Phoenix Drop Resch Opener, Still 'Looking for Respect'

Green Bay men's basketball loses 89-82 to Cleveland St. in the first game at the Resch Center this season.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 11:47pm

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The Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball team lost their season opener at the Resch Center 89-82 to the Cleveland State Vikings. Former Green Bay guard Foster Wonder and Neenah graduate Chevalier Emery made their return to the Resch Center, with Wonder scoring 9 points and Emery scoring 15 points in the Vikings' win. Green Bay senior guard Preston Ruedinger led all scorers with 23 points, and head coach Doug Gottlieb held a team meeting after the game, telling the team they need to adopt a tougher mentality to earn more respect around the league.

Why it matters

The loss is a disappointing start to the season for the Green Bay Phoenix, who feel they are not getting the respect they deserve from opponents and the league. Coach Gottlieb believes the team needs to play with more toughness and intensity to earn that respect, which will be crucial as they look to compete in their conference.

The details

In the loss to Cleveland State, the Vikings were "running their mouth the whole time," according to Gottlieb, even when Green Bay had previously beaten them by 15 points. Gottlieb feels the team is not getting the respect they deserve, pointing to an 8-point underdog line against Robert Morris last week, which Green Bay led the whole game before a "complete, bull**** technical foul." After the loss, Ruedinger led a team meeting to emphasize the need for a tougher mentality.

  • The game was played on Friday, January 30, 2026.
  • Green Bay hosts Wright St. on Sunday, February 1, 2026 with tip-off at 1:00 p.m. at the Resch Center.

The players

Foster Wonder

A former Green Bay guard who made his return to the Resch Center, scoring 9 points for Cleveland State in their win.

Chevalier Emery

A Neenah graduate who never played for Green Bay but committed to play for them, scored 15 points for Cleveland State in the win.

Preston Ruedinger

The Green Bay senior guard who led all scorers with 23 points and held a team meeting after the game.

Doug Gottlieb

The Green Bay head coach who expressed frustration with the team's lack of respect from opponents and the league.

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What they’re saying

“[Cleveland St. was] running their mouth the whole time. They ran their mouth when we kicked their a** by 15 and they run their mouth because people don't respect us. Let's just be honest, we kicked [Purdue] Ft. Wayne's a** because they didn't respect us. They weren't really ready to play. We still don't have the respect of the league.”

— Doug Gottlieb, Head Coach

“Last week we go on the road to Robert Morris and we were an eight point [underdog] at Robert Morris. We led the whole game at our place. If not for that complete, bull**** technical foul we win that game by eight or 10 points as well. The point is that we have to earn people's respect.”

— Doug Gottlieb, Head Coach

What’s next

Green Bay hosts Wright St. on Sunday, February 1, 2026 with tip-off at 1:00 p.m. at the Resch Center.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the Green Bay Phoenix's ongoing struggle to earn the respect they feel they deserve from opponents and the league. Coach Gottlieb believes the team needs to play with more toughness and intensity to change that perception, which will be crucial as they look to compete in their conference this season.