|
Post by Admin on Nov 28, 2007 10:50:00 GMT -5
sundaygazettemail.com/section/Sports/Marshall/2007112739November 28, 2007 Jones’ first trip with Herd to Wright State By Doug Smock Staff writer OK, so Donnie Jones has started his Marshall career 3-0, becoming the 10th Thundering Herd men’s basketball coach to do so. But those victories came in the comfort of the Cam Henderson Center. Now it’s time to see what he can do on the road, as the Herd travels to always-plucky Wright State. The Herd takes on the Raiders at 7 p.m. today at the 10,449-seat Ervin J. Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio. The road was not kind to Jones’ predecessor, Ron Jirsa — or to Jirsa’s predecessor, Greg White, for that matter. For instance, Marshall has lost 29 of its last 31 games in the state of Ohio. Not that the Herd has torn it up in any other state, but that string of misery includes a nine-game losing streak. Not since the Herd beat Ohio in Athens on Feb. 29, 2004, has it rolled back across the Ohio River victorious. Oddly enough, the Raiders are playing just their second regular-season game. And this comes a full nine days after they dismantled Coastal Carolina 71-48. Brad Brownell enters his second season as Wright State’s coach. In his first season, the former North Carolina-Wilmington mentor took the Raiders to their first NCAA tournament since 1993 by winning the Horizon League tournament title, finishing 23-10. The teams played an unconventional contest last December in Huntington. The Raiders dominated the first half, taking a 37-22 lead, but the Herd wiped that out in the first 4:16 of the second half. Marshall ran and pressed its way to 57 second-half-points — Brownell teams often don’t give up that much in a full game — and won 79-72. “If Marshall would have played like that all they time, they would have been good,” Jones said. DaShaun Wood, who led Wright State with 24 points, has moved on, but most of the Raiders are back. Todd Brown, a 6-foot-5 guard, scored 20 points in the season opener, followed by 6-3 guard Vaughn Duggins with 16. Both are sophomores, and Duggins had 15 against the Herd last year. Scottie Wilson, a senior who did not play last year in Huntington, had 14 points against Coastal Carolina. “We expect a motion offense,” Jones said. “A very well-coached, skilled team, really can pass, pack it in and defend. They’re a bit like BU [Boston University], but they’re better.” Marshall is coming off a convincing 70-47 win over Boston and has four players averaging double-figure scoring: Markel Humphrey (16.7), Tirrell Baines (13.3), Mark Dorris (12.7) and Tyler Wilkerson (11.0). Point guard Pierre-Marie Altidor Cespedes made the trip, but will miss his third game with an ankle injury. Live, free video will be available on the Internet at www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv. To contact staff writer Doug Smock, use e-mail or call 348-5130.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 28, 2007 10:45:55 GMT -5
www.dailymail.com/Sports/MUSports/200711280063November 28, 2007 Marshall sophomore a kid in a man's body By Chuck Landon Daily Mail sportswriter HUNTINGTON -- Imagine how good Tyler Wilkerson will be when he grows up. That is a mind-boggling concept. Marshall sophomore Tyler Wilkerson .. As it is, Marshall's 6-foot-8, 240-pound post player is averaging 11 points, shooting a team-high 68.4 percent from the floor and is tied for the team lead in rebounding with 6.0 per game. Not bad for a man-child who just celebrated his final teen-age birthday on July 25. That's right, Wilkerson is only 19. In fact, instead of helping Marshall to a 3-0 start as a sophomore starter, Wilkerson could be preparing for his senior season at Lafayette High School in Lexington, Ky. He is that young. "I know," said Wilkerson with a smile. "I told my Pops that. I said, 'You know, Pops, I could still be in high school right now. Instead, I'm playing college ball, just trying to work it out.''' Can anybody imagine how dominant Wilkerson would be in high school right now? That stupefying scenario might be enough to make Wilkerson wish he had been held back. "I had said that earlier -- that I wish I had been held back a year," he admitted. "But, now, I love my teammates. Being around them makes it all good. I wouldn't give it back for the world." Sure enough, Wilkerson is growing up. Although force-fed probably is closer to the truth. "I'm just working hard, man, working hard," he said with a grin. "I'm glad to be young." He's even more glad to be playing. After starting only one game last season and averaging 11.6 minutes of playing time, Wilkerson appears to be solidifying his status as a Marshall starter. In his last two games -- both starts -- Wilkerson has averaged 14 points and seven rebounds in 25.5 minutes of action. "We need Tyler," said first-year Marshall Coach Donnie Jones. "He's got to be part of our offense for us to win games here. We've changed the offense around a little bit to make sure Tyler was a part of our offense." That will be the case again when Marshall plays its first road game of the season against Wright State (1-0) at 7 p.m. today at the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio. Jones waited all through preseason practice for Wilkerson to grab that opportunity as if it were an offensive rebound. Finally, the week after Marshall's season-opening win over Pikeville, the young post player seized