Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2008 > March > 19
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Chris Wright’s Spirited Session
Chris Wright was moving forward and backward, then side to side in a spirited half-court workout with Dayton Flyers assistant coach Anthony Solomon some two hours before UD met Cleveland State in an opening round game of the NIT Wednesday night at UD Arena.
The Arena was nearly deserted — only Solomon and Wright were on the court — but it was an encouraging sign for the injured freshman stand-out, his team and Flyers fans everywhere.
Although some UD insiders have said the 6-foot-8 forward is done for the season, he may actually be close to returning to the court. In fact, before the game one UD administrator said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Wright get a little bit of playing time in the next game should the Flyers get by Cleveland State.
First though he needs to work out with the full team. He hasn’t fully practiced with the Flyers — much less played — since he fractured a bone in his right ankle during a Jan 9 game with Rhode Island. Previously he’d missed the Flyers Dec. 22 game against Loyola with a foot injury.
Wednesday night he participated in lay-up drills and stretched on the court before the game and at halftime.
During the earlier session with Solomon, he appeared to move pretty well.
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Blown Off the Charts by March Madness
More than just a reward for the players, coaches and fans, there’s an even weightier benefit for the school itself when a college’s basketball team makes a splash in the NCAA Tournament.
Just ask Tom O’Connor. Few people know the merits of March Madness as well as he does.
He’s not just the Chairman of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Committee, he’s also the athletics director at George Mason University, the Fairfax, Va. school that much of America fell in love with two years ago when it made its Cinderella run from mid-major obscurity to Final Four fame.
“It’s just been phenomenal,” he said Tuesday night as he watched Mount St. Mary’s top Coppin State, 69-60, in the Opening Round game of the NCAA Tournament at UD Arena. “The amount of money we’ve gotten from media buys has just blown everything we knew off the charts.
“I don’t have the numbers right in front of me, but its something like $644 million.”
Actually, according to an item in USA Today, George Mason got $667 million in national, regional and local broadcast money. Admission inquiries also went up 350 percent, out-of-state applications surged 40 percent and alumni donations went up 25 percent.
In one year, basketball ticket sales doubled.
“The numbers have been unbelievable,” said O’Connor. “But the biggest thing is that it really builds a sense of community for your school.”
So it’s no wonder schools put so much emphasis on making the NCAA Tournament.
Of course, that can lead to abuses. The Ann Arbor News reported this week that athletes at the University of Michigan are often “dumped” into easy majors or take independent study courses with certain professors to whom many athletes gravitate.
That happens at many schools.
Remember Andy Katzenmoyer, an All-America linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes a decade ago? He stayed eligible by taking summer classes in music, golf and another course entitled “AIDS: What Every College Student Should Know.”
Here’s another thing every college student knows.
When March Madness sweeps over your school, there’s nothing like it — on the court or in the college coffers.
