Tanner Holden | Photo by Christian Peters | The Wright State Guardian
Following a resilient 16-point comeback against arch-rival Northern Kentucky University (NKU) to secure their first Horizon League (HL) title since 2018, Wright State University (WSU) Men’s Basketball will be dancing in this year’s March Madness tournament.
March Madness
On Sunday, WSU hosted a selection show watch party to commemorate the accomplishments of the team while also learning who the Raiders would face off against next.
This coming Wednesday, WSU will take on the Bulldogs of Bryant University in the First Four at UD Arena to determine who will move on to the round of 64 to face off against the #1 seeded Arizona Wildcats in San Diego on Friday.
This will be WSU’s fourth tournament appearance in school history and its first since the 2018 season. WSU is looking to bounce back from their 2018 first-round exit to Tennessee.
School spirit
Off the court, this tournament appearance has generated a level of excitement that has been missing for quite some time.
“A win would be huge as I haven’t seen a tournament appearance in my time as a student here,” Quintin Ringwald, a WSU senior, said.
A win in the First Four would only intensify these emotions as WSU would have one of their biggest opportunities in program history in facing a #1 seed.
After a slow start to the season, the recent success of the team has boosted attendance at games and enhanced overall interest in Raider basketball.
Additionally, the return of in-person classes has encouraged students to become more involved in campus life.
“Our appearance has gotten many students back on campus by giving them a reason to come back and cheer on our school,” junior Brittany Woodruff said.
The team’s love for the game
Head coach Scott Nagy spoke at the selection show watch party and elaborated on the adversity his team has faced. The fifth-year coach of the Raiders went on to say how the team’s love for one another on and off the court allowed the team to overcome obstacles earlier on in the season.
The Raiders are led by a trio of juniors: Trey Calvin, Tanner Holden and Horizon League tournament MVP Grant Basile, who averaged 21 points per game in the conference tournament.
The team will take on Bryant University at 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday at UD Arena and look to keep their memorable season alive.