the chance. "I've just been working real hard in practice," explained Wilkerson. "He's (Jones) been getting on me and just letting me know what I need to do to play. So, I'm just doing what they tell me I need to do. And what I need to do is get in there and just work. That's what I'm trying to do." To reinforce that work ethic, all Wilkerson has to do is watch videotape of his performance against East Tennessee State. The man/child dominated inside, scoring 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. "We've been getting on him about not playing tough and it showed in the East Tennessee game," said Marshall star Markel Humphrey. "He played with a chip on his shoulder that game. He played hard. We've just got to get him to play like that every game because nobody can stop him." Except himself, that is. "The biggest thing Tyler needs to understand is how to handle winning," said Jones. "It means you have to work much harder. There has to be a different focus because guys aren't coming in here and sleeping on you. Guys are coming on edge when they come in to play you now." That's the challenge facing Wilkerson now. And, so far, he's accepting it. "The thing that is most refreshing as a coach," said Jones, "is there were two opportunities for Tyler Wilkerson in the East Tennessee State game -- one in the first half and one in the second half -- to rotate over and just step up and take a charge. And what did he do down the stretch? He scooted over and took the charge. "The guy who fouled out on the play had beaten Tyler two times earlier. To me, that means guys are getting it. That excites me more than any bucket he made that night. I know he can score, if he will duck in like a man and play." That's the problem. It's hard to expect a 19-year-old man/child to play like a grown man. In fact, big guys are at the bottom of the maturity chain. So, Wilkerson hasn't even scratched his maturity yet. By comparison, Marshall true freshman forward Tirrell Baines is 21 -- two years older than Wilkerson. "I'm just working hard," said Wilkerson. "I'm not thinking much about my age. All I know is, in time, I'm going to get better." And bigger and stronger and quicker and ... just imagine how good Wilkerson will be when he grows up. HOOF BEATS: Wright State is the defending Horizon League champion, but was picked to finish second this season. Marshall is 1-0 against the Raiders in the series, which began here in 2006 with a 79-72 Herd win. In its only game this season, Wright State defeated Coastal Carolina easily, 71-48. Marshall is led by junior forward Markel Humphrey, who averages 16.7 points on 51.7 percent shooting. This game will be a homecoming of sorts for senior guard Mark Dorris, as Dayton is located only about an hour away from his hometown of Cincinnati.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 21, 2007 0:08:12 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/11/20/ddn112107wsusign.htmlWright State beefs up with JUCO giant Raiders sign junior college transfer Lewis, who stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 291 lbs. By Marc Katz Staff Writer Wednesday, November 21, 2007 FAIRBORN — In an effort to enlarge his roster — really enlarge it — Wright State men's basketball coach Brad Brownell on Tuesday signed junior college transfer Jeron Lewis for next season. Lewis stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 291 pounds. He's from Fort Wayne, Ind., and this season is playing for his second junior college, Northeastern, in Sterling, Colo. Previously, Lewis was at Wabash Valley Junior College in Mt. Carmel, Ill. "A lot of people we talked to said nice things about him," said Brownell. "And our kids enjoyed him when he came in for his visit. "I know we've signed a lot of 6-8 kids, but they're not really true post players. Kyle Pressley has a chance to be, but we're red-shirting him this year. And with Ronnie (Thomas) having so many injuries, we kind of figured we needed another guy with size, who could play with his back to the basket." Thomas, a transfer from Duquesne, is eligible this season but has been slowed by knee, hand and foot injuries. He is expected to be ready to play by the end of the month. As a senior at Fort Wayne Northside, Lewis averaged 17.2 points and a state-leading 13.8 rebounds. Northside also produced former Raiders Keion Brooks and Vernard Hollins. So far this season. Lewis is averaging 10.1 points and 7.4 rebounds for Northeastern. With the signing of Lewis, the Raiders expect to have 12 players on the roster next season, one under the limit. Brownell said he wasn't sure how he'd use his final scholarship, but it wouldn't be filled during the current early signing period. • Also signing with the Raiders were six baseball players, including Jake Hibberd, an infielder from Miamisburg. The others are pitcher Casey Henn of Colerain; pitcher Travis LaMar of Evansville, Ind., and Olney Central College; infielder/pitcher Tristan Moore of New Albany; pitcher Tyler Newhart from Alliance and infielder Zach Tanner of Yorktown, Ind. Hibberd hit .385 with 27 RBIs as a junior last season.