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Seniors reflect on their success heading into final home game.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
FAIRBORN — Every Tuesday and Thursday this quarter, Wright State forward Jordan Pleiman sends a text message to one of his coaches saying he will be an hour late to practice because of a class.
"He's very reliable that way," WSU men's basketball coach Brad Brownell said. "We know he has that class. We had to OK his schedule. We've been doing this for five straight weeks, and if I don't get the message on my cell phone, one of the other coaches does."
Extras
Soon, those messages will stop. Pleiman and fellow forward Scottie Wilson are both seniors. Tonight, Feb. 20, most likely is their final home game, as Detroit visits the Nutter Center.
With the help of both senior starters, the Raiders have built a school-record 10-game winning streak. Wilson is averaging 9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds. Pleiman is averaging 8.4 points and 6.2 rebounds.
Four years ago, when Pleiman signed on from tiny Fort Loramie and Middletown native Wilson transferred in from Cincinnati State, winning like this seemed like a dream.
WSU had only two winning seasons in their previous eight and was coming off a 14-14 record. Pleiman was a sub, and Wilson sat out his transfer season in 2004-05 when the Raiders were 15-15. The next year, WSU went 13-15.
Brownell took over last season, and the Raiders went 23-10. It has been that way ever since.
"We've had a winning confidence instilled in us," Pleiman said.
In four years, the 6-foot-8 Pleiman has missed only one game, due to an ankle injury his freshman year. Chances are, when he's finished, he will have passed DaShaun Wood's record 119 games played at WSU. He has started every game the last three seasons and most likely will become the fifth-leading rebounder in WSU history.
"It's hard knowing the end is in sight," Pleiman said. "I've had a lot of support here. I just want to thank everybody."
Brownell smiles when talking about Pleiman and Wilson.
"They're both great kids," Brownell said. "Scottie's a little older, and he has a daughter. Every once in a while, he'll come in here to talk. We talk about everything — kids, school, life, basketball."
Wilson started a handful of games the previous two seasons, but every game he's been healthy this season.
"I'm feeling it," Wilson said. "It's getting toward the end. I'm happy with the school part, but basketball-wise I would like to prolong it a little bit."
Brownell remembers another text message. Pleiman had an important test scheduled on a game day about the time the team would be going through its shoot-around. He texted his coaches — two months before the conflict.
"He's so serious," Brownell said. "He took the test and did well. He worries a lot — sometimes too much. We tell him to relax and enjoy the last month of his college career."
