Seton Hall will start its season without basketball coach Kevin Willard, who has been suspended by the university for two games in response to an NCAA investigation into allegations of "transfer tampering," according to the Asbury Park Press.
“Seton Hall University has been working collaboratively with the NCAA enforcement staff to address an infraction within our men’s basketball program," the university statement said. "Our department has been proactive in our review and has been fully cooperating with the NCAA enforcement staff."
Assistant coach Grant Billmeier took over in Willard's absence during Tuesday's exhibition game against Misericordia and he will do the same for next week's opener against Wagner, though Willard can still run the team's practices.
"As head coach, Coach Willard assumes responsibility for the program, including this underlying violation, and has agreed to sit out the October 29 exhibition contest and the November 5 game," the statement read. "This matter is still in review, and as a result, we will refrain from commenting any further until it is resolved. Seton Hall is and always will be committed to a culture of compliance, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure it.”
Taurean Thompson is the transfer player in question as he joined Seton Hall from Syracuse in 2017, the New York Post reports, citing unidentified sources. Thompson spent one season with Syracuse, averaging 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 21 starts, but transferred before the start of the fall semester in 2017. He sat out the 2017-18 season and returned last season, averaging 4.6 points with 2.3 rebounds.
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said in 2017 that Thompson took a leave of absence from the university, adding: "My understanding is he wants to go to school closer to home due to some family health issues."
Willard, 44, took over the Pirates' program in 2010-11, posting a 170-128 record in nine seasons. He's guided the Pirates to four straight NCAA tournament appearances from 2016-19. He previously coached at Iona from 2007-2010.