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Home > Blogs > Wright State University sports > Archives > 2010 > March > 14 > Entry
Raiders ready to shut it down
FAIRBORN — Unless a bunch of teams turn down bids from the NIT, it appears the Wright State men’s basketball season ends here.
And tonight, no teams did turn down NIT bids, so the Raiders are through.
“I don’t think we’re going to play in anything now,” said WSU coach Brad Brownell, whose team has four straight 20-win seasons but hasn’t played in the post-season since the first of those.
“If we had gotten an NIT bid, we would probably do it, but those other tournaments (the CBI and CollegeInsider) present some challenges. They cost money to play in and if we had a road game, our kids have been on the road for awhile.
“We also have finals week beginning Monday. We might have worked things out for the NIT, because it has been around a lot longer.
“Our guys are down right now, and I think you’ve got to be really excited to play.”
WSU was a game away from making the NCAA field — the Raiders’ goal all season — but fell in the Horizon League tournament championship game 70-45 to Butler, a team that finished 28-4 and ranked No. 12 in the nation.
Wright State is 20-12, losing all three games it played against Butler. The Raiders also lost to NCAA participants Washington and Ohio University by five each.
The Raiders lost four other games — to Northeastern, Miami, Loyola and Green Bay — by three points or less.
By most accounts, it was a successful season and the players — especially seniors Todd Brown, Cory Cooperwood, Ronnie Thomas and John David Gardner should feel that way.
Brown became the first WSU player in the school’s Division I history to play on four 20-win teams. He also finished his career at the ninth best scorer in team history.
Thomas, a transfer from Duquesne, was around for all four of those seasons, playing in the last three. Cooperwood, a junior college transfer, played on the last two.
Gardner, also a transfer (from North Carolina-Wilmington), played in parts of three seasons, but injuries kept him sidelined, especially this season, when his good health was much anticipated.
Instead, hip and foot injuries sidelined him for all but four games. He was available for inspiration, but, in the end, the Raiders needed just a little bit more.
“We want to keep our options open on those other tournaments for other years,” WSU athletics director Bob Grant said, “but for this year, it just didn’t seem to be the thing to do.”
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Comments
By Jeff Steinmetz
March 14, 2010 2:56 PM | Link to this
Before I say what I am going to say, let me say I am a Raider fan. If you aren’t going to play in a post season tournament. That’s fine. I agree with that choice. But the WSU AD was gung ho playing in a post season a week ago. What happened? Last year, the excuse was the Nutter Center wasn’t available. WSU stop with the lame excuses or nobody in future years will consider you for a post season tournament.
By Doug
March 14, 2010 3:21 PM | Link to this
The big diff is the Ncaa runs the NIT now, you cant turn it down. Where did you get your info Katz?
By cold hard truth
March 14, 2010 3:23 PM | Link to this
Wright St polled the season ticketholders this week as to their interest in these third tier games. Obviously the financial support is not there among the fan base.
By No bid Brad
March 14, 2010 3:26 PM | Link to this
Another great season No bid Brad. Mr. One season wonder.
By Excuses
March 14, 2010 3:38 PM | Link to this
A million excuses for failure.
By ExtremeFlyers
March 14, 2010 3:52 PM | Link to this
Let’s all turn our attention now to the TRUE basketball team here in Dayton—Our Flyers!! Go back to DII, Wright State. You obviously can’t play with the BIG BOYS!
By C K
March 14, 2010 4:46 PM | Link to this
Coach and AD are right: Don’t play just to be playing. It has to be meaningful. After the NCAA and NIT, the CBI and College Insider tournaments are just taking up time on the calendar and trying to take money out of university treasuries. And the “can’t win on the road” Flyers won’t win on the NIT road.
By larryl
March 14, 2010 4:57 PM | Link to this
I agree with another post, the fan response must have been lukewarm. Whether it is my team or not, I don’t like someone to dictate under what conditions they are willing to participate. So, please step aside for schools that want to play. I think it is a mistake for WSU to turn down any invite but, somewhere along the way there has been a sense of entitlement. At least, I can go to bed at a normal hour. Love the Raiders and accept life as a mid-major watching 100 plus other teams continue on.
