With 2 locals, Michigan State should come play in Dayton again

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer 9:31 PM Thursday, August 5, 2010

There’s no reason Michigan State shouldn’t visit the University of Dayton or Wright State some time in the next four years.

Adreian Payne, a 6-foot-10 center from Jefferson High School, will be in East Lansing, Mich., beginning this fall. Travis Trice, an incoming Wayne senior who committed to play for the Spartans on Wednesday, Aug. 4, will be there beginning with the 2011-12 season.

Last time, it took just one player from the Dayton area, Trotwood-Madison’s Andre Hutson, at Michigan State to get the Spartans to the Miami Valley. They memorably lost to Wright State 53-49 at the Nutter Center in 1999.

With two area players on the roster, Michigan State should make a return visit to the Miami Valley.

Scheduling is more difficult than that, of course, and the memory of the previous loss might cause even more hesitation. With its two-for-one home game deal with Cincinnati beginning this season, Wright State has shown it’s open to such a deal with teams from the six power conferences. UD’s home crowds and success against bigger schools at UD Arena have made luring major programs difficult.

But this is a bigger incentive, with two players from the same immediate area in a neighboring state on the roster.

A host date against Michigan State would be a major get for either program. The built-in advantages have never been better.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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