I challenge you, loyal readers, to view the picture below and provide a captivating caption that will cause “the shores a-crowding” with “people all exulting.” Should you provide the wittiest of captions, for you the flag will be flung and the bugles will trill.

In this picture, a George Washington player underestimated her leaping ability and found herself in a precarious position.

                                                                         Photo by Mickey Shuey (MickeyShueyPhotography.com)

You’ve got the context, now make like the father of free verse and create the best caption you can in the comments below.

I challenge you, loyal readers, to view the picture below and provide a captivating caption that will cause “the shores a-crowding” with “people all exulting.” Should you provide the wittiest of captions, for you the flag will be flung and the bugles will trill.

With conference play less than a month away, this picture could jog memories of battles past. In this picture, three  Dayton Flyers put a Xavier Musketeer in a vise grip.

Photo by Mickey Shuey (MickeyShueyPhotography.com)

You’ve got the context, now make like the father of free verse and create the best caption you can in the comments below.

Indiana State's Myles Walker

ORLANDO, FL –  Happy Day After Thanksgiving! The 2011 Old Spice Classic rolls on with four more games.

Leading off with Indiana State and Minnesota.

Minnesota leads the all-time series with Indiana State by a 2-1 margin. The two teams have not met since December 11, 1984 when the Sycamores earned a 94-86 home court victory against the Golden Gophers. The two previous seasons saw Minnesota defeat the Sycamores on their home court.

Indiana State is 5-0 for the first time since 2005-06 when they won their first eight games of that season. The Sycamores won their road opener this year at Louisiana-Monroe by the score of 71-59 on November 14. It marked the first time the Sycamores won their road opener since 2005. Indiana State has won one game by five points or less this season, upping their total of close victories to 36 since 2005. Indiana State has won two consecutive contests against current members of the Big 12 Conference following its 60-49 victory over Texas Tech on Thanksgiving.  Senior Jordan Printy has 164 career 3-pointers, which is second most all-time in the history of the program. Printy has recorded three consecutive double digit scoring performances.  The Sycamores have recorded more free throws made than their opponents in all five
games this season.

Trevor Mbakwe won the MVP at the 2010 Puerto Rico Tipoff with tourney averages of 15.3 points & 8.7 rebounds per game. Minnesota went 3-0 in the tournament with wins over Western Kentucky, #8 North Carolina and West Virginia. Mbakwe was later named the Big Ten Conference’s Player of the Week for his efforts. Minnesota has led the Big Ten Conference in blocked shots during the last three seasons, including three of the top four season block totals in the history of the Gopher program: a program leading 201 in 2008-09, 199 in 2009-10 and 169 last season. Senior Ralph Sampson III led the team in blocked shots last season and is currently fourth all-time in program history with 172 career swats. Minnesota has blocked 28 shots already this season, led by Trevor Mbakwe with eight.

Texas Tech and DePaul

DePaul and Texas Tech meet for the just the second time… the Blue Demons won the lone meeting, 50-47, on Dec. 17, 1983… the game was played in Toyko, Japan in a tournament called the Suntory Ball. A win would give DePaul a 3-1 start for the second time in the last three seasons… a win would also be No. 1,375 in program history… Jeremiah Kelly needs one steal for sole possession of 17th on DePaul’s career steals list… he has 126 and is tied with Sammy Meija (2003-07)… Kelly also needs one assist for sole possession of 21st all-time… he is tied with Joe Ponsetto (1975-78) at 264 assists.

Texas Tech is 3-11 all-time against schools currently in the Big East Conference —Cincinnati (0-1), DePaul (0-1), Georgetown (0-2), Marquette (0-1), Notre Dame (0-1), Pittsburgh (0-1), Providence (1-0), Seton Hall (1-0), St. John’s
(0-2), Syracuse (1-1) and West Virginia (0-1).

Jordan Tolbert came up big for the Red Raiders against Indiana State, as the 6-7 freshman connected on 8 of 13 shots from the field and 4 of 4 from the line for a career-high 20 points. He also pulled down a career best eight rebounds. Both led the way for the Red Raiders. Tolbert is second on the team in scoring (11.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.0 rpg).

