Raiders tackled tough practices preparing for year

[Tipp City Raider]

Raiders tackled tough practices preparing for year
By Marc Katz
Staff Writer
Friday, October 12, 2007

FAIRBORN — To see him run around the court now, in perpetual motion during games and practice, you would think Wright State sophomore guard Vaughn Duggins was always in tip-top shape.

That wasn't always the case.

"Our first day of spring workouts, I got sick," Duggins said with a sheepish grin. "He (coach Brad Brownell) just killed us. I had to go to the bathroom.

"I knew it was going to be harder than high school, but I didn't come mentally prepared."

For the past few weeks, Brownell and his staff have been holding individual workouts. Tonight, the entire team gathers for the first official practice leading into the new basketball season. Wright State, coming off a surprise Horizon League championship, returns three starters and five veterans. Seven newcomers fill out the roster.

Scott Grote also is practicing with the team while sitting out the year as a transfer from Duquesne.

Workouts at WSU are intense, with drills designed to make the players work faster with passes and crisp shots. It doesn't take long for their uniforms to become saturated with sweat.

"Most high school kids don't know what getting in shape is," Brownell said. "Our drills are designed to move the players faster and faster. They've got it in them. They've got to bring it out."

Cooper Land, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound freshman, said he saw WSU practice on a recruiting visit, but it didn't scare him away.

"It was a big reason I came," Land said. "I realized how much basketball meant here. I figured if I could do that, I could be a pretty good player."

Duggins and Todd Brown were two freshmen who made it into the starting lineup last season. They said the practices helped.

"Stuff happened so fast, you didn't have time to think," Brown said. "It's pretty much slowed down now."

As for Land? "They're not killing me, but they've coming pretty close. I expected it to be challenging."

Wright State roster
2007-08 Returnees
Name Ht. Class PPG
Jordan Pleiman 6-8 Sr. 7.3
Third year as a starter, will have some big inside help this season
Vaughn Duggins 6-3 So. 9.0
A fierce defensive player who also can score
Todd Brown 6-5 So. 8.6
Worked his way into starting lineup with nice shooting touch
Scott Wilson 6-6 Sr. 5.2
Despite a couple of injuries, became a valuable rebounder
William Graham 6-2 Jr. 3.5
Reluctant to shoot, but handles the ball well
2007-08 newcomers
Ronnie Thomas 6-9 So. 9.9 **
Transfer from Duquesne who will be a big inside help if knees hold up
John D. Gardner 6-4 So. 19.1 *
Transfer from NC-Wilmington where he was a promising point guard
Gavin Horne 6-8 Jr. 5.5 **
A Canadian who played junior college ball, can rebound and shoot
Cooper Land 6-8 Fr. 16.0 *
Nice touch from outside for a big man
Troy Tabler 6-4 Fr. 14.1 *
Sprained ankle bothersome, but eventually will help at the point
Kyle Pressley 6-9 Fr. 17.8 *
Needs to concentrate more on basketball after playing football in high school
N'Gai Evans 6-2 Fr. 17.2 *
Good shooter who needs to work his way into college game
* High school averages
** College or junior college averages

www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/10/12/ddn101207wsubb.html

[Class of '83]

loneraider said:

Cooper Land, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound freshman, said he saw WSU practice on a recruiting visit, but it didn't scare him away.

"It was a big reason I came," Land said. "I realized how much basketball meant here. I figured if I could do that, I could be a pretty good player."

I love that our incoming players are not scared off by hard work.

[Jazzfan]

I haven't seen any announcements for an open scrimmage yet. Are we going to have a Halloween hoopla event this year or do we have to wait until our exhibition game to see the team?

[Raider Country]

I think we have to wait until the exhibition game, which is a shame. We have a bunch of new faces that I'm excited to see play.

[Tipp City Raider]

godfather said:

I haven't seen any announcements for an open scrimmage yet. Are we going to have a Halloween hoopla event this year or do we have to wait until our exhibition game to see the team?

I think this was a decision by Coach Brownell. Last year we didn't have a halloween hoopla event and we only had one exhibition game. Instead, we had a closed scrimmage with another D1 program in place of the second exhibition game. Our coaches are only allowed to practice/scrimmage so many hours a week. I think our coaching staff would rather put those hours into productive practice hours instead of showcase type events for fans. I would like to get an early glimpse of the team too, but if Coach Brownell thinks the team will benefit more from those extra practice hours, I'm not going to disagree.

[wsu97]

The only downside to not having a midnight madness/morning madness is recruiting. Coaches use these type of event for recruiting visits. I think these events are particularly important for midmajor programs that don't have football.

[Doliboabros]

wsu97 said:

The only downside to not having a midnight madness/morning madness is recruiting. Coaches use these type of event for recruiting visits. I think these events are particularly important for midmajor programs that don't have football.

I was thinking the same thing when I read the posts above.

[Glory Days]

loneraider said:

godfather said:

I haven't seen any announcements for an open scrimmage yet. Are we going to have a Halloween hoopla event this year or do we have to wait until our exhibition game to see the team?

I think this was a decision by Coach Brownell. Last year we didn't have a halloween hoopla event and we only had one exhibition game. Instead, we had a closed scrimmage with another D1 program in place of the second exhibition game. Our coaches are only allowed to practice/scrimmage so many hours a week. I think our coaching staff would rather put those hours into productive practice hours instead of showcase type events for fans. I would like to get an early glimpse of the team too, but if Coach Brownell thinks the team will benefit more from those extra practice hours, I'm not going to disagree.

Any idea who we are playing in our closed scrimmage this year?

[Big D]

Eastern Kentucky

[Raider Alumni]

When is the closed scrimmage with Eastern Kentucky?

[Wolf]

raiderball said:

When is the closed scrimmage with Eastern Kentucky?

I believe it is next Saturday.

[Big D]

The scrimmage is this Sunday at Eastern Ky.

[dumbledore]

Any word on how the scrimmage at EKU went? Any surprises?

[Wolf]

dumbledore said:

Any word on how the scrimmage at EKU went? Any surprises?

It was a closed scrimmage.

[dumbledore]

Not even a little insider info? Coach Brownell must have some tight-lipped managers. I'm getting pumped for the season to start - was looking for a morsel of news.