‘I love him’: Hornets trying to rise under coach David Patrick despite loss to UC Davis

The early returns of David Patrick’s tenure as Sacramento State’s basketball coach have been mostly positive.

He gives credibility to a program that’s on its third coach in three seasons. He has recruiting chops, given his ties to a Saint Mary’s program that rose to national prominence with an influx of players from Australia he helped bring stateside. He has experience with more notable Division I outfits, having served as the associate head coach at Arkansas and Oklahoma previously.

He’s also found a way to connect with players, some of whom were holdovers from previous coaching staffs.

“I love him,” senior guard Zach Chappell said Tuesday after the Hornets’ loss to UC Davis at Golden 1 Center. “I love how he trusts us. I love the actions (plays) he has us running. I trust him with my full being.”

Patrick is active and animated on the Sacramento State sideline, which serves both his roles as an in-game basketball coach and the face a program that needs reconstituting. His team fell to 3-2 on the season with an 82-71 loss to the rival Aggies, but some bumps in the road should be expected for a roster that’s in early transition stages.

“I think the biggest challenge has been they’ve had difference voices as a coach,” Patrick said. “They’re still learning my voice. ... There’s an adjustment there that I think comes from all these guys getting to know me and how my coaching style is and what’s acceptable and what’s not.”

Patrick cited Chappell, one of the Hornets’ three seniors, as someone making the adjustment. Chappell began his career at San Jose State before transferring to Sacramento State before the 2020-21 season. Patrick is the fourth coach Chappell has had in college. Junior Cameron Wilbon is on his third coach, as is Akolda Mawein, who transferred from Oklahoma and might be the team’s best player.

Chappell noted the off-court chemistry has already been strong, which should lead to improved play between the lines.

“It’s gonna take some time,” Chappell said. “Everything’s not going to be clicking right away. Every game we have good stretches, and it’s encouraging for us. We just have to figure out how to maintain that.”

Mawein, a 6-foot-9 forward, fouled in the second half of Tuesday’s loss, one of the game’s biggest developments. He scored 13 points in 19 minutes while going 6 of 9 from the floor with five rebounds. He was plus-15 on the court — and the Hornets were minus-26 without him.

Patrick’s team struggled once UC Davis starting using a full-court press in the second half. Sac State finished with 19 turnovers and was outscored by 18 points in the final 20 minutes. That came affer the Hornets had established a 40-33 lead at the break.

The loss signaled how much growth is needed from Patrick’s team in his first season. Still, he’s positive about the direction things are headed.

“We’re on the uptick,” he said. “I think it’s a great place to be. We have an AD and president that’s committed to athletics. ... He’s given me the freedom to go out and recruit the type of caliber kids that can have success in the Big Sky and beyond that. It’s been a pleasant surprise being here.”

Patrick said the city of Sacramento has been welcoming and he’s gotten commitments from all but one prospect that’s taken a visit to campus since he’s been on the job. The team entered Tuesday with its only loss coming to UCLA, a team that was recently voted No. 8 in the country in an AP Poll. Tuesday’s loss snapped a three-game winning streak following wins over UC San Diego, Denver and UC Merced.

Next up is a trip to Hawaii to play in the North Shore Classic against Hawaii and Southern Utah or Texas State.

Patrick is thought of highly by UC Davis head coach Jim Les, who became familiar with him while Patrick was the head coach of UC Riverside from 2018-20.

“I have a ton of respect for David,” Les said. “I look forward to competing against him. He’s going to do a really good job at Sac State.

“They defend, they’ve got some toughness. And that’s just who he is, and his team plays (with) his personality.”

This story was originally published November 23, 2022 at 5:00 AM.