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UD and WSU meet on the basketball court, really

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer 12:00 AM Friday, July 10, 2009

DAYTON — The Dayton Flyers and Wright State Raiders don't play each other in men's basketball. Or do they?

WSU's Todd Brown and new Raider big man Paul Darkwa ventured to UD Arena on Wednesday night, July 8, to play in a pickup game with some Flyers.

The connection: Brown grew up playing with UD's Marcus Johnson on a northeast Ohio AAU team.

Players from both teams offered positive reviews after the summer get-together.

"They're real athletic," Brown said of the Flyers.

"His game has developed a lot," Johnson said, talking about Brown.

The Flyers were a little short-handed because Kurt Huelsman (neck) and Paul Williams (hamstring) are nursing minor injuries and Chris Wright is working at the LeBron James camp this week, so Johnson invited Brown to join the Flyers for one of their regular shirts-and-skins nights, which are closed to the public.

“You can tell they get along well together and try to have fun on the court,” Brown said.

Darkwa, a 26-year-old Wright State recruit who spent eight years in the Navy, also participated and relished playing against the strong competition.

“That was my first time running into those cats. ... The game speed was a helluva lot different. It showed me I need to work on a few other things,” he said. “But I think I did all right, just jumping into that level of game and playing.”

Brown, a 6-foot-5 senior, has twice been a second-team All-Horizon League pick, while the 6-6, 230-pound Darkwa is a  somewhat undersized  low-post player, but gets by on strength and savvy.

“I’ve been playing with (Brown) since almost middle school, so I’ve known him a long time,” Johnson said, “but his game has developed a lot — just becoming the scorer he is out at Wright State and the leader they need to have.

“And the other guy, he was very athletic. He was strong, he was quick on his feet, and he just played hard.”

Darkwa hasn’t seen many guards like Johnson, who was the Flyers’ second-leading scorer as a junior last season.

“I was real impressed with his game,” Darkwa said. “I was like, ‘Hey, Todd, we have to come back here for some games.’ ”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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If UD would have scheduled WSU this year. They would have been one of the highest RPI ranked team on the schedule. UD's schedule is very week!!

-UD season ticket holder
6:43 PM, 7/22/2009

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Well if other close teams can play against each other and create an annual event every year, why can't WSU and UD do it??? Make it a Holiday time game and get a sponsor like Meijer's to call it something clever......There can be a cheap trophy that can be used for bragging rights too.

College Bball Fan
2:18 PM, 7/17/2009

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UD should play WSU every year. This match up is good for both teams, but UD has ever changing reasons not to schedule this game. The RPI reason is gone as WSU has been top 100 the last three years.

A friend of mine told me about a good plan that makes since. Sign a 10 year contract & the winner of the game hosts the next game. Charge an extra amount say $5.00 or $10.00 a ticket & give the money to a local charity.

It is time to play the game. Local basketball fans want to see it!!!!!!!!

ebhoopsnut
8:33 AM, 7/11/2009

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this helps both squads. it lets the flyers look good in front of their girlfriends and it gets the raiders ready for the anual butler beatdown...

wsugrad
10:30 PM, 7/10/2009

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Give it a rest folks. They are not going to play a regular season game.

UD vs WSU is not going to ever happen unless they somehow meet in the NCAA tournament.

Ctime
8:27 PM, 7/10/2009

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