By E
March 14, 2010 4:57 PM | Link to this
I am a season ticket holder and have mixed feelings. I would like to see us play in any tournament at this point. But at the same, what is the real benefit of playing in the CBI or CollegeInsider, both which require a pay-in, with 10 healthy bodies and 3 frosh? Overall, a good but somewhat disappointing season. BTW——Extreme Flyers is probably Lowery’s boxing coach. After watching last night, work on that jab.
By Don from Xenia
March 14, 2010 5:08 PM | Link to this
I am a season ticket holder and I sent my information back in saying I would buy tickets to any tournament game at the Nutter Center. I think the Raiders and to many of their fans are being short sited. The other tournaments can be a building block to better things. Last year Bradley and Old Dominion played in the finals of the CIT. These teams found it worth while.
By Charles
March 14, 2010 5:39 PM | Link to this
If the Athletic Dept wasn’t making so many cuts in the budget I think we should be playing in the CBI but I don’t find it necessary to pay to play in that tournament. That being said maybe we still sneak in the back door of the NIT.
By weak
March 14, 2010 5:46 PM | Link to this
thye were gonna play untill they found out on the road in the collegeinsider…then they knew we will get our.. as**es kicked again, no thank you.. this is twice in a row they made this call a chance to play get more PT…very WEAK!!!
By Hoops
March 14, 2010 6:32 PM | Link to this
I’m starting to see a pattern of bailing out before being rejected. The team was supposed to have a light practice…if the players don’t have the heart, hope they were seniors or guys ready to pack their bags…if the coaches, shame on them for letting the Athletics Department waste our time concerning possible interest. I’m not sure I can take them seriously in the future. Now, I’m beginning to wonder if the NCAA appearance wasn’t some sort of obligation that they could have taken or not.
By Rick
March 14, 2010 7:01 PM | Link to this
Finals should always come before playing in some pay to play tourney. They are student-athletes, not the other way around.
By Hoops
March 14, 2010 7:10 PM | Link to this
Finals should come before basketball, unless you are picked in the NCAA or NIT I guess. Finals shouldn’t come before those tourneys, too? What’s the difference? Act like a D1 program or bow out of the league tournament…that would give them even more time to prepare for finals. It’s not fair that WSU is the only team on the quarter system, is that what you’re saying? Maybe we should be leading an effort to form a new division that ends prior to March 1st. Excuses, excuses, excuses.
By Alan
March 14, 2010 7:25 PM | Link to this
Wright State won 20 games and earned there way into a post season tourney. I would have gone to the Nutter to watch the game. I didn’t want the season to end. Especially with a whimper.
By Fly
March 14, 2010 8:14 PM | Link to this
If UD had the power, it would be funny to call Wright State out with a match-up at the Arena. The NIT would be probably be afraid of how the Flyers ended the season and wouldn’t know what to do if there was an upset. Not to worry, NIT.
By common sense
March 14, 2010 8:44 PM | Link to this
The decision to not play in the CBI is the right thing to do. Why spend money and remove these kids from academics? As for all the UD fans, please take your dissapointing overrated choke master comments to a different thread. But please give Gregory an extension
By Shawn
March 14, 2010 9:20 PM | Link to this
Sucks WSU didn’t make the NIT but a good season overall. Hopefully UD can learn to win a close game for once.
By joe
March 14, 2010 10:01 PM | Link to this
UD is the hardest team to actually blowout, in the entire NCAA along with Kansas. Look it up, its a true fact. As for Wright State (Wrong College)??….oh….
By Thanks
March 14, 2010 10:05 PM | Link to this
ExtremeFlyer- your ignorant comments makes reading these articles a complete waste of time. In what way can’t WSU “hang with the big boys” 4 straight 20 win seasons, without scheduling pansy pushovers like Presbyterian. You are just mad that UD fell flat on their face the last 3 weeks of the season, and cant hold a lead to save their lives. At least you have a good recruit for the Dayton street fighters club in Rob.
