Bring Your Furniture to the Road, and Let's Light it on Fire.

Before Dan Curran poured his first glass of warm milk and began molding the campus into his private little day camp for rich kids, the University of Dayton was ever so slightly more blue collar.  And in those days of hedonism, it wasn't uncommon to celebrate by igniting the nearest available armchair and tossing it into the middle of the street.  And for those of you asking, "Why?" It's clear to me that you'veGood, clean fun. never set cheap acrylics afire.

As high schoolers, we'd regularly make the trip to UD for the weekend.  Did we look out of place?  Like a minority at a Glenn Beck rally.  Did we drink enough Jagermeister to bring a full grown heifer to its knees? Youbetcha.  But, goddamnit, we cherished the opportunity to carry one corner of a couch to a street and witness the ensuing bonfire.  Because one good burning coffee table deserves a love seat, and so on.

That, my friends, was a shellacking. We led by 13 at the half, and then proceeded to make 18 of our 25 shots in the second half. The numbers tell the story.  We shot 56% from the field, 54% from 3 and hit on 21 or 29 from the free throw line. When we shoot like we did yesterday afternoon, we're capable of beating damn near any team in the country.

Chris Wright's mom is sitting on her living room floor with a stack of 30 VHS tapes and making copies of the game film as quickly as possible. That was Chris Wright the NBA prospect on Saturday.  He was all over the court; scoring, blocking shots, and rebounding. But what makes him so baffling as a player is how easy he made it look. You watch and think he's got a gear that most others don't.  But as easy as it looked for Christ on Saturday, he could look equally as frustrated on Wednesday.  And that's the difference between good and great, consistency.

We dominated the game at the PG position. Rob and London were at their peak of effectiveness. They stymied Holloway all afternoon (no assists and 4 TOs) and were the catalyst for our efficient offense. Between the 2 they put up 23 points, 8 boards, 8 assists, and 4 steals.

As an avowed London fan, I'm getting ready to miss him already. I realize his absence will likely be overshadowed quickly by the arrival of Juwan Staten, but once he's gone we're unlikely to witness The Shamari Stopperanything of his ilk again. All heart and hustle and absolutely nothing resembling a jump shot (6 3 point attempts in the past 3 years), he's been setting the tone for the Flyer's the past two seasons.

As expected, Jordan Crawford got his.  24 points on 14 shots.  He's hands down the best player in the A-10.  I'd say he's probably the best player the conference has seen since Jameer Nelson's stocky ass was dominating on Hawk Hill. Here's to hoping he goes pro this offseason. Something about his demeanor makes me think he may be the type to bolt for the cash.

Huge game against A-10 leader(!) Charlotte on Wednesday. Fortunately, they're coming to the Arena.  I propose someone bring an emergency bucket of fried chicken and if Shamari Spears begins to dominate, lure him off the court with some deep fried goodness.

Xavier vs. Dayton

Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%): adjusts for the fact that a 3-point field goal is worth one more point than a 2-point field goal.
Turnover Percentage (TO%): is an estimate of turnovers per 100 plays.
Offensive Rebouning Percentage (OR%): measures a team's ability to get offensive rebounds.
Free Throw Rate (FT Rate): is a measure of both how often a team gets to the line and how often they make them.

