Dayton Daily News

August 15, 2007

Raiders' schedule may feel familiar
Brownell says this year's basketball team will play 'a lot of teams like us,' more games at home.

By Marc Katz

Staff Writer

FAIRBORN — Wright State basketball coach Brad Brownell wanted more home games than road games and a schedule of teams close in ability to his Raiders.

He said the twin goals were so successful, "In a lot of ways, it's like playing two Horizon League schedules. It's filled with a lot of teams like us."

Wright State, coming off dual regular-season and tournament HL championships and an NCAA appearance for the first time in 14 seasons, finished 23-10 overall.

Starters Jordan Pleiman, Vaughn Duggins and Todd Brown return from that team, as well as heavy contributors Scotty Wilson and William Graham.

"We did lose DaShaun Wood, and he's a great player," Brownell said, "but each year is different. You never know how you're going to progress."

Progress this season will be measured against a 10-team league with the addition of Valparaiso. Each of the league teams will be played in a home-and-home format, including Butler, a projected Top 25 team that went to the Sweet Sixteen last season.

The Raiders play six other home games, including:

• Return games from Coastal Carolina (the opener Nov. 19), Marshall, Bradley and St. Bonaventure.

• A visit by Miami on Dec. 15.

• A game with Presbyterian College of Clinton, S.C. — new to Division I, but winners of 20 or more games in each of the last two seasons — on Feb. 4.

In five nonconference road games, Wright State:

• Repays a visit by Marist on Dec. 1, goes to Cal State-Fullerton to fulfill last year's Bracket Buster obligation on Dec. 22 and plays in the Tennessee-Chattanooga Dr. Pepper Tournament Dec. 29-30 (teams have been chosen — Belmont, Murray State, Wright State, UT-Chattanooga — but not pairings).

• The Raiders will play a road Bracket Busters game on Feb. 23.

Brownell said he wanted to stay close to his region, "and not traipse all over the place," to play.

The season begins with an exhibition game vs. Indianapolis on Nov. 5. It ends with the Horizon League tournament beginning March 4 and whatever is earned from that.