“We’ve had some honest, hard film sessions. I feel like this is maybe one of those early- or mid-January make-or-break (stages) where you can really feel guys slip,” he said.
“It’s a long season. At this point, you’ve handled some adversity. Whether you handled that poorly or in a healthy way, you don’t know. But you can really lose a group this time of year.”
As a first-year coach surrounded by a young staff, Sargent couldn’t be certain his speak-the-truth-in-love method was going to work. But though the results may not show it yet, he believes it has.
“I’ve just seen our guys continue to step into the (film) room and take the coaching and take some of the honest conversation,” he said
“I’ve been proud of that because that’s not always easy to do. Our guys, starting with our leaders, have really embraced it.”
The Raiders are 9-9 overall and 3-4 in the Horizon League with 13 conference games to go.
They’re in a three-way tie with Robert Morris and Oakland for sixth, while Cleveland State is first at 6-1, followed by Youngstown State and Purdue Fort Wayne at 6-2.
Wright State hosts PFW at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“You’re always aware of the league standings, how other teams are doing … But my focus is primarily on where our players are at and their confidence level, their understanding of what we’re trying to get done,” Sargent said.
The Raiders have been playing short-handed, missing wing Alex Huibregtse in Sunday’s loss at Robert Morris and point guard Keaton Norris for three games before that.
But they’ve let some winnable games get away, and they can’t blame that on not having a full roster.
Tied at 70-all against Robert Morris, the normally unflappable Jack Doumbia had two turnovers in the final 45 seconds that led to a 75-72.
At Oakland on Dec. 5, they were knotted up at 64-64 after a Logan Woods 3 with 2:40 to go. But they went scoreless the rest of the way, losing 66-64.
It hasn’t all been bleak, though.
.Clinging to a two-point lead in a home game last week against Oakland, they produced a defensive stop in the final seconds and sealed the win with a pair of free throws.
“The league is so tight. You’re only going to be in more and more of these moments, and the moments, you hope, only get bigger and bigger,” Sargent said.
“Just learning how to function in all areas is going to be the difference — how our staff communicates with our players, and how our players, emotionally and mentally, keep their clarity and focus.”
The Raiders are in a critical stretch with three games in a seven-day span.
They’ve started 0-1 and have a trip to Northern Kentucky after facing PFW.
As Sargent pointed out: “If you play well, you can make a run. If you don’t, it’s going to be hard.
“I still fully believe this team has championship DNA to them. We’ve just got to have it more consistently.”
WEDNESDAY’S GAME
Purdue Fort Wayne at Wright State, 7 p.m., ESPN+, 101.5, 1410
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