		S	MIN	PTS	FGM	FGA	FG%	2PA	2PA	2P%	3PM	3PA	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF
	T. Holloway	*	35	12	3	8	37	2	4	50	1	4	25	5	5	100	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	2
	D. Jackson	*	32	9	3	8	37	0	0	0	3	8	37	0	0	0	1	1	2	2	2	0	2	3
	J. Crawford	*	32	24	8	14	57	5	8	62	3	6	50	5	7	71	2	2	4	5	2	0	4	4
	J. Love	*	27	7	2	8	25	2	8	25	0	0	0	3	5	60	0	6	6	0	1	1	1	2
	J. McLean	*	26	7	3	5	60	3	5	60	0	0	0	1	1	100	3	4	7	1	0	0	2	4
	M. Lyons		16	3	1	5	20	1	3	33	0	2	0	1	2	50	0	1	1	1	0	0	2	1
	A. Taylor		14	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	3
	K. Frease		10	0	0	3	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	1	0	0	1	2
	B. Redford		8	3	1	3	33	0	0	0	1	3	33	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
		S	MIN	PTS	FGM	FGA	FG%	2PA	2PA	2P%	3PM	3PA	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF
	C. Wright	*	31	17	6	13	46	5	11	45	1	2	50	4	7	57	4	5	9	1	0	3	2	2
	P. Williams	*	23	7	3	6	50	3	5	60	0	1	0	1	1	100	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5
	C. Johnson	*	22	18	6	8	75	4	5	80	2	3	66	4	4	100	3	3	6	3	1	1	2	1
	K. Huelsman	*	18	4	2	3	66	2	3	66	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	2	0	1	1	0	4
	L. Warren	*	18	7	3	5	60	3	5	60	0	0	0	1	2	50	0	4	4	3	2	0	4	3
	M. Johnson		21	10	3	4	75	3	4	75	0	0	0	4	6	66	0	4	4	0	0	0	3	2
	R. Lowery		21	16	4	7	57	1	2	50	3	5	60	5	6	83	1	3	4	5	2	0	1	2
	D. Searcy		20	4	1	5	20	1	5	20	0	0	0	2	2	100	3	5	8	0	0	1	0	1
	M. Perry		13	7	3	4	75	2	2	100	1	2	50	0	0	0	0	2	2	1	0	0	2	0
	J. Benson		10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	0
	D. Fox		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	M. Kavanaugh		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
	L. Hendrick		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Comments

[John]

Weak ass post

[kremer]

Does anyone understand why paulie has been getting the 2nd most minutes per game? Seems very odd to me, even if his defense is pretty good.

[Adam]

I think screaming at the top of his lungs (I could hear him in the 400s) after tipping in his own missed layup with his team down 16 should tell you that Crawford is out to get his and get paid as soon as possible. Great player, though. Too bad he has to do it by himself about half the time.

[DiSab]

I'd second John, even though there's not really much to say that hasn't been said already. Just total domination beginning to end. If we play like that the rest of the year, we could very well be back in the tourney talk soon (if not already). I like the intensity, too - I guess BG's no-hooker policy worked.

I really hope we get X in AC again. I think we can definitely take them down on a neutral court. Will it be another 25-point drumming? Doubtful. But I think we could beat them solidly by about 10 points.

Richie took down Temple as well. I'm thinking that the games at Temple and at Richie may be our two toughest games we have left. Win at least one of them and I can't imagine we won't be dancing. Should be fun.

[Jim O'Brien]

I don't know if it was just me and I know it doesn't really show in the box score, but I thought London had the best game of his career. I thought he was all over the court and was making a lot of great plays.

[The Situation]

yea his back-to-back steals were huge for our 2nd-half intensity. i think kurt also played huge, even though he scored 4 pts.

[Jim O'Brien]

I agree with you. In terms of who they are as players, that was probably the best games in their respective roles that they've had this season.

I always hesitate to compliment london, cause i did it once early in the year and it ended up being lowery who made the play hahaha.

[John]

Biggest win of the year. A must win and they come up and dominate. Not barely skate by with a two or four point win like was expected and we get a write up my ass could have written last night before passing out.

Seems the articles are a lot bigger when UD looses but when they win in convincing fashion it is a "ho-hum" approach.

UD wins on Wednesday and they have a stronger overall resume than X, Charlotte and Richmond (who has an sos of 80) ... and UD would get the nod over X and Charlotte (assuming a win on Weds) even if they are one game behind them at the end of the season.

[Tom Blackburn]

@John: pump your brakes, buddy. The Xavier win was for survival, we aren't even close to being out of the woods yet. The next three weeks are going to be a lot of fun.

