Seton Hall’s Rasheen Davis on other side of rivalry thanks to ‘instrumental’ St. John’s assistant
Tuesday night is a reunion between members of the St. Johns and Seton Hall coaching staffs.
Seventeen years ago, Rick Pitino gave a young coach his first shot at the college level on the suggestion of one of his assistants.
St. John’s saw that coach, Pirates assistant Rasheen Davis, when it visited SetonHall at the Prudential Center.
I was a guidance counselor in New York City Department of Education making good money, but the opportunity to work for Rick Pitino? Who can say no to that, Davis told The Post in a phone interview.
It wouldnt have happened without Steve Masiello, St. Johns associate head coach.
Davis and Masiello knew each other going back to their childhoods as two local guys who played on the AAU circuit with rival teams. Davis played for Riverside Church, Masiello the Gauchos.
4Seton Hall assistant coach Rasheen Davis APWhen Davis was done playing at Division II St. Thomas Aquinas College, he coached under Moe Hicks at since-shuttered Rice High School and the Gauchos and grew close to Masiello.
He had been trying to get int the college game, and Louisville had an opening for a low-level staffer. Masiello, working at Louisville at the time, convinced Pitino to give Davis a shot.
I definitely think that Masiello, Moe Hicks, were very instrumental in being where I am. Coach Pitino as well, the 44-year-old Davis, a Bronx native, said. He still had to say yes.
4St. John’s associate head coach Steve Masiello. Getty ImagesAs far as working for the demanding Pitino, Davis said: It wasnt tough. He told me what the expectations were when I first sat with him. It was an adjustment. But if you believe you can do something youll find a way to do it.
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Masiello and Davis connected again several years later, Davis joining Masiellos staff at Manhattan. Together, they reached two NCAA Tournaments, in 2014 and 2015, going on memorable March runs through the MAAC Tournament.
Very similar to Pitino. Very detail-oriented, very intense. Forced the players and the staff to think bigger and better every day, Davis, an accomplished recruiter who has also coached at Arizona State, Pittsburgh, Xavier and UMass, recalled of Masiello. His unrealistic expectations allowed us to do what we did. He was able to challenge guys to think about stuff they didnt even believe could happen.
Davis added: Youre doing your dream. I dont look at this as a work. Its something I wanted to do, and I tried to work all these camps when I was younger to hopefully be where Im at.
Now, they are on opposite sides of a rivalry, Masiello at St. Johns and Davis at Seton Hall, both key parts of projected NCAA Tournament teams.
They have remained close, exchanging text-messages often. Being on opposite sides of a rivalry hasnt impacted their friendship, despite the fact they are now recruiting against one another.
4Rasheen Davis (bottom left) coached with Steve Masiello at Manhattan College. Neil Miller
4St. John’s coach Rick Pitino Corey Sipkinfor the NY POSTDavis has faced Masiello before when Masiello was still Manhattans head coach and Davis was an assistant for current Seton Hall head coach Shaheen Holloway at Saint Peters in 2021-22. This was their first encounter as Big East coaches.
The first time it was definitely a little bit weird, but the second time it was fine, Davis said. Its easy, right? Im not playing. I just got to sit there and help the guys in any way and echo Shas message.
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