1996–97 Wright State Raiders men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 January 2025 Basketball 1996–97 Wright State Raiders Wright State Raiders logo.png 200 MCC 7–20 5–11 Jim Brown 1st Jim Ehler Jack Butler Nutter Center The 1996–97 Wright State Raiders men's basketball team represented Wright State University in the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season led by head coach Jim Brown. Offseason Following a first-round tournament loss, the 1996 offseason proved to be difficult for the Raiders program. Coach Underhill vs. President Flack University president Dr. Harley Flack had made his displeasure with head coach Ralph Underhill widely known. This was contemporarily reported to include ultimatums of suspension or firing if the coach received technical fouls, and interference with contract negotiations.Alex Marvez Greg Simms February 10, 1996 WSU edict: No technicals https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408493733/ 119 153 A1 Dayton Daily News Cox MediaAlex Marvez Chick Ludwig February 11, 1996 Off-court pressure: WSU president was urged to cut a deal with coach https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408496887/ 119 154 A1 Dayton Daily News Cox Media Dr. Flack pointedly stopped attending basketball games.Tom Archdeacon February 4, 1996 Underhill deserves better from Wright State https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408396002/ 119 150 D1 Dayton Daily News Cox Media His annual briefings to the athletic department called for more diversity, which was understood to be directed at the basketball coaching staff.Bucky Albers November 16, 1996 Interim coach gets chance, but outside search likely https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/409032683/ 120 63 1C Dayton Daily News Cox Media Coach Underhill later claimed in the press that Flack required athletic director Mike Cusack to interview black basketball players specifically looking for any racial animus.Tom Archdeacon January 15, 1997 Ex-coach breaks silence https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408649583/ 120 123 A1 Dayton Daily News Cox Media In coach Underhill’s new contract were specific performance and behavioral expectations. Dr. Flack had made it clear that he expected that the program become a top 50 program Chick Ludwig March 9, 1996 Raiders have 2-years to climb https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408372782/ 119 184 7D Dayton Daily News Cox Media and the contract stipulated Wright State should be in the top 150 in RPI within two years.Marc Katz April 10, 1997 Schilling's deal revealed https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/409113545/ 120 207 C6 Dayton Daily News Cox Media This was an ambitious goal for a fledgling NCAA Division I program in a competitive conference. Division I growing pains The Raiders program at this time was under particular strain because it did not have a full time strength and conditioning coach or a full time academic advisor, or even a full time secretary.Chick Ludwig March 19, 1997 New 'vision' at WSU https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408643296/ 120 185 D1 Dayton Daily News Cox Media The new arena lacked dedicated locker room or workout space specifically for the basketball teams, leading to awkward sharing of equipment and space with other teams, other Nutter Center functions, and the student body. Having grown from a Division II program, few administrative adjustments had been made to accommodate the competitive demands of Division I. The coaching staff tried to pick up the slack.January 26, 2018 Wright State University Retirees Association Oral History Project https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1037&context=archives_retirees Wright State University Archives Vitaly Potapenko President Flack made an ultimatum to center Vitaly Potapenko that he would have only one more chance to pass the English as a second language exam or face expulsion. Potapenko had a “B” average and had come very close to passing the exam on his last attempt. Flack had been critical of Potapenko previously, including threatening Potapenko with consequences for perceived academic shortcomings.Misti Crane January 17, 1997 Underhill asks $1.78 million https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/409024842/ 120 125 D1 Dayton Daily News Cox Media Potapenko was expected to return for his senior season, but a suspension would have meant missing a year