Dayton vs. Fairfield

Tonight marks the third time in school history that the University of Dayton and Fairfield University have met on the hardwood. The Flyers won both of the previous meetings, including a 95-70 win in their first-ever meeting during
the 1967-68 campaign. The two teams did not cross paths again until the 1977-78 campaign when they faced each other in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. The Flyers came out on top by a 108-93 count in the tournament.

In the 80-76 victory against Wake Forest, Dayton had all five starters score in double figures, led by 18 points from Paul Williams. The 2011 Old Spice Classic is the fourth consecutive in-season tournament Dayton will have participated in. The Flyers won the Chicago Invitational Challenge in 2008, played in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off and came in second at the Global Sports Main Event last season. Next season, the Flyers will play in the DIRECT TV Charleston Classic. The Flyers are second in the Atlantic 10 in assists per game (17.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2). Dayton has out-rebounded every opponent this season and have a plus 6.3 margin.

Chris Johnson, a three-time Atlantic 10 award winner, scored a season-high 19 points against UNCWilmington. Johnson is second on the team in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and is third in scoring (11.3 ppg).  Paul Williams leads Dayton in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game and has scored in double figures in three games this season. He led UD with 18 points against Wake Forest. Matt Kavanaugh leads the A-10 in offensive rebounding with 4.8 per game. He recorded his first
career double-double with 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds versus Wake Forest. Kevin Dillard, a transfer from Southern Illinois and the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Rookie of the Year, is averaging 5.5 assists per game. He scored a season-high 18 points against UNC-Wilmington.

Rakim Sanders scored a game-high 21 points as the Stags defeated Arizona State University in the Old Spice Classic. Fairfield started the game quickly by scoring the first seven points of the game, all coming off the hand of Sanders.
Fairfield’s defense proved strong for Arizona State, forcing six turnovers in the opening six minutes of play. Fairfield never trailed in this game and led by as many as 19 points late in the contest before the Sun Devils
made a late run and cut the deficit to seven points just under three minutes remaining. Senior Ryan Olander hit a three pointer on the next possession to push the lead back to double figures where it would stay for the remainder of the game. Olander also finished in double figures with 11 points, while Sanders and Barrow would each contribute seven rebounds to the Stags cause.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Sometimes a bump on the head can be a good thing.

Just ask Dayton’s Luke Fabrizius.

With 5.8 seconds remaining in Friday’s Atlantic 10 quarter-final, Fabrizius needed directions to the foul line. The junior forward didn’t require any further instructions from there.

Fabrizius dropped a pair of free throws, and the Dayton Flyers fended off a furious comeback to defeat the top-seeded Xavier Musketeers 68-67 in A10 conference action at the Boardwalk Hall.

When Chris Johnson’s jumper kicked off the back rim, Fabrizius got position in a crowded lane to secure the rebound and draw the foul on his putback attempt.

“The ball happened to come off and got in my hands, and I got fouled,” Fabrizius said. “When I went down, I didn’t even hear the whistle go off. I didn’t even think I got fouled. ‘Wan’ (UD guard, Juwan Staten) looked at me and said ‘you’re shooting free throws.’ I had to shake it off and knocked ‘em down.”

The Flyers regained a lead they had held for the entire game.

UD jumped to a 21-3 advantage six minutes into the game.

Brandon Spearman hit Paul Williams for a catch-and-shoot 3 in transition, and the Flyers had their largest lead of the contest.

“It’s all just going out there and having fun not trying to over-think the game,” commented Flyer senior forward, Chris Wright. “If you go out there too excited, you start doing crazy things. We were able to go out there and play together.”

The Flyers shot 56 percent (14-25) from the field including 57 percent (4-7) from behind the arc in the first half.

The Musketeers won both matchups during their regular season against their conference foe, but the Flyers used the experience to their advantage. The Xavier offense, which has routinely kept opponents off-balance with a series of ball screens, struggled on the court at Boardwalk Hall.