By Jeff Gecowets
March 14, 2010 10:08 PM | Link to this
First I am an alumni and a season ticket holder at Wright State. I would like to see Wright State play in a post-season tournament. I disagree with Extreme Flyer’s comments about there only being ONE team in the Dayton area. What was UD’s final season record? Answer: 20-12. The same as Wright State’s. I hope UD looses in the first round of the NIT. I also accept Coach Brownell’s answer about not going to the post-season. The kids are STUDENT-athletes. The “student” part should come first.
By Dayton Flyers = Blow
March 14, 2010 10:20 PM | Link to this
Yea right. The Dayton Flyers play run and gun streetball that is simply unprofessional. They are downright terrible to watch, especially against Xavier. Flyers need a new head coach, one that actually cares about discipline and good quality basketball.
By Fly
March 14, 2010 10:30 PM | Link to this
UD is going to the post-season, crummy record or not. Wright State waits til the last second = phone didn’t ring. One team loves basketball, one team doesn’t. Who pays to watch these guys in the classrooom? Accept your status.
By Lori
March 14, 2010 10:38 PM | Link to this
We still love you Raiders! Thanks for a great season.
By Lew
March 14, 2010 10:57 PM | Link to this
I wonder if UD will win the NIT and become the 66th-best team in the country. I have good money that says they won’t.
By larry
March 14, 2010 11:30 PM | Link to this
With the automatic bids, I don’t know anyone that thinks the best 65 get into the NCAA tourney. Supposedly, WSU was willing to play in the NIT ( unless they came up with an excuse not to do that, either ). 125 teams are playing in the post-season I think, the Raiders can be 126. The Raiders could be the best team to win 20 four straight years with only one bid. No matter how you slice it, we were willing to play in any tournament until today. For whatever reason, we don’t have the stomach to play any longer than necessary. I thought everyone wanted to get to a new level but, we are already there and I’m disappointed some are content with the status quo.
By Mike
March 14, 2010 11:52 PM | Link to this
These guys should start gearing up for next season. 5 senior starters should make for a great season. Go Raiders!
By ecu hoops
March 14, 2010 11:53 PM | Link to this
Rumor has it Brownell is headed our way!! We would love to have him back in North Carolina!
By ecu
March 14, 2010 11:55 PM | Link to this
Brownell is rumored to be headed to ECU!! We would love to have him. You guys don’t appreciate what you have.
By Stop smoking crack.
March 15, 2010 12:52 AM | Link to this
ECU huh? Way to double-post in attempt to make yourself look like more than a single person. Wow. Get real. The only complainers you see on here aren’t WSU fans, they’re “other” fans with nothing else to do but antagonize a team they refuse to play. WSU and it’s fans are 100% behind Brad and will continue to be. GO RAIDERS!
By ecu
March 15, 2010 1:13 AM | Link to this
He was on campus at ECU Thursday. Not sure if he is leaving up there, but know there is some interest on both sides here.
By John
March 15, 2010 2:43 AM | Link to this
It’s a shame that UD is probably the 3rd best team in Dayton behind Sinclair and Wright State. They don’t even deserve to be in the NIT this year
By UDFan
March 15, 2010 3:21 PM | Link to this
JOHN: Do you even realize what you just said? Really?? What a freakin’ joke. You’re hilarious
By Raider Nation
March 16, 2010 11:51 PM | Link to this
I see that cowardly [th]UD fans are crawling out from underneath their slimy rocks. Hey [th]UD fans: What exactly are you proud of this year? Finishing 7th in the over-hyped A10 after being picked to win it? Missing the NCAA tournament? Having a thug in dreadlocks throw a punch at an opposing player? Your fans booing the flyers at ud arena?… … … I’m waiting… …
By John
March 20, 2010 3:50 PM | Link to this
Yeah UDFan I do realize what I just said and I was mistaken they are the 5th best team in Dayton I forgot about Dunbar and The UD women’s team.
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