of basketball. Potapenko entered the NBA draft as an undergraduate and was selected 12th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Players Leaving Guard Rick Martinez had left before the end of the previous season, starting a series of players leaving. Bilaal Neal had left the team with an illness, and junior college swingman Johnnie Blake again promised to join the roster but did not do so for the second year. Guard Terrance Cast asked out of his scholarship complaining about lack of playing time.Chick Ludwig April 30, 1996 https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408349656/ Disappointed Cass leaves WSU 119 233 D1 Dayton Daily News Cox Media Forward Thad Burton also asked for release, but in the end did not leave the school.Chick Ludwig May 17, 1996 https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408367689/ Burton 4th player to quit team 119 250 3D Dayton Daily News Cox Media New Recruits Recruits included junior college forward Mark Oliver,Chick Ludwig https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408483177/ June 8, 1996 119 271 5D Raiders sign forward Dayton Daily News Cox Media guard Mike Richardson, guard John Sivesind,Chick Ludwig https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408321597/ Pre basketball star signs with WSU November 16, 1995 119 70 Dayton Daily News Cox Media forward De'Andre Shepard, forward Lequient Lewis, https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/409061352/ 2 Detroit players commit July 27, 1996 119 317 7D Dayton Daily News Cox Media and forward Ryan Grose.Chick Ludwig https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408388630/ Norwalk High star picks Wright State March 26, 1996 119 198 3D Dayton Daily News Cox Media Walk-ons Steve Yeagle,Chick Ludwig https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408371245/ May 18, 1996 119 251 5D WSU walk-on was all-state Dayton Daily News Cox Media and Anthony Brown rounded out the recruiting class. Coaching Change On November 11, head coach Ralph Underhill attended the MCC preseason media event in Indianapolis. Upon returning home he was arrested for shoplifting at a local grocery store.Chick Ludwig Misti Crane November 13, 1996 Source: Coach to be suspended https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/408567702/ 120 60 1A Dayton Daily News Cox Media Four days later he was fired, an event that quickly became a media circus.Chick Ludwig November 16, 1996 Source: WSU fires coach https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/409028873/ 120 63 1A Dayton Daily News Cox MediaChick Ludwig November 18, 1996 Source: School defends firing https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/409028873/ 120 65 2c Dayton Daily News Cox MediaJanuary 26, 2018 Wright State University Retirees Association Oral History Project https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1037&context=archives_retirees Wright State University ArchivesChick Ludwig November 17, 1996 Attorney: WSU’s handling of situation ‘an absolute massacre’ https://daytondailynews.newspapers.com/image/409035933/ 120 64 d1 Dayton Daily News Cox Media Jim Brown was appointed head coach following his tenure as an assistant coach. The Raiders team for that season included several inexperienced players and a schedule that included multiple high-ranking opponents. Aftermath Coach Jim Brown and his staff were let go at the end of the season. Coach Brown had been with the program since it began varsity play in 1970. The University of Dayton grad had become a Raider and was inducted into the Raider’s Hall of Fame in 2009.https://wsuraiders.com/honors/mary-al-schwarz-hall-of-fame/jim-brown/63 Mary & Al Schwarz Hall of Fame July 23, 2024 Brown became the Northmont high school basketball coach in 1997 had a very successful 16 season tenure. Following this he joined the Wright State Raiders radio broadcast team as color commentator. Roster 1996 Wright State Raiders y yes Rob Welch n basketball sr 20 G 6 2 185 y Haviland, OH Wayne Trace Mike Conner n basketball sr 40 F 6 7 225 Boston, MA Malden Eric Ramsey n basketball jr 23 G 6 1 195 y Dayton, OH Carroll Derek Watkins n basketball jr 24 G 6 0 180 Germantown, OH Valley View Mark Oliver n basketball jr 33 F 6 5 195 Orlando, FL Central (KS) CC Thad Burton n basketball jr 43 F 6 8 240 Columbus, OH St. Charles Prep Steno Kos n basketball jr 44 F 6 11 220 Klosterneuburg St. Catherine JC Keion Brooks n basketball so 1 G 6 3 160 Ft. Wayne, IN