Despite the fee, the Raiders wanted a shot at playing a Big Ten opponent, which the Chicago event provided.
Wright State will play the first of two games on consecutive days today when the Raiders face Richmond at 6 p.m. at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. Their appearance continues the trend of teams playing in the exempt tournaments, meaning only one of the games counts toward a season limit.
For schools like WSU, such events can mean shots at major programs. Purdue is playing in the Chicago Challenge. The winner and loser of the WSU-Richmond game will play the winner and loser of the Purdue-Southern Illinois game on Saturday.
“A lot of schools try to get into these tournaments and can’t,” said WSU athletic director Bob Grant. “I think our reputation has helped.”
The Chicago event consists of two home games, which turned into defeats of Southern and Oakland, then the two games at Hoffman Estates. WSU is paying $90,000 to participate, which Grant said allows the school to save money on traveling to a farther event and gains the revenue from two home games.
WSU budgets $55,000 to “buy” an opponent to come to the Nutter Center, but this season that money went to the event fee.
The Raiders earned $75,000 for traveling to Indiana on Nov. 14, so Grant was comfortable on the Chicago event.
“It sort of toughens you for when the conference tournament comes up,” Grant said of playing on consecutive days. “That’s the benefit for the team.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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