Sports

Wagner’s coach relies on energy, not experience

Bashir Mason sits in his office at Wagner and rattles off the stats from memory — 14 points, five assists, five steals — and smiles, remembering his part in Drexel’s upset win at Syracuse as a senior.

When he returns tomorrow, nearly six years later, Jim Boeheim and the Carrier Dome may look the same, but the game will have changed, seen now through the eyes of the youngest coach in Division I men’s basketball.

“[Boeheim] could probably undress me with his knowledge,” said Mason, 28, accounting for a 36-year disparity in head-coaching experience. “I’m not intimidated going in there. It’ll be a great feeling, a great opportunity.”

Since he was a sophomore in college, hosting prospective players as a way to learn recruiting, Mason wanted this opportunity. An assistant at Wagner the past two seasons, Mason took over for his mentor Dan Hurley, his former high school coach and fellow Jersey City native, when the coach left for Rhode Island.

Mason acknowledges how much he has to learn and is in contact with Hurley several times a week, and as a former defensive standout, Mason believes in many of the same philosophies Hurley emphasized. Nevertheless, Mason has no intentions to try and emulate Hurley — only his success.

“I have a different way of relaying the message,” Mason said. “I’m as animated, as crazy, as energetic, but my tone just isn’t always 100 mph from start to finish. … I know what we have here. I know that we’re supposed to be good. I just have to do everything in my power so that we are good.”

Though Hurley struggled with the decision to leave, he had no problem with endorsing Mason.

“He’s a great competitor,” Hurley said. “He’s an easy guy to work with and you always knew he’d be a great coach because of the way he viewed the game, in terms of preparation, the emphasis on defense and rebounding, offensive execution and unselfishness.”

The team was shocked when Hurley left, leaving many Wagner players considering transferring until Mason was promoted. Inheriting a team returning the majority of players from a school-record 25-win season, Mason was touched by how much the players wanted him here to stay, after he had been such a key part of recruiting.

As intended, Mason’s hire made the transition minimal, beginning last season with Hurley voicing his frustration with Mason when he wasn’t active enough in practice. Though Mason says it can be tough selling to recruits as a first-time, 28-year-old head coach, he uses it to his advantage.

He knows these kids. Not so long ago, he was one of them.

“Whether I laugh and joke with them, be viewed as an authority figure, we talk the same language,” Mason said. “This is good for them. They saw a young guy they had all this respect for become head coach. They got dreams of making the NBA and they’ll hear naysayers that it’ll never happen. This, they got to almost witness a miracle, so they know anything’s possible.”

GAMES OF THE WEEK

1. LIU Brooklyn at Kentucky, (Friday, 7 p.m.)

The Blackbirds’ slow start in non-conference is eerily reminiscent of last season, which ended with their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. LIU is overmatched in talent, so the senior-heavy squad will need to rely on their big-game experience against John Calipari’s freshmen.

2. Wagner at Syracuse (Tomorrow, 1 p.m.)

After dropping their season-opener in overtime at Delaware State, the Seahawks take on the No. 9 team in the nation. Wagner’s 3-point shooting is suspect, so guards Latif Rivers and Kenneth Ortiz will need to penetrate the Orange’s famed zone to have a chance.

3. Hofstra at Manhattan (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)

The Pride’s early struggles are understandable, integrating several new players, but they will receive a boon from transfers Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and Taran Buie after both missed the first two games for violating team rules. The Jaspers, a MAAC favorite, hope senior George Beamon’s ankle is fully recovered after a mild injury caused him to miss the season-opener at Louisville.

howard.kussoy@nypost.com