“We had five different coverages in the ball screen,” explained Dayton head coach Brian Gregory. “You can’t guard them the same way all the time. Every time you make a mistake on a ball screen coverage, they take advantage more so than any team in 21 years of coaching I have ever seen. If you’re sloppy, they can shoot behind it. If you’re too aggressive, they split it. If your guards don’t get over the top, they reject it. Then they start hitting rolls.”

Dayton’s pressure limited Xavier to 38.5 percent (10-26) from the field while taking a 36-27 lead at the break.

The teams traded baskets after the break.

Paul Williams opened the half with a 3 from the top of the key.

Dante Jackson answered at the other end with a 3-ball of his own.

Chris Johnson finished in traffic for the Flyers.

Jamel McLean grabbed an offensive rebound and got the putback for a deuce.

At the other end, Johnson curled off a screen and connected from behind the arc to give the Flyers a lead at 46-32 with less than 15 minutes remaining.

But the Musketeers would not go gently into the South Jersey afternoon.

Jamel McLean finished a high pick-and-roll from Tu Holloway with a thunderous dunk.

“First, we just understand that Xavier’s a scary team going down the stretch,” Wright explained. “With a player like Tu and a guy like McLean that can really rebound on the offensive glass, we just wanted to stay poised. We just wanted to stick with what what we do because basketball is a game of runs, and we knew they [were] going to make a run.”

Then the Musky defense forced the Flyers into a difficult shot.

Jackson fed Kenny Frease for a baseline drop-step, and the lead was down to 59-57.

Holloway gave the X-Men its only lead with a left-handed lay up in traffic and a free throw.

Holloway led all scorers with 23 points. The junior point guard was 7-for-17 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line.

Lyons added 14 for the Musketeers, and McLean had 11. McLean and Frease had six rebounds a piece.

Wright led four Flyers in double figures with 15 points. Johnson had a game-high 10 rebounds along with 12 points. Williams added 14 and Fabrizius had 10.

Dayton plays Saturday at 1 p.m.

By Paul Casey Gotham

Setting: The Blackburn-McCafferty Trophy is on the line at the Cintas Center as Brian Gregory brings his Dayton Flyers (14-4/ 2-1) south on I 75 for a clash with Chris Mack and his Xavier Musketeers (10-5/ 2-0). The trophy honors former Dayton coach Tom Blackburn (1947-64) and Xavier coach and athletic director, Jim McCafferty (1957-63).

Plot: Position in conference standings is on the line. Along with the Musketeers, the Flyers trail three other unbeaten teams in the conference – Temple, George Washington and Duquesne.

There will be a plenty of energy on campus and plenty more on the court. Dayton will look to take advantage of Xavier’s short bench.  Ten Flyers average 10 or more minutes per game. Because of injuries, the Musketeers have nine scholarship players.

Sub-plot: Both squads enter play coming off a win. Chris Wright scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Flyers defeated the St. Joe’s Hawks 65-59. Tu Holloway led five Muskies in double figures as Xavier trounced UMass 79-50. Dayton has not won on Xavier’s home court since 1981.

Flashback: Holloway scored 22, and Jason Love corralled 10 rebounds as the X-Men advanced to the A10 semi-finals with a 78-73 triumph over the Flyers at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Dayton leads the series 82-63. Xavier has taken eight of the last nine meetings.

Xavier has earned 21 NCAA Tournament berths, including last year’s Sweet Sixteen run and Elite Eight showings in 2008 and 2004. Dayton’s resume includes 14 appearances in ‘The Dance.’ Brian Gregory took the Flyers to the tourney in 2009 and in 2004.

Foreshadowing: Sixteen Flyers have gone on to enjoy careers in the NBA, including Jim Paxson Jr. and Johnny Davis.  Seventeen Musketeers have played in the Association, including current stars Derrick Brown, Jordan Crawford, James Posey and David West.

