1970–71 Wright State Raiders men's basketball team

The 1970–71 Wright State Raiders men's basketball team represented Wright State University in the 1970–71 NCAA College Division men's basketball season. This was the inaugural varsity season, led by head coach John Ross. They played their home games at Stebbins High School in Riverside, Ohio.[1]

1970–71 Wright State Raiders men's basketball
Record7–17 ( )
Head coach
  • John Ross (1st season)
Assistant coachJim Brown
Home arenaStebbins High School

Background

Wright State University was launched in the mid-1960s along with Cleveland State University to add additional public education opportunities in Ohio. Under the leadership of Dr. Brage Golding, It became an independent school in 1967, and by 1968 the school decided to launch an athletic department. Dr. Golding asked Don Mohr to lead this effort. Don Mohr later served as athletic director and baseball coach.

After launching one of the first varsity soccer teams in the area, Don Mohr turned his attention to basketball with the belief that varsity basketball would do the most to increase awareness of the new university. He hired John Ross as head basketball coach, who was a successful local high school basketball coach as well as a college scout. In 1969-70 Wright State competed as a junior varsity team, then in the following year Coach Ross led the team on its inaugural campaign. For this 70-71 campaign Coach Ross brought on long-time Wright State coach Jim Brown as his assistant.

These early teams, much like the young university, had a do-it-yourself blue-collar ethos. Without a history or tradition to live up to, the teams took great pride in setting a foundation and creating the standard for all who would follow. Laundry was do-it-yourself, meals were typically cold sandwiches after practices that were late at night when gym time was available. Scholarships were limited and travel was often by van. It was the beginning.[2][3][4][5][6]

Roster

1970–71 Wright State Raiders men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearHometown
G 12 Fred Clark 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)168 lb (76 kg) Fr Dayton, Ohio
G Greg Cross
Xenia Xenia, Ohio
G 20 Mark Donahue 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
SrFairmont West Kettering, Ohio
F 21 Bill Fogt 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)175 lb (79 kg) Fr Piqua, Ohio
G Dave Magill 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Belmont Dayton, Ohio
C 22 Greg McCurdy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrCenterville Sidney, Ohio
F 25 Jim Minch 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrCarroll Dayton, Ohio
C Jim Thacker 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Jr {{{home}}}
G 23 Tim Walker 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg) Fr Centerville, Ohio
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Jim Brown (Dayton)


    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Sources[7] [8] [9] [10]

    Schedule and results

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site
    city, state
    Regular season
    Nov 20, 1970
    at Cumberland L 82-84 3OT 0–1
     
    Lebanon, TN
    Nov 21, 1970
    at Berea L 79-96  0–2
     
    Berea, KY
    Dec 12, 1970
    at Ashland L 56-85  0–3
     
    Ashland, Ohio
    Dec 4, 1970
    at Taylor L 89-102  0–4
     
    Upland, Indiana
    Dec 5, 1970
    vs. Wilberforce L 93-101  0–5
     
    Upland, Indiana
    Dec 12, 1970
    at Findlay L 67-87  0–6
     
    Findlay, Ohio
    Dec 14, 1970
    Grand Valley State W 91-84  1–6
    Stebbins High School 
    Riverside, OH
    Dec 15, 1970
    vs. Harris Teacher W 83-63  2–6
     
    Lebanon, Illinois
    Dec 16, 1970
    vs. Scott AFB W 68-58  2–6
     
    Lebanon, Illinois
    Dec 18, 1970
    Cumberland W 95-93  3–6
    Stebbins High School 
    Riverside, OH
    Dec 22, 1970
    at Rose-Hulman W 103-91  4–6
     
    Terre Haute, Indiana
    Jan 2, 1971
    at Otterbein L 79-105  4–7
     
    Westerville, Ohio
    Jan 16, 1971
    Cedarville L 71-82  4–8
    Stebbins High School 
    Riverside, OH
    Jan 20, 1971
    at Wilberforce W 68-67  5–8
     
    Wilberforce, Ohio
    Jan 23, 1971
    at Rio Grande L 69-71  5–9
     
    Portsmouth, Ohio
    Jan 27, 1971
    at Wilmington L 89-116  5–10
     
    Wilmington, Ohio
    Jan 20, 1971
    at Northwood L 76-87  5–11
     
    Midland, Michigan
    Feb 6, 1971
    Marian (IN) L 81-82  5–12
    Stebbins High School 
    Riverside, OH
    Feb 9, 1971
    at St. Joseph’s L 59-87  5–13
     
    Rensselaer, Indiana
    Feb 13, 1971
    at Defiance L 93-105  5–14
     
    Defiance, Ohio
    Feb 17, 1971
    at Transylvania L 65-86  5–15
     
     
    Feb 22, 1971
    Bellarmine L 82-84  5–16
    Stebbins High School 
    Riverside, OH
    Feb 25, 1971
    at Earlham L 84-89  5-17
     
    Richmond, Indiana
    Feb 16, 1971
    at Walsh W 92-83  6–17
     
    North Canton, OH
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    MW=Midwest.

    Sources[11]

    Statistics

    Number Name Average Points Rebounds
    23 Magill 16.8 420 98
    20 Donahue 13.3 334 140
    23 Thacker 13.3 333 224
    21 Fogt 11.8 296 209
    25 Minch 8.8 222 187
    12 Clark 6.3 153 60
    23 Wilkerson 8.5 94 32
    23 Tollinger 3.1 73 40
    23 Walker 3.6 55 38
    23 Woosley 3.0 48 41
    23 Schrier 4.0 8 5
    22 McCurdy 2.8 31 33
    23 Cross 0.4 4 3
    23 Cornett 0.1 1 2

    [12]

    Awards

    Mark Donahue MVP
    Bill Fogt Raider Award

    [13]

    References

    1. "The History of Raider Basketball – The Early Years". Wright State Athletics. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
    2. "Wright State Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved March 2, 2023.
    3. "The History of Raider Basketball - The Early Years". Retrieved May 2, 2023.
    4. "Donald J. Mohr interview, First Athletic Director and First Director of Financial Aid, Wright State University". Wright State University Retirees Association Oral History Project University Archives.
    5. "Jim Brown, Former Coach, Men's Basketball, Wright State University". Wright State University Retirees Association Oral History Project University Archives.
    6. "Wright State's first president Brage Golding dies". Wright State University News Room. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
    7. "Wright State Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved March 2, 2023.
    8. Nuhn, Gary (November 21, 1971). "Wright State Tougher 2.0 Hard on School's Hoop Team". Dayton Daily News. Vol. 95, no. 73. Cox Media. p. 12 D.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
    9. Nuhn, Gary (October 25, 1970). "WSU Now Enjoying Luxury of Working on Big Floor". Dayton Daily News. Vol. 94, no. 47. Cox Media. p. 13 D.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
    10. Nuhn, Gary (January 13, 1970). "?Hustle, Donahue Wright Bright Spots". Dayton Daily News. Vol. 93, no. 127. Cox Media. p. 11.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
    11. "Wright State Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved March 2, 2023.
    12. "1970-71 WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL STATISTICS" (PDF). Retrieved May 3, 2023.
    13. "Wright State University Basketball 1972-73". Wright State Athletics. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
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