North Side Anthony Brown n basketball so 31 F 6 4 210 Beavercreek, OH Beavercreek Mike Richardson n basketball fr 22 G 6 0 165 Georgetown, KY Scott County High Steve Yeagle n basketball fr 25 F 6 5 175 Minford, OH Minford John Sivesind n basketball fr 32 G 6 3 195 Sioux Falls, SD Roosevelt De'Andre Shepard n basketball fr 34 F 6 6 215 Oak Park, MI Oak Park Lequient Lewis n basketball fr 35 F 6 6 230 Detroit, MI Pershing Ryan Grose n basketball yes fr 45 F 6 7 210 Norwalk, OH Norwalk Jim Brown Jim Ehler, Jack Butler https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/athletics_publications/150/ Wright State University Basketball Media Guide 1996-1997 Athletics Publications 14 November 1996 Wright State University Athletics February 29, 2024 Schedule and results y Nov 30, 1996 yes Thomas More Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 97-59 1–0 Dec 9, 1996 yes yes Kentucky 6 Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky 62–90 23,127 1–1 Dec 11, 1996 yes Bowling Green Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 63-90 1-2 Dec 14, 1996 yes Miami (OH) Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 58-89 1–3  Dec 16, 1996 yes yes Louisville 18 Freedom Hall Louisville, Kentucky 57-65 1–4 Dec 18, 1996 yes yes Ohio Convocation Center Athens, Ohio 59-74 1–5 Dec 21, 1996 yes Toledo Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 71-74 1–6 Dec 28, 1996 yes Western Michigan Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 68-58 2–6  Dec 30, 1996 yes yes Youngstown State Beeghly Center Youngstown, Ohio 63-69 2-7 Jan 2, 1997 yes 1996 men Detroit Mercy Titans Detroit Mercy Calihan Hall Detroit, MI 62–73 2-8 0–1 Jan 4, 1997 yes 1996 men Cleveland State Vikings Cleveland State CSU Convocation Center Cleveland, OH 76-79 2-9 0–2 Jan 6, 1997 1996 men Wisconsin–Green Bay Phoenix Wisconsin–Green Bay Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 79-72 3-9 1–2 Jan 9, 1997 yes Dayton Nutter Center Fairborn, OH Gem City Jam 63-72 3-10 Jan 11, 1997 1996 men Northern Illinois Huskies Northern Illinois Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 55-56 3-11 1–3 Jan 16, 1997 1996 men UIC Flames Illinois-Chicago Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 56-64 3-12 1–4 Jan 18, 1997 yes 1996 men Wisconsin–Milwaukee Panthers Wisconsin–Milwaukee MECCA Arena Milwaukee, WI 60-61 3-13 1–5 Jan 23, 1997 yes 1996 men Loyola Ramblers Loyola–Chicago Gentile Event Center Chicago, IL 72-91 3-14 1–6 Jan 25, 1997 Butler Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 65-62 5,367 4–14 2–6 Jan 30, 1997 Detroit Mercy Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 63–65 4-15 2–7 Feb 1, 1997 Cleveland State Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 71-74 4-16 2–8 Feb 4, 1997 yes Illinois-Chicago UIC Pavilion Chicago, IL 59-66 4-17 2–9 Feb 8, 1997 yes Northern Illinois Chick Evans Field House DeKalb, IL 77-73 5-17 3–9 Feb 13, 1997 Wisconsin–Milwaukee Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 75-55 6-17 4–9 Feb 20, 1997 yes Wisconsin–Green Bay Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena Green Bay, WI 49-69 6-18 4–10 Feb 22, 1997 yes Butler Hinkle Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN 57-75 7,036 6-19 4–11 Feb 24, 1997 Loyola–Chicago Nutter Center Fairborn, OH 56-54 7-19 5–11 |- !colspan=12 style=Wright State Raiders| Midwestern Collegiate Tournament Feb 28, 1997 8 Wisconsin–Milwaukee 9 Nutter Center Fairborn, OH First Round 70-81 7-20 |- MW Midwest Sourcehttps://wsuraiders.com/documents/2023/10/16/MBB_History_Through_2022-23.pdf Wright State Record Book October 23, 2023 Awards and honors Keion Brooks MVP Rob Welch Raider Award Keion Brooks First Team MCC Statistics Number Name Games Average Points Assists Rebounds 21 Keion Brooks 27 14.6 393 125 127 32 John Sivesind 27 10.3 278 54 85 33 Mark Oliver 25 8.8 221 27 108 20 Rob Welch 25 7.4 184 74 56 22 Mike Richardson 27 6.6 178 43 37 44 Steno Kos 27 5.6 151 10 73 43 Thad Burton 23 5.3 123 11 102 35 Lequient Lewis 23 3.5 92 13 73 40 Mike Conner 13 4.0 52 5 35 25 Steve Yeagle 19 2.1 39 9 24 34 De'Andre Shepard 14 1.5 21 1 26 23 Eric Ramsey 8 1.4 11 3 5 24 Derek Watkins 4 3.5 10 0 0 31 Anthony Brown 12 2.8 10 6 5 Sourcehttps://wsuraiders.com/documents/2018/8/20//MBB_State_1996_97.pdf?id=14468 Wright State Basketball Statistics February 29, 2024 References Category:Wright State Raiders men's basketball seasons Wright State Wright State Raiders men's basketball Wright State Raiders men's basketball