Seton Hall Pirates: Keon Lawrence and Jamel Jackson Kicked Off Team

The past few years, Seton Hall University has been in the national news, but for all the wrong reasons. Senior guards Keon Lawrence and Jamel Jackson have both been kicked off the team today, according to multiple sources.

Seton Hall's public statement stated the reason for this action was due to "a violation of team rules and an ongoing pattern of conduct unbecoming of a representative of Seton Hall athletics."

Adam Zagoria of SNY reported that both were late for curfew, which was set for 11:00pm this past Thursday night.

This is the second straight year that a player has been kicked off the Seton Hall basketball team. Last year, it was Robert Mitchell who was kicked off the team after robbing a student house at gun point.

Last season was also the year when Herb Pope was ejected in the first round of the NIT when he punched a Texas Tech player below the belt.

The struggles for Seton Hall basketball continue on the court as well. The Pirates are back to being cellar-dwellers after last season started out so promising.

This season did not start any better. The Pirates have had some bad losses—including Rutgers, Dayton and Clemson. 

The Pirates currently stand at 10-14 and 12th in the Big East.

The Pirates are definitely in a rebuilding stage, but expectations were high this season. They had a great Junior and Senior class that was expected to lead the Pirates to an NCAA berth.

So far, injuries and off-the-court incidents like this have diminished the Pirates' hopes of reaching that goal.

The Pirates will have a whole new look next season with at least four or five new recruits coming in. This will be new Head Coach Kevin Willard's first recruiting class since coming to the school.

The clock is ticking for Willard to turn this program around.