Riley has Eagles rolling

Suffice to say the clean-up has been relatively fast and there’s little sign of the damage from the tornado that tore through the Eastern Washington University basketball program in late March 2021.

The 2022-23 Eagles have put together a so-far perfect 13-0 record in the Big Sky Conference, hold a three-game lead in the standings with five games remaining — and their 15-game winning streak is the nation’s longest in Division I and 18-7 overall.

That storm, which came out of the blue skies following the Eagles third trip in program history to the NCAA Tournament — and their near-upset of basketball blue-blood Kansas — was the departure of head coach Shantay Legans to the University of Portland.

But the collateral damage seemed even larger at the time for Legans’ successor, David Riley. Practically the entire the core of the Eagles team was scattered into the wind following the 93-84 loss to the Jayhawks.

With Legans went Jack Perry, Mike Meadows and Tyler Robertson as well as assistant coaches Bobby Suarez and T.J. Lipold.

Arguably the biggest losses were the Groves brothers, Tanner and Jacob who were scooped up by Big-12 Oklahoma, not to mention two-time All-Big Sky selections Kim Aiken Jr. and Jacob Davison.

But Riley, a former Whitworth University standout at the Division III level for former EWU coach Jim Hayford, had a decisive advantage on where to start the rebuilding. His time in multiple roles at Eastern since Hayford’s hiring in 2011, and then under Legans for four years, the final as associate head coach, gave him all the knowledge he needed.

His takeaways from Hayford was the 30,000-foot level. Hayford’s overall all-encompassing view of the program is what Riley tries to always keep in mind.

“With Legans it was just competitiveness and, and inspiring guys to compete and be the best they can be,” Riley said.

Perhaps, the best thing Riley said he learned was “They both gave me an opportunity to make mistakes, learn and figure this thing out.”

Fresh on the job, he surveyed the damage, Riley did so with a positive spin.

“You traveled 20 people, still half your travel party returned to the program,” the 34-year-old Riley said in a Feb. 10 interview. “And that’s enough to keep the tradition and keep the foundation that we had laid out.”

It’s a base that over the last 10 seasons has been strong enough to elevate the Eagles as the program with the best winning percentage in the Big Sky. Eastern’s 124-56 record is at .688 percent and has pushed them past perennial powers Montana (.668) and Weber State (.626).

“It just took some time to bring the new guys up to speed and follow the same blueprint,” Riley said, adding, “And make sure we have the same high character kind of guys and that’s what you’re seeing right now.”

Finding talent amidst the sellers’ market known as the transfer portal is more than just casting out a net.

“Over time we figured out what kind of guys work and fit in our program,” Riley explained. “And there’s four characteristics that we really try to pinpoint with everyone we recruit: skill, IQ, motor, and character.”

“If you’re athletic, great, or if there’s another attribute that you have, that’s great, but those are the four must-haves,” Riley said. “Go out and find those kinds of guys, then coach them up and make sure they get better every day.”

Riley did that right out of the chute, taking a hastily assembled pool talent, finish 18-16 overall, qualify for The Basketball Classic losing 83-74 at Fresno State. Riley earned a nomination as the top first-year head coach for the season.

Recruiting, and doing so on under the usual shoestring budget all sports at Eastern operate has been a crucial element in maintaining the Eagles lofty spot among the best in the Big Sky.

“It is very crazy, but one thing I’ve learned since Jim Hayford was recruiting is relationships,” Riley explained. “Everyone on our roster, there’s a reason that makes sense for them to be to Eastern Washington.”

Angelo Allegri, Tyrese Davis and Ellis Magnuson, all had connections to former assistant Roberto Bergersen. Steele Venters from Ellensburg came to team camps in Cheney.

Cedric Coward played at D-3 Willamette but had EWU connections through high school ball in Fresno, Calif., as did Deon Stroud and LeJuan Watts.

Casey Jones out of Sammamish was on the radar as a young player. The 2021-22 Big Sky Freshman of the Year, Ethan Price was following his girlfriend, a Gonzaga recruit, here from England. Dane Erikstrup, from the Portland area was reeled back from Cal Poly Pomona.

Eastern sports have long flown under the radar of either Gonzaga in basketball or Washington State for football, but Riley has a message to those who have yet venture the 20 miles from Spokane — or just down the street in Cheney — for the three remaining home games at Reese Court.

“I think it’s just a fun experience watching a really good basketball team play,” he said. “It’s something that’s a unique thing to be a part of and be able to watch.”

Paul Delaney is a retired Free Press Publishing reporter and can be reached at [email protected].