Western Wayne Today

The Wayne State University men's basketball team is set to face Detroit Mercy in an exhibition game on October 28 at Calihan Hall. This match comes ahead of the Warriors' regular season opener on November 8. Last year, Wayne State emerged victorious against Detroit Mercy with a score of 88-78 under similar circumstances.

Entering his third season as head coach, Bryan Smothers leads the Warriors with an overall record of 22-32, including a league record of 12-24. In the previous season, Smothers guided Wayne State to a finish of 14-15 overall and 7-11 in the GLIAC. The team secured a spot in the GLIAC Tournament by winning five out of their last seven regular-season games.

The Warriors' notable achievements last season included defeating Lake Superior State in the tournament's opening round, marking their first GLIAC Tournament win since 2012 and their first opening-round victory on the road or neutral site since February 1999. However, they fell short against Ferris State in the semifinals.

This season, Wayne State returns three starters: Carmelo Harris, Ray Williams Jr., and Tamario Adley. Harris was named to the Second Team All-GLIAC last year and led his team with an average of 12.9 points per game. Williams was part of the GLIAC All-Defensive Team, while Adley contributed significantly with points and assists.

Coach Smothers emphasized the importance of experience for his team's growth: "There's no substitute for experience," he stated. He highlighted how returning players are now able to guide newcomers through both offensive and defensive strategies.

Wayne State's schedule includes 28 games this season—26 against NCAA Midwest Region opponents—with six home games among their first ten matches being pivotal for establishing early momentum. The Warriors will kick off their schedule at Lincoln (Mo.) on November 8.

Smothers discussed scheduling strategy: "Each year you try to balance...with difficult road games early." He stressed that protecting home court is crucial for teams aiming for high-level competition.

The conference schedule begins December 5 against Davenport at home, featuring a total of twenty league matches leading up to potential qualification for the GLIAC Tournament starting March 5.