Raiders preparing to play BracketBuster, White Out, Heart Walk game

The Wright State Raiders have another big match-up at the Wright State Nutter Center Saturday when they play host to Hofstra at 11 a.m.

The Wright State basketball team is set to take a cruise, but not the kind you’re thinking of.

Players plan to cruise the dorms Friday night, handing out student tickets in one of many creative efforts to drive a high turnout for Saturday’s White Out, Sears BracketBuster game with Hofstra at the Wright State Nutter Center.

“We’re excited. This is the first official White Out presented by the athletic department,” said Jackie Schetter, Nutter Center and athletics sales manager.

The game will be nationally televised live on ESPNU at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Since the Black Out game with Butler was such a success earlier this season, white T-shirts will be given away at the game to the first 5,000 people through the door, in an effort to “white out” the crowd.

In addition, the rock got a new paint job, White Out floor stickers have appeared in the tunnels and promotional posters have also gone up in the dorms.

“It should be a good promotion for us. The Black Out attendance was just under 9,000 and almost 3,000 of that was students. We are hoping the free T-shirts work again,” said Jackie Schetter.

The basketball team is hoping to get back to the kind of work that wins games, having lost three games in a row since beating Youngstown State earlier this month.

12-1 at home….loss to Valpo.

Though Hofstra is not in the Horizon League, playing the Pride in an ESPN BracketBuster game is a unique opportunity for the Raiders.

“From a national standpoint it’s important. We always want to put our best foot forward with so many people watching. It’s a great opportunity to expose our athletic programs as well as the entire university to a great audience,” Said Bob Noss, Wright State assistant athletic director.

Miami Valley Hospital is a presenting sponsor for the game, and is hosting a Heart Walk at 9 a.m., Saturday prior to the game at the Nutter Center.

“Miami Valley Hospital is a great partner/sponsor of Wright State Athletics so this year we are promoting that partnership by hosting this Heart Walk, in support of Heart Month in February,” said Schetter.

“Exercise is crucial to a healthy heart, and the Nutter Center is a great place to walk during the winter months when the weather keeps us inside, so we wanted to give folks the opportunity to exercise in a safe way Saturday morning.”

Attendees will need a game ticket to participate in the walk. A portion of the proceeds of each ticket will go to the American Heart Association.

Fans who attend the men’s game will also get a chance to watch the women’s game, which will tip-off just 30 minutes after the