Fuck.

That, my friends, was a bad loss.  The type of bad loss that we can't suffer again if we hope to be considered for an at-large bid.  There's no silver lining, no moral victory, nothing positive to take away from this game (other than Wright's dominance).  That St Joe's team isn't very good and will likely finish around .500 in conference play.  And as frequently as they invited us to run away the game, they outplayed us.  You aren't going to beat anyone when you shoot 36% from the field, 14% from three and turn the ball over 17 times.  Not even if you dominate the glass (42 to 29 us).

From deep.  BG had this to say post-game, “One-third of our shots were threes. That’s not who we are. Who we are is pretty good, but when we try to do something else the results speak for themselves.” Boy do I hate you, Hawk. While he may pay lip service to the idea of us not being a team that relies on the 3, it's clearly a bunch of shit.  In fact we only shot 1 more 3 last night than our season average.  Through 19 games, we've hoisted 394 three point attempts for an average of 21 a game.  That's a lot of fucking 3s, especially when you shoot an icy 32.5% from 3.

Give Phil Martelli credit.  As obvious as it seems to zone us, he's one of the few coaches willing to abandon man-to-man.  Not only did they zone us, they dared us to shoot from deep, sagging into the lane as if every shooter was London.  That might have been the most frustrating aspect of the game, so many of those bricks were the result of a wide open shot.

As it seems incredibly obvious to zone the Flyers from here out, college coaches will prove to be as stubborn as a toddler and will remain true to man-to-man.  I'd be willing to wager that we're zoned by less than half of our opponents from here out.

Why, hello Chris!  Just when you've written Chris Wright off, he goes and does something like this.  He just imposed his will against the overmatched Hawks.  Nobody on the St. Joes roster has half of the raw athletic ability of Chris and he put it to good use.  At times he looked like a man amongst boys, just flying around and trying to rip the room off the glass.  My favorite Wright play of the evening was when he caught the ball out on the break at half court and he had a teammate to his left and a St. Joes player in between when he decided nobody was getting in his way.  The Hawks player slowed and allowed the inevitable to happen as he wanted no part of the impending carnage.  The whole series of events; the determination, the athleticism, the shrinking opponent was LeBron-esque.  And you can pay no higher compliment to a basketball player.

And as outstanding as Wright was last night, it'll only be a tease.  This wasn't a breakout performance.  More of anomaly than an announcement of an arrival.  This is because Christ Wright's game remains complementary.  He can't create his own shot and he can't hit from deep, so he's forced to rely on put backs, fast break points, and setups from teammates.  This is also why he's so attractive to NBA scouts as well.  His role in the NBA won't require him to try to perform the tasks we so want him to.

Ugh.  As I've discussed before, Rob Lowery is a big component to this squad.  We need his ability to challenge defenses.  But of late he's been dreadful, and last night certainly was no exception.  In the last 3 games, Rob's a chilly 6-29 from the field with 7 turnovers.  Not what you hope for from your senior point guard.

Last night was a peculiar game for him.  He came out hesitant, seeming reluctant to shoot.  And I don't know if someone put a bug in his ear or he decided it was Rob time on his own, but the last five minutes of the game he tried to take the game over. launching like Pop-A-Shot.  We won't begin to discuss that last shot either.

Miscellanea.  Hard not to wonder if Luke would have changed the outcome of that game.  I know I certainly wouldn't have been upset to see our 48% three point shooter trying to  bust up that zone.  One of BG's strengths is his designing of plays.  Why not call a time out on that last possession and try to draw something up?  Hindsight...but damn. 

Paul Williams go home.  0-2 with 3 turnovers.  IUPUI has a fantastic general studies program I hear.  Marcus must have reinjured the wrist in practice this week.  St. Joes may have played a lot of underclassmen, but I'm still not too optimistic about their future.  Not a standout amongst the whole bunch.

No rest for the weary as we return to the friendly confines of the Arena and welcome an unfriendly Rhode Island Rams squad.  It goes without saying, but we need the W.  A loss and we fall below .500 in conference.  Ugly. 

In closing, fuck.

