Practice doesn't have to be good to win
Feb 2, 2007 7:46:27 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Feb 2, 2007 7:46:27 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/02/02/ddn020207raiderconnection.html
RAIDER CONNECTION
Practice doesn't have to be good to win
By Marc Katz
Dayton Daily News
Friday, February 02, 2007
FAIRBORN — There are all kinds of ways to get to and from games.
On the recent Wright State trip to Loyola of Chicago and Green Bay, the Raiders practiced Friday afternoon, took a bus to Chicago for the 4 p.m. (local time) game, bussed to Green Bay (a three-hour trip) directly after the game, then took a charter plane back from Green Bay following that game on Monday night.
On the way up, coach Brad Brownell wasn't sure his team was ready to play Loyola, or even Green Bay.
"We decided to practice at home and then leave," Brownell said. "So our guys had a full day of class, and some of them had late classes. Practice wasn't very good. It seemed like they were more excited about getting on the bus and watching the movie."
Turns out practice doesn't have to be good to win games. The Raiders swept their northern trip. Meanwhile, over at the Setzer Pavilion, when WSU had the game with Loyola in hand, a couple of injured red-shirt players got up from the lounge area and began to practice.
Center Ronnie Thomas, a 6-foot-9 transfer from Duquesne who recently had knee surgery, and 6-4 guard John Gardner, a transfer from North Carolina-Wilmington who had foot surgery, both went out to run some drills.
Thomas was to be cleared for full-go this week. Gardner says he has about two more weeks before he is cleared to do everything.
This is good news for the Raiders, even though the two are not eligible to play in games this season. With a 10-man roster, WSU has had to fill in with assistant coaches on some drills, especially earlier in the season when a few players had to sit out with minor injuries.
With the addition of Thomas, there's another big guy to help out in practices and, of course, he'll get reps for next season.
Oh, and don't think everything works out on road trips. On that trip to Milwaukee on Jan. 21, the plane the Raiders took was a bit over-loaded and the crew had to throw off a couple of bags.
One of those bags — with his clothes — belonged to assistant coach Billy Donlon. He didn't get it back until the team got to the airport on the way back.
Don't ask.
RAIDER CONNECTION
Practice doesn't have to be good to win
By Marc Katz
Dayton Daily News
Friday, February 02, 2007
FAIRBORN — There are all kinds of ways to get to and from games.
On the recent Wright State trip to Loyola of Chicago and Green Bay, the Raiders practiced Friday afternoon, took a bus to Chicago for the 4 p.m. (local time) game, bussed to Green Bay (a three-hour trip) directly after the game, then took a charter plane back from Green Bay following that game on Monday night.
On the way up, coach Brad Brownell wasn't sure his team was ready to play Loyola, or even Green Bay.
"We decided to practice at home and then leave," Brownell said. "So our guys had a full day of class, and some of them had late classes. Practice wasn't very good. It seemed like they were more excited about getting on the bus and watching the movie."
Turns out practice doesn't have to be good to win games. The Raiders swept their northern trip. Meanwhile, over at the Setzer Pavilion, when WSU had the game with Loyola in hand, a couple of injured red-shirt players got up from the lounge area and began to practice.
Center Ronnie Thomas, a 6-foot-9 transfer from Duquesne who recently had knee surgery, and 6-4 guard John Gardner, a transfer from North Carolina-Wilmington who had foot surgery, both went out to run some drills.
Thomas was to be cleared for full-go this week. Gardner says he has about two more weeks before he is cleared to do everything.
This is good news for the Raiders, even though the two are not eligible to play in games this season. With a 10-man roster, WSU has had to fill in with assistant coaches on some drills, especially earlier in the season when a few players had to sit out with minor injuries.
With the addition of Thomas, there's another big guy to help out in practices and, of course, he'll get reps for next season.
Oh, and don't think everything works out on road trips. On that trip to Milwaukee on Jan. 21, the plane the Raiders took was a bit over-loaded and the crew had to throw off a couple of bags.
One of those bags — with his clothes — belonged to assistant coach Billy Donlon. He didn't get it back until the team got to the airport on the way back.
Don't ask.
