Butler

[wsu97]

WSU 62
Butler 70

[Class of '83]

Box Score:

sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/boxscore?gid=200601280067

[Raider Country]

January 28, 2006 (News Release/Men's Basketball)

Men Fall at Butler
The Butler Bulldogs jumped out to a big early lead and held off several Wright State charges the rest of the way before claiming a 70-62 Horizon League decision over the Raiders in men’s basketball action at Hinkle Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon.

Butler hit 10 of their first 14 shots, including for of six from three-point range in breaking out to a 27-7 advantage midway though the first half. The Raiders, though, began to chip away from there and trailed just 34-22 at the break.

The Wright State comeback attempt carried into the second half as a Drew Burleson layup made it 38-29 with 16:16 to play, but Butler answered with an Avery Sheets three followed by an A.J. Graves layup.

WSU followed with an 8-0 run, capped off by a Burleson three-point play, but back came the Bulldogs as they eventually extended the margin to 62-46 with 2:46 left.

The Raiders, though, would have one last charge as 12-2 burst, capped off by a deep Burleson three, made it 64-58 with a minute left.

Butler, however, sealed the win by hitting six of eight free throws the final 56.4 seconds.

The shooting percentage were similar as WSU hit for 49 percent to Butler’s 48 percent, but the Bulldogs hit six of 15 from behind the arc compared to just two of nine for the Raiders.

Butler also committed just four turnovers while forcing 12, resulting in a 20-4 difference in points off of turnovers.

Burleson and Jordan Pleiman each had a season-high 18 points to pace Wright State and DaShaun Wood added 12, but no other Raider had more than four.

Brandon Polk led all scorers with 19 for the Bulldogs (11-8, 4-3 Horizon) while Graves had 17 and Brandon Crone 13.

Wright State, now 8-10 overall and 4-4 in the Horizon League, is right back in action on Monday, January 30, as the Raiders welcome in the Youngstown State Penguins for a 7:00 contest at the Nutter Center.

www.wsuraiders.com/cgi-bin/athletics/news.cgi?action=features&id=2589

[Raider Country]

January 29, 2006


butler 70, wright state 62
Cohesiveness pays for Butler
Bulldogs show trust in each other as they snap losing skid to Wright State

By David Woods
[e-mail]
Brandon Polk raised two fists. He wasn't going to strike anyone, although there were incidents Saturday in which he was hacked or provoked.

Polk was demonstrating in a postgame interview how close-knit Butler's Bulldogs have become.
"We're a team this year," he said. "We're together on and off the court. Everyone is going the same direction."
He didn't say this was a game that would have gone the other direction a year ago. But it would be fair to characterize Butler's 70-62 victory over Wright State as a reversal of fortune.
Butler built a 20-point lead before a season-high crowd of 6,654 at Hinkle Fieldhouse and ended a streak of five successive losses to Wright State. Raiders rooters, a large number wearing "Beat Butler" T-shirts, were ready for the streak to continue.
If not for A.J. Graves, it might have.
After Wright State trimmed the lead to 48-39, he scored Butler's next three baskets on dribble drives. He then passed to Bruce Horan for a 3-pointer that expanded the gap to 60-46.
After that lead diminished to 64-58, Graves went 6-for-6 at the foul line over the final 69 seconds. Graves' percentage has declined -- from .919 last season to .785 -- but he said teammates tell him he's who they want at the line.
"It makes me want to step up and do it," Graves said.
Graves, who had offseason surgery on his right foot, said treatment on an ailing left foot has been so effective that the injury is "almost nonexistent."
Wright State beat Butler three times last season, the first two with closing runs of 10-0 and 15-2 to erase Butler leads. That 0-3 mark contributed to a 13-15 record for Butler's first losing season in 12 years.
Saturday's victory lifted the Bulldogs (11-8, 4-3) into second place in the Horizon League, one week after they had drifted to eighth. The league gives first-round byes in the postseason tournament to the top three seeds.
"I really believe in this team," Butler coach Todd Lickliter said. "This team has been a lot of fun to coach. And I have a lot of confidence in them.
"Last year was last year."
Butler never trailed, bolting to a 27-7 lead. Wright State was within 34-22 by halftime but never got closer than six.
Polk, who has a 22-point average over the past five games, led Butler with 19. Graves' 17 featured 12 in the final nine minutes. Brandon Crone, who had totaled just 10 points in the previous four games, added 13.
Wright State (8-10, 4-4) was led by forwards Drew Burleson and Jordan Pleiman with 18 each. Point guard DaShaun Wood added 12, four points below his average.


Call Star reporter David Woods at [phone].

www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060129/SPORTS06/601290449/1068

[Wolf]

kenpom.com/sked.php?team=Wright%20St.&t=p

Butler is favored by 3 in the rematch.

[wsu97]

WSU game notes:

www.wright.edu/athletics/stats/notes/1139581957.pdf

[wsu97]

Butler game notes:

butlersports.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/021006aaa.html

[Wolf]

Raiders want to keep 2nd place in sight
WSU needs win against Butler
By Marc Katz

Dayton Daily News

FAIRBORN | What could have been a very big game for Wright State is still a big game, considering the Raiders still have some cushion in third place in the Horizon League.

"We're still OK," junior point guard DaShaun Wood said after the Raiders lost 70-66 at Detroit on Wednesday.