Dayton vs. St. Joseph's

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%	FTM	FTA	FT%	3PM	3PA	3P%	OR	DR	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF
	M. Johnson	*	33	8	3	11	27	1	2	50	1	6	16	1	3	4	2	1	1	3	3
	C. Wright	*	32	28	12	20	60	4	5	80	0	2	0	3	2	5	0	1	2	3	1
	K. Huelsman	*	24	1	0	2	0	1	2	50	0	0	0	3	2	5	0	0	0	1	1
	C. Johnson	*	22	5	2	9	22	1	2	50	0	5	0	3	4	7	0	0	1	1	2
	L. Warren	*	22	6	1	3	33	4	4	100	0	0	0	1	8	9	4	1	0	1	3
	R. Lowery		22	6	2	8	25	1	2	50	1	5	20	1	2	3	5	5	0	2	2
	M. Perry		21	5	2	5	40	0	0	0	1	2	50	0	3	3	3	1	0	0	2
	D. Searcy		11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	1
	J. Benson		7	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
	P. Williams		6	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2
		S	MIN	PTS	FGM	FGA	FG%	FTM	FTA	FT%	3PM	3PA	3P%	OR	DR	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF
	G. Williamson	*	38	15	6	9	66	3	4	75	0	1	0	1	4	5	2	3	1	3	1
	I. Hilliard	*	35	13	5	9	55	3	4	75	0	0	0	1	5	6	1	2	0	1	3
	D. Govens	*	30	11	4	10	40	2	2	100	1	5	20	1	4	5	3	1	0	5	1
	J. Crosgile	*	24	10	2	8	25	4	4	100	2	6	33	1	0	1	2	0	0	2	0
	T. O`Brien	*	22	2	1	3	33	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	0	3	2	2	3
	C. Jones		15	3	1	5	20	0	0	0	1	2	50	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	1
	B. Irwin		12	5	2	2	100	0	0	0	1	1	100	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2
	C. Prescott		12	0	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	2	2	0	0	0	0
	C. Baptiste		9	1	0	1	0	1	2	50	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
	C. Bentley		3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	1	0	0	0	0

The Road to the NBA Goes Through Dayton

I can't pronounce any of these names.My interest in the NBA is fleeting at best.  I find college basketball more entertaining both for it's style of play and it's story lines.  I get into it sometimes, and maybe one day if the Knicks stop being a barren waste land of futility, I'll watch more (LeBron 2010!).  I randomly caught bits and pieces of the NBA draft last week praying the Knicks got that 16 year old Spaniard kid.  As the scotch began to swill, I started to wonder how some of these guys did against Dayton.  I wanted to see how BG's coaching strategies and style of play limited some of the best talent in the country.  More importantly, how did our  talent execute against players who would go on to play professionally, in America of course?  Everyone knows that Dayton already dominates the international ranks (ed. note: See Finn, Sean; Roberts, Brian; Holland, Yuanta; and THE GREAT WHALE).  I don't know what I'm going to learn, if anything.  But I'm curious about this, so I'm going to assume I'm not the only one.

Terrence Wiliams, Louisville (11^th, New Jersey Nets) In his first meeting against Dayton in the late fall of 2006, Mr. Williams was held to 9 points and 5 boards, shooting 33% from the field and sporting a lackluster 0-4 from 3 point range.  In the second loss to Dayton, Mr. Williams was more effective on the boards with 9 rebounds but was kept in check by the Flyer defense limiting him to 4-11 shooting on the day.  They said during the draft broadcast that he wears a Sponge Bob Square Pants backpack around campus.  Some of the broadcasters seemed surprised, but its my understanding that's how you attract a mate in Kentucky.

Tyler Hansbrough, UNC (13^th, Indiana Pacers) If seeing blood or vomit makes you queasy, I think you should just skip over all of the North Carolina players that were drafted this year.  The Great White Hope pretty much did what we expected, 17 points, 3 boards and a nice restful second half.  Two and a half years later I feel like Mr. Hansbrough would have beaten down on Kurt even worse if they played today and it's not because Hansbrough has grown as a basketball player.

Earl Clark, Louisville (14^th, Phoenix Suns) In the 2006 loss to Dayton, Mr. Clark was a lonely freshman who was more worried about getting out of David Padgett's post game Bible class than getting on the court.  In the second match up, Earl was a beast to the tune of 15 points and 12 rebounds.  Clark was too talented for Little and Binnie, but not talented enough to win.

Ty Lawson, UNC (18^th, This pick has been traded around more times that an orphan, Denver Nuggets) I'm really happy I chose not to watch this game.  I pretty much decided to pretend it wasn't happening.  Turns out I was right and the second ranked Tar Heels (one word or two?) just plowed us (but hey we scored first!).  But even though Lawson started, he was limited to only 5 points in 19 minutes, but his 7 assists, I'm sure, were appreciated.

