University of Dayton junior forward Chris Wright will announce later today that he plans to enter the NBA draft but won’t hire an agent, leaving open the possibility of returning for his senior year, the Dayton Daily News has learned.
Wright will be holding a press conference to discuss his intentions. The 6-foot-8 Trotwood native was named first-team All-Atlantic 10 this season and helped the Flyers to an NIT championship. UD has averaged 25 wins per season during Wright’s three years.
Nothing surprising here. Wright basically painted himself into a corner by flirting, and heavily petting, with the idea of leaving last season. Anything less than declaring this year would mean failure, a step back.
Honestly, when you get right down to it, this is a complete vanity moment for Chris Wright. Arguably UD's third-best player during the NIT run, Wright isn't even projected to go in the second round. This is just another odd "look at me" episode from Trotwood's Finest.
Last night was like taking that nasty yellow Triamenic as a kid; we needed it, but it wasn't at all enjoyable. With the outcome decided before the Explorers laced up their sneakers, Dayton withstood a second half rally to pull away and sink LaSalle 68-54.
We had quite a few things working in our favor. 1 - LaSalle is godawful. 2 - WE DO NOT LOSE AT HOME!!11! 3 - Rodney Green had an off night. And for the Explorers, a night without Green is akin to bringing your gun but forgetting the bullets. Shit just isn't going to work.
Front court doing work. The Big Dog was hungry and JBen (yeah, I did it) was effective. They combined for 18 and 8 (though all 8 of those boards were the Big Dog's). Huelsman managed zero points on a single shot. I think it's safe to say Kurt's mini-hot streak (two games!) was less an announcement than the passing yelp of a stranded puppy. As an avowed Huelsman-ite it pains me to say this, but it's time to get us some more Big Dog & Benson. As an offensively challenged team, we need the buckets likeLucy Pinder has natural talent. Blackburn needs his coke. It's time for BG to don some silly getup (I suggest cowboy) and sit down the pride of Small Town Ohio and explain that he'll continue to start, but we need him to bring his intangibles closer to Billy Schmidt where they can really be savored. He gets 10-15 minutes a game, runs away with the consecutive starts record, and we split the remaining minutes between Benson and Searcy.
Aaric Murray did his best Rob Lowery impression, single handedly shooting his team out of the game. Granted he's shooting 43% from deep, but 1-11 from 3 is gag worthy. I'd trade a kidney for Murray (12.5/6.6/2.5 blocks as a 6'10" frosh) and he has been effective from deep, but I prefer my uber-talented big men to not avoid the lane like it's got the clap (people still get Chlamydia, right?).
Fine PR. I realize it's how things are done and primarily it's just considered sportsmanship, but in post-game interviews the Flyers really let loose a double barrel blast of clichés and compliments.
“It was a hard win. It was a hard fought game. We knew we had to come out and execute our game plan," Josh Benson.
“They are a really talented team," Benson again.
“In this league every team and every night you have to come to play. If not, they are going to beat you. La Salle is really talented. We were able to stay focused and come away at the end,” Goddamned Mickey Perry.
“You take it like you would take any other game. We just have to build on it and not make the same mistakes again," Christ Wright.
Again, I realize that's how shit's done. Be complimentary, bury any personality, and hide behind clichés, but what would you pay to hear some honest post-game appraisal? I'd give my other kidney.
Exalting of the Christ. I imagine most of you have seen the Chris Wright puff piece (is he an Olympian?) by now. But for those of you who haven't, I went slumming for you at the Pride and return with this little treasure.
Lots of gold in there, but my favorite is the snippet with his old AAU coach. My lord, you can't tell me they didn't find that man sleeping on a bed of newspapers under a park bench and mumbling about his lost pocket watch. I could see the bits of twig and debris in his beard. When that's an authority figure or role model in your life, you know times are tough.
Up next. We travel to Pitssburgh to take on the Duqs this Sunday. And to the bane and incredulity of the rest of America, it will be televised on ESPN2. You can't like our chances. It took 2 missed free throws by a career 79% free throw shooter to save our ass in the first game. This one's on the road where it would be safe to say we're uncomfortable. A loss and Wabs can start arranging our first round NIT game at the Arena.
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.
April 7, 2010 