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 20, 2007 0:53:41 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/11/20/ddn112007wsunotes.htmlPressley to redshirt this year By Marc Katz Staff Writer Tuesday, November 20, 2007 FAIRBORN — One third of Wright State's roster sat out the opening game Monday night with Coastal Carolina for a variety of reasons. Three are nursing injuries — freshman N'Gai Evans (broken hand), sophomore Ronnie Thomas (broken foot) and junior Gavin Horne (infected feet blisters). The fourth is freshman Kyle Pressley, a 6-foot-8 forward. Pressley will be redshirted. He'll be able to practice this year and will have four years of eligibility, beginning next season. But Horne also had another reason for sitting out. He could have played, even with his bad feet. "We had a discipline situation (with Horne) we needed to take care of, an academic situation we had to take care of," coach Brad Brownell said. "A violation of an academic rule in our program. I don't know how long it is. I'll see how I feel in the next couple of days. I was just made aware of it. It's disappointing. It happens. But we're not going to look the other way." Pressley can wait Pressley said he was fine with the decision to redshirt. A 6-foot-9, 215-pounder from Fort Wayne who played both basketball and football in high school. "I'm a good player, but I can improve more this year to play more next year," Pressley said. He is one of five 6-8 or 6-9 players on the team, and would have had limited playing time with senior Jordan Pleiman in the starting lineup and Duquesne transfer Thomas almost ready to play. Pressley will be able to practice with the team this year and could be activated at any time if needed. Evans had the soft cast taken off his hand, but has missed so much practice, he isn't quite ready to play. Short-staffing worked Todd Brown was well aware the Raiders were short-staffed compared to Coastal Carolina. "Their team is like a football team compared to ours," Brown said. "We had only eight guys and they had countless (well, 11) numbers." Too many turnovers If there was a major negative statistic for the Raiders, it was 18 turnovers, nine in each half. "We caused them a lot of turnovers (24), too," Brown said. "Our defense pretty much won the game for us. We have to get back to what we do the best. Hold the ball and get our shots up." Contact this reporter at 937-225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 20, 2007 0:52:10 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/11/20/ddn112007arch.htmlTom Archdeacon: Family makes long trek north for Gardner By Tom Archdeacon Staff Writer Tuesday, November 20, 2007 FAIRBORN — The whole bunch of them up in there in Section 204 — mom and dad, granny and granddaddy, his maternal grandmother, Mimi, two brothers, a sister-in-law, his 1-year-old nephew, Jackson, and a long-time family friend — all had driven in from Alabama to see Wright State open its season against Coastal Carolina on Monday night at the Nutter Center. "We turned 'em all out — grandparents to grandbabies," Dick Gardner said after Wright State romped past the Chanticleers 71-48. "It's sort of a Gardner tradition when we got a young 'un playing. "It's about a nine-hour trip as long as you don't catch the traffic in Louisville and Cincinnati ... Nashville, too. Right now, we're just figuring the best way to get here." Yet if you think they had a long haul, how about "the young 'un" — John David Gardner, Dick and Donna's son — they came to see? In his Raiders debut, the 6-foot-4 sophomore guard from Homewood, Ala., had six points, four assists, three rebounds, three turnovers and a blocked shot in 25 minutes. While it was a modest performance, the stats weren't the big thing on this night. It was the fact that Gardner was in the box score at all. It had been almost two years since he'd played a competitive college game. Since then, he's endured two foot surgeries, has switched universities and struggled to make the best of a tough situation unlike anything he had known. After a stellar prep career — 1,635 points, 467 assists — he was recruited by the likes of Alabama-Birmingham and Auburn, but chose the North Carolina-Wilmington team which was then coached by Brad Brownell, now at WSU. And how could he turn down an in-state SEC school? "I'm an Alabama fan," he said with a laugh outside the Raiders dressing room. At UNC-Wilmington, he played just seven games before he was permanently sidelined with what was originally diagnosed as a torn muscle in his left arch. After a few months, it was discovered he had fractured a bone, as well. When Brownell left Wilmington for WSU in late March of 2006, Gardner initially planned to stay, but soon changed his mind. So last year on Dec. 30 — four days after his second surgery — he showed up at WSU with stitches and crutches, knowing no one but Brownell and a couple assistant coaches. "That was my toughest time," he admitted. "I couldn't even walk the first two weeks. "Driving up here, I had to stop every couple of hours and elevate my foot. When it was down by the pedal, blood would get to it and it would ache. It was freezing the day I got here and everything was covered in snow. It was just the second time I'd seen snow. I went and bought two coats. "But I just made up my mind to stay positive and be ready for the day I could play." And Monday night — a day after he was eligible to suit up following his transfer — there he was on the court as the folks in Section 204 cheered. One side note — also up there was his girlfriend, Mallory Wyrick. Originally from Cincinnati, she transferred here from Wilmington when he did. "Yeah," his dad laughed. "It wasn't all bad for him when he first got here."
