A Perfect December

The Flyers took care of an over matched BoEff you, Terriers!ston University squad 74-60 to close out December 7-0. The Terriers played like a team capable of losing to an Ivy League team (as they did to Harvard earlier this year). The vaunted Flyer D is really starting to vaunt, holding a less than impressive BU offense to  39% from the field and 33% from the arc. And not to beat a dead horse, but all that gnashing of teeth early in the season was clearly due to the superior competition. When the opposition isn't of BCS quality the D is more than capable of imposing their will.

A little more than a month ago coming off a lackadaisical showing against Towson, most Flyer fans were angst-ridden, wondering where last year's team had went. Was Charles Little really the linchpin?  Were Stevie Thomas's spastic ways the comedic grounding the team needed?  Did Wabs know what he was doing?  (I clearly never questioned that last one.  I have more faith in Wabs than I do in the sun rising tomorrow.)

After gutting the weak part of the OOC schedule, the Flyers head to Albuquerque with the chance to earn a signature win that would vault us into the Top 25. As it stands, the Flyers will have played four Top 25 teams after their game against the Lobos, and with the A-10 looking strong it's safe to put to bed any remaining worries about SOS. A split against Top 25 teams would be huge for the Flyers, combined with a respectable A-10 season the Flyers could cruise into the tourney. But we know that won't be the case. The A-10 will be a momentous struggle and we'll have to claw for each road victory.  And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hobblin' No More. Welcome back, Rob Lowery. I know he'd shown flashes of the Rob of old in the previous five games, but he erupted for a phenomenally efficient 23 last night and paced the Flyers. Though, it's early to derive much from Rob's statistics, he's up across the board. And if we have even a marginally improved Rob Lowery, Dayton goes from a team receiving votes to a bona fide Top 25 team. At worst he's a threat to be Barry Gibb to Wright and CJ's Maurice and Robin, at best he carries the team as he did last night and last season against Marquette. 

Rob is incredibly valuable for this ability to shoulder the burden. For as great of a player as CJ is at this juncture of his career, his game is more complimentary in style, drilling open kick-outs and feasting on the offensive glass. And for those games when Wright can't get the engines ignited, Lowery is the one true threat on this team that opposing defenses must key on. I'd guess he's worth a Disco, baby. Disco.minimum of 3 wins this season where we wouldn't have even been in the game if it had not been for the senior from Forestville, Maryland.

Look Out, Big Dog!  Other than Rob's sterling game, the stat that stuck out to me most was the minute distribution between Big Dog Searcy and Josh Benson, 18 to 17 respectively. Now, let's not dispute that they were the same quality of minutes, as Benson is still clearly the option behind Searcy.  But it's time to note the creeping emergence of Josh Benson. Early in the season, he was clearly over matched and intimidated by some talented big men, but the recent games against undersized teams has really allowed him to stretch his legs out and get comfortable. Over the last three games, against admittedly underwhelming competition, he's averaged 21 minutes, 7 points, and almost 6 rebounds. Certainly nothing earth-shattering,  but a welcome development nonetheless. What makes it most exciting though is the type of player Benson happens to be. Outside of Wright, nobody on the team has more basketball ability. His desire to work and confidence in his game are the two keys to him dominating the A-10, and I don't hesitate to use the word dominate because he is that physically gifted. The development of Josh Benson will be one of the most interesting sub plots of the season as he could become the rarest of the college breed, a dominant mid-major big man.

Wake Up, Gents.  We won't belabor the point, but our 2-guard rotation last night produced less than stellar stats. 0-8 from the field with 5 of those shots coming from long range between the pair. What makes Messieurs Johnson and Williams' early season slumping so frustrating is that we've seen what they're capable of in the past. Particularly, MJ, a Preseason A10 Second Team Selection, has suffered a plethora of injuries which have led to a loss in confidence. Here's hoping a big game shakes both out of their slumps, because as well as we've played of late the additional punch these two could provide really would prove beneficial.

Paul Willie's Struggles Continue

True Shooting Percentage: the formula is PTS / (2 * (FGA + 0.44 * FTA)). True shooting percentage is a measure of shooting efficiency that takes into account field goals, 3-point field goals, and free throws

Around the corner awaits the huge game at the Pit. The one we've had circled on our calendar for weeks. As mentioned, splitting games against Georgia Tech, Villanova, Kansas State, and New Mexico would really open the selection committee's eyes come Selection Sunday. Perhaps it's the last of the tremors from the tequila, but I've got a gut feeling the Flyers will make us proud in Albuquerque. The team looks confident and prepared. Here's hoping my gut proves prophetic and not just booze sick.

