NEW YORK — David Pochapin and Cameron Koffman detected the scent of chlorine.
On the evening of Jan. 16, 2023, these two collegiate basketball enthusiasts were determined to locate a favored squad within the Five Boroughs. They had already visited Columbia, Fordham, Manhattan, and others, and on that particular day, Pochapin, Koffman, and their companion Ian Lipman joined the spectators at a “Battle of Brooklyn” contest between the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers and the Long Island University Sharks. The official turnout was 400, yet the collective opinion among the friends was that it was considerably lower.
“The atmosphere was dreadful,” Pochapin conveyed to ESPN. “You enter, and it strongly smells of a swimming facility.”
Indeed. The Sharks’ playing arena is situated directly above an aquatic center.
Long Island suffered a defeat in that game, one of many setbacks during a 3-26 season. Nevertheless, at the Steinberg Wellness Center, a unassuming multi-use facility nestled just off Flatbush Avenue near Fort Greene Park, Pochapin and Koffman laid the groundwork for a phenomenon that would captivate the college basketball community.
That very night, a fan section poised to achieve widespread recognition was established.
“Something was beckoning to us,” Pochapin remarked. “We pondered, ‘What if we simply began to serve as the fan base for this institution? What if we just started attending? What would transpire if we began inviting our acquaintances and generating excitement and noise?'”
“There was no other venue we had experienced where we felt such an intimate connection,” Koffman shared with ESPN. “We were quite close at Manhattan. We splurged on $35 courtside tickets at Wagner. Yet, it simply didn’t evoke the same sensation as it did at LIU. This gymnasium felt like you were right there, as near as possible to the playing surface.”
Commence attending, they did. They extended invitations to friends and relatives at every opportunity. With growing familiarity, customs emerged. Their courtside area became known as “the Reef.” The gymnasium earned the moniker “the Shark Tank.” The pair provided slogan-adorned T-shirts as promotional items for several games. Free throws transformed into the crucial moment for a distinctive ritual, where Pochapin shouts “FINS UP,” and supporters clap their hands above their heads.
As the Reef solidified its presence in the stands, the Sharks’ performance on the court improved. Koffman and Pochapin arrived during Rod Strickland’s inaugural season as head coach, with the former NBA guard achieving a better record each subsequent season in Brooklyn: next 7-22, then 17-16, and now 24-10 — boasting one of the nation’s premier home records.
Following Long Island’s victory over Chicago State in the NEC quarterfinals on March 4, a video showcasing marching band director Spence Howell assisting in leading the “fins up” gesture accumulated over a million views on X. Fans subsequently began flocking to the Reef for the semifinals. There, the Sharks secured their NCAA tournament spot because the league’s other finalist, Mercyhurst, was deemed ineligible.
More than 1,500 supporters then made their way to Steinberg to witness Long Island claim the NEC championship. And when the moment arrived for the Sharks to attempt free throws, virtually every one of them raised their fins.
The occasion felt dreamlike for Pochapin and Koffman, presenting a striking contrast to the circumstances of their initial attendance.
“We eventually had a chance to pause around 10 p.m. or so after the contest, following the net cutting and all the festivities. We grabbed a beverage nearby and for a moment, we were speechless, genuinely overwhelmed by sentiment,” Pochapin recounted. “It was quite moving to see the crowd was packed and everything.”
Welcome to the Reef, where one of this year’s potential Cinderella stories has exchanged its tiara for a foam shark fin.
PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF “fins up,” there was a minor struggle with identity.
Long Island is a multi-campus institution, and in the autumn of 2018, the university declared its intention to combine the athletic programs of its Brooklyn and Post campuses. There was minimal overlap between the two programs’ branding. LIU Brooklyn’s emblem was the blackbird, and its teams’ hues were black and blue. LIU Post’s teams were the Pioneers, competing in green and gold.
Wishing not to favor either institution, Long Island opted for a blended strategy. New colors would draw inspiration from both campuses, and a fresh mascot would be determined by a student body vote.
It would prove to be an intricate endeavor to establish all programs under the new unified athletic department to participate in Division I, with some of Division II Post’s sports being elevated and others being integrated with Brooklyn’s existing Division I offerings. However, Long Island’s administration sought cohesion.
“We recognized that if you selected one or the other, you would have one campus or the other feeling somewhat neglected, or their heritage not being honored,” stated Michael Berthel, LIU vice president for student affairs. “Therefore, we knew we had to go with something novel.”
