Wagner players and their supporters were furious when the fourth spot was finally announced Sunday, revealing the destination for the Staten Island school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in more than 20 years.
The Seahawks, the surprise Northeast Conference champions, must play 16th-seeded Howard in Dayton on Tuesday to earn the right to play No. 1 North Carolina in the round of games. We need to win in-game. 64.
“Great; this is everything I wanted for my players,” second-year coach Donald Copeland said Sunday at Spiro Sports Center, the Seahawks’ home arena. “I’ve been through this situation as a player and as a coach, and when you see them react like that, you can’t put a price on it. I knew it was coming, but when I actually did it myself… There’s nothing like seeing your name up there and hearing it called.”
Copeland’s alma maters, St. John’s and Seton Hall, were left out of several bubble teams due to unexpected results in the national conference tournament, and St. John’s, coached by Wagner and former Wagner coach Bashir Mason, Peters is the only team representing a metropolitan area. Big dance area.
“It feels great and I can’t wait to put this on for our city, our school and our community,” said junior guard Tarlon Allen, a Brooklyn College High School graduate who transferred from Monmouth this year. “I’ve dreamed of this my whole life since I was a kid.
“We’re going through a lot of adversity this year, but we’re definitely having fun. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Only two No. 16 seeds have ever defeated a No. 1 seed, and both have happened in the past six years. UMBC defeated Virginia in 2018, and Fairleigh Dickinson shocked Purdue last year.
But first, Wagner knows he has to take care of Howard, the winner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament.
“We don’t know much about them, but we’re about to find out,” Copeland said. “It’s going to be another tough matchup against a team with championship pedigree as they’re playing for the second time in a row.”
Wagner, which enrolls about 2,000 students, had just seven healthy players when it punched the ticket for last Tuesday’s NEC title game against Merrimack.
The Seahawks (16-15 overall) finished the NEC regular season in sixth place with a 7-9 record and also won road games against Sacred Heart and top-seeded Central Connecticut State in the conference tournament.
“We only have seven, and we will only have seven,” Copeland said. “It wasn’t an ideal situation, but we’ve been dealing with this for a while, so we’re going to move on with what we have.”
And they’re really enjoying the fact that it’s only the second time in school history that Wagner has reached the Big Dance, and the second time since falling to Pittsburgh as a No. 15 seed in 2003.
“Words can’t explain it right now. We’re still in shock, but we’re proud that we were able to accomplish this with seven players,” leading scorer Melvin Council Jr. said. He is a junior guard from Rochester who previously played at JUCO Monroe College in New Rochelle. “Coach preaches toughness and excuses every day, and we’re taking everything he says. We’re ready. He always keeps us ready.”
meet wagner
position: staten island
Registration: Undergraduate students: 1,800 (total 2,200)
coach: Donald Copeland (2nd season)
Last NCAA appearance: 2003
NCAA Tournament History: Played in 1 game, 0 wins, 1 loss
How they got here: Wagner entered the NEC Tournament late as a No. 6 seed with only seven healthy players. He had lost four of his last five games. Then, magically, the Seahawks pulled off three consecutive upsets on the road and advanced to the dance competition for only the second time in program history.
starter
G Melvin Council Jr. (14.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.4 spg)
G Javier Ezquerra (7.1 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.9 rpg)
G Julian Brown (9.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.7 apg)
G/F Tarlon Allen (10.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.0 apg)
F Keyonte Lewis (6.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.5 apg)
key reserve
F Taije Kelton (6.0 ppg, 4.0 pg, 0.6 spg)
F Sec Zongo (3.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.6 apg)
Featured players: Melvin Council Jr., a junior college transfer, did everything he could for Wagner, a leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker. At 6-foot-4, he has good size for a guard and can score at all three levels.
key number
21 – It’s been a few years since Wagner last made it to the NCAA Tournament.
290 – Wagner’s NET ranking is the lowest of all teams in the tournament.
32.2 – Wagner ranks 271st nationally in 3-point percentage.
7 – After a rash of injuries, healthy players decimated the roster, especially early in the season.