		S	MIN	PTS	FGM	FGA	FG%	FTM	FTA	FT%	3PM	3PA	3P%	OR	DR	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF
	C. Lowe	*	37	17	5	18	27	3	3	100	4	10	40	1	6	7	6	0	1	2	1
	J. Holland	*	35	9	3	12	25	3	5	60	0	8	0	0	4	4	2	1	1	2	3
	J. O`Brien	*	31	9	4	10	40	0	0	0	1	3	33	2	4	6	0	0	0	3	3
	T. Morris	*	31	7	3	6	50	0	0	0	1	4	25	0	1	1	6	0	0	3	4
	J. Pelage	*	17	2	1	2	50	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	1	2
	C. Strong		30	13	4	4	100	2	2	100	3	3	100	0	2	2	0	1	0	1	0
	V. Sirutis		17	3	1	2	50	0	0	0	1	2	50	1	1	2	2	0	0	2	4
	S. Smith		2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
		S	MIN	PTS	FGM	FGA	FG%	FTM	FTA	FT%	3PM	3PA	3P%	OR	DR	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF
	C. Wright	*	26	19	8	10	80	3	4	75	0	1	0	2	6	8	1	0	0	2	2
	P. Williams	*	25	2	0	4	0	2	2	100	0	3	0	0	2	2	1	0	0	1	0
	L. Warren	*	25	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	9	2	0	1	2
	M. Perry	*	19	5	2	8	25	0	1	0	1	7	14	0	2	2	2	0	0	1	1
	K. Huelsman	*	17	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	5	0	1	0	3	1
	R. Lowery		23	23	8	10	80	0	0	0	7	9	77	0	3	3	4	1	0	2	1
	D. Searcy		18	6	3	4	75	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	1	1	2
	J. Benson		17	7	2	5	40	3	3	100	0	0	0	0	2	2	2	0	0	2	1
	C. Johnson		16	12	4	4	100	3	3	100	1	1	100	2	2	4	0	0	0	2	2
	M. Johnson		14	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	3

Comments

[timmycouch]

New mexico knocked off 24th ranked texas tech last night by an easy 15. i thought this was an important game at the beginning of the season because i wanted to see how the Flyers would react at the Pit's environment, but this game has taken on a whole new level of importance. These lobos are out for blood

[Tweeds]

As I sit at work staring out my window at the Chicago snow and pondering why I used up all my 2009 vacation days...I find my mind wandering continously to the one constant in my life- UD basketball. Couple thoughts from last nights game.

1) It definitely looks like Rob has his legs back. All those 3s he was missing earlier this season went in last night. This guy is a winner and a really nice guy too. I was at a wedding this summer at UD and my roommates and I were a few walls deep at Tims after the reception. Rob and London roll in and starte hitting the Grey Goose right next to us. We start talking to them BSing about last season and we all walked away saying/sluring what a nice guy Rob and LW were. One day I'm going to be mumbling incoherently to my great great grandchildren about the time Rob outplayed then All-American candidate Dominic James head to head in a preseason round robin tournament outside of Chicago.

2) Not only is Bucky mispronouncing Lowery, but he sounds extremely uncomfortable almost as if passing a Kidney Stone or near death while reciting Robs name.

3) Love the call out on Benson. Josh is "just scratching the surface" as Larry said about 5 times last night. While it was against inferior competition, he has really impressed me recently. He hasn't even played in 10 college games yet. While 7 and 6 isn't earth shattering for most, it definitely is for UD. I've never seen a UD big man shoot (and make) a 15 footer of a screen and roll which is what Josh did last night. I'm anxious to see how he develops this season.

4) Big Dog may be losing minutes to Benson b/c he is spending too much time with his card collection. Don't know if anyone caught this gem on DDN
http://www.daytondailynews.com/dayton-sports/university-of-dayton-flyers/ud-s-searcy-has-basketball-cards-that-provide-history-lesson-463058.html

5) Is it just me or is College Basketball whoring out Madison Square Garden this year. There was always the preseason NIT, but this year I feel like every week ESPN has a new game at MSG.

Looking forward to the New Mexico game. Keep up the good work guys.

[John]

Yes, TWEEDS HAS ENTERED THE REALM!

My persistence of ignoring UDPride and getting to post on Blackburn is paying off!

Tweeds is the man, get drunk and go get some son!

[Adam]

December may not have been the toughest month a team could ever face, but it was about perfect for what it was. Rob "Laurie" Lowery Wortha Mill is healthy and ready to go, Benson got the minutes he needed against weaker foes to knock off the nerves and rust, and they went unbeaten in the process. Good stuff.

Looking forward to this season. 10-2, solid in the NCAA at-large discussion, and still plenty of room under the potential ceiling to improve. I like their chances in A10 play and in March.

[Jim O'Brien]

I say dear chaps, I do believe Ollie is starting to hit his stride.

[BrownsFlyer]

I'm just glad we got our swag back.

[Tweeds]

Will MJ ever get his swag back? I have a 9-12 day at work and I planned on wasting an hour or so of this pointless workday on the New Mexico recon, but was sadly mistaken. You guys forced me back over to the Pride fest to read swampy!

I've got your shithouse comment of the week. Its the poll over at UD pride "How would you rate the '08-'09 Dayton Flyers?" is it A) Excellent, B) Good, C) Average, D) Below Average, or E) Failure.

What moron made up that question!