After posting a .500 record last season, and winning a game in the Horizon League Tournament with three sophomores and a freshman in the starting line-up, the Wright State Raiders have some high hopes this season. Three starters return from last season’s squad. The lone senior Zach Williams finished his career and Zakee Boyd decided to leave the program. The Raiders return pre-season Horizon League first-teamer DaShaun Wood. The Raiders statistical leader in nearly every category also has another year of experience under his belt.
Wood anchors a backcourt that should be one of the better groups in the league. Wood averaged better than 15 points a game last season, leading the Raiders in that category, and still dished out 3.7 assists per contest, good for fifth in the league. On top of that the 5’11” 180 pounder snagged better than five rebounds a game. Wood is fearless on the floor and can hit a three, which he did at a 37% clip. Wood also led the club in steals with 48. With a another year under his belt he should establish himself as perhaps the best point guard in the league.
Wood’s backcourt mate, Everett Spencer started all 30 games as a freshman last season. He can do a bit of everything with his 6’5” frame. He shot a paltry 25% from three-point range and 43.8% overall, numbers which will have to improve this season.
Head coach Paul Biancardi is among those that feel the expectations are raised for the guard duo of Wood and Spencer. “Anytime you have returning players, you hold the expectation level very high,” said Biancardi who is entering his third season as the Raiders head man. “Although they were only a freshman and sophomore last year, I expect a lot this year, but even more when they are juniors and seniors.”
The Raiders lone senior Jaron Taylor can fill in at either guard spot. He saw 25 minutes a game last season, finishing second on the club in assists while chipping in four points and 2.5 rebounds. Red-shirt freshman William Graham looks to be fully recovered from knee surgery that kept him out last season. The 6’2” 180 pound Graham will also be able to contribute at either of the guard positions. Reinaldo Smith transferred from Findlay College where he shot 35% from three-point range before walking-on at Wright State. Junior college transfer Tyrone Scott is another capable outside shooter who shot 34% from three-point range at Schoolcraft Community College.
The loss of Boyd will sting a bit as the Raiders try to find someone with the shooting capability that he brought. With a bit more depth added this season Biancardi is hoping everyone on the perimeter can contribute.
Up front junior Drew Burleson is the lone returning starter. With the departure of the team’s leading rebounder in Williams the Raiders will be relying heavily on Burleson to improve on his rebounding numbers. Now as a junior Burleson might just be ready to breakout. Sophomore Jordan Pleimann appeared in 29 games last season and averaged just over 15 minutes a contest. He put up better than five points a game and snagged 4.65 rebounds per night. At 6’8” and 240 pounds he has the size to make some noise in the Horizon League.
One of the higher rated recruits coming into the league is 6’10” center James Craft. Craft is rail-thin at 215 pounds, but has already added some bulk. He is described as having a very good mid-range shooter who can run the floor very well and pose a shot blocking presence on the defensive end.
Junior college transfer Walter Chancellor is a mammoth at 6’5” and 270 pounds. Despite his large frame Chancellor has been described as very quick and athletic for his size. Sophomore Parysh Monroe only played in 18 games last season, but also adds another wide body at 6’5” and 255 pounds. Scottie Wilson sat out last season as a transfer from Cincinnati State Community college. In his one season of juco ball Wilson averaged five points and five rebounds.
Among the elements that plagued Wright State last season was lack of depth. The Raiders went just seven men deep and had three starters playing over 31 minutes a game. Wood barely rested at all, with a league leading 37.5 minutes per contest. That looks to change this season. “Hopefully we can play eight or nine, develop our bench while winning games and keep the starters fresh at the end of they year,” says Biancardi.
The Raiders have depth at every position and should be able to go nine deep which should help at the end of games if the started haven’t logged 35 minutes. There are some question marks in the frontcourt as the experience level drops off after Burleson and Pleimann, but if one or two guys step up the Raiders have the potential to compete for the top third of the league.
--article reprinted by permission of the author
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