thoughts on the Pirates’ schedule, which is now complete with the announcement of the Big East slate (full schedule posted below the takeaways).

1. Kevin Willard will be well received – for a visiting

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