Preview: Wright State (23-9) vs. Pittsburgh (27-7)

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Preview: Wright State (23-9) vs. Pittsburgh (27-7)
By Marc Katz

Staff Writer

Thursday, March 15, 2007

When: 9:40 p.m. today

Where: HSBC Arena, Buffalo, N.Y.

TV: WHIO Channel 7 (CBS)

Radio: WONE-AM (980)

Probable starters


WSU Ht. Yr. PPG
F Drew Burleson 6-6 Sr. 8.8
F Jordan Pleiman 6-8 Jr. 7.4
G Todd Brown 6-5 Fr. 8.6
G Vaughn Duggins 6-3 Fr. 8.9
G DaShaun Wood 5-11 Sr. 19.8
Pittsburgh Ht. Yr. PPG
F Levon Kendall 6-10 Sr. 5.7
F Mike Cook 6-4 Jr. 10.5
C Aaron Gray 7-0 Sr. 14.1
G Antonio Graves 6-3 Sr. 9.4
G Levance Fields 5-10 So. 9.3


About Pittsburgh

One of only 12 Division I schools to make the NCAA field in each of the last six years. Finished regular season ranked No. 13 in the AP poll and No. 11 in coaches poll. Panthers rely on one of the bigger inside lineups in the country, built around 7-foot Aaron Gray, but also can go smaller. "There are not too many teams as big as we are," said Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, "but we have the ability to (play) both ways."

Wright State ramblings

Raiders have won 11 of their last 12, but probably have not faced a team of Pitt's caliber. "This is a little bit different," senior guard DaShaun Wood said of playing in an NCAA game for the first time. "And this is a school we haven't played before." Scottie Wilson will be a key off the bench, and he has to stay out of foul trouble. Wilson played so well in the Horizon League tournament, he was named all-tourney.

Brownell's take

"We tried to put together our best game plan. We haven't figured (it all) out yet, but we have until 9 p.m. (today), so we've got a little more time." WSU coach Brad Brownell.

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Matchup: Wright State vs. Pitt
By The Tribune-Review
Thursday, March 15, 2007


The Matchup:
Wright State (23-9) vs. Pitt (27-7)

Line: Pitt by 9 1/2

What to expect

No. 3-seeded Pitt is making its sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and is one of only 12 teams with such a current streak. No. 14-seeded Wright State lost to Indiana, 97-54, in the 1993 NCAA Tournament, which was its only trip to the Dance since becoming a Division I program in 1987. Pitt is 2-0 all-time against Wright State. Pitt will look to exploit the huge height advantage against the Horizon League co-champs, who at times go 6-foot-6, 6-6 and 6-5 across the front. The chief beneficiary will be Aaron Gray, who's certain to be playing angry after his 1-for-13, three-point effort in the Big East Tournament finals. The question is his effectiveness on defense if Wright State goes small.

About Wright State

Wood, the Horizon League's MVP, is one of the most electric players on any mid-major team in the nation, leading the Raiders in scoring (19.8), assists (3.87), steals (1.87), 3-pointers (57), and ranking third in rebounds (5.0). Wright State clinched the automatic berth by beating nationally ranked Butler in the Horizon League finals behind Wood's 27 points. Brad Brownell, a first-year coach, has endured some tough luck in the NCAA Tournament. He guided UNC-Wilmington to a pair of berths -- in 2003 and '06 -- losing to Maryland on a last-second 3-pointer and to George Washington, 88-85, in overtime. Four of Wright State's five starters shoot at least 73.4 percent from the free-throw line, led by Wood (88.6).

By the numbers

G DaShaun Wood has scored in double figures for 45 consecutive games.

F Drew Burleson is one of only 11 Wright State players with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in his career.

About Pitt

Pitt knows all about the juicy Duke and/or UCLA possibilities down the road, but the Panthers first need to take care of the improving Horizon League co-champions. The Panthers don't have any bad losses this season, and this isn't the place to start. Pitt, which went 3-3 down the stretch, is coming off the worst loss in the Dixon era -- 65-42 to Georgetown in the Big East Tournament finals. But the Panther know how to rebound. They have dropped back-to-back games only five times in 132 games under Dixon. Gray looks poised for a big effort against the undersized Raiders, who dress only one player taller than 6-6. Expect Gray to take out any frustrations from the Big East Tournament disappointments. Pitt has never lost a first-round game when it was a No. 7 seed or better, going 7-0.

By the numbers

F Levon Kendall ranks among Pitt's top three team leaders this season in rebounds (5.5), blocked shots (26), steals (28) and free-throw shooting (73.8).

F Mike Cook has at least one steal in seven of his past eight games.


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Starting fives
Wright State
Player Pos. Class Ht. PPG
DaShaun Wood G Sr. 5-11 19.8
Todd Brown G Fr. 6-5 8.6
Vaughn Duggins G Fr. 6-3 8.9
Jordan Pleiman F Jr. 6-8 7.4
Drew Burleson F Sr. 6-6 8.8
Pitt
Player Pos. Class Ht. PPG
Mike Cook F Jr. 6-4 10.5
Levon Kendall F Sr. 6-10 5.7
Aaron Gray C Sr. 7-0 14.2
Levance Fields G So. 5-10 9.3
Antonio Graves G Sr. 6-3 9.4
Key reserves
Wright State
Player Pos. Class Ht. PPG
Scottie Wilson F Jr. 6-6 5.0
Pitt
Player Pos. Class Ht. PPG
Ronald Ramon G Jr. 6-1 8.5