Three straight losses have left the first-year Wright State coach scrambling to find the traits that were on display in the opening 12 games, which may have only produced a modest 7-5 record but had created a spike in optimism inside and outside the program.
“I thought we played hard, but it just seems like we’ve lost a little bit of our edge that it takes to win games,” he said.
Much like his predecessor, Scott Nagy, Sargent is baffled by the inconsistency from one game to the next. The Raiders recruit high-character players — and they’ve shown they have a high ceiling — but they haven’t been able to close the gap on the top of the Horizon League since winning three straight regular-season crowns from 2018-21.
They’re 7-8 overall and 1-3 in the HL with a home game Thursday against lowly Green Bay.
“Three years ago, we caught wind and played well during a very important stretch,” Sargent said of the run to the 2022 league tourney title. “But by and large, in our regular-seasons in the league, we’ve just been too susceptible to getting punked.
“The players are trying to shift that. I’m trying to shift that by breaking old patterns in games — not only decision-making, but just belief and conviction.”
The Raiders have given up an average of 80.8 points in their last four games. In the lone win in that span, they were gashed for 53 second-half points by Marshall.
“We just get these untimely turnovers or we can’t string together two, three, four stops in row in a game to win — especially to win on the road,” Sargent said. “That’s why we’ve got to keep searching.”
The Raiders, who have nine of their final 16 league games at home, might be faring better with a full roster. Starting point guard Keaton Norris has what Sargent called “a lower-leg injury,” which has sidelined him for two games and may keep him out for at least one more.
“Not having Keaton is really showing its head in terms of our leadership, our identity, just our pulse of what’s going on in the game — being able to prioritize what’s most important,” Sargent said.
“I know our guys want to win. I still think we’re learning how to win. And that’s a tricky thing.”
Sargent would also admit he’s still learning. After floundering for 30 minutes against the Vikings, the Raiders briefly found their mojo that cut a 12-point deficit to five with 4:24 to go.
“We went to a full-court press to try to switch it up, and I thought that helped us play with more belief. It gave us the freedom to just go play,” he said.
“I’ve got to continue to find ways as a coach to ignite that earlier in games.”
THURSDAY’S GAME
Green Bay at Wright State, 7 p.m., ESPN+, 101.5, 1410
About the Author