Conflict: Both teams play games in the 60s. Dayton scores 66 while surrendering 62. Xavier scores 69 and gives up 64.  The Muskies hold a slight advantage in field goal percentage (44 percent to Dayton’s 39). Turnovers are a near wash. UD creates as many as they commit. XU has a slight advantage (.8). The Flyers take and make slightly more free throws per game than their adversaries as do the Musketeers.  But the Flyers have an edge on the boards. Their 5.6 rebounding margin ranks in the top 50 nationally.

Dayton’s Chris Wright and Xavier’s Jamel McLean could be the individual match-up of the night. Both average a near double-double (Wright 13.3 ppg/ 9.2, McLean 11.3 / 9.5).

Wright will end Dayton’s drought when he plays in the N.B.A. next year.  Wright can overpower with brute strength. He has developed a mid-range game that makes him difficult to guard. Opponents can not lay off him from 15 feet. Get too close though, and Wright will blow by a defender with one dribble and a dunk.

McLean’s back-to-the basket game has quietly matured. He is patient with the ball in the post allowing the play to develop and finding open teammates. At the same time, he can finish with either hand. When the ball goes in the air, McLean is difficult to keep in check.

Dayton’s freshman point guard, Juwan Staten, and Xavier’s Tu Holloway are primarily responsible for feeding the ball into the post.

Staten hands out more than six assists per game and he possesses a better than 2:1 assist to turnover ratio . For a freshman, he has an uncanny ability to play within himself.

Holloway has the talent to be the best point guard in the country, when he keeps his emotions in check. The Xavier junior could dominate Staten. But he also could lose sight of winning the game and turn the point guard battle into a personal confrontation.

Dante Jackson hit five of eight shots from long range when the Muskies beat Dayton at Cintas last year. Chris Johnson averages two threes a game for the Flyers. Jackson and Johnson could tip the scales in the game. Whoever of these guys gets hot will affect floor spacing and the length of passing lanes to be defended.

Xavier’s Mark Lyons and Kenny Frease have played inconsistently this year. Both are capable of big performances. It is also possible for them to be a liability.

At 7′, Frease is a difficult match-up. Add to that a baby hook he has developed and Frease can get 22 like he did against Wake Forest. The following game he accounted for zero at Gonzaga.

Lyons averages 12 a game. He scored 11 in a loss to Cincinnati and two in a loss to Florida. His assist to turnover rate is one to one, but those numbers do not include shots that Lyons forces.

Paul Williams provides a deep threat for the Flyers. The junior guard hits almost 49 percent from long range.

Dayton’s Josh Parker, Devin Searcy and Josh Benson combine for 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Conflict: After limping through the end of December and an emotional game at Cincinnati, the Musketeers seemed to have found their just in time for conference play. The Flyers will take this game to final minutes, but Xavier’s play-makers will be too much. Staten will put up a struggle, but Xavier’s experienced back court will outlast the freshman. Xavier will come away with with a five-point victory.

Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images

By Paul Gotham

Marcus Johnson led with 20 points.

Chris Wright and Chris Johnson added 14 points and nine rebounds apiece.

When it was over, Dayton’s Flyers defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 79-68 to take the 2010 NIT Championship.

Dayton beat North Carolina at their own game. The Flyers ran the floor at break-neck speed opting, more often than not, for the first available as opposed to the best shot.

The result saw the Flyers  compile 22 assists, many on their 11 3-pointers for the night. Chris Johnson hit two from behind the arc. Marcus Johnson added three, and Paul Williams came off the bench to drop four from long range.

The championship was Dayton’s first since their run in 1968. In the process, the Atlantic 10 school downed teams from four “power conferences” and left fans wondering about what could have been.

After thumping Illinois State 63-42 to open the tournament, Dayton bounced Cincinnati (Big East) 81-66. The Flyers then eliminated Illinois (Big Ten) 77-71 and Mississippi (SEC) 68-63 before taking down the Tar Heels (Atlantic Coast).

A season that started with great promise ended with the Flyers earning the spot as the nation’s 66th team.

