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Raiders don't look at records
Sunday, January 27, 2008
DETROIT — Wright State's men's basketball team tries not to concentrate on an opponent's record or what happened in a previous game against that team.
Saturday, Detroit played host to the Raiders with a 4-14 record, 0-8 in the Horizon League, and a 12-game losing streak.
Extras
"They're a good team," WSU sophomore Todd Brown said after scoring 18 in WSU's 66-57 victory. "They play basketball just like we do. They watch film. They took everybody (in the last six games) to the last minute of the game. They just have to pull one out."
Senior Scottie Wilson said Detroit's record made no difference, and it doesn't matter that Wisconsin-Green Bay and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the two teams that visit the Raiders on Thursday and Saturday, already beat WSU on their home courts.
"We didn't go on the court saying we can't lose this game because they're 0-8," Wilson said. "We went on the court saying we want to win because we want to win the league. In order for us to win the league, we've got to win every game.
"We already got four losses in the league. We can't afford to lose, regardless if it's Detroit or Butler. Like I said, we want to win every game. We want to win out."
A gang of help
Plenty of Raiders helped out in the last four minutes, as Wright State outscored the Titans 12-2.
Wilson scored four points and pulled in a big rebound. Brown scored four points. Vaughn Duggins scored two on a nice scoop move in the lane, and Troy Tabler made two free throws with 40.4 seconds left to give the Raiders a 64-55 lead.
Not record coach wants
On medical leave for an undisclosed illness, Detroit coach Perry Watson stopped by the sports information office recently and asked whose record would reflect what the Titans did this season.
Detroit was 4-10 when Watson stepped down in favor of Kevin Mondro, and was informed the rest of the year's record would be his, if he wanted it. He did.
So far, that hasn't worked out. The Titans lost their final eight games under Watson and have lost all five since for a 13-game losing streak.
To further complicate the basketball problems at Detroit, women's coach Mickey Barrett walked away — and unlike Watson said he wasn't returning — six games into the season. The Titans are operating with two interim basketball coaches.
Class important, too
Even though Brandon Cotton apparently decided not to return to the Titans after being suspended in the preseason, then reinstated, he did leave Detroit with something. Cotton, who just didn't show up for practice, did show up for classes and graduated last month.
Speaking of going to classes, Duquesne transfer and Centerville High graduate Scott Grote, son of former WSU great Bob Grote, made the dean's list last quarter.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.
