DETROIT -- As part of the inaugural Hoops and Culture HBCU College Expo, the Wayne State University men's basketball team will host Talladega College in an exhibition on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. inside the WSU Fieldhouse.

STORYLINES
The Horatio Williams Foundation in conjunction with the Wayne State University Department of Athletics will be hosting the inaugural Hoops and Culture event October 29-31.  Wayne State will be in action for one of the four exhibition contests being held on Thursday, October 30.  The Green and Gold will square off with Talladega College of the NAIA at 2:30 p.m. inside the Wayne State Fieldhouse.

SEASON PREVIEW
The men's basketball program enters season No. 4 under head coach, Warrior alum and WSU Hall of Famer, Bryan Smothers, this upcoming season.  Smothers has accumulated an overall record of 37-46, including a mark of 23-33 in league action.

Last season, at 15-14 overall and 11-9 in GLIAC play, Smothers led Wayne State to a second straight conference tournament appearance for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign.  WSU won three of its last four and four of its final six before the postseason began.  The Warriors' season was ended by NCAA Tournament participant Ferris State in the quarterfinal round.

Wayne State brings back one starter in senior forward Kelvin Tamakloe, as well as senior forward Carlos Paul III and junior guard Jordan Briggs.  Also back are graduate guard Jon Brantley and redshirt sophomore guard Adam Ayrault.

Tamakloe appeared in 28 of the team's 29 games, 22 of which came as a starter, with 3.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest.  Paul III (29 games, six starts) is the squad's top returning scorer after averaging 10.4 points along with 4.7 boards per game in 2024-25.  Briggs will likely run the offense as the starting point guard after 29 games played, 10 starts and 8.1 points per outing during his sophomore effort.

When it comes to new faces on the roster, Smothers and his staff have eight of them, including two freshmen and six transfers.  While Smothers' top assistant Will Vergollo was promoted to Associate Head Coach, Gjon Djokaj has joined the coaching staff as the third assistant.

Schedule wise, the slate features 27 games, including 25 within the NCAA's Midwest Region, 20 in GLIAC play and 15 at home inside the friendly confines of the Wayne State Fieldhouse.  It all kicks off at home on Friday, Nov. 14 against Michigan-Dearborn with the tip off scheduled for 4 p.m.

"We have five of our seven non-conference games at home, which is important so that our fans and supporters get many opportunities to support our program," said Smothers.  "We look forward to having our fans come out and help us make the Fieldhouse a difficult place for our opponents."

"Conference play will be slightly different this year as some of the travel partners have changed from years past," added Smothers.  "For example, starting the new year at SVSU then traveling up to LSSU is a different arrangement than we are used to.  Before, SVSU was a standalone game and the LSSU trip was a part of our road trip to Ferris State.  Some of the logistics have changed but the goals are the same, win as many as you can on the road, and protect your home court in order to be in position for a regular-season championship and seedings.  Our February home slate will also be a key to the overall success of the season."

Following the regular season, the top eight teams in the conference standings will qualify for the GLIAC Tournament, which begins on March 4.  For the quarterfinal round, the higher seed will host, before the highest remaining seed hosts both the semifinals (March 7) and finals (March 8).

GLIAC PRESEASON POLL
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) released its annual Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday, October 22, with Wayne State being tabbed to finish seventh.

Each of the 11 head coaches ranked the other 10 squads, with Michigan Tech earning 10 first-place votes and 100 points.  Northern Michigan was picked second, securing 85 points (one first-place nod), while Parkside was tabbed to finish third, receiving 80 points.  Then before Wayne State came Grand Valley State (74 points), Lake Superior State (59 points) and Ferris State (57 points).  

Following the Green and Gold's 51 points in seventh to round out the poll were Saginaw Valley State (34 points), Purdue Northwest (26 points), Davenport (20 points) and Roosevelt (19 points).

1. Michigan Tech - 100 (10)
2. Northern Michigan - 85 (1)
3. Parkside - 80
4. Grand Valley State - 74
5. Lake Superior State - 59
6. Ferris State - 57
7. Wayne State - 51
8. Saginaw Valley State - 34
9. Purdue Northwest - 26
10. Davenport - 20
11. Roosevelt - 19

HOOPS AND CULTURE
The Hoops and Culture event, in addition to Talladega vs. Wayne State at 2:30 p.m., will have three other contests for a full day of action inside the Wayne State Fieldhouse.

Action begins with Wilberforce and fellow GLIAC member Grand Valley State clashing at noon.  Following the Tornadoes vs. Warriors match-up, Central State and Detroit Mercy will face off at 5 p.m.  The final game, scheduled for 7:30 p.m., pits Tuskegee against Eastern Michigan.  The day's events are powered by Amazon.

Hoops and Culture is not just a one-day event.  There are two more days of non-basketball events also on tap.  Festivities begin with a Welcome Reception followed by a Wellness Event on Wednesday evening (October 29), which is powered by Detroit Medical Center.

The final day of events (Friday, October 31), is powered by the Gilbert Family Foundation.  Events at the Fieldhouse begin with an EYL (Earn Your Leisure) Book Signing from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., followed by a Trade School Resource Fair and Certifications.  A Panel Discussion "Pathways and Purpose" will commence at noon moderated by Earn Your Leisure featuring topics such as Pathways in business and sports; overcoming adversity and societal pressure; choosing a career, not a job; and networking and collaboration.

A Networking Mixer will be held from 1:15 p.m. until 2 p.m. with an event wrap-up and closing remarks to conclude the first-ever Hoops and Culture event.