Brownell: 'We have to have an exceptional night'
Mar 14, 2007 21:51:16 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Mar 14, 2007 21:51:16 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/03/14/ddn031507wsupreviewweb.html
Brownell: 'We have to have an exceptional night'
By Marc Katz
Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
BUFFALO — Since the Big East was formed as a mostly basketball configuration of seven schools in 1979, the conference has mushroomed into a 16-team affiliation that also has a powerful football component.
The Horizon League has stayed with basketball as its featured sport.
Tonight, the two leagues clash with Wright State taking on the Pitt Panthers, a team appearing in its sixth straight NCAA tournament. Wright State is playing in its second, and first since 1993.
"We have to have an exceptional night," said WSU coach Brad Brownell of his 23-9 team. "There's not just one thing you have to do. We have to play well in all areas."
One of those areas will be to stop Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh's 7-foot center who leads the team with 14.1 points and 9.6 rebounds a game.
"We have to use our size to our advantage," Gray said. But there are also times when I go out of the game and we can go smaller. We'll go over all the scenarios."
Pittsburgh is 27-7 and for much of the season was a Top 10 team. The Panthers also played a few tough road games, unlike some big name schools that play mostly at home. In the non-conference, Pitt went to Auburn, Buffalo, Wisconsin and Oklahoma State, losing at the last two stops.
Next season, the Panthers will pay a return visit to the University of Dayton, vanquished in Pittsburgh 84-54 on Dec. 23 this season. On the road this season (counting Big East games), the Panthers were 8-3. On neutral courts, they were 3-2.
Wright State went 7-8 on the road and 2-0 on neutral courts, finishing strong with 11 victories in their final 12 games, two of them against Butler, ranked in the Top 20 both times.
"We've got to mix up our defenses and give them some different looks," said DaShaun Wood, WSU's best player.
"We've been small all year long," said 6-6 senior Drew Burleson, big by WSU standards. "The coaches designed a good play for the game. If we execute it, we have a chance."
Contact this reporter at 937-225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Brownell: 'We have to have an exceptional night'
By Marc Katz
Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
BUFFALO — Since the Big East was formed as a mostly basketball configuration of seven schools in 1979, the conference has mushroomed into a 16-team affiliation that also has a powerful football component.
The Horizon League has stayed with basketball as its featured sport.
Tonight, the two leagues clash with Wright State taking on the Pitt Panthers, a team appearing in its sixth straight NCAA tournament. Wright State is playing in its second, and first since 1993.
"We have to have an exceptional night," said WSU coach Brad Brownell of his 23-9 team. "There's not just one thing you have to do. We have to play well in all areas."
One of those areas will be to stop Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh's 7-foot center who leads the team with 14.1 points and 9.6 rebounds a game.
"We have to use our size to our advantage," Gray said. But there are also times when I go out of the game and we can go smaller. We'll go over all the scenarios."
Pittsburgh is 27-7 and for much of the season was a Top 10 team. The Panthers also played a few tough road games, unlike some big name schools that play mostly at home. In the non-conference, Pitt went to Auburn, Buffalo, Wisconsin and Oklahoma State, losing at the last two stops.
Next season, the Panthers will pay a return visit to the University of Dayton, vanquished in Pittsburgh 84-54 on Dec. 23 this season. On the road this season (counting Big East games), the Panthers were 8-3. On neutral courts, they were 3-2.
Wright State went 7-8 on the road and 2-0 on neutral courts, finishing strong with 11 victories in their final 12 games, two of them against Butler, ranked in the Top 20 both times.
"We've got to mix up our defenses and give them some different looks," said DaShaun Wood, WSU's best player.
"We've been small all year long," said 6-6 senior Drew Burleson, big by WSU standards. "The coaches designed a good play for the game. If we execute it, we have a chance."
Contact this reporter at 937-225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.