Less than 12 hours after his team returned from a win at Belmont and a stop for milkshakes, Wright State head coach Billy Donlon was hopeful that his squad’s victory Thursday can spark the Raiders to a win at home Sunday versus local rival Miami.
“I just think Miami and us, anything that happens prior to the game, doesn’t matter,” Donlon said. “That game for both places, I don’t like to speak for both places, but this game, the fans, the rivalry, you have to throw everything out. I would say normally in a win like this, you build momentum, and we’ll try, but you have to throw everything out when you play Miami."
The team returned from Nashville at 4 Friday morning with three players facing final exams four hours later. With finals now behind Wright State, Donlon has a month to work on getting his young squad to jell.
Wright State improved to 3-2 on the road. All five road games Wright State has played has been against teams with winning records. The Raiders’ start on the road this year contrasts with last year’s start on the road when WSU started the year 0-8 away.
“I am happy for our kids,” Donlon said. “To go to Belmont and find a way to win a game where we missed a lot of shots within 5 feet. Our guys were getting a little frustrated and Belmont is very good.”
“I thought our guys did a good job staying the course and competing,” Donlon added.
Wright State has played a pair of contests since Miami last played on Dec. 6. Donlon said he is not too concerned about what Miami coach John Cooper might have arranged with the extra prep time.
“The elements are what they are, you don’t worry about the things you can’t control,” Donlon said. “For our team that got home at 4 in the morning, no matter if the other team played or not, we have to get their bodies rested. We have to get their bodies and their minds right and that is what we’ll focus on going into Sunday."
Miami enters Sunday’s contest 2-6 and on a five-game skid. The RedHawks’ losing streak might be a bit deceiving however as the squad has losses versus Northwestern, Virginia Tech and Dayton.
Up until last year, Donlon had success against Miami winning his first three contests against the RedHawks in the Raiders’ annual crosstown matchup. Last year, the RedHawks defeated a Donlon-led squad for the first time, 59-56.
“One thing when we play them and when I watch them on tape, man do they compete,” Cooper said. “They are going to compete, they are going to play hard… We are going to have our hands full.”
The method of operations for the Raiders is a bit different this year. In years past, Donlon would hope to keep games in the 50s and 60s. This year, the Raiders have needed to score in the 70s to be successful.
“I don’t know if you can win our league doing that but certainly, I am not the brightest light in the attic, but we’re going to find a way to score 70 or more right now,” Donlon said.
The RedHawks are coming off an 86-78 loss at IPFW on Dec. 6. In that contest, Miami’s Willie Moore and Eric Washington each scored 24 in a losing effort.
“They are different (from last year) in their personnel but their style of play hasn’t changed,” Donlon said. “Where they can get you more than last year’s team is their ability to drive the ball and score. They do a good job of going one-on-one with you from the top and that is the hardest place to guard the dribble.”
