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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2008 > November > 15 > Entry
blog: WSU — Problems with the Spotlight
Using the Dayton Dragons as a model, Wright State athletics director Bob Grant and his troops are trying to make Wright State basketball games a fan-friendly experience this season to go alonmg with the always-promising product coach Brad Brownell puts on the court.
For the season opener Saturday night against Illinois State, there seemed to be something new in the arena.
Two big murals depicting great players and moments from Wright State’s basketball past graced the top of the Nutter Center walls.
There were green ambiance lights at another end of the arena, banners of the other Horizon League teams across from that and hanging from the rafters above the court, colorful reminders of the Raiders’ past NCAA Tournament teams.
Behind one basket were two lounges —one with leather couches, the other with tables that included basketballs and hoops — and up on the concourse there was a Kids’ Zone play area.
There was free admission to anyone wearing something with Raiders’ colors, but the truth is, you got in whatever color scheme you wore. While the cold, rainy weather held down the crowd somewhat, WSU still drew 6,371 fans — better than all but five crowds last season.
There was only one real staging problem in Saturday night’s opener.
“The spotlights got here too late,” Grant shrugged. “They were coming up from Cincinnati and there was a big wreck by Middletown. The guy got tied up in traffic. So we didn’t get the real effect with the spotlights.”
Then again, they weren’t really needed. Saturday night there wasn’t a whole lot to spotlight— at least not out on the court.
In the words of Raiders’ guard Vaughn Duggins, Illinois State “out-toughed” WSU, 69-61.
Illinois State — a team that won 25 games and made the NIT last season — shot better from the floor, over-powered the Raiders on the backboards and made the pressure plays the few times the game did get close.
While a few Raiders did have some shining moments during the night — reserves Cooper Land (12 points), Kyle Pressley (five rebounds) and Troy Tabler (three straight three pointers) come to mind — a couple of other WSU players had some untimely meltdowns.
Transfer Scott Grote had four turn-overs — including three in a row — and no points. He’s coming back from preseason injury and likely felt some nerves debuting at the school where his dad and uncle starred, but Saturday’s performance eventually will fade and I believe as the season unfolds. he’ll show himself to be one of the true stars of this team.
It should also be noted here that Illinois State is a formidable opponent from the Missouri Valley Conference. This isn’t like the University of Dayton opening today with Wofford, followed by Delaware State, Bethune Cookman and Mercer.
That said, this game was one WSU could have won had it played the first 15 minutes of the second half they way it did the final five when its aggressiveness cut a 13-point deficit to three points with 2:54 left.
Another problem that showed itself Saturday night was the lack of an inside presence. Scotty Wilson and Jordan Pleiman graduated and their replacements — some of whom are promising — are new or logged very few minutes last season.
“I thought the crowd not only was good, but it was excited and energetic,” Brownell said. “I wish we would have played better in the second half and given the fans something to cheer about. To be honest we didn’t give them enough chances to become players in the game.”
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By anchor57
November 18, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this
The attempts to improve the venue at the Nutter Center are good. WSU’s new AD, Bob Grant, is headed in the right direction. Mr grandson really enjoyed the Kids Zone, and is ready to come back. After all, we are dealing with “show business”, as so well demonstrated by the Dayton Dragons. The “spotlight” on the team and player performance is documented well by Arch and Marc Katz. I think Brad Brownell will produce another 20+ game winning season, and should get a post season bid this year. He has the players and, as in the past, Brownell will put it all together.