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 20, 2007 1:11:14 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/11/20/ddn112007wsubb.htmlBrown's burst leads Raiders With Wright State trailing in first half, guard steps up to take back the momentum with big shots and block. By Marc Katz Staff Writer Tuesday, November 20, 2007 FAIRBORN — In the space of one minute and one second, Todd Brown turned around Wright State's opener Monday night at the Nutter Center. With the Raiders trailing by four, Brown made a 3-pointer from the left baseline. He then made a short jumper to let the Raiders retake the lead off a Coastal Carolina turnover. Then he blocked a shot and came down to take a pass in the left corner from John David Gardner and swished another 3. Coastal Carolina took a timeout with 6:21 to play in the first half to figure things out, and never did. Wright State finished with a 71-48 victory as Brown scored 20. His sophomore running mate, Vaughn Duggins, added 16 and senior Scottie Wilson didn't miss a shot from the field while scoring 14. At the time of Brown's little run, Coastal Carolina led 19-15. When Brown finished, WSU led 23-19, increasing the advantage to 27-19 as the Chanticleers dropped to 2-2, including 0-2 in Ohio after a Friday loss at Cincinnati. "It was pretty much a team effort," Brown said. "We didn't play enough games, everybody had our jitters in. We were missing shots we usually make in practice. A game is different than practice. Vaughn kept telling me to shoot." Brown made six of his 16 shots and was 4-of-7 from the 3-point line. And he missed his first four shots. "He and Vaughn," WSU coach Brad Brownell said. "I've pretty much given those guys the green light. They're going to shoot whenever they're open, or whenever we can get them open. I don't care if it's one pass or 12, we're going to try to get those guys some shots. We're going to look to them to score. "I'm not saying at one point I might not call them over and say I didn't like that shot. But for the most part, I want those guys to attack and make plays, and they did that tonight." Jack Leasure, Coastal's big scorer (averaging 27.3 points per game), was held to 13. Duggins guarded him most of the night. "We weren't going to stop him," Duggins said. "We wanted to bug him a little bit. We had to make the other players make plays, and they didn't tonight." Contact this reporter at 937-225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com. Next game Who: Marshall at Wright State When: 7 p.m. Nov. 28 Radio: WONE-AM (980)
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 7, 2007 22:57:57 GMT -5
sports.espn.go.com/ncb/preview2007/columns/story?columnist=whelliston_kyle&id=3097688After Southern Illinois, where will the bids come from? By Kyle Whelliston Special to ESPN.com Updated: November 7, 2007 In February 2006, Missouri Valley Conference commissioner Doug Elgin stood near the sidelines of a Bradley game, furiously working his cell phone for real-time updates on how his league's quest for multiple at-large bids was developing. "I was tracking a Creighton game," Elgin said. "I was checking the score, talking to a writer. He said to me something like, 'If Creighton loses, you might only get three.' And I told him, 'Think about what you just said. We might only get three.' Thinking in those terms was just such a change from where we had been before. In the late '80s to the late '90s, in that era, we were looking for the planets to be perfectly aligned to have any chance at getting two teams in." No astrological charts were necessary in 2006, and the Valley didn't have to settle for a mere trio. The eventual four-bid final tally was a league record and a major triumph for a conference that once routinely issued a single representative to the NCAA Tournament every year. And once on March's big bracket, the resurgent MVC backed up the bids. Instead of the four quick exits many predicted, two squads -- Bradley and Wichita State -- advanced through the first weekend to the Sweet 16. Now, just a year and a half later, Elgin surveys the conference he's led for two decades with guarded optimism. In 2007-08, "only three" might require a storm as perfect as the one that resulted in a quartet of Big Dance invitations and one notable snub in Missouri State (RPI No. 21). The MVC does feature a clear front-runner and likely season-long pollster favorite in Southern Illinois, a maroon machine with claw-sharp defense and a dynamic frontcourt that's coming off a Sweet 16 appearance of its own this past March. But behind the Salukis lies a deep Valley echoing with unanswered questions. Leaguewide, only 24 starters return (about half in a 10-team conference), down from 38 returnees last season. The schools that barged their way into at-large discussions in the recent past -- teams like Missouri State, Creighton, Northern Iowa and Bradley -- are rebuilding and retooling in the wake of key graduation losses. Wichita is breaking in a new coach, former Winthrop wunderkind Gregg Marshall. And with new regimes and increased resources at Drake, Evansville and the two ISU's (Illinois and Indiana), forecasting the order of finish from No. 2 through No. 10 is as difficult as choosing winning Powerball numbers. All of which raises a curious theoretical possibility. What if the rebuilding projects don't jell fast enough to produce the kind of early-season nonconference wins that have recently propelled the league's RPI into the stratosphere? And once the calendar turns, if Southern Illinois leaves the rest of the MVC in a cloud of dust on its way to a double coronation as regular-season and tournament champion, the unthinkable might occur. For the first time since 1998, we could be looking at a one-bid Valley. "I don't think [one bid] would be disastrous, but it would be extremely disappointing for us to go back to that kind of postseason scenario," Elgin said. A Valley with as many NCAA representatives as the Ohio Valley Conference or SWAC would create shock waves in the college basketball world, or at least a mini-vacuum on Selection Sunday. The MVC's disappearing bid, or bids, would go elsewhere, but