Experienced FDU eyes more than one-Knight stand

DAYTON, Ohio — There are a lot of similarities, ties that bind Fairleigh Dickinson’s 2019 NCAA Tournament team to the 2016 group.

The Knights were the second seed in the NEC Tournament three years ago, just as they were this year. They had to win on the road to punch their dancing ticket. Their strength is on the perimeter, just as it was then.

But they believe the one change — experience — could be what carries them to their first-ever tournament victory.

“The biggest difference is now the freshmen who were on that team are now seniors. Our program has grown,” FDU coach Greg Herenda said Monday as 16th-seeded FDU prepared to face fellow No. 16 Prairie View A&M in the First Four, with the winner moving on to meet No. 1 Gonzaga on Thursday night in a West Region game in Salt Lake City. “I think we’re more prepared from top to bottom.”

The best players on the 2016 team were sophomores who were still riding high after going from worst to first, and it showed in a 96-65 First Four loss to Florida Gulf Coast. This group is led by seniors Mike Holloway Jr. and Darnell Edge, both of whom played in that loss to FGCU and kept the team together this season after it got off to a 1-4 start in league play.

A team meeting was held following three straight losses, leading to a huge run that saw FDU win 14 of its last 16 games. It cruised to two blowouts in the NEC Tournament sandwiched around a comefrom-behind victory over Robert Morris in the semifinals in which the Knights trailed by 10 in the second half.

“One word and that’s family,” the 6-foot-8 Holloway said, when asked to explain the turnaround. “We came together and, after a great team meeting a while back, we just became one big happy family. We came together as brothers and one unit and it helped us in the long run in the championship.”

Herenda admitted he worked his players too hard three years ago, joking he practiced them as if he was Vince Lombardi. He’s taken it easier this time, making sure his team is fresh. “You have to be prepared at all times. I told my team … this is another final exam. ” Herenda said. “It’s simple. The greatness comes with simplicity. And we just need to do the simple things.”

They weren’t ready three years ago. They were too young. Too inexperienced. But now, with age on its side, FDU believes it is prepared and ready to land that elusive tournament victory.