By Ira P. Thor
New Jersey City University SID
When a young William Paterson team walked off the court in Salem, Va., on March 20, 1999, after dropping a 92-83 decision to Connecticut College in the national consolation game, coach Jose Rebimbas insisted that his Pioneers would return.
That year, the Final Four was a novelty for those Pioneers and for a program that had enjoyed previous success, but never at the caliber of a national semifinalist. After starting the season 3-5 during the 1998-99 campaign, the Pioneers rallied behind phenomenal sophomore transfer Horace Jenkins. WPU was granted one of three at-large bids given to the New Jersey Athletic Conference, and surprised the nation, and maybe even themselves, by winning the sectional and having their ticket punched for Salem. Only one player on that season’s team was older than a sophomore.
Now, the Pioneers are back. At 24-4, they are older, matured, experienced, and focused. And unlike their youthful ways of 1999, this group of Pioneers will not be awed just by being in a Final Four.
"Basically, two years ago we treated it as a spring break vacation," said Rebimbas, in his sixth season as head coach, as he prepared to depart for Salem on Tuesday afternoon. "This year it’s during spring break, but it’s not a vacation. I think they got the message.
"We’re clearly looking forward to competing for the national title. We’re not just happy to be there."
That much is for sure. WPU is not just happy being in the Final Four. Ever since the Pioneers were upset in the 2000 Sweet 16 by Catholic University, 57-52, the 2001 Final Four has been their expectation. Now that they’re back in the dance for the second time in three seasons, bringing a national championship home to Wayne is the task at hand.
"We’ve gotten to the point where our goal is to compete for a national title every year," Rebimbas noted. "Especially with the core group of guys we had coming back, not being here would be a failure."
That core group includes five players who were on the WPU roster in 1999 when the Pioneers were easily beaten by another group of Pioneers — eventual champion UW-Platteville — in the national semifinals.
The most visible player of the group returning is senior point guard Horace Jenkins. The three-time New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and all-time leading scorer in WPU history could have turned pro after his junior season but returned to give it one more try. At 27 points per game, the nation’s fourth-leading scorer has been the heart of the Pioneers for three seasons. The All-American candidate and potential NBA draft choice isn’t just about scoring. Sure, Jenkins is one of the nation’s top scoring threats. But, he’s also William Paterson’s leading rebounder. He also may be one of the top defensive threats in the country, as his 3.9 steal average — third best in Division III — goes to prove.
Senior forward Ray Ortiz was also there in 1999. The New Jersey Athletic Conference Second-Team selection has averaged 11 points and five rebounds per game for the Pioneers this season as the club’s second option. And despite his 6-7 frame, Ortiz can launch the three with precision. At 40.2% long-range accuracy, Ortiz is a menace, inside and out.
Sophomore forward Mufeed Thomas was just a rookie when the Pioneers found themselves in the Salem at 19-10 two years ago. A dominant inside player who keys the Paterson defense, Thomas averages 5.7 rebounds per game. But his 6.0 scoring average is misleading because Thomas has accepted a lesser scoring role to influence other aspects of the Pioneer attack. Senior Chris Lauer and junior Michael Schirick are important defensive big men for WPU who also were part of the run to Salem in 1999.
One player who was not there for the Pioneers in 1999 was junior forward Dag Christensen. But Christensen will certainly make his presence felt as a key starter for the Pioneers. Sixth-man Rashaan Barner, a midseason transfer with an explosive leap is averaging nearly 10 points per game and shooting 57.9% off the bench.
William Paterson will rely on these and other players to operate the nation’s best defense. At 59.6 points allowed per game, stifling is a good way to describe the Pioneers style.
"Our philosophy is defense first, offense second," Rebimbas said describing his team’s No. 1 strength. "It’s an old cliché. But, it’s built into our heads here at William Paterson. We understand that it takes a lot more to win games than just scoring. Our philosophy has not changed in three years, and it’s not going to change now."
Which is something McMurry found out in the Sweet 16 last weekend. The Indians entered the NCAA tournament averaging 106.5 points per game — second best in the country. However, when they met Paterson in their South Sectional semifinal, McMurry was smothered offensively, scoring just 59 points — nearly 48 points below their average — in a loss to the Pioneers.
A tough defensive matchup awaits WPU in the second of two national semifinals on Friday evening when they meet Illinois Wesleyan (23-6). After watching tapes on Tuesday, Rebimbas said it was safe to say that the Titans would be the best defensive team they have played all season.
At 24-4, WPU has set a school record for victories. After a shaky early season, WPU ran off a streak of 12 straight wins before dropping a decision to Rowan on Feb. 10. Since that time, the Pioneers have not lost — a streak of eight in a row. WPU entered the 2001 NJAC tournament as the top seed for a second consecutive year, and handled second-seeded New Jersey City University 88-72 in the final on Feb. 23 to claim their second consecutive NJAC title.
After an opening round NCAA bye, William Paterson made quick work of Hampden-Sydney, 84-65, to advance to Sweet 16. WPU followed that up with a 77-59 thumping of McMurry in the Sweet 16. In their Elite Eight contest with host school Christopher Newport, the Pioneers surviving a scare to force overtime, before claiming the South Regional title, 86-75 on March 10. Trailing 62-56 with just over a minute remaining, WPU showed the character that many championship clubs possess, to rally and tie, sending the game to an extra period.
"We’re a veteran team." Rebimbas added. "We know we have the best player in the gym on a nightly basis. [What the CNU game proved is] we always have a chance with time on the clock."
Unlike 1999 when the added media attention might have been a distraction for WPU, the presence of Jenkins has made increased media second nature at the northern New Jersey campus. In the past month alone, Jenkins has been featured in two of the nation’s most prestigious publications — Sports Illustrated and the New York Times. And on Tuesday afternoon, Rebimbas was a guest on the Mike and the Mad Dog show on New York radio station WFAN-AM, the nation’s premier sports-talk station.
According to Rebimbas, though, the Pioneers have taken the increased spotlight in stride, and judging by where they will be this weekend, that attention is well earned. As Rebimbas insisted in 1999, the Pioneers will make their return to Salem.
"We’ve done that by working our butts off and meeting the challenges everyone has set for us. We knew it would be very difficult to get to this point."
And now that they’re here, Rebimbas’ William Paterson team can finally see the finish line. Win two games in two nights and take home the national championship.