where? Would they fall to mediocre power-conference teams, or would other mid-major conferences be able to snap them up? The Western Athletic Conference, a BCS football league but a BracketBusters participant in our world, has its own four-year multi-bid streak going. This season's WAC is full of flawed yet intriguing teams: New Mexico State, Utah State, Nevada and Fresno State could contend. The Atlantic 10 could earn three or more bids for the first time since 2004, with strong candidates in Xavier, Dayton and Saint Joseph's. And there's always the Valley's BracketBusting nemesis of recent years, the Colonial Athletic Association. The CAA has earned extras in two straight seasons after two decades as a one-bid league. "Right now, we're pretty hot," said CAA commissioner Tom Yeager. "… We just have to keep the heat up." Or there's the resurgent Horizon League, owner of five tournament wins in the past three seasons. It's the home of Butler, which achieved a Sweet 16 berth last season with a thrilling win over Maryland. And the Horizon is even stronger conference now with the addition of Valparaiso, NCAA upset king of 1998. That was the same year that longtime commissioner Jonathan LeCrone oversaw a three-bid season (UIC, Butler and Detroit earned bids in what was then known as the Midwestern Collegiate Conference), then a landmark haul for small conferences. "There was a fundamental difference with last year as opposed to what we've accomplished in the past," said LeCrone of Butler's 2007 run. "We had a team out of our league that was No. 9 in the country after winning the Preseason NIT, so a lot of people were following our league during the year. Then, all of a sudden, this team makes the NCAA Tournament, then the Sweet 16 on top of that. You love to see young people achieve their goals, and that's why this is a fun business to be in." But if this ends up as a year that's less than fun for the Valley on Selection Sunday, don't expect it to become a trend. If the dearth of returning talent, the five new coaches and the leaguewide hard-hat projects converge to produce a single bid, think of the MVC's 2007-08 season as the exact reverse of a perfect storm. It would be the perfect black hole. Fewer bids might not matter if one team carries the flag into the Sweet or Elite portions of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. It does raise a question, however: Which is better for a league like the Missouri Valley, a bushel of bids or a deep run into late March? "Selection Sunday is a validation of your seasonal performance," Elgin replied. "It takes a long, long time to get over it when there's a major disappointment. But the more lasting impression comes with advancing in the tournament. People will remember last year's Southern Illinois team that played Kansas even and could very well have played for a Final Four berth. There's absolutely nothing like playing for a chance to play in the Final Four and have the chance to take that historic step. "But wait, is this a choice?" Elgin asked, breaking his own train of thought. "I want both." Kyle Whelliston is the national mid-major reporter for Basketball Times and a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 5, 2007 1:59:59 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/11/04/ddn110507wsubb.htmlBrownell will notice a familiar face on opposing bench in Raiders' exhibition Wright State coach was a player under Indianapolis coach Waltman when they were at DePauw. By Marc Katz Staff Writer Monday, November 05, 2007 FAIRBORN — Royce Waltman was on the telephone considering the answer. Did he ever yell at his long-ago point guard at DePauw, one Brad Brownell, for making a mistake on the floor? "Oh, yeah," Waltman said with a chuckle. "Did I yell at him? Sure. Did I ever have to yell at him? The answer to that would probably be no. The thing is, I'm a demanding coach." Waltman will not do any yelling at Brownell on Monday night when his Division II Indianapolis Greyhounds visit the Nutter Center for an exhibition game with Wright State, the team Brownell now coaches. "It will be strange," Brownell said with a wide smile. He likes Waltman. They share the same admiration for Bob Knight, a man Waltman once worked for as an assistant at Indiana. Now the two are matched — Brownell, entering his second season at WSU following four successful seasons at North Carolina-Wilmington, and Waltman, taking over an Indianapolis program in the wake of Todd Sturgeon, who resigned. Waltman had help in making the move. After being hired, he broke a 17-year losing streak at Indiana State with four straight winning seasons, then was fired last spring after his Sycamores suffered a sixth straight losing season. "We had four winning seasons, went to two NCAAs and won two Missouri Valley championships, and then we had a few bad years and they fired me," Waltman said. "It's like Coach Knight told me: The patient's dying and they bring you in to save his life, and after you do, then the (expletive) forgets he's ever been sick." Sturgeon quickly hired Waltman at Indianapolis, then left the job to him on an interim basis. "I'd be a complete liar if I didn't say I'm happy to have my own team again," Waltman said. "Yeah, I'd like to coach a few more years. The best interview I'll have for this job is what I do this season." That interview continues Monday, although against a favorite former player. "I think the fact it's an exhibition game sort of makes it fun," Waltman said. "If you're playing in the regular season and you know a loss is going to hurt that person, you don't enjoy it nearly as much. But an exhibition game, where there's not near as much at stake, I think it's just fun to get together and see how the other team does." Waltman knows how Brownell coaches. Some of his style is taken from Waltman, who took it from Knight. "The similarity is how much both of us care about our team and what you put into it to make it work," Waltman said. "But it's no carbon copy at all. He (Brownell) has his way of playing and I have mine. We're still throwbacks in that we think practice time and coaching a team and putting a team together is of paramount importance." Indianapolis has four returning starters from a 13-13 team. To play WSU, a Division I school, is a big deal for the Greyhounds. "You're always trying to find a way to win," Waltman said. "We're looking to win, but I know I won't be out-coaching my opponent." Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com. When: 7 p.m. today Where: Nutter Center Ticket info: $6 to $15; call (937) 775-4242. About WSU: New season, new team. Expect the Raiders to start all their holdover players, including returning starters Jordan Pleiman, Vaughn Duggins and Todd Brown. Joining them will be Scotty Wilson and William Graham. That leaves a bench of inexperience. Duquesne transfer Ronnie Thomas is out with a broken foot and North Carolina-Wilmington transfer John David Gardner does not become eligible until the first game of the regular season. About the Greyhounds: Indianapolis, a Division II school, is coached by Royce Waltman, who coached WSU coach Brad Brownell in college at DePauw. Brownell was also once Waltman's assistant at Indianapolis. The Greyhounds lost their other exhibition game at Purdue 89-65 on Thursday. All 10 players who dressed made it into the game with nine scoring, led by DeAndre Brock with 15 points. FYI: This will be a different WSU team than fans are used to seeing. Last season, only the 6-foot-8 Pleiman was taller than 6-6. This season, he is joined by four others — all 6-8 — Thomas, junior college transfer Gavin Horne and freshmen Cooper Land and Kyle Pressley.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 2, 2007 2:27:29 GMT -5
athletics.uindy.edu/News/mbball/2007/11/1/mbb110107.asp?path=mbballHounds fall to Boilers in exhibition opener DeAndre Brock scored 15 to lead the Hounds. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.- The University of Indianapolis men's basketball team tipped-off its 2007-08 campaign with an 89-65 exhibition loss at host Purdue University. The game was the first in a pair of preseason tuneups for Indianapolis prior to the official start of the season vs. Brescia on Nov. 15. It was a turnover prone game early on, with both teams combining for eight miscures prior to the first television stoppage. DeAndre Brock hit a tough off-balance deuce from the corner to knot the score at 5-5 with 15:11 remaining on the clock. The score was retied at 13-13 on Braxton Mills' trey and Tyler Kitchel followed with a triple of his own as the teams picked up the scoring pace. The Boilers built a lead of 19 thanks to an 18-5 run near the end of the half. Purdue went into the locker room at half with a 46-30 edge. UIndy struggled from the line in the opening 30 minutes, connecting on just 6-of-14 freebies. The Hounds also turned the ball over 13 times in the opening frame to contribute to the deficit. PU upped its lead to as many as 27 before the Greyhounds put together a small run late in the second half. UIndy spread out its scoring, with nine Hounds finding the scoresheet. Brock led UIndy with his 15 points while Tyke Cockerham added 12 points. Mills and Myron Jackson each had a team-high eight rebounds with Jackson chipping-in three steals. The Greyhounds will play their final tuneup on Monday, prior the start of the regular season. UIndy heads to Wright State University for the second straight season for a battle with the host Radiers, led by former Greyhound assistant coach Brad Brownell. Notes: All ten Greyhounds that dressed for the game, saw minutes on the court, led by Cockerham's 28 minutes ... Two UIndy players did not dress (Jordan Barnard- injury and Sebastian Moore- football) ... It marked the third straight season that the Hounds have played a Big Ten foe in an exhibition (Indiana the past two seasons).
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 2, 2007 1:11:58 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/11/02/ddn110207wsubb.htmlRaiders to rely on veterans in exhibition opener Monday Coach Brownell will turn to his 'older guys' in practice game against D-II opponent Indianapolis. By Marc Katz Staff Writer Friday, November 02, 2007 FAIRBORN — Expect to see familiar faces in Wright State's lineup Monday, when Raiders host Division II Indianapolis in an exhibition game at the Nutter Center. For at least the beginning of the season, WSU coach Brad Brownell thinks he'll go with an all-veteran starting five. He has five players — three starters — returning from last year's Horizon League championship team, and they should be the first players on the floor. In fact, all five have had starting experience. Jordan Pleiman, at 6-foot-8, is the biggest of the returning starters, with sophomore Vaughn Duggins and Todd Brown joining him. Senior Scotty Wilson will be the other "big" man at 6-6, with junior guard William Graham at one of the guard positions. Last Sunday, the Raiders were part of a closed scrimmage at Eastern Kentucky. "The older guys played better than any of our newer guys," Brownell said. "Last year, we were older — more mature. Guys knew how to do this." On WSU's new roster, seven will be playing for the Raiders for the first time, although Ronnie Thomas is a transfer from Duquesne, John David Gardner transferred from North Carolina-Wilmington and Gavin Horne is a junior college transfer. The transition for them should not be as difficult, except Thomas is nursing a broken foot and won't be available for at least two more weeks. Gardner won't be eligible until the first regular-season game, against Coastal Carolina on Nov. 19, because of the date he transferred. Thomas and Gardner are expected to be big contributors. Still, each of them practiced very little during their transfer season while overcoming injuries, so they are not as experienced in Brownell's system as he would like. Another new player — freshman guard Troy Tabler — has been hobbled this fall by a bad ankle sprain and a hip injury. That leaves the other three freshmen — Cooper Land, Kyle Pressley and N'Gai Evans, who is nursing a broken right hand. Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com. Next game Who: Wright State vs. Indianapolis, exhibition When: 7 p.m. Monday Where: Nutter Center Radio: WONE-AM (980)
