SUNDAY’S GAME
Wright State guard TimFinke pulls down a rebound in front of Miami forward Josh Brewer on Saturday. Finke is averaging 8.0 rebounds through two games.
Playing a fourguard lineup puts Wright State’s opponents in a quandary defensively. If foesdon’t go to a smaller starting theycouldendupsurrendering far too many 3-pointers to a team that’s shown it’s adept at hitting them.
But it’s a risk for the Raiders, too. While they have the best rebounder in the HorizonLeaguein centerLoudon Love, who needs fourmore to set theprogramrecordfor careerboards justtwogames into his senior year, he can’t do it all himself.
That’s why coach Scott Nagy has been preaching to his perimeter players about the importance of pounding theglass, andthebouncyTim Finkecertainlyhas takenthat message to heart.
The 6-foot-6 sophomore, who sat out last season after transferringfromGrandCanyon, posted a double-double against Miami on Saturday, getting 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Though it’s early, he’s tied for fourth in the leaguewith an 8.0 rebound average.
It’s allamindset, honestly. It’s trying to be the toughest guy out I think I have a motor where I just keep going,” said Finke (pronounced FINK-ee).
“That’s something I’m goingto trytodoeverygame, try to out-work my opponents. When they get tired, I sense that. And I’m going to keep going andtry topush past thatpoint. That’spart of my game where I can really excel.”
Hispreviouscareerhighfor reboundswasnine as a freshman against Missouri-Kansas City (which is coached by Billy Donlon, who Nagy replaced at Wright State). He also averaged 9.2 in high school while being rated as the No. 2 recruit in Illinois by ESPN.com.
He’s one of two newstarters along with point guard Trey Calvin. They’ve had to replace a couple of all- league picks in Bill Wampler and
Wright State point guard Trey Calvin passes around Marshall’s JarrodWest in the season opener at theNutter Center. The year starter takes care of the ball, with two turnovers in 72minutes.
ColeGentry. Andwhile there hasn’t been any drop-offff so far, there’s nothing similar about their playing styles.
“Almost everyone I talk to wants to compareTimtoBill — because they’re about the same size. But they’re just two different people, two difffffffffffferent players,” Nagy said.
Wampler was almost strictly a catch-and-shoot player, and Nagy pointed out: “Timis incredibly physical, not afraid of anybody. He chases the ball and is tough. He’s just a really good defender and good rebounder.”
Though Gentry was the quintessential point guard, content todistribute theball, Calvin is an aggressive offffffffffffensive player is the Raiders’ leading scorer with a 16.0 average.
The 6-foot sophomore has made 7 of 14 3’s, and his 50% clip is second in the conference. He’s also taken 27 shots (making 11), which is six more attempts than the second-highest total on the team.
But like Gentry, he’s also been conscientiouswith the ball, having committed two turnovers in 72 minutes.
“I’mreally, really pleased withTrey and howhe’s playing,” Nagy said. “He’s playing with a lot of confifidence offensively, but the things you don’t see is how good he is defensively.”
Miami’s starting guards, Dae Dae Grant and Mekhi Lairy, were a combined 1 of 19 fromthe in Raiders’ 71-47 win.
“He’shadareallygoodpreseason,” Finke saidof Calvin. “Offffffffffffensively, he’s taken a big leap in his game and his confifidence. You can tell it’s at a whole new level this year.
“He’s been working a ton, clearly. I’m really proud of the way he’s playing, hitting shots and just being super confifident. When he’s doing that, we’re able to play a lot more freely, just knowing he can lead us that way.”
Finke relishes playing beside Calvin each game.
Then again, after sitting out all of last season, he’s justhappytobe playingat all.
“It feelsawesome. Imissed thecompetitiveness that just comes fromplaying games,” he said.
“It felt good focusing on defense and crashing the boards ( against Miami). If I can keep doing that, I know those are areas where I can help the team out, giving us a little spark and energy.”