In just two seasons at the helm Wright State head coach Brad Brownell has established himself as perhaps the league’s best coach and he has the Raiders poised to be one of the top teams, yet again. Coming off their second straight 20-win season the Raiders are picked by some publications to win the Horizon League this season. The main cause for optimism is perhaps the best backcourt in the league led by junior guards Vaughn Duggins and Todd Brown. They have plenty of depth behind them too, as the Raiders only welcome one player to the fold this season that has not previously been in the program.
Duggins, a 6’3” do-everything guard, has been a starter from day one at Wright State and had improved every season. He was a first-team Horizon League performer last season and is among the favorites to be player of the year this season. Duggins led the Raiders in scoring and three pointers and was second on the club in assists and steals. On top of being the Raiders go-to guy Duggin’s also WSU’s defensive stopper on the perimeter. Brownell’s first recruit at Wright State is much like him in that he gets better every season.
Brown is a big 6’5 guard with a good outside shot who was named to the Horizon League pre-season second team. Brown was second on the team in scoring a season ago and is the top returning rebounder and three-point shooter. He hit better than 42% from long range last season and averages better than 12 points and four rebounds.
Senior guard Will Graham runs the point for the Raiders. At 6’2” and 185 pounds Graham is a steady hand and a solid defender. Not much of a scorer, he averaged less than six points a game and is not an outside threat. He did sport the fourth best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league and led the club in steals. Though not flashy, Graham can consistently find the open man and doesn’t make many mistakes with the ball in his hand.
Junior John David Gardner suffered through injuries last season after following Brownell to WSU from UNC-Wilmington. When healthy he adds the long range threat to the point guard position. Gardner is a tough nosed and smart player who averaged nearly four points and two assists before injuries ended his campaign last season. Already, this season, a hip injury has slowed him down.
Sophomore N’Gai Evans also suffered through injuries last season, but came back and saw some increased playing time when other Raiders went on the shelf. The experienced he picked up last season should help him see more time in a back-up role this year for the Raiders.
Another sophomore, Troy Tabler, is a three-point specialist. Last season he launched 82 attempts while averaging just 15 minutes a contest.
If the Raiders have a weakness it’s the frontcourt. The loss of seniors Jordan Plieman and Scottie Wilson leaves a void as they were both solid rebounders and capable scorers in the frontcourt.
Juco transfer Cory Cooperwood is the lone Raider without some experience in the program, but will figure prominently in the frontcourt. At 6’7” and 215 pounds he brings athleticism and energy to the frontcourt for the Raiders. He averaged better than 15 points and eight rebounds last season for Wallace State at the juco level.
Junior forward Ronnie Thomas came back from a foot injury to appear in 25 games last season, but saw less than 10 minutes a contest. With Plieman gone the job is his to lose.
Cooper Land appeared in 30 games as a freshman last season averaging better than three points and two rebounds in roughly 13 minutes a game. He has some added muscle on his 6’8” frame and hit nearly 33% from long range last season.
Duquesne transfer Scott Grote averaged nearly ten points and better than four rebounds in his one season before transferring to Wright State. He has the talent and ability to play multiple positions and will command heavy minutes if he can replicate his Duquesne numbers.
Red-shirt freshman Kyle Pressley has packed on some muscle and now checks in at 6’8” and 225 pounds. Senior Gavin Horne was yet another Raider who battled injuries last season. The 6’8” 220 pound forward is a solid rebounder if he can stay healthy.
The Raiders have plenty of talent and go deeper down the bench this season than they did last year when they won 21 games. Some questions need to be answered from some unproven frontcourt players, but Brownell always seems to get the most out of his players and there is no reason to doubt he won’t this year. With a pair of all conference performers in the backcourt the Raiders are already a formidable opponent. If a couple of players step up in the frontcourt the Raiders should contend for the Horizon League crown and make their second NCAA appearance under Brownell.
Contact Joe @ joedlugosz@hotmail.com