Wright State's best chance to catch Butler in second place also was lost as the Raiders stand two games out in the loss column with only four league games to play.

Senior starting guard Jaron Taylor doesn't see it that way.

"We were talking at the end of practice," Taylor said Friday. "We don't want to lose to Butler, then have Butler lose two of its final games and we would have ended up with the same record. That's why this game is huge."

Butler has already defeated WSU this season, swarming out to a 27-7 lead before holding on to beat the Raiders 70-62 in Indianapolis on Jan. 28.

Taylor, a good shooter who sees himself as a defensive specialist, scored no points in that game.

"I can shoot the ball well," Taylor said. "We've got a lot of good shooters. We're trying to get better shots. I'd rather use up all my energy on defense than offense."

The Raiders have scored 66 or fewer points in eight of their last nine games. They have allowed 60 or fewer in four of their last nine and are 4-5 over that span.

Wright State stands last among league teams with a 62.5 scoring average, and second to Butler in team defense, 62.7 to 59.3.

Contact Marc Katz at 225-2157.

www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/wsu/daily/0211wsubb.html

[Wolf]

WSU NOTES

Former coach Nischwitz leads hall of fame class
By Marc Katz

Dayton Daily News

FAIRBORN | Saturday nights are becoming more than just game nights for Wright State.

A week ago, the Raiders put 10 more names on their basketball Wall of Fame display. Tonight, five names will be added to the school's Al and Mary Schwarz Athletic Hall of Fame, following an afternoon banquet.

Ron Nischwitz has been around so long, it's probably a surprise he isn't already in.

Today he will be, along with swimming coach Jeff Cavana, basketball players Rodney Benson and Nettie Carter and diver Rick Miller.

Nischwitz, an Ohio State graduate and former major-league pitcher, coached the Raiders 30 years, winning 866 games through 2004. His teams qualified for eight NCAA Division II regionals and finished as national runner-up in 1987.

The Raiders won four regular-season conference titles and two conference championships and 35 of his players played professionally.

Cavana also had a sparkling coaching record from 1982-89 as the Raiders finished in the NCAA Division II championships Top 10 six times. He coached 76 All-America swimmers.

Benson's two seasons (1979-81) produced his name on seven individual lists for season categories. He was team MVP both years he played and was an All-America in 1981.

Carter played from 1984-88 and was on the '86-87 team that went to the NCAA D-II tournament. She is ninth on the all-time scoring list with 1,104 points, third in rebounds with 756 and tied for first in assists with 446.

Miller was a four-time All-America diver through eight NCAA appearances.


Raider notes

• The Raiders are 4-6 when they've been outrebounded and 7-5 when they hold the rebounding edge. Shooting-wise, they are 1-8 when the opponent has a better shooting percentage, and 9-3 when they do. When the Raiders lead in turnovers, they're 2-7. When the opponent has more turnovers, WSU is 9-2.

• Only three teams — Milwaukee, Butler and WSU — have winning Horizon League records and are the only teams remaining that can win the regular-season league championship. Every other team has lost at least seven games. Milwaukee is 10-3, and with three games left, can only be caught by Butler (also 3 losses) and WSU (5 losses).

Contact Marc Katz at 225-2157.
www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/wsu/daily/0211wsunotes.html

[Wolf]

WSU wins 86-83 in double OT.

[Wolf]

box score:

sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/boxscore?gid=200602110660

[Big D]

That was one hell of an exciting game. I thought we were sunk for sure when the refs screwed us at the end of regulation. That foul on Jordan was total BS and not calling a foul at the other end of the court when THREE seperate players tackled DaShaun was even worse. HL refs are pathetic. Thank god they didn't take the victory away from us. Great game Raiders!

[Raider Country]

That was a great night of college basketball. A great game and a great crowd. I hope my heart rate slows down. I feel like I just played 2 OTs myself. Congratulations Wright State!

[raider fan]

Sooooooooo many positives:

Dashaun - 33 pts, 4 ast, & 7 rbs Butlers guards weren't quick enough to stop him. Dashaun was able to get the corner on them most of the night.

Drew - 17 pts, 5 rbs. Drew played his best in the OT's.

Jordan - 14 pts & 8 rbs. Another steady/aggressive/strong game for Jordan Anthony. He works SO hard on offense to get inside position. Honestly, once he fouled out in regulation I was not very optimistic about our chances.

Walt - 6 pts AND 9 rbs! Walt stepped up BIG TIME tonight! Once Jordan fouled out he filled in without us missing a beat.

Jaron - 6 pts but was asked to guard Graves most of the night. Graves is and unbelievable player. He has such a quick release but Jaron shadowed him most of the night.

Tyrone Scott - 7 pts and some good defense on Horan. I personally would like to see Tyrone a little bit more aggressive on the offensive end because he can score.

THE CROWD! Over 7,000! That was way to cool to see the Nut House 2/3 full.

Only 13 TO's......not bad considering we played 2 OT's!

This was a big, Big, BIg, BIG win!!

The best part is that Butler "fresh" off of back to back overtime games gets to play at GB THIS MONDAY! We have a long way to go ( with 2 HL road games ) but 2nd is still in sight.

[Class of '83]

Chancellor showed up big time tonight for Wright State. I thought we were in serious trouble going into OT without Pleiman.

Walt =