Despite Wright State only facing one major-conference opponent and having a pair of contests against Division II programs on the schedule, the Raiders have started the year with one of the top 25 toughest schedules in college basketball.
The Raiders’ schedule is not going to get any easier as WSU travels to Nashville for a rematch against Belmont he lost just its second game of the season to one-loss Evansville; a squad that WSU lost to last week. Belmont’s only other loss this season: Wright State.
While the contests versus Ohio Dominican and Urbana do not count towards WSU’s RPI, the Raiders’ 3-4 record against Division I opponents is enough for them to be in the top 100 in college basketball.
Wright State has wins on the road over Charleston Southern and USC Upstate who both have defeated major conference opponents.
“If you look at who we’re playing in our non-league, especially on the road... in terms of the opponents and what they’re doing, it is preparing us for our league,” Wright State head coach Billy Donnlon said. “If you look at the rest of the schedule (Belmont, Miami, Western Carolina, George Mason and Ohio State), these next nonconference games will certainly prepare us and hopefully you can win them.”
One difference Donlon expects from Belmont this time around is a smaller lineup. Nick Smith has played a larger role for the Bruins since WSU’s 73-70 win over Belmont on Nov. 14. Donlon said Smith could pose a challenge as an outside shooter.
Because this is Wright State’s second go-around with Belmont, a rarity against nonconference opponents, Donlon is treating Thursday’s rematch as a league game.
“It is a great test for us that it is the second game back and really, if it were a conference matchup and you’re going on the road, sweeps in your conference are critical for the tiebreaker,” Donlon said. “This is an important game for us. We can see how far we have come, what kind of adjustments we can make.”
The Raiders’ lineup might look a bit different Thursday compared to the contest on Nov. 14. In that contest, Mark Howell and JT Yoho were both suspended in that contest. Both players have since returned and Yoho has played a significant role in WSU’s offense leading the Raiders’ offense with 18 points a game. In the season opener versus Belmont, WSU lost guard Kendall Griffin due to a head injury. He is not expected to return anytime soon and may not play the rest of the season according to Donlon.
Wright State guard Chrishawn Hopkins only played three minutes Sunday in WSU’s win over Urbana. He is expected to be close to 100 percent for Thursday’s contest and will play. Center Steven Davis sat out Sunday over fears he had a broken finger. On Monday, Davis had x-rays come back negative. Donlon said Davis’ chances of participating Thursday are 50/50.
The Bruins are going through injury problems as well. Belmont was without leading scorer Craig Bradshaw who suffered a leg injury last week. Bradshaw sat during Belmont’s 65-62 loss last night to Evansville. He is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game.
If he plays, he adds a dynamic that is tough for defenses to stop. He scored 42 versus Ohio University on Nov. 29. If he does not play, Belmont still has a number of offensive threats including local product Evan Bradds.
“Offensively, I mean last year they were No. 1 or 2 in assists, No. 1, 2 or 3 in field goal percentage, they’re terrific on the offensive end of the floor,” Donlon said. “They make great adjustments. They will be as hard as anyone we have to defend all season.”
Since the last Belmont game last month, WSU has had to play without Griffin leaving just three experienced upperclassmen on the squad.
“On Sept. 1, when our new guys got here, the way they’re performing now and what we wanted them to do on Sept. 1, they have surpassed that and it is not even close,” Donlon said. “On Nov. 15, when we have the current team we have when Kendall went down, the standards we needed them to play at in order for us to keep our standard of excellence at Wright State, we’re not there yet.
“But it is not fair to hold them to that standard yet. They’re too young in their seasons and careers.”
