Raider injuries

[Sixth Man]

Duggins may miss this week’s games
By Marc Katz
Monday, December 1, 2008

FAIRBORN — Practice was a lot less crowded today, and that was not good news for the Wright State Raiders.

Out with a sprained left ankle was redshirt freshman center Kyle Pressley.

Out with a separated left shoulder was sophomore guard Troy Tabler.

Worst of all, out with what was diagnosed only today as a broken right ring finger was junior guard Vaughn Duggins, the team’s leading scorer and best player.

Duggins scored 16 points in 35 minutes against Sam Houston State on Saturday, two days after spraining his finger in practice. He had it taped to his pinky finger for the game.

Today, precautionary x-rays were taken, and the finger was found to be broken. A second opinion on how to treat the injury — by operation or otherwise — is being considered.

Meanwhile, it appears likely Duggins will not be available for this week’s games — Thursday at Wisconsin-Green Bay and Saturday at Wisconsin-Milwaukee — as the Horizon League begins play.

Pressley and Tabler also are expected to miss this week’s games, and possibly a week or so more.

How long Duggins will miss — if any at all — is still to be determined, although he is not expected to miss the rest of the season.

To help out, Mike Boan, a WSU freshman from Reynoldsburg, will likely be put on the roster. Boan has been used as a practice player this fall.

www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/wrightstatesports/entries/2008/12/01/duggins_may_miss_this_weeks_ga.html

[Sixth Man]

Duggins has surgery scheduled
By Marc Katz
Monday, December 1, 2008

FAIRBORN — Vaughn Duggins said his dad was coming into town tonight and they’d discuss a second opinion, but for now, Wright State’s leading scorer and best player has surgery scheduled for Wednesday on his injured right hand.

When Duggins originally injured the hand last Thursday, it was tought to be only a sprain of his ring finger. He missed Friday’s practice, but played 35 minutes Saturday against Sam Houston State, scoring 16 points in an 84-65 loss.

Monday, Duggins had an x-ray on the hand, and a fracture was found. He was expected to get a second opinion on how to treat the injury, but decided early surgery was the best solution for a quicker recovery.

“I think I can be back after Christmas,” Duggins said. “I’ll miss the games this week, but be able to travel with the team after that.”

If he does return after Christmas, he’ll miss nine games, including this week’s against Green Bay and Milwaukee, the games at Arkansas-Little Rock and Wake Forest, the three games in the San Juan Classic Dec. 20-22 and home games against Toledo and Norfolk State.

On his timetable, he would be able to return for the resumption of the Horizon League schedule when league-favorite Cleveland State visits the Nutter Center on Dec. 30.

www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/wrightstatesports/entries/2008/12/01/duggins_has_surgery_scheduled.html

[Doliboabros]

We are F'd.

[Nutt House]

Well at least Todd's going to get a whole bunch of opportunities to work himself out of his shooting slump.

[Jazzfan]

He already played one game with it broken. I'm surprised he isn't going to tape it and play the remainder of the season with it unless there is a chance he could hurt it worse.

[OG Raiderfan]

That's probably what the second opinion is for. I assume Vaughn wants to gut it out and our medical team wants to take to safer approach. I know it sucks for our season, but you have to do what's in his best interest. Good luck Vaughn.

[Willie]

First off, I wish Vaughn, Troy, and Kyle a full and speedy recovery. Second, I think this might end up being a good thing for this team in the long run. Right now, Vaughn is the only guy on our team we have been able to count on night in/out. His injury is going to force the rest of the team to pull their heads out of their asses and start playing some basketball. With any luck, we get everyone back for HL play and we are a better team for it.

[Raider Grad]

Dec 1, 2008 19:53:40 GMT -5 Willie said:

First off, I wish Vaughn, Troy, and Kyle a full and speedy recovery. Second, I think this might end up being a good thing for this team in the long run. Right now, Vaughn is the only guy on our team we have been able to count on night in/out. His injury is going to force the rest of the team to pull their heads out of their asses and start playing some basketball. With any luck, we get everyone back for HL play and we are a better team for it.

I agree. It's time for our upperclassman to start playing like it.

[Willie]

Surgery to sideline Raiders' Duggins
By Marc Katz
Tuesday, December 02, 2008

FAIRBORN — Wright State's Vaughn Duggins has an operation on his injured ring finger scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 3. It will keep him out of the lineup most of the month.

That's certainly not good news for the 0-4 Raiders, especially heading into Horizon League play at Wisconsin-Green Bay and Wisconsin-Milwaukee this week.

"Eventually, I think I would have to have an operation if I wanted to continue playing basketball after college," Duggins said. "If I have it now, I can get back and play. If I wait, it could get worse and I'd miss more games."