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 10, 2007 22:08:56 GMT -5
scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=273142174Detroit 61, Kent St. 60 DETROIT (AP) -- Jon Goode scored 22 points, including a 3-pointer as time expired Saturday, to lift Detroit over Kent State, 61-60, in both teams' regular-season opener. Chris Hayes drew a double-team before finding Goode, who dribbled to the top of the circle and released the shot that went through the net as the buzzer sounded. Kent's Haminn Quaintance was fouled on a layup with 29.7 seconds to play and made the free throw to give the Golden Flashes (0-1) their first lead of the second half. They trailed by as many as 11 points in the period. Hayes came off the bench to score 10 points for Detroit (1-0), which was missing Brandon Cotton, its leading returning scorer. Cotton was reinstated from a suspension Thursday but did not come to the arena for Saturday's game. Coach Perry Watson declined to elaborate on the issue.Mike Scott had 18 and Mike McKee added 10 for the Flashes. Both teams shot poorly in the first half but Detroit closed the period on an 11-2 run to take a 22-19 lead at intermission.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 3, 2007 14:23:11 GMT -5
www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071102/SPORTS06/711020465/-1/LOCAL17Bargain no longer, will Butler sell? By David Woods david.woods@indystar.com November 2, 2007 Attending a Butler basketball game at Hinkle Fieldhouse has been an affordable treat for families. After the kids' Saturday morning soccer or basketball practice, a parent could walk up to a ticket window, pay an $8 adult price and $4 each for two children. That's three tickets for $16. Beginning this season, such an outing could cost $65. The cheapest tickets for four "premium" Saturday games are $25 for adults and $20 for children. Butler's single-game and walk-up sales represented 76 percent of the crowd last season. Since the new prices became known over the summer, Butler's Internet fan site has buzzed with comments such as these: "My parents, brother, his wife and three kids usually take in two Saturday games a year inside Hinkle and always have a great time and really look forward to it each season. . . . I can tell you this much: They won't be coming to two games this season, and might not even make it to a game at all." Or: "I am as big of a Butler basketball fan as you can find, and some of those prices literally just (make) me laugh out loud at my desk." Butler is trying to capitalize on momentum from last season's NCAA Sweet Sixteen run and excitement about a team returning six of its top eight scorers. Barry Collier, the Bulldogs' former basketball coach, returned to his alma mater as athletic director 15 months ago. Since then, he has eliminated the lacrosse and men's swim programs in what he called a move necessary to cut costs and keep other programs competitive. "If we don't increase our revenue, we're not going to solve any of our challenges," Collier said. He said it "made me sick" that 50 percent of senior athletes surveyed said they wouldn't attend Butler if they had to do it over again. The seniors usually cited inadequate funding, he said. And men's basketball supplies nearly all of Butler's ticket revenue. "Everything we're doing is because we are committed to excellence," Collier said. "We believe our fans want the same thing." Some fans have been undaunted by a 46 percent increase in season-ticket prices at Hinkle's lower level, from $260 to $380, for a 15-game schedule that includes two exhibitions. Collier said season ticket sales are 25 percent ahead of a year ago and donations to athletics are up 71 percent. "This is not the negative that everyone thought it was going to be," Butler ticket manager Matt Harris said. Collier said Butler's prices "are so far behind" Big Ten schools that he doesn't compare them. However, Butler's cheapest single-game adult prices ($15-$25 for three "value" games) are near those of Purdue, which charges $22 for Big Ten games and $18 for non-conference. Other Butler game tickets are more expensive. If you want to watch Ohio State this season, it will be less expensive to do so at Mackey Arena than Hinkle Fieldhouse. Don Hinchey, vice president of communications for The Bonham Group, a sports marketing company, said such strategy is an inducement to buy season tickets. Hinchey said it is important to pair such increases with a marketing campaign -- something Butler has done with an unprecedented amount of television, newspaper, radio and Internet advertising. Resistance to price hikes will come from "marginal fans," Hinchey said, and Butler has many of those. Butler averaged 5,734 in home attendance a year ago, with a season ticket base of 1,390. Neal Walther, 28, Westfield, said the increase wouldn't affect his willingness to attend games but would deter casual fans. "It's going to be a lot more difficult now for them to swallow that price and pack up the family and go," he said. Collier wouldn't speculate on the "what-if" of diminished walk-up. Single-game sales are being rolled out gradually. They begin Nov. 7 for the Nov. 14 opener against Indiana State, and Nov. 19 for the Dec. 1 game against Ohio State. Ron Asher, 54, Indianapolis, a longtime Butler season ticket-holder, said former Bulldogs coach Tony Hinkle is "rolling over in his grave." Asher said an increase was warranted but that attendance could decline so much that the team is harmed. "It was just too drastic of a change," he said. Collier's supporters say an increase was overdue and that Butler basketball remains a bargain. Dan Daugherty, 60, Carmel, another longtime season ticket-holder, said the Bulldogs ultimately will benefit from the new pricing plan. "It's a quality program," he said. "Especially if they go on a roll early, people won't have a problem with that." PRICE OF BASKETBALL Last season, going to Hinkle Fieldhouse was as affordable as a trip to the movies. Butler averaged 5,734 in home attendance, with more than 4,200 of those fans from single-game and walk-up ticket buyers. A fan making the same decision to go to a game