Donlon improving leadership early in league play

FAIRBORN — Coaches aren’t often totally forthcoming with how they’re feeling about their team, their season or their own performance, but Wright State basketball coach Billy Donlon has shared his personal thoughts at several important times this season.

One of those came after Wright State beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Thursday night (and two days before WSU topped UW-Green Bay to get to 2-1 in Horizon League). Asked if he had learned anything from a loss to Charlotte during which WSU lost a 14-point second-half lead, Donlon was honest.

“Stick to my gut out there as a coach,” Donlon said.

At several points, he said, he didn’t make the call that was his instinct to make, and he felt it cost the Raiders a road victory. Wright State is improving at 9-6 and heading into road games this week against Illinois-Chicago and Loyola, and Donlon seems to be improving, as well.

With some momentum following the two home league wins, including a buzzer-beater by Vaughn Duggins to top Green Bay 67-64 on Saturday, Donlon hopes he continues learning as the league schedule progresses.

“I’m a pretty straight-shooting person,” Donlon said. “Sometimes you hurt your team as a coach, and there’s improvement by everybody during the course of a season. That means both players and coaches.”

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

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