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Dan Hurley left Wagner behind to take over as coach at Rhode Island, also leaving behind significantly heightened expectations in Staten Island.
Coming off a school-record 25-win campaign, the Seahawks had four returning starters and a talented freshman class, with assistant Bashir Mason becoming the youngest head coach in the country taking over at the age of 28. But after three straight losses in the middle of January, Wagner fell to 9-8.
The defense was there. The defense is always there. Implemented under Hurley and continued under Mason, a four-time member of the Colonial Athletic Association All-Defensive Team while playing at Drexel, Wagner has held teams to 63.8 points and 39.7 percent shooting from the field, but struggled offensively, averaging just 60.2 points over its first 18 games.
“Everybody thinks it’s the same team from last year. It’s a different team,” said junior guard Kenneth Ortiz, last season’s Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year. “There were more expectations. There’s a different chemistry, and it takes time.”
Time has helped, with Wagner rising to third place in the conference with four wins in the past five games. The most important improvement is from Latif Rivers. After missing eight games because of a knee injury, the 6-foot-1 junior guard from Elizabeth came back just before the new year, but his rhythm took a little longer to return.
In the past four games, Rivers, last season’s leading scorer, averaged 17.5 points on 54.8 percent shooting from the field, including 12-of-21 on 3-pointers with Wagner’s scoring jumping to 77 points per game. Rivers averaged 7.5 points and 29.4 percent shooting in the previous four games.
Rivers said it had been unbearable to watch the games in such a helpless state, and when he returned, he struggled tempering his enthusiasm while easing himself back into action. Though not 100 percent, Rivers said he’s getting closer, and in the meantime, he’s helping the team get closer to where it wants to be.
“He gives the other guys around him confidence to play,” Mason said. “He can flat-out score. There isn’t anything he can’t do on the offensive end of the floor. We rely on him to put the ball in the hole.”
During Rivers’ absence, Ortiz asserted himself offensively, taking extra responsibility on his sturdy 6-foot frame. The Newark native, who is averaging 11.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists and two steals, is playing with a confidence that only comes from experience. He has grown more demanding of his teammates, telling them what he expects to see.
Rivers and Ortiz played against each other in high school and relish the opportunity to team up now, remembering what they envisioned when arriving at Wagner together.
“When we got here, we talked about being the best backcourt in the NEC,” Ortiz said. “I guess it’s a Jersey thing, we play with the same type of swag. We have the same type of mentality, same heart, same toughness, and we’re just linked up so good.”
Rivers added, “I think what makes us such a dynamic backcourt is we both can play the point. We can change the pace. We get after teams and we have great chemistry.”
Last season the Seahawks fell short of reaching their first NCAA Tournament since 2003, losing in the conference tournament semifinals to Robert Morris. Having home court was important, but not essential. Having talent was significant, but not everything. The lessons were hard, but only makes them more grateful to have another chance.
“Nobody knows what’s going to happen, and I love that,” Ortiz said. “I feel very good about our chances of winning this conference. We just have to bring it every game. If we take care of the defense and let the offense just come, we’ll be there at the end.”
Local Power Poll
1. St. John’s
Record: 15-8 (7-4)
Up next: Tomorrow (3 p.m.) at Syracuse
2. Stony Brook
Record: 17-5 (8-1)
Up next: Tomorrow (2 p.m.) at Hartford
3. Iona
Record: 14-10 (8-5)
Up next: Tonight (7 p.m.) vs. Rider
4. Rutgers
Record: 12-9 (3-7)
Up next: Today (Noon) vs. Georgetown
5. Seton Hall
Record: 13-10 (2-8)
Up next: Tomorrow (Noon) vs. UConn
6. Wagner
Record: 13-9 (7-4)
Up next: Tonight (7 p.m.) at Robert Morris
7. LIU Brooklyn
Record: 12-11 (7-4)
Up next: Tomorrow (Noon) vs. St. Francis Brooklyn
8. Columbia
Record: 9-10 (1-4)
Up next: Tomorrow (2 p.m.) vs. Harvard
9. St. Francis Brooklyn
Record: 9-13 (5-6)
Up next: Tomorrow (Noon) at LIU Brooklyn
10. Manhattan
Record: 8-15 (6-7)
Up next: Monday (7 p.m.) at Fairfield
Games of the Week
St. John’s at Syracuse, Tomorrow, 3 p.m.
St. John’s at Louisville, Thursday, 9 p.m.
Neither game is a must-win for the Red Storm, but an upset over either of these highly ranked teams could make their chances of an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament go from possible to probable. The Orange and Cardinals are a combined 25-1 at home, with Louisville suffering the lone loss — to Syracuse.
Vermont at Stony Brook, Friday, 7 p.m.
This is the de facto regular-season championship game in the America East, likely a preview of the tournament final. The first title may be the key to the second, with the winner earning home-court advantage in a potential title-game meeting. The Catamounts took the Jan. 18 meeting, 81-73, the Seawolves’ only loss in their past nine games.
Iona at Manhattan, Friday, 7 p.m.
The Gaels are reeling after three straight losses, by a total of seven points and covering three overtime periods, while the Jaspers have won two straight behind Brooklyn’s Rhamel Brown, who averaged 17 points and five blocks in the wins. Iona won their first game on Jan. 6, 78-70, with Momo Jones leading the Gaels with 30 points.