Wright State University’s (WSU) basketball team went to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in 39 seasons as a Division 1 team. Everyone around campus, especially staff and leaders, are very proud of the school’s success.
Deena John, the Director of Communications and Media Relations for WSU, shared what leaders did for the game.
“President Sue Edwards and a group of more than 10 university leaders will be attending the game in Philadelphia,” John said.
Since WSU does not have its own national football team, basketball season is very popular. This was only elevated by the basketball team’s success this year.
The university even got a shoutout on the “Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon,” where he played a playful commercial about the school being less known. This was a big promotion for the school to be talked about on such a big stage.
“Wright State. Located in beautiful Connecticut. Or Maryland. Maybe Iowa?... We are Wright State. Wait, are we spelling that Wright? Or right? Correct? Sorry,” the commercial said.
The first round game was set to be played in Philadelphia, PA against Virginia after defeating University of Detroit Mercy in the last Barbasol Horizon League Tournament.
The WSU Community showed out for the game, with some traveling to attend live at the arena, and a watch party was also set up in the Student Union for students to gather and watch the game together.
This was the first year Coach Clint Sargent took his team to the NCAA tournament, and the first year the team has gone since 2022. The university released a statement about the administration’s pride in the team’s success.
“[WSU] couldn’t be more proud of our men’s basketball team, whose drive and resilience have earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament, giving the Raiders a chance to shine on a national stage,” the statement reads. “This is an incredibly special moment for the university, showcasing the pride and spirit that unite our campus community and alumni across the country.”
Students and staff alike showed their support for the school and their basketball team. Even alumni were tuning it to see how their former team would do in the tournament.
Sadly, the game ended in a loss for WSU with Virginia winning 83-72. Despite this loss, the team played very well this year and continue to have the support of their school.
“[WSU] and the broader Dayton community are cheering them on and will be behind them every step of the way,” the statement reads.
Even with the season coming to an end, the Raiders’ March Madness appearance left a lasting impression on the university. The team’s performance helped bring students, staff and alumni together, creating a sense of unity and school pride that extended far beyond the court.
Looking ahead, the future of WSU basketball remains promising. With strong leadership from Coach Sargent and continued support from leaders, the team aims to build on the success of this season and advance even further next year.