[John]

I agree. I think UD still has to climb uphill. But winning by 25 sends a message I believe and hopefully gives UD a blueprint to follow the next five games or so.

The next three weeks started last Thursday. Fun stuff so far!

[Daddy D]

How many teams are going to get into the tourney from the A-10? 6 teams are jockeying for position, but I still think 4 is where it will land. The league is good enough (and PAC10 bad enough) that A10 gets at least 3 spots. Pencil in Temple right now, they would need an epic collapse to not make it. Is anyone else going to step up and separate themselves from the pack?

I think Charlotte is going to fall flat. Everyone will be gunning for them now, I don't think they are actually that good. They are the one team I see being left out.

[The Situation]

i love having fun

[Secaur]

@Daddy D: I agree on Charlotte. Feels like they have been playing a bit over their heads, doesn't it?

I think Rhode Island is another candidate to fall flat. I've seen the Rams play a few times this year and have come away largely unimpressed. I am afraid if UD stumbles, it's gonna be Temple, X, and Richmond (or Charlotte if they hang on?).

[Tom Blackburn]

@Daddy D: That sounds about right, 3-4 bids come Selection Sunday. Although I would pay money to see Billy Packer's face if the A-10 got six teams in.

@The Situation: I had a feeling...

[kremer]

In reagrds to how many A-10 teams make the big dance......I know this is kind of obvious, but it all depends on how many upsets there are in conference tournaments.....does someone from the PAC 10 suprise? how abotu the SEC? do any of the top 3 teams win the MWC? how about the A-10 tourney? if there a suprise (not X, Temple, UD, Char, Ri, richmond) how does that affect how many teams get in?

Also thoughts on if conference tourney= auto bids is actually a good idea. I think conference tournaments should be used to boost resume's for postseason play and regular season winner gets auto bid.....just my opinion...

[Oliver]

I'll go ahead an apologize for the sorry 400 words of post up top.

I drank way to much bourbon last night and had an afternoon of painting an apartment ahead. You could imagine where my head was this morning. I promise my posts will be back up to the longer, but equally as disappointing length soon. The same dearth of legitimate analysis will apply as well.

[John]

If the A-10 gets less than 4 teams I'd be fucking shocked.

5 could happen if things fall right, but 4 is a lock.

[Tom Blackburn]

@kremer: exactly. the tourney projections are based if everything was predictable. All it takes is a few upsets here and there in conference tournaments to cut away at some bids. I would think the 4th or 5th A-10 team would be near the top of the chopping block.

[timmycouch]

ollie, ive been a part of two couch burning thus far this year. just trying to keep tradition alive

[Oliver]

@Timmy: God bless your soul.

[DiSab]

Here's my prediction - take it as you will. Richmond takes the A-14 tourney and gets the auto bid. X, Temple, UD, and URI (in that order) gets at-large bids, much to the surprise of the majority of the nation. Charlotte falls out by the end of the season, but redeems themselves (at least in their eyes) by winning the NIT.

[Rich]

Re: London Warren. I think that Warren and Huelsman both awoke out of career-long offensive funks going back to the first X game, and MJ's fade-away jumper seems to have been reborn. If these 4-year seniors at UD continue to step up, I think this team will get on a roll.

[Jim O'Brien]

@Rich: Agreed, high five.

@John: Yeah the posts are longer because we drink harder. Its not like we're getting paid for this. You're expecting too much from a blog full of Dayton alums who have jobs and other responsibilities to balance with their alcoholism. It was a huge win and we live blogged it while drinking. There wasn't much more to say. If you want to see a really weak ass post go check out the Dayton Daily Worker, then be glad you have us.

[John]

Just speaking my mind kids.

I love the site ... just that was weak.

[Secaur]

Dan Fox picked up another trillion against X. He's had 3 trillion against both Lehigh and GW earlier this year. His (lack of) stat line this season is pretty impressive: 0 points, 1 rebound, 1 TO, 1 steal and 3 fouls in 18 mins of action.