Wayne Ellington, UNC (28^th, Minnesota Timberwolves) Apparently there were more than enough points to go around as Wayne took Dayton for 15 points, including 3 of 5 from deep.  Can we all pretend this game didn't happen now?  Although I'd love to get a rematch with them this year because it would be a good hash mark for our development as a program, but I digress.

Sam Young, Pitt (36^th, Memphis Grizzlies) The Pitt series was a tale of two games, if I may be so cliche, and it showed a lot about the growth of our team over the past 3 years.  If  you think defending the post has been a shaky proposition for us these past couple of years, don't worry.  Sam Young was no different.  In our meeting on Christmas Eve Eve 2006, Mr. Young came off the bench and threw down 18 points in 19 minutes and tagged on 4 boards and 2 assists.  The second game, Dayton smothered the post limiting Young to playing from the perimeter which he proved he just wasn't ready for with 5-17 shooting, ending the game with an ineffective 15 points, 7 rebounds as Dayton won in a rout.

DeJuan Blair, Pitt (37^th, San Antonio Spurs) Coming off a breakout performance (20 rebounds, 15 points upset over the then 6th ranked Blue Devils) in his freshman campaign, I'm sure DeJuan Blair was licking his chops when Big Kurt came calling.  You have to keep in mind that Kurt was a sophmore, so we expected PROGRESSION and not the REGRESSION that has become oh so apparent after 3 years in Flyer Land.  So I wasn't really shocked as pleased that Huelsman held Blair to 9 and 6 which was well under his season average (11 ppg and 9rpg).  Keeping Blair in check was helped none the less by his early foul trouble and as did LaVance Fields going down early in the second to ankle trouble.  Let's just allow Kurt to have this one, agreed?  Great, no angry letters.

Derrick Brown, Xavier (40th, Charlotte Bobcats) Have fun playing for that directionless franchise!  Sucker.  My personal feelings aside, I can't honestly say that Mr. Brown is anything short of an exceptional talent.  Especially when in his career, Xavier was 7-1 against Dayton.  With his athleticism, I expected him to go earlier in the draft, not much earlier, but at least in the first round.  For the sake of brevity, I'll just give you the stats from the two contests from the past seasoHansbrough is a little bit country, and well, Nivins hates that shit. n where Derrick did very little to disappoint.  In the loss, he posted 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and later in victory he washed the boards to the tune of 12 rebounds (6 offensive, 6 defensive) and 11 points.

Danny Green, North Carolina (46^th, Cleveland Cavaliers) Mr. Green didn't get the start in what I shall now refer to as The Carolina Curb Stomp.  That doesn't mean he didn't have an opportunity to flash his skills.  His point total doesn't jump off the page with only 5 in almost 20 minutes of action, but his 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks shows the kind of versatility and athletic ability that gets you drafted in the middle of the second round.  You hear that Wright?  MIDDLE OF THE SECOND ROUND.  No guaranteed money there, buddy.

Ahmad Nivins, St. Joe’s (56^th, Dallas Mavericks) The Atlantic 10 Player of the Year finally lived up to his talent with a healthy year.  He's got a solid chance to make a team.  Nivins finished 4th in the country in rebounding and proved he could hit a medium-range jumper playing for St. Joe's.  In their only match up of the season Dayton got the win, but Mr. Nivins got his.  UD held him to his third lowest point total of the year with 11 points and 36% shooting from the field, but couldn't stop him on the boards as he collected 13 rebounds.

Let's go ahead and throw away the game against UNC, that team just didn't have the talent or the coaching to compete against the eventual 2007 ACC champs and there is no shame in that.  Yet looking at these other games a pattern does start to emerge.  Low shooting percentages and high rebound totals are the norm.  The best I can figure is that there are two reasons for this.  One, BG's slow tempo style and smothering defense have dictated terms of engagement.  Limiting possessions and keeping fresh defenders on the court has been effective in the games facing players with a high level of talent and not just against the dregs of the A10 and South West McNesse Tech State.  Two, the high rebound totals.  Especially on the defensive side, which accurately reflects our offensive shooting woes which kept me up at night screaming for the ghost of Roosevelt Chapman.  I have to say I'm surprised that we were able to impose our style of play on other talented teams, at least for stretches, as much as we did.  I feel a lot more comfortable about the Man Love I show towards our coach, now let's see what he can do this year with a team that's as talented as any I've ever seen on campus.