by By Marc Katz Staff Writer , Dayton Daily News

Junior guard Vaughn Duggins - looking back - also knew Brownell was right.

"We weren't working hard enough," Duggins said. "We had won 20 games two straight seasons. We thought that was the way it was going to be."

Last season was bad, but only for a while. After the Raiders lost their first six games, reality clicked in. Practices became more serious and WSU improved enough to go 20-13. The Raiders nearly upset regular-season league champion Butler in the Horizon League tournament semifinals.

"Sure, I remember it," Brownell said. "I didn't anticipate us being 0-6. I did know and did believe our work effort and general enthusiasm for play was not very good. I made a big deal out of it.

"I told them, 'If this is how we're going to practice, we're going to experience some difficulties.' "

Brown, who was expected to be one of the team's big scorers, had a horrendous start. He scored in double figures (just 10 points) only twice in the team's first 11 games. Three times he was shut out. Finally, in the 12th game, in a tournament in Puerto Rico, he found his shot, his game and helped save the Raiders.

Brown finished his junior season averaging 11.7 points, being held to fewer than 10 only three times in the final 22 games.

Over the summer, he worked more on his shots while gaining weight and muscle.

Brownell has not had to tell him and his teammates they are not working hard this preseason.

"This is an older team," Brown said. "It's the last go-around for a lot of us. We haven't been back to the (NCAA) dance since we were freshmen."

Wright State has won at least 20 games in each of Brown's three seasons. He's planning on a fourth, and to bookend his career with two NCAA appearances. The Raiders are preseason picks to finish behind Butler in the Horizon League.

"If we don't play well," Brown said, "that preseason stuff doesn't mean anything."

Brownell didn't have to tell him that.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com

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