Seton Hall didn’t need Kevin Willard on the sideline. It had the No. 12 team in the country on the court.

With Seton Hall’s head coach serving a school-issued suspension, the Pirates kicked off one of their most hyped campaigns with their highest-scoring season opener in 19 years, defeating Wagner, 105-71, Tuesday night at Walsh Gymnasium.

“I wouldn’t call it pressure,” star Myles Powell said of the uncommon expectations. “This is the highest we’ve been ranked, but I think coach has done a great job of telling us the preseason rankings don’t mean anything. Last year, we were ranked eighth [in the Big East] coming in and we changed that in the blink of an eye. All the preseason rankings and all the preseason hype can go away just like that, and I feel like coach did a great job of reminding us of that.”

Willard, who was banned two games due to an NCAA investigation into allegations of transfer tampering, will return Saturday against Stony Brook, rejoining a group with four starters from the program’s record-tying fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Pirates (1-0) opened the season with their highest ranking in 18 years. One returnee is the reason why.

Powell, the Big East Preseason Player of the Year and All-American candidate, was limited to one point and one shot in the game’s first six minutes, but the senior wouldn’t stay silent long.

Powell finished with 27 points, while shooting 7 of 13 from the field — and 4 of 9 on 3-pointers — with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

“I thought we did some really good things, but right now we have a lot of things to work on,” Powell said. “I feel like we can get better. This is our first time getting out there, kind of had jitters in the beginning.”

The Seahawks (0-1) were within six with less than six minutes left in the first half, but the Big East favorite soon showcased the strengths that stretch beyond its star.

The defense converted 31 points off 21 turnovers. The team shot nearly 62 percent from the field. Point guards Quincy McKnight and Anthony Nelson combined for 13 assists and two turnovers, propelling the Pirates to a 52-37 halftime lead.

The standout performance of the supporting cast belonged to 7-foot-2 Ike Obiagu, who sat out last season after transferring from Florida State.

Seton Hall’s new starting center produced some of the night’s most electric moments — via multiple blocks and dunks — for the intimate crowd, and provided the Pirates with a much-needed interior force.

Obiagu finished with 11 points (4-for-4 from the field), while adding four rebounds and three blocks in 17 minutes.

“I thought Ike was really good,” assistant coach Grant Billmeier said. “He gives us a great presence.”

Seton Hall led by double-digits throughout the second half. The night ended as expected. The crowd left believing the season would, too.

“We’re for real,” Powell said. “You guys saw how good we can be at the end of last year and we’re just trying to keep that train rolling.”