The student population voted among three choices: the Eagles, Falcons, or Sharks. Sharks emerged victorious.
The continuously expanding crowd during Long Island’s progress through this season’s NEC tournament offered validation that the new brand was taking hold.
“We understood our strength lay in the multiple campuses, that each possessed a robust individual character. We knew that if we could connect [them] … we genuinely believed the rest would naturally fall into place,” Berthel commented. “To be in the arena on Tuesday and witness a full audience, you think, ‘Yes, this resonated.'”
The mascot also provided the impetus for Howell’s marching band’s designation — the Unstoppable Sound — which alludes to shark facts and aligns with the decision to consolidate the programs under a single identity.
“Most sharks, if they cease swimming, do not have water passing over their gills, meaning they don’t receive oxygen, which implies they are deceased. So, quite literally, a shark must move forward,” explained Howell, who admitted to being a shark enthusiast as a child. “We cannot dwell on the past. We must acknowledge its history, and we must honor it, but progressing onward, we simply must embrace whatever tomorrow will bring.”
Inside the Steinberg Wellness Center, en route to the basketball gymnasium, stands an imposing symbol of the school’s chosen identity: a life-sized plastic shark, courtesy of Koffman.
In 2023, Koffman’s stepfather, Jeff Lipsitz, hooked and freed a 12-foot bull shark while on a fishing excursion in Miami. He commissioned a replica of the prized catch to exhibit at home. There was just one snag.
“When my mother discovered it, she literally declared, ‘I will divorce you if this shark resides in our residence,'” Koffman recalled.
Koffman knew precisely the location that could utilize a full-scale shark reproduction.
“I found it truly amusing,” remarked Elliott Charles, Long Island director of athletics. “We want individuals to comprehend that this is something we are embracing. ‘Fins up’ is not merely a catchy phrase or expression for the year; we want people to truly embody what we believe ‘fins up’ signifies.
“It’s a fantastic, almost iconic item to possess.”
After a period in a hospitality suite situated above the court, the institution moved “Harvey the Shark” to outside the gymnasium just weeks ago, where superstitious supporters can now give its snout a rub before proceeding in to observe the contest.
REGARDING A CUSTOM swiftly climbing the echelons of 2026 college basketball legend, the narrative of “fins up” began in a rather understated manner.
Over many decades, spectators have endeavored to encourage successful free throws using a time-tested method: Both arms rise skyward, extending ahead at approximately a 70-degree inclination, and digits are then jiggled until the ball descends through the hoop – or misses. This is reiterated for any following tries, as required.
The initial instance of “fins up” emerged as a thematic derivative of that established practice. The institution had previously employed the slogan in its marketing, and Pochapin conceived the idea of merging this saying with the simple act of forming a simulated fin using one’s elevated hands. This narrative originates from a February 2024 match versus Merrimack (Buffalo Wild Wings Evening at Steinberg, with a documented turnout of 521), a contest that extended into overtime and witnessed the competing squads attempt a total of 79 free throws.
“Throughout that particular game, we’d raise our hands during LIU’s free throw attempts, that kind of hands-up-and-finger-wiggling gesture you’d perform. Then, in one of the subsequent games, it simply evolved from ‘hands up’ into ‘fins up,'” Koffman recounted. “David will shout ‘fins up,’ and then everyone will simultaneously bring their hands together in applause.”
Howell, in his inaugural year guiding LIU’s musical ensemble, sought methods to cultivate the ethos and ambiance within his modest contingent, subsequently participating by assisting in directing the cheer from the opposite side of the stands.
“We promptly seized the opportunity,” Howell stated. “It has truly gained immense popularity across the campus. … I reside near the university, and while taking strolls with my spouse two days prior, we passed the baseball field. The entire baseball team halted their practice, rushed to the barrier, leaned over the edge, and were shouting, ‘FINS UP, FINS UP, DO THE THING!'”
“The Reef” section had previously encountered widespread online recognition. Coleman Crawley, an individual who uploads videos showcasing mid-major basketball events on TikTok, has disseminated footage illustrating the atmosphere at Steinberg. During February 2025, a clip shared on X garnered over 2,000 expressions of approval. However, “The Reef” truly captured widespread notice on March 4th, during the NEC tournament quarterfinal, when a video featuring Howell and his associates became globally popular.
Mark Nash, a resident of Brooklyn, observed the online excitement and attended his inaugural LIU game at the NEC championship, securing an electronic admission pass during his lunch break and cycling to the venue post-work. The encounter? It certainly justified some initial bewilderment.
