»RELATED: Raiders look beneath surface in recruiting
“It’s something the common fan can’t see, but I would say, second (in importance) to my voice is Keaton’s,” Sargent said.
“He’s just critical to what we’re doing, and I could not be more thankful he’s with us and trusts us, and I know his teammates feel the same way about him.”
The Raiders were frittering away what once was a 15-point lead, and the Thundering Herd were on their way to a 53-point second half.
“I just thought it was the right time to pull the guys together and make sure we didn’t think the win was just going to be handed to us,” Norris said.
“That was the message — let’s go out and earn it.”
The Raiders (7-5) have improved defensively, going from 341st nationally last year at 1.154 in points allowed per possession to 260th this season at 1.073.
They’ve also gone from giving up 81.2 points per game, which was 346th out of 351 Division-I teams, to 71.6, which is 192nd.
“That was part of the message, too. It kind of felt like previous teams — defensively especially,” said Norris, who is one of only three players for the Raiders averaging 30-plus minutes per game at 30.9, just behind Alex Huibregtse (34.2) and Brandon Noel (32.5).
“It’s all about urgency, making sure we’re staying locked in, especially on the defensive side — or there could be some 53-point halves that are just unacceptable.”
The Raiders fell behind by two with under three minutes to go but finished the game on a 12-1 run for an 88-79 victory.
“The growth our program has taken — this is objectively true with measurements we use defensively, with the NET (a 50-spot jump to 113th this year) and anything you could point to — you’ve got to start with Keaton because Keaton, every single day, is driving the culture and driving the work ethic and pushing guys like Alex and Brandon to get out of their comfort zones,” Sargent said.
The players, though, wouldn’t listen to Norris if he weren’t a factor on the floor. And while he’s fifth on the team in scoring with a 5.3 average, he’s hovering around 5.0 assists per game, which is rare territory in Wright State history.
Since Mark Woods averaged a school record 8.4 assists in 1992-93, no one has averaged 5.0 and only six players have reached 4.0-plus:
Trey Calvin, 4.2 in 2023-24; Justin Mitchell, 4.0 in 2016-17; DaShaun Wood, 4.0 in 2006-07 and 4.7 in 2005-06; Vernard Hollins 4.6 in 2003-04, 4.1 in 2002-03 and 4.1 in 2001-02; Keion Brooks, 4.0 in 1998-99 and 4.5 in 1996-97; and Brandon Pardon, 4.0 in 1997-98.
Woods also averaged 7.4 in 1990-91 and 5.8 in 1988-89.
Since the Raiders went to Division I in 1987, only two other players have topped 5.0: Tyrell Cromwell, 5.3 in 1989-90; and Corey Brown, 6.0 in 1987-88.
Norris is second in the Horizon League in assists with a 4.8 average and is easily first in assist-turnover ratio with 57 dishes and 16 miscues.
As for his beefy assist average, Norris doesn’t take much credit.
“Really, it’s just the guys I’m playing with. It’s easy when you’re playing with good players to get assists. Getting the ball to the guys who can make the plays, that’s really all it is,” he said.
WEDNESDAY’S GAME
Youngstown State at Wright State, 7 p.m., ESPN+, 101.5, 1410
About the Author