After losing out on the Orlando Invitational due to its cancellation, Seton Hall will now head to Louisville next month for a two-game multi-team event, NJ Advance Media has learned.
Sandro Mamukelashvili and the Pirates will face Winthrop on Nov. 25 and Louisville on Nov. 27.
“We just want to play," said Mamukelashvili, an All-Big East First-Team selection. "We love playing basketball. We love being around each other so I don’t think anything will be a problem for us as long as we’re together, as long as we’re doing what we love and as long as we’re with our coaches and staying healthy and safe. Then whatever they tell us, we’re going to do it.”
Louisville will host a total of nine teams between Nov. 25-Dec. 4: Seton Hall, Louisville, Arkansas-Little Rock, Duquesne, UNC-Greensboro, Prairie View A&M, Southern Illinois, Winthrop and Western Kentucky.
Teams will adhere to COVID-19 protocols and stay in a hotel connected to the KFC Yum! Center. A total of 3,000 fans will be allowed in per day.
Seton Hall was sent scrambling for non-conference games after ESPN canceled all of its non-conference events, including the Orlando Invitational featuring the Pirates, due to disagreements over COVID-19 protocols.
“I wouldn’t even use disaster right now, it’s too light a term,” Pirates coach Kevin Willard said Wednesday of planning his non-conference schedule. “It’s just a total s**tshow.”
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media.