Duggins, who sprained his finger in a Thanksgiving Day practice and played Saturday at Sam Houston State with the finger taped to his pinkie and middle finger, had a precautionary X-ray Monday, and a fracture was found.

Coach Brad Brownell said he wasn't certain who would fill in for Duggins, who is not his only injured player.

Duggins did not practice Monday, and he wasn't the only one. Redshirt freshman center Kyle Pressley, who sprained his left ankle in the Sam Houston game, and sophomore guard Troy Tabler, who suffered a separated left shoulder, also missed.

Both Pressley and Tabler are expected to miss this week's games, and maybe more.

"We've had 40 practices this fall, and we've probably had a full roster for only about 10 of them," Brownell said. "It's hard to build flow that way. It's hard to build consistency."

To help fill the void, Brownell is considering adding walk-on freshman Mike Boan, a WSU student from Reynoldsburg, to the roster. Boan has been acting as a practice player so far.

He will have a tough time making up for Duggins, who is the team's leading scorer at 11.8 points a game.

With the team's poor start, Duggins was moved out of the starting lineup for one game, along with other returning starters Will Graham and Todd Brown. Duggins was back in the starting lineup for Sam Houston State, and while he played an exemplary game, the Raiders still lost 84-65. It was the most points the Raiders have allowed in more than two years, since Bradley beat them 88-49 on Dec. 5, 2006.

www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2008/12/02/ddn120208spwsubb.html

[Willie]

Several Raiders need to step up
By Marc Katz
Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Just a few days ago, the Wright State Raiders were looking for a solid compliment to junior guard Vaughn Duggins.

They still need a compliment — as well as a replacement.

“Usually, Vaughn plays well every day (in practice and in games),” coach Brad Brownell said. “But two or three other guys play well one day. The next day it’s another or two or three and the next day another two or three.

“It’s not the same guys every day.”

And now, it’s not Duggins, either. While the rest of the team takes off on a bus for Green Bay Wednesday afternoon, Duggins will be in a doctor’s office having and operation on the ring finger of his right (shooting) hand, which is broken.

Even with Duggins in the lineup, the team struggled, losing its first four games. Now it goes to Wisconsin-Green Bay followed by Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Saturday, and those teams are loaded with veteran players.

Duggins is the only WSU player averaging double figure points with 11.8. Somebody’s got to step up and match that, and someone else has to match that.

Who is it going to be?

“I don’t know,” Brownell said.

I don’t know either. I do know Brownell’s teams always seem to get better as the season progresses.

And I know 4-5 weeks from now, Duggins will return to the lineup.

www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/wrightstatesports/

[Willie]

Three key WSU players to miss time due to injuries
By Marc Katz
the Dayton Daily News
Wednesday, December 03, 2008

What began as a pleasant morning gathering of the Wright State athletic department Monday, Dec. 1, did not end up that way for men's basketball coach Brad Brownell.

New Athletic Director Bob Grant hosted a mandatory meeting-get together that started in the Nutter Center's Berry Room to discuss NCAA matters as well as to introduce new employees.

It then moved to a nearby movie house for a viewing of "Four Christmases," then over to a restaurant for lunch. Wives were invited.

"I think it's important to get together at least once a quarter and talk about things as well as introduce new members of the staff," Grant said. "And we used no university money for this. It was all paid for in trade-outs."

A few staff members were excused, such as trainer Jason Franklin, who took basketball players Kyle Pressley, Troy Tabler and Vaughn Duggins to the doctor's office.

Imagine Brownell whistling Christmas carols on his way back to the office only to find out that Pressley, his surprise big rebounder, probably will miss two weeks with a sprained left ankle; that Tabler — expected to be his best shooter off the bench — would be out with a dislocated left shoulder; and Duggins (his best player) would be out indefinitely with a broken bone in his right hand.

Duggins hurt his hand last Thursday in practice. It was thought to be a sprained ligament. The option of surgery came up Monday about the time Brownell was having lunch. Given the options, Duggins thought it was best to have the surgery as soon as possible, and is expected to miss at least four weeks.

Pressley and Tabler (who hurt his shoulder in practice Sunday night) are week-to-week, but expect them to be out of the lineup two to four weeks.

Reserve forward Gavin Horne also had a sore back that kept him out of several drills Monday, but he is expected to be fine for Thursday's game at Wisconsin-Green Bay.

www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2008/12/03/ddn120308spinside.html

[Willie]

Duggins surgery complete
By Marc Katz
December 3, 2008

CENTERVILLE — While his teammates were on a bus to Green Bay, Wisconsin for Thursday’s Horizon League game with the Phoenix, Wright State guard Vaughn Duggins was at Miami Valley Hospital South Campus having the ring finger on his right hand repaired.

