WSU administration throws party for NCAA selection
Mar 13, 2007 1:49:22 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2007 1:49:22 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/03/12/ddn031207wsunotes.html
WRIGHT STATE NOTES
WSU administration throws big party for NCAA selection
By Marc Katz
Staff Writer
Monday, March 12, 2007
FAIRBORN — Officials at Wright State had 14 years to think about what they might do on Selection Sunday for the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and used the time wisely.
First, they gathered their most prominent donors at their practice facility across the road from the Nutter Center beginning at 4 p.m. to mingle with the team and coaches while enjoying snacks.
An hour later, the school's dance team and cheerleaders showed up, and began forming a gauntlet leading to the Nutter Center.
At 5:20 p.m., WSU President David Hopkins waved his arm and said, "Let's go. Let's go to the Nutter Center."
The team filed out to cheers and were cheered again in the Nutter Center, where fans were waiting for the CBS Selection Show to be shown on the scoreboard video screen.
The show began at 6 p.m. with host Greg Gumbel announcing the four No. 1 seeds (Florida, North Carolina, Ohio State and Kansas). Following a commercial break, 16 teams were announced in their brackets.
After another commercial break, another 16 teams were announced, the last being Wright State.
That's all the fans in the Nutter Center saw — half the field — as the screen went to its Horizon League Champions logo, the WSU band played and coaches and players gave interviews and signed autographs.
In between:
• Hopkins fretted about the state budget, which is supposed to be announced Thursday.
"The governor wants to come over that day for a visit," Hopkins said. "I told him we might be playing in the NCAA that day (the Raiders will be) and said I hope we can work around that. He said he would."
• WSU Athletic Director Mike Cusack was happy to see the 100 or so boosters who attended the special reception.
"This building helped (the program) a lot," Cusack said. "Many of these boosters helped build it, and they feel pretty good about it now."
• Bob Grant, associate athletic director, said 14 years ago, the last time WSU made it to the NCAAs, there were 20 members of the school's "Raider Club" who donated a minimum of $1,000 a year. He said now there are about 300 members, plus 50 Platinum members who have courtside seats and donate at least $5,000 a year to the athletics department.
• Earlier this week, Grant received an e-mail from former Raiders' star Delme Herriman, congratulating the team and school while asking, "Can you send me a T-shirt or something, please? I have no more Raider gear left." Herriman lives in Manchester, England.
• Just prior to the selection program, a 37-inch HD television was raffled off by Morris Furniture's Larry Klaben for a lucky student, who happened to be Matt Gahris, son of the late Greg Gahris, former voice of the Raiders.
• Coach Brad Brownell said his assistants have been taping several teams over the past few weeks and had at least half a dozen tapes of Pittsburgh.
Those tapes were being edited down by assistants Marty McGillan, Billy Donlon and Adrian Townsend until "2 or 3 this morning," Donlon said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Athletic Director Matt Liddy was working on flight arrangements to Buffalo, N.Y. He expects the team to leave sometime Tuesday.
No. 3 Pittsburgh
Nickname: Panthers
Location: Pittsburgh
Coach: Jamie Dixon
Record: 27-7
NCAA record: 15-19
Entry to tournament: At-large
Best regular-season win: 74-69 over Georgetown on Jan. 13
Key players (regular-season averages): C Aaron Gray (13.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 55.2 FG pct.), G-F Mike Cook (10.5 points), G Antonio Graves (9.4 points, 2.1 assists)
Did you know?: Since finishing third in NCAA debut in 1941, Panthers have gotten by Sweet 16 only once in 19 NCAA appearances.
Outlook: Panthers haven't really risen to the occasion vs. tough competition, so they could be an early upset victim.
No. 14 Wright State
Nickname: Raiders
Location: Fairborn
Coach: Brad Brownell
Record: 23-9
NCAA Record: 0-1
Entry to tournament: Horizon League champs
Best regular-season win: 77-65 over Butler (Feb. 10)
Key players: G DaShaun Wood (19.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists), G Vaughn Duggins (8.9 points), F Drew Burleson (8.8 points, 5.8 rebounds)
Did you know?: One of the youngest coaches in the nation at 38, Brownell took North Carolina-Wilmington to the NCAAs last year and in 2003.
Outlook: Winners of 11 of last 12, the Raiders are not to be taken lightly. But Wood is the only double-figure scorer, so limited offense could ultimately be WSU's undoing.
