Wright State are heading into the NCAA Tournament as a potential Cinderella story, but not in the way many might expect. The No. 14 seed Raiders clinched their spot by winning the Horizon League tournament, overcoming a 12-point deficit to defeat Detroit Mercy 66-63 in the title game. Before that, they scored 105 points in the semi-finals. Overall, Wright State has a 23-11 record, going 15-5 in league play, with 18 wins in their last 22 games.
Raiders’ Offensive Strengths
The Raiders are a team that can put points on the board, averaging 80.5 points per game with a 48.9 percent shooting accuracy. Michael Cooper leads the team in scoring with 13.3 points per game. TJ Burch is another key player, contributing 11.8 points and 3.5 assists per game. From beyond the arc, Solomon Callaghan shoots 39.8 percent, and Dominic Pangonis is at 38.2 percent.
Unlike some mid-major teams that rely heavily on three-point shooting, Wright State takes a different approach. While they shoot 36.1% from deep, only about a third of their shots come from there. Wright State plays a more physical brand of basketball, also shooting 54.5% from two.
Inside Game and Defence
Wright State’s strength isn’t just in perimeter shooting; they have a strong interior game. Michael Imariagbe, a 6-foot-7 senior, averages 11.9 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 58.4 percent from the floor. Freshman Kellen Pickett, at 6-foot-9, adds 8.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.
Defensively, Wright State has a 7.5 percent block rate, ranking 39th nationally, and averages 4.4 blocks per game, placing them 44th in the country.
- Averages 80.5 points per game
- Shoots 48.9 percent from the field
- Has a 7.5 percent block rate
Virginia’s Defensive Challenge
Wright State’s physicality has allowed them to out-muscle many Horizon League teams. They drive to the basket, finish through contact, and protect the paint. However, Virginia presents a unique challenge, entering the tournament as the best shot-blocking team in the country.
Virginia boasts Johann Grünloh, who is 7-foot and averages 2.2 blocks per game, and Ugonna Onyenso, also 7-foot, who leads the ACC with 3.0 blocks per game. As a team, Virginia leads the NCAA with 6.5 blocks per game and is second in the ACC in rebounding at 40.2.
Wright State’s identity has been built in part on superior size and physicality at the mid-major level. But Virginia is probably the best equipped team in the country to combat this style.