In an operation that took about an hour, Duggins had two screws inserted into his finger to hold the bone in place by Dr. Christopher Danis.

Dr. Danis told Paula and Curt Duggins — Vaughn’s parents — he would remove one of the screws in about four weeks, which is about when Vaughn would be able to play again.

In addition to his parents, Carolina Rodriguez, Vaughn’s girlfriend, also waited through the operation.

Duggins injured his finger in practice on Thanksgiving Day, did not practice the next day, but last Saturday was in the lineup and scored 16 points at Sam Houston State.

Following Thursday’s game in Green Bay, the Raiders play at Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Saturday afternoon.

www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/wrightstatesports/

[Sixth Man]

At least there’s some encouragement
By Marc Katz
Monday, December 8, 2008

FAIRBORN — Practice at the Nutter Center was brisk Monday, and the sidelines didn’t look like a MASH unit, too much.

Sure, starting guard Vaughn Duggins showed up with a splint/cast on his right arm due to a broken ring finger operated on last Wednesday. He’ll be out at least most of the rest of the month.

However, big Kyle Pressley went through some shooting drills, and seems to have given up on using crutches for his sprained left ankle. He wasn’t limping, and won’t play Tuesday against Toledo, and probably not for weekend games at Arkansas-Little Rock and Wake Forest, but he seems to be close.

Troy Tabler also worked on some shoulder drills, and wasn’t wearing a sling. He suffered a dislocated shoulder last week and also won’t play against Toledo, but is improving.

www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/wrightstatesports/

[Willie]

Raiders looking good
By Marc Katz | Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 04:32 PM

FAIRBORN — At least it was after a victory, so the smiles the Raiders flashed this afternoon, Dec. 10, for renown photographer Paula Brownell (coach Brad Brownell’s wife) were genuine.

Standing in front of a Christmas tree inside the lounge of the Setzer Pavilion, the players dressed in their dark green warmups and each wore a red stocking cap trimmed in white for a picture that will grace the cover of a Christmas card to be sent to WSU family and boosters.

The mood was better because the Raiders erased the demons of an 0-6 season’s start to beat Toledo 50-35 on Tuesday and now will face arguably the toughest weekend of their season.

Thursday, the Raiders leave for a Friday game at Arkansas-Little Rock (6-1) and Sunday will be at 8-0 and nationally-ranked Wake Forest.

Three key Raiders remain injury-sidelined — Vaughn Duggins with a broken finger, Troy Tabler with a shoulder separation and Kyle Pressley with a sprained ankle — but Pressley said he hopes to practice Thursday morning and be cleared for Friday’s game.

Duggins is definitely out until the end of the month and Tabler will likely need another weekend of rest.

But they were all in the picture, and smiling.

www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/wrightstatesports/

[Tipp City Raider]

A dose of reality
By Marc Katz
Tuesday, December 16, 2008

FAIRBORN — One Wright State player looked like he was ready to return to play and one looked like he might have to sit out a little during practice this morning at the Nutter Center.

In the afternoon, the players visited Children’s Medical Center and found out what life’s real woes are all about.

Junior center Ronnie Thomas, who took at elbow to the head near end of the first half at Wake Forest on Sunday, and sat out the first several minutes of the second half before returning, felt a little woozy this morning and spit up a bit before sitting out most of practice.

Athletic trainer Jason Franklin said he wasn’t sure if it was releated to Sunday’s incident or not, but was awaiting a late Tuesday diagnosis by a team doctor. Thomas said he felt fine after sitting down for awhile.

Meanwhile, Kyle Pressley, who was coming on as a rebounder when he sprained his ankle on Nov. 29, ran through most of practice and looked very close to being ready to play, maybe even tonight against Norfolk State.

These are real injuries to real players, but none of them felt sorry for themselves, especially after visiting Children’s Medical Center Tuesday afternoon.

It was there the players handed out WSU t-shirts, some coloring books and holiday Teddy Bears to kids from age two to 19.

“It makes you realize how lucky you are,” sophomore Cooper Land said.

Thomas, who said well before the visit he would be able to play tonight, said, “after seeing this, nothing much bothers me.”

Kids and teenagers seemed to like the Raiders, although most were too sick to be animated. Scott Grote was the Most outgoing, although one mother didn’t like it much when Grote said he was a Michigan fan. Had something to do with his Uncle Steve playing basketball there.

Other than that, there were some nice smiles in a world otherwise defined by frowns.

www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/wrightstatesports/