“Frankly, I was uncertain whether they performed [‘fins up’] when the opposing team was attempting shots or specifically for LIU’s shots,” Nash commented. “Nonetheless, the initial instance saw everyone throughout the arena participating, which I found impressive. The atmosphere was truly dynamic.”
Nash and other fresh enthusiasts were not the sole newcomers present in the fan section for the season’s concluding matches. Lipman and his partner, Caterina Favino, accompanied by their canine, Winston, attended the NEC semifinal, equipped with a small fin accessory. By the time of the championship game, which serendipitously coincided with Winston’s second anniversary of birth, the tiny dachshund had acquired a promotional agreement with the ticket vendor TickPick, and the fin now sported an additional endorsement.
“I doubt there’s another arena where we’d imagine being able to bring Winston,” Lipman remarked. “This venue is somewhere Cameron and David have established as familiar territory, and they actively endorsed us bringing Winston along. Consequently, we brought him, adorned him with a fin, and the remainder is well-known.
“Were you to inquire three years prior if I would ever take a dog to a game, only for it to appear on ‘SportsCenter’ the subsequent day, my response would unequivocally be no.”
However, a single adjustment might be necessary moving ahead.
Favino stated, “We ought to locate a larger one, as he’s become somewhat portly.” “Hence, it now sits a bit too elevated on him.”
POCHAPIN AND KOFFMAN are prompt to emphasize that despite all their vocal support, the genuine narrative centers on the squad’s performance on the court.
Koffman remarked, “Nobody would pay attention to this if the squad wasn’t exerting maximum effort and performing exceptionally well.” “The collective group merits full recognition for this.”
Pochapin further stated, “Ultimately, we aim to ensure everyone understands our presence is due to the team’s excellence, an excellence attributable to Coach Strickland and the players.”
The commendations are entirely merited. The Sharks stand as the top-scoring squad in the NEC. Defensively, they hold the premier position in the conference for blocks per game and rank second in ball pilfers. As a harmonized contingent, four of their five initial players contribute an average of 10 or more points per contest. Incorporating a dedication to superior exertion – as Pochapin highlights, Long Island’s triumph over Chicago State in the NEC quarterfinals might not have materialized had graduate student guard Jamal Fuller not provoked an offensive foul in the concluding minute – reveals a successful strategy.
Equally apparent is the proficient manner in which Long Island performs before its local supporters.
This season, the Sharks boast a 14-1 record on their home turf, an achievement that places them among distinguished teams such as Michigan and Florida. Furthermore, even though Long Island might not excel at converting free throws – the squad’s free throw success rate places 344th among 365 Division I teams, based on Bart Torvik’s data – “fins up” seems to have had a noticeable impact. The Sharks achieve a 7% higher success rate from the foul line when competing on their own court compared to away games.
“Possessing this devoted following and having such backing while we compete bestows an additional 15 attributes upon all your capabilities,” stated sophomore forward Shadrak Lasu prior to the NEC championship match. “It motivates you to strive more intensely, to dive for the ball. It compels you to simply perform with vigor, knowing a multitude of individuals are observing and wishing for your victory. [The supporters are] simply encouraging you, and ultimately, as the athletes, we cannot disappoint them since they arrive to provide assistance. Therefore, we must fulfill our responsibilities.”
LONG ISLAND IS set to confront a formidable challenge this Friday.
The Sharks are scheduled to compete against the premier seed in the West region, the Arizona Wildcats, a team situated 214 positions above them in KenPom rankings. Merely two No. 16 seeds have managed to defeat a No. 1, with the surprising victories by UMBC and Fairleigh Dickinson occupying almost legendary positions in college basketball history.
Yet, this is the month of March. The period on the calendar when the usually restrictive forces of mathematics and rationale appear to diminish during tournament season. The time of year when aspirations and passion can, at times, demonstrate power equal to a superior efficiency metric.
In San Diego, Long Island will step onto the playing surface with its most fervent admirers offering vocal encouragement.
Koffman affirmed, “‘The Reef’ contingent will be journeying.”
“We are utterly delighted that we have this opportunity to attend. Our excitement is immense. Every participant of the pep band is entirely prepared to perform,” Howell stated. “[‘Fins up’] will accompany us indefinitely, until we are compelled to cease.”
Viejas Arena possesses a maximum occupancy of 12,414. Regardless of the outcome, a minimum of several dozen supporters will maintain their composure – and their “fins” – with pride.