this season will pay much more. Courtside • Value games: $50 • Regular games: $75 • Premium games: $100 Lower level • Value: $25 • Regular: $30 • Premium: $35 Upper level • Value: $15 • Regular: $20 • Premium: $25 Children (3-12) • Value: $10 • Regular: $15 • Premium: $20 Games breakdown • Value: Wisconsin-Green Bay (Jan. 10), Loyola (Jan. 24), Youngstown State (Feb. 14). • Regular: Indiana State (Nov. 14), Bradley (Dec. 19), Valparaiso (Jan. 5), Illinois-Chicago (Jan. 26), Cleveland State (Feb. 16), Wright State (Feb. 28). • Premium: Ohio State (Dec. 1), Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Jan. 12), Bracketbuster (Feb. 23), Detroit (March 1). AROUND THE STATE IU Season (21 games): $654 Single game: $22-$29* Purdue Season (19 games): $323 Single game: $18-$22 Butler Season (15 games): $135-$380# Single game: $10-$35# Ball State Season (16 games): $80-$160 Single game: $8-$12 IUPUI Season (16 games): $120 Single game: $10 * IU only sells single-game tickets to three games: Western Carolina, Coppin State and Chicago State. # Doesn't include courtside seating
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 25, 2007 2:05:04 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/09/24/ddn092507wsubb.htmlGardner part of plan to replace Wood Transfer among seven newcomers to Wright State men's basketball roster. By Marc Katz Staff Writer Tuesday, September 25, 2007 FAIRBORN — John David Gardner is a son of the South, so it's no use calling him just John. "It's John David, or J.D.," said the 6-foot-4 Gardner, from Homewood, Ala. "Anything but John." He could be a lot more than that as he and teammates await the official opening of college basketball practice Oct. 12. Gardner played for WSU coach Brad Brownell at North Carolina-Wilmington, but stayed only one quarter after Brownell took the WSU job last year. Gardner is expected to be one of the centers of attention to replace Horizon League Player of the Year DaShaun Wood, who led the Raiders to the NCAA tournament. Gardner's take: "Making up for D-Wood is not going to be easy. It's definitely going to have to be a collective thing." Brownell's take: "The first thing is, nobody is going to fill DaShaun's shoes. You don't replace a guy like that with one person. "Someone is going to have to take the scoring role and someone is going to have to take the leadership role. John David certainly is one of those guys." What will the team look like without Wood? "We'll be a team that is much more balanced," Brownell said. "Unfortunately, most of our players are young (inexperienced)." Who else is in the playing mix on a team that returns five and has seven newcomers? Jordan Pleiman, Todd Brown and Vaughn Duggins are the holdover starters along with Scott Wilson and William Graham, who also started some games. Gardner, 6-foot-9 Duquesne transfer Ronnie Thomas and 6-8 junior college transfer Gavin Horne also could be in the rotation. Gardner/Q&A Q Why transfer to WSU? A It was certainly different here than Wilmington. That was certainly a fun place to go to school. We had a beach. But college is college, and Coach B. is the guy who recruited me. I wanted to play for somebody who recruited and knew me. Q Any other differences between Wilmington and Fairborn? A I had to buy an overcoat. I didn't own one at home or in Wilmington. Q How's the foot (injured during his one season at Wilmington)? A It's fine. I had to have another operation after I left Wilmington, but it doesn't bother me now.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jul 26, 2007 15:31:25 GMT -5
msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7063540?MSNHPHMAProsser, 56, dies of apparent heart attack Jeff Goodman FOXSports.com Wake Forest basketball coach Skip Prosser died on Thursday morning of an apparent heart attack shortly after jogging. Prosser was rushed to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Prosser, 56, was one of the most well-liked coaches in the industry and known for his witty and sarcastic sense of humor. He grew up in Pittsburgh and went to high school at Carnegie before attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Prosser has spent the past seven seasons at Wake Forest after spending one year at Loyola (Md.) and seven at Xavier. He has a career record of 291-146. Prosser led Wake Forest to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first four seasons and the Demon Deacons won the ACC regular-season in 2003. The Demon Deacons have struggled recently — missing the tournament in each of the past two years. Prosser and his staff were in high spirits recently after learning that two of the nation's top high school players — Al Farouq Aminu and Tony Woods — committed to Wake Forest earlier this month. The staff already had a commitment from another one of the nation's top players, Ty Walker. Obviously, Prosser's peers were stunned to hear the news. "It's so sad. I feel so bad for his wife, Nancy," said Arizona State Herb Sendek, who coached against Prosser when he was with N.C. State. "Skip was a gentleman and someone who represented what was good about our profession. He was the kind of person you wanted your son to play for." "I was sitting with him yesterday in Orlando," Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt said. "He was just a great person. It's so sad." "He's a great guy and I watched his career blossom," added Arizona coach Lute Olson. "This is beyond belief. It's awful. He was always very positive and friendly. Extremely outgoing. The kind of guy you always looked forward to seeing." Prosser is survived by his wife, Nancy, and two sons, Scott (28) and Mark (27).
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jul 8, 2007 11:04:00 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/pro/2007/07/07/ddn070807bagolf.html• Fred Setzer hosted Wright State basketball coach Brad Brownell for a round of golf at Moraine a couple of weeks ago with Bob Grant of the WSU athletic department staff and a former Moraine club champion. The former champ was Brad's father, R.L. Brownell, who won the Moraine tourney in 1965 when he lived in Dayton. His name is on a plaque in the locker room.
|
|