WRIGHT STATE NOTES
WSU administration throws big party for NCAA selection
By Marc Katz
Staff Writer
Monday, March 12, 2007
FAIRBORN — Officials at Wright State had 14 years to think about what they might do on Selection Sunday for the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and used the time wisely.
First, they gathered their most prominent donors at their practice facility across the road from the Nutter Center beginning at 4 p.m. to mingle with the team and coaches while enjoying snacks.
An hour later, the school's dance team and cheerleaders showed up, and began forming a gauntlet leading to the Nutter Center.
At 5:20 p.m., WSU President David Hopkins waved his arm and said, "Let's go. Let's go to the Nutter Center."
The team filed out to cheers and were cheered again in the Nutter Center, where fans were waiting for the CBS Selection Show to be shown on the scoreboard video screen.
The show began at 6 p.m. with host Greg Gumbel announcing the four No. 1 seeds (Florida, North Carolina, Ohio State and Kansas). Following a commercial break, 16 teams were announced in their brackets.
After another commercial break, another 16 teams were announced, the last being Wright State.
That's all the fans in the Nutter Center saw — half the field — as the screen went to its Horizon League Champions logo, the WSU band played and coaches and players gave interviews and signed autographs.
In between:
• Hopkins fretted about the state budget, which is supposed to be announced Thursday.
"The governor wants to come over that day for a visit," Hopkins said. "I told him we might be playing in the NCAA that day (the Raiders will be) and said I hope we can work around that. He said he would."
• WSU Athletic Director Mike Cusack was happy to see the 100 or so boosters who attended the special reception.
"This building helped (the program) a lot," Cusack said. "Many of these boosters helped build it, and they feel pretty good about it now."
• Bob Grant, associate athletic director, said 14 years ago, the last time WSU made it to the NCAAs, there were 20 members of the school's "Raider Club" who donated a minimum of $1,000 a year. He said now there are about 300 members, plus 50 Platinum members who have courtside seats and donate at least $5,000 a year to the athletics department.
• Earlier this week, Grant received an e-mail from former Raiders' star Delme Herriman, congratulating the team and school while asking, "Can you send me a T-shirt or something, please? I have no more Raider gear left." Herriman lives in Manchester, England.
• Just prior to the selection program, a 37-inch HD television was raffled off by Morris Furniture's Larry Klaben for a lucky student, who happened to be Matt Gahris, son of the late Greg Gahris, former voice of the Raiders.
• Coach Brad Brownell said his assistants have been taping several teams over the past few weeks and had at least half a dozen tapes of Pittsburgh.
Those tapes were being edited down by assistants Marty McGillan, Billy Donlon and Adrian Townsend until "2 or 3 this morning," Donlon said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Athletic Director Matt Liddy was working on flight arrangements to Buffalo, N.Y. He expects the team to leave sometime Tuesday.
No. 3 Pittsburgh
Nickname: Panthers
Location: Pittsburgh
Coach: Jamie Dixon
Record: 27-7
NCAA record: 15-19
Entry to tournament: At-large
Best regular-season win: 74-69 over Georgetown on Jan. 13
Key players (regular-season averages): C Aaron Gray (13.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 55.2 FG pct.), G-F Mike Cook (10.5 points), G Antonio Graves (9.4 points, 2.1 assists)
Did you know?: Since finishing third in NCAA debut in 1941, Panthers have gotten by Sweet 16 only once in 19 NCAA appearances.
Outlook: Panthers haven't really risen to the occasion vs. tough competition, so they could be an early upset victim.
No. 14 Wright State
Nickname: Raiders
Location: Fairborn
Coach: Brad Brownell
Record: 23-9
NCAA Record: 0-1
Entry to tournament: Horizon League champs
Best regular-season win: 77-65 over Butler (Feb. 10)
Key players: G DaShaun Wood (19.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists), G Vaughn Duggins (8.9 points), F Drew Burleson (8.8 points, 5.8 rebounds)
Did you know?: One of the youngest coaches in the nation at 38, Brownell took North Carolina-Wilmington to the NCAAs last year and in 2003.
Outlook: Winners of 11 of last 12, the Raiders are not to be taken lightly. But Wood is the only double-figure scorer, so limited offense could ultimately be WSU's undoing.
