Men's Basketball Preview, Part 9: Wright State
Nov. 3, 2007
Boasting one of the best turnaround seasons in the nation, the Raider fans showed a burst of support last season that helped propel Wright State into the national limelight, a 14-1 home record, a Horizon League crown and an NCAA Tournament bid.
This time around the Raiders will be without two one-thousand-point scorers in DaShaun Wood and Drew Burleson which accounted for 44 percent of last year's scoring and 34 percent of the rebounding not to mention a load of leadership.
"It will likely take a group effort to fill those shoes," head coach Brad Brownell said. "Everyone will have to step up, hit those late shots, play hard on defense and make the right pass."
Last year's NABC District 10 Coach of the Year Brad Brownell will enter his second year at the WSU helm with new players as well as experienced players like sophomore guards Vaughn Duggins, a preseason second-team selection, and Todd Brown and front court players like seniors Jordan Pleiman and Scottie Wilson. Junior Will Graham comes back after starting 12 games a year.
Who will make an impact this year? 6-9 center Ronnie Thomas? Or could it be 6-4 guard John David Gardner? Maybe it will be 6-4 freshman Troy Tabler? Or could it be one of the other newcomers?
Duggins started 32 games as freshman and has been tabbed one of this season's top ten players in the Horizon League as he was voted to the circuit's preseason second team. The Indiana native was selected to the League's Newcomer Team a year ago along with fellow freshman Todd Brown. Brown placed third in the team's scoring race and added a spark to the team as he was placed in the starting lineup just before mid-year.
Pleiman, a starter since his sophomore campaign, has given solid minutes, averaging 7.3 points and 5.4 rebounds as a junior. Coming on strong, Wilson used his brawn and his shot to make a statement for the coming year as he was selected to the Horizon League All Tournament Team last March.
"I think the league race will be very wide-open," said Brownell. "If we can continue to improve and find somebody to be a step-up scorer, I think we'll have a chance to make a run. I think our fans can look forward to a year where we will improve as the season goes."
Of the newcomers, two have played major college basketball and one played in the junior college ranks. Gardner came to WSU after playing a season at UNC Wilmington where he saw limited time but put together an all-state high school career in Alabama. Thomas, transfer from Duquesne, played his prep ball in Middlebury, IN and should provide a powerful punch while challenging for a starting role. Junior Gavin Horne, originally from Canada, played two years at Sante Fe Communitiy College in Florida.
Besides Tabler, Brownell and his staff will have freshmen Kyle Pressley, N'Gai Evans, and Cooper Land. All put up impressive numbers in high school and will look to do more than just contribute this year in all areas.
Success has followed Brownell and his teams. In just five years as a head coach, the Indiana native has compiled over 100 wins and has averaged more than 21 wins a seasons with three trips to the NCAA Tournament. He has taken the first steps to build the WSU program into one of the top contenders every year in the Horizon League.
This season, the home slate includes Bradley from the Missouri Valley Conference, Coastal Carolina of the Big South, Marshall of Conference USA and Miami of the MAC and St. Bonaventure from the Atlantic 10. Of course, the schedule will include the Horizon League teams such as NCAA-Cinderella team Butler, Detroit and newcomer Valparaiso.
Story provided by Wright State Office of Sports Information
