Brownell finds way back to NCAA with Wright State
Mar 13, 2007 23:06:14 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2007 23:06:14 GMT -5
www.knoxnews.com/kns/basketball/article/0,1406,KNS_629_5414922,00.html
Brownell finds way back to NCAA with Wright State
By GORDON ENGELHARDT
March 12, 2007
From the first day Brad Brownell arrived at the Wright State University campus last spring, he preached perfection and demanded excellence.
After a couple of defections, Brownell was left with 10 scholarship players from a 13-15 team. He's gotten the best out of those who stayed, guiding the Raiders to their second NCAA Tournament berth in their 20-year Division I history.
Wright State (23-9) will play Pittsburgh (27-7) in the first round of the NCAAs at 9:40 p.m. EDT on Thursday at Buffalo, N.Y. In the process, Brownell has achieved a coaching rarity, leading two different schools to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons.
"When I got the job, I told everyone we want to do everything at the highest level possible," said Brownell, who lifted North Carolina-Wilmington to the NCAAs last season. He left because of a well-documented rift with first-year athletic director Mike Capaccio. Brownell's successor, Benny Moss, led UNC-Wilmington to a 7-22 record.
"Fortunately we had two seniors back who were experienced players in DaShaun Wood and Drew Burleson," said Brownell, who was also courted by Ball State last spring. "I had a meeting with those guys and saw some tape and saw that we had some talent. I assured them we had a chance to be real good."
He emphasized that senior leadership was vital. Wood went on to become the Horizon League's Player of the Year.
"I challenged them that they can have some good individual numbers, but they're still missing one thing and that's what they'll be measured by - championships," Brownell said. "It's a process. It's not easy."
The Raiders became champions last Tuesday, defeating Butler in the title game of the Horizon League Tournament.
"Sometimes when you coach a team, you get in a special situation and the kids understand their roles, too," Brownell said. "We have been building as the year has grown. I didn't know it would happen so soon."
He credits Jerrill Vandeventer, his coach at Evansville Harrison High School, and Royce Waltman, his coach at DePauw University, for instilling toughness.
"I think I've been around coaches who were pretty demanding," Brownell said. "They expect your best effort in all areas. I'm not smart enough to reinvent the wheel."
He meant that he gleaned the best tactics from various coaches and molded them together into his own philosophy. Vandeventer e-mailed Brownell and Southern Illinois coach Chris Lowery, noting there may not be another prep coach in the country who has two of his players coaching teams in the NCAA Tournament.
"It's fantastic," Brownell said. "I'm proud of Chris. He's doing a phenomenal job at Southern Illinois. His defense may be the best in the country, certainly one of the best."
Brownell has a well-deserved reputation as a closer. His UNC-Wilmington teams won Colonial Athletic Association Tournament titles in 2003 and '06 and earned automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. While the Seahawks won 13 of their last 14 games entering the NCAAs last season, Wright State has won 19 of its last 21 this year.
"If I had an answer, I'd bottle it," he said. "I've been in good situations with good players."
With three NCAA Tournament berths in his five years as head coach, there's one more thing left for Brownell to accomplish - win a first-round game.
"I've gotten a little snake bit a couple of times," Brownell said. "We lost on a last-second shot to Maryland (in 2003) and last year we lost to George Washington in overtime. Hopefully the third time is the charm for me."
Brownell finds way back to NCAA with Wright State
By GORDON ENGELHARDT
March 12, 2007
From the first day Brad Brownell arrived at the Wright State University campus last spring, he preached perfection and demanded excellence.
After a couple of defections, Brownell was left with 10 scholarship players from a 13-15 team. He's gotten the best out of those who stayed, guiding the Raiders to their second NCAA Tournament berth in their 20-year Division I history.
Wright State (23-9) will play Pittsburgh (27-7) in the first round of the NCAAs at 9:40 p.m. EDT on Thursday at Buffalo, N.Y. In the process, Brownell has achieved a coaching rarity, leading two different schools to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons.
"When I got the job, I told everyone we want to do everything at the highest level possible," said Brownell, who lifted North Carolina-Wilmington to the NCAAs last season. He left because of a well-documented rift with first-year athletic director Mike Capaccio. Brownell's successor, Benny Moss, led UNC-Wilmington to a 7-22 record.
"Fortunately we had two seniors back who were experienced players in DaShaun Wood and Drew Burleson," said Brownell, who was also courted by Ball State last spring. "I had a meeting with those guys and saw some tape and saw that we had some talent. I assured them we had a chance to be real good."
He emphasized that senior leadership was vital. Wood went on to become the Horizon League's Player of the Year.
"I challenged them that they can have some good individual numbers, but they're still missing one thing and that's what they'll be measured by - championships," Brownell said. "It's a process. It's not easy."
The Raiders became champions last Tuesday, defeating Butler in the title game of the Horizon League Tournament.
"Sometimes when you coach a team, you get in a special situation and the kids understand their roles, too," Brownell said. "We have been building as the year has grown. I didn't know it would happen so soon."
He credits Jerrill Vandeventer, his coach at Evansville Harrison High School, and Royce Waltman, his coach at DePauw University, for instilling toughness.
"I think I've been around coaches who were pretty demanding," Brownell said. "They expect your best effort in all areas. I'm not smart enough to reinvent the wheel."
He meant that he gleaned the best tactics from various coaches and molded them together into his own philosophy. Vandeventer e-mailed Brownell and Southern Illinois coach Chris Lowery, noting there may not be another prep coach in the country who has two of his players coaching teams in the NCAA Tournament.
"It's fantastic," Brownell said. "I'm proud of Chris. He's doing a phenomenal job at Southern Illinois. His defense may be the best in the country, certainly one of the best."
Brownell has a well-deserved reputation as a closer. His UNC-Wilmington teams won Colonial Athletic Association Tournament titles in 2003 and '06 and earned automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. While the Seahawks won 13 of their last 14 games entering the NCAAs last season, Wright State has won 19 of its last 21 this year.
"If I had an answer, I'd bottle it," he said. "I've been in good situations with good players."
With three NCAA Tournament berths in his five years as head coach, there's one more thing left for Brownell to accomplish - win a first-round game.
"I've gotten a little snake bit a couple of times," Brownell said. "We lost on a last-second shot to Maryland (in 2003) and last year we lost to George Washington in overtime. Hopefully the third time is the charm for me."