Khadeen Carrington took a couple of seconds to ponder the question. Being just one of two unbeaten teams in the BIG EAST while being ranked 21st in the nation and boasting a starting lineup that features three 1000-point scorers - the only program in the nation that can make that claim - are we seeing the best Seton Hall team we've seen in years?
Maybe, maybe not, according to Carrington.
"It's definitely close between this team and the team from my sophomore year," the Pirates' senior guard said referring to the Pirates 25-win team that won the BIG EAST Tournament and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years. "But this team is a lot deeper and has a lot more options than that other team did."
Options in the form of four players, including Carrington (14.1 ppg.), who averages double digits in scoring with senior Desi Rodriguez (team-best 18.6 ppg.), sophomore Myles Powell (14.7 ppg.) and senior Angel Delgado, a.k.a. Mr. Double-Double (13.7 ppg., 11.5 rpg.) accounting for the others.
And deep? Yeah, you could say that as the Pirates have 10 players who average 10 minutes or more a game. And it doesn't hurt that Seton Hall is the college equivalent of an old folks home with four seniors (Carrington, Rodriguez, Delgado and Ismael Sanogo) playing prominent roles for the 13-2 Pirates.
It's a comforting feeling for head coach Kevin Willard knowing he can pencil his veterans into his lineup each game. But being seniors doesn't give you a free pass in Willard's world.
"He still holds us accountable," Carrington said. "He still wants us to play at a high level and he wants us to bring it 100 percent every night. He never wants us to lag or become lackadaisical. He definitely keeps us sharp."
Another benefit to having a senior-heavy roster is it provides in-house leadership to the younger Pirates. And it's a role Carrington says the veterans take very seriously.
"Every day in practice, before games, during games, after games we all try to lead by example." Carrington said. "I'm more vocal this year so during games I try to talk a lot more. But we all play a role in leading."
Seton Hall has already knocked off then-No. 25 Creighton and St. John's to open its BIG EAST season and now heads out on a two-game road trip that will take it to Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse for a Saturday matinee before heading to Milwaukee next Tuesday for a battle with Markus Howard, Andrew Rowsey and high-scoring Marquette.
Challenge accepted, Carrington said.
"Butler is definitely a tough place to play," said Carrington, who had a team-high 24 points in the Pirates' win over St. John's last time out. "The place is packed and the crowd is right on you. They're coached by a great coach and they have great experienced players. But I think we have a good chance to beat them if we bring it 100 percent."
Having been through the BIG EAST wars the past three seasons, Carrington said nothing intimidates the Pirates these days. In fact, Seton Hall just grows bolder with each win.
"Yeah we're definitely a confident bunch," Carrington said. "Every night we go out we feel we can beat anybody that we play. And that's a great confidence to have. But at the end of the day we work hard in practice and we work hard in games. You're not going to play well every night but you can always play hard and that's what we try to do."
There are a number of things driving the Pirates this year, but the two main elements are the fact that this is the last roundup for Carrington, Delgado, Rodriguez and Sanogo and there is also some unfinished business that needs to be addressed in the NCAA Tournament come March after two straight one-and-done tourney visits the past two seasons.
"It's all of that. We definitely want to win some games in the tournament before we leave, kind of leave a legacy," Carrington said. "But at the end of the day we're seniors and there is no next year for us and that's something we think about so we just have to leave it all out on the floor."
Usually when discussing BIG EAST basketball powers, the three names that get rattled off first have been Villanova, after its national championship two seasons ago as well as four straight regular-season crowns, along with Xavier, currently No. 5 in the nation and off a trip to the Elite Eight last year, and Butler, with its three straight victories over Villanova and its Sweet 16 appearance last season.
But has Seton Hall, with two straight trips to the NCAAs and its current standing in the AP poll, now joined the party? Absolutely, says Carrington.
"I think people mention us a lot more now," Carrington said. "I think we've put in a lot of work so that people will mention us. I think we're up at the top of the BIG EAST now and we're here to stay."
So just how good can this Pirates team be now that they are here to stay? The sky's the limit in Carrington's eyes.
"I think we can win the BIG EAST definitely," Carrington said. "And I definitely think we can go to the Sweet 16 or the Elite 8 at least. I think that's how good we are."
The day is coming when Seton Hall's senior Fab Four will play its last game together. Whether that day comes in March or early April in San Antonio, site of the Final Four, remains to be seen. But Carrington hopes there is a giant Pirate party coming before he and the other seniors head out the door.
"We have those conversations all the time, about us ending playing together," Carrington said. "We have those conversations with coach also. It's been a fun ride and the main thing right now is to enjoy it before it all ends. I'm enjoying every moment on the court and enjoying everything on campus. But the perfect end for real would be a regular-season championship, a BIG EAST (tournament) championship and a national championship. That would be the perfect end to my career. The perfect storybook ending."