It’s Seton Hall’s worst nightmare: How long will it take Myles Powell to heal?

myles powell seton hall

Seton Hall guard Myles Powell (13) drives to the basket past Stony Brook guard Andrew Garcia (23) before spraining his ankle and leaving the game. (AP Photo | Adam Hunger)AP

Kevin Willard flirted with Virginia Tech last spring.

Myles Powell flirted with the NBA.

Both men returned to Seton Hall to pair with one another – and to finish the mission they began together three seasons ago.

“Coach is like a father figure to me,” Powell told NJ Advance Media recently. “Since I’ve been here, he’s put me under his wing and treated me nothing less than a son. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today on and off the court without that guy and he knows that. Him coming back made my decision that much easier.”

Yet through the first two games of the new college basketball season, Willard and Powell have teamed up for exactly 3 minutes, 31 seconds. Willard missed No. 12 Seton Hall’s first game against Wagner while serving a two-game suspension for alleged transfer tampering.

Now Powell is out for a “prolonged absence” after injuring his left ankle early in Saturday’s 74-57 win over Stony Brook in South Orange, N.J.

All of the big dreams Willard and Powell had when they opted to return to South Orange are suddenly on hold.

That matchup with current No. 1 Michigan State? Powell won’t be able to play against fellow senior All-America guard Cassius Winston on Thursday at Prudential Center for that one.

The looming trip to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis where the Pirates will face No. 15 Oregon and other top teams? He could miss that event as well.

Seton Hall at Rutgers on Dec. 14 at the RAC? For the sake of New Jersey basketball, let’s hope he’s back for that one.

Rewind things to last spring, when there was a chance both Willard and Powell could depart Seton Hall for “bigger” opportunities.

When Buzz Williams left Virginia Tech to go home and coach Texas A&M, the ACC school targeted Willard, who had taken Seton Hall to four straight NCAA Tournaments. Williams reportedly earned $3 million at Virginia Tech, while Willard earned $1.8 million, according to the USA TODAY salary database, in 2018-19.

One source said at the time that the Virginia Tech job was Willard’s “if he wants it.’’

Rick Pitino, the former Kentucky and Louisville coach who mentored Willard, said he was surprised that more high-profile programs hadn’t come calling on Willard.

“The fact that nobody has been beating down his door is the biggest puzzle of my life,” Pitino told NJ Advance Media in March from Greece, where he was coaching. “Seton Hall is a very difficult job. I’m not knocking the job. Everybody has missiles and jets, and they all have these brand new practice facilities, and they have everything. Kevin doesn’t have any of that and he still has maintained that program at a high level.”

On April 6, word came out that Willard would remain at Seton Hall after flirting with Virginia Tech.

Seton Hall was able to sweeten the pot enough with more money, more years on his contract and promises to improve Walsh Gym and the practice facility, sources told NJ Advance Media.

Willard’s decision also had a snowball effect on Powell, the star guard who tested the NBA Draft waters and worked out with several teams last spring. In late May, he too announced he was returning for his senior season.

Powell, the Big East Preseason Player of the Year and a contender for the Naismith and Wooden Awards, said he was happy to be heading into his senior year having had just one coach for four years.

“I had four years of him,” he said of Willard. “I didn’t have to get coaches [leaving] and having to transfer. Everything that I could’ve got out of college, I feel like I got out of it. I get to get my diploma. We can stop talking about basketball and my diploma. I’ll be the first person in my family to ever graduate from college.”

But Willard missed the season-opener and said it was tough to be away from his team while assistant Grant Billmeier coached.

“It was hard,” Willard said Saturday. “The hardest thing was not being able to communicate with the guys. Fro 24 hours, I was dark. They shut you down. You have no communication, you’re not allowed to do anything. I knew Grant would do phenomenal. Grant’s going to be an unbelievable head coach.”

The coach and his star player were together for just 3 minutes, 31 seconds before Powell departed.

Willard and Powell have big goals going forward: Big East regular-season and tournament titles, a deep run in March, maybe even some games at the East Regional at Madison Square Garden in March.

For now, all those dreams are on hold as the Pirates and their fans await Powell’s return.

Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media.

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