While it might be easy to declare Wright State’s season over, Billy Donlon has bigger goals for his squad to work on. Although the Raiders are in the midst of a glum season dogged by injuries and off the court issues, the goals of winning the Horizon League Championships and going to the NCAA Tournament are still alive.
Following Wright State’s overtime loss at Oakland on Wednesday where the Raiders lost senior guard Kendall Griffin for the season with another concussion, Donlon had a heart-to-heart conversation with his squad. Donlon certainly is not waving the white flag on the season. But Donlon’s focus for his squad as January comes to a close is on March and the postseason.
“I was honest with our guys. If we go 8-0 and finish 11-5, that is not good enough to win the regular season title,” Donlon said. “The way I am choosing to approach it, we’re here to get better to play for the tournament in March. That is what we are going to try to do every day in practice to improve our younger players because we’re a young team.”
Donlon announced Friday that Griffin’s season is over after he sustained his second concussion of the season and fifth in the last 18 months. Griffin’s injury comes at a time the Raiders are without forwards Steven Davis and JT Yoho. Davis has been out the last eight games with a foot injury. Yoho has missed the last four games with a knee injury.
Davis is expected to miss Monday’s game versus Green Bay. Yoho’s prognosis is even worse as Yoho is not expected to return before the Raiders’ regular season finale against UIC. Donlon said it is possible Yoho will not return this season.
The injuries have tested the Raiders’ depth and youth. Freshmen Grant Benzinger, Grant Evans, Justin Mitchell and Roderick Davis will be forced into bigger roles the rest of the season, said Donlon.
“Our guys will get better; I think we’re improving,” Donlon said. “We’ll find out where we are when we play the best team in the league.”
At the midway point of conference play, the Raiders are 3-5. WSU will have one of its toughest tests of the season this week hosting Green Bay Monday, followed by visiting Cleveland State next Saturday.
The last time Wright State played Green Bay, the Raiders lost by 24 on Jan. 5.
“I am excited that it is great experience for these (remaining) guys,” Donlon said. “Can we handle it better late in games than we did against Oakland on Wednesday?”
One player who started showing signs of growth is Roderick Davis. Davis played 37 minutes against Oakland, scoring 17 points and adding seven rebounds. Davis had only scored a total of 12 points in WSU’s previous 21 games. With the Raiders’ lack of frontcourt depth, his emergence came at a needed time for WSU.
“He played great, I am proud of Rod,” Donlon said. “Everyone will look at the 17 points, but his play defensively, the job he did in our game plan. Oakland is one of the better offensive teams in our league. I am proud of Rod; he has made jumps.
“When we brought him here, we were going to redshirt him. So by January, to have him score 17 points in a critical league game, I am happy, that is great.”
Green Bay had the league’s best record before losing to Cleveland State Saturday. Green Bay, Cleveland State along with Valpo and Oakland are the four top teams in the league with two losses each.
