Wright State University is a small Division I school, meaning that the Raiders' have a reasonable number of sports teams. However, WSU is widely known for basketball due to making it to the NCAA tournaments several times in the past, including 2018 and 2022. This leaves some students wondering how things will play out this year.
Coach's opinion and recruiting
The Head of Men's Basketball, Coach Clint Sargent, shared his thoughts about what the team might need to improve on this year. His comments addressed being more on the offense during this upcoming season.
"So, I've studied a lot this off-season, trying to flip some of those numbers, trying to be more disruptive, trying to hopefully turn teams over more, create more your offense,” Sargent said.
Sargent was also asked about how the team finds new talent to add to its ranks. Sargent shared that recruiting is a main strategy that is used in improving the team between seasons.
"I think we always start with character and personality of not only the recruit, but the family [and] the high school coach. Because inevitably, you know, I think in recruiting, it can tend to be all about the grand picture and all these great things nowadays," Sargent said.
A few students shared predictions and discussed how the loss of people like Brandon Noel could affect the team:
Student and staff comments
Marcus Bryant is a junior biomedical engineering major. He is also the Manager of the Men’s Club Basketball Program.
"I think Brandon leaving was kind of a big centerpiece, because he was our big man. I definitely think if they adjust well and start playing more of like a small-ball kind of role and kind of pushing the pace a little bit more [they will do well]," Bryant said.
This may leave WSU students wondering what the team's record will be this year, as well as whether they will make it to the playoffs.
Michael Harrison is an accounting major in his junior year at WSU. He believes that the team is facing interesting circumstances for this upcoming season.
“I think the [WSU] basketball team is in a very interesting situation. You know, you have a second-year coach who didn't have the greatest first season, but I think that with the recruits that they have and the transfers they've been getting, I think that can definitely help them," Harrison said.
Looking at these interviews, there is a sense of optimism for the team, as well as some things that need to be worked on. Overall, however, students agree that there are high hopes for this season.