After beating West Virginia in the opening round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament, Dayton looked poise for a deep run in this year’s tournament. The Flyers returned all five starters from that squad. Pre-season polls noted this and ranked the Flyers in the top twenty-five. Dayton earned the respect of its peers given the nod in October as the A-10′s top squad.

Along the way, Dayton stumbled through a 25-12 campaign and found themselves invited to the consolation tournament otherwise known as the NIT.

On the surface, Dayton’s ledger appears mediocre, but a closer inspection shows how small the margin of success can be.

Dayton’s 12 losses (all by single digits) amounted to a combined margin of 49 points or an average of 4.08 points per loss.  By comparison, Duke’s margin of defeat in five losses this season totalled 51 points. Michigan State’s nine defeats amounted to 60 points. West Virginia lost seven games by 58 points.

More than half of Dayton’s losses came to NCAA Tournament teams. The Flyers fell at Villanova by six, to Kansas State by eight, at New Mexico by two, at Temple by two, at Richmond by four, and twice to their I-75 rival, Xavier, by four and five.

Three of Dayton’s remaining defeats came on the road.

The sum of those losses left the Flyers with a chestful of lessons.

Chris Wright, Chris Johnson, Paul Williams, and Devin Searcy all return next year.  It will be a season full of opportunities for Coach Gregory and his Flyers to put into play the lessons learned from a season decided by the slightest of margins.

By Paul Gotham

Setting: The Robins Center will be rocking tonight with the sounds of an Atlantic 10 rumble. Brian Gregory brings his Dayton Flyers (19-9/ 8-6) to Richmond for a tilt with Chris Mooney’s Spiders (22-7/ 11-3).

Plot: Richmond already clinched at least third place in the A10 standings. With a pair of wins to close conference play, Dayton could jump from seventh to fourth.

Sub-plot: Dayton opened the season ranked. After back-to-back weeks in the polls, the Spiders fell from the top 25 this week. The Flyers are 4-6 on the road, including 2-5 in A10 play.

Dayton’s nine losses have been by a combined total of 35 points.  Dayton has not yet suffered a double-digit loss this season.

The A 10 has 18 victories over BCS schools. Nine different teams have posted non-conference triumphs over the BCS conferences. Temple leads the way with four victories. Richmond, Rhode Island, and Xavier each have three.

Flashback: Marcus Johnson led the way with 15 points and Luke Fabrizius chipped in 11 as the Flyers overcame a slow start in last year’s conference quarter-final in Atlantic City. Richmond held Dayton to five points for the first 10 minutes of play, but the Flyers notched a 69-64 victory. Dayton lost to Duquesne in the semis, 77-66.

Dayton leads the series 10-4, but Richmond has won the last four at home.

Richmond has been invited to the Dance seven times, including most recently in 2004. Dayton has earned 14 invites to The Dance, including a spot in the 1967 title game where they fell to John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins 79-64. Dayton beat West Virginia in last year’s opening round, 68-60.

Foreshadowing: Sixteen from the Marianist college have gone on to enjoy careers in the NBA including Jim Paxson Jr. and Johnny Davis. Two Spiders crawled the hardwood of the Association: Johnny Newman and John Schweitz.

Conflict: Points will be hard to come by tonight. In five seasons under Mooney, Richmond has allowed 70 or more points just 37 times. The Spiders rank in top 20 nationally in field goal percentage defense (38.7), scoring defense (60.2), and 3-pt. percentage defense (28.6).  Richmond is also 14th in the nation with a turnover margin of 4.4. The Spiders play a stingy match-up zone that confuses opponents and limits open opportunities.

UD opponents have scored 22 or fewer points in a half nine times this season. The Flyers hold opponents under 40 percent from the field and 31 percent from behind the arc. Dayton opponents average 61 a game.

Chris Johnson is the key to Dayton’s success. The sophomore guard hits nearly 36 percent from behind the three-point arc. He is unafraid to shoot. He can create his own shot off the dribble. Dayton will need Johnson to open up the middle.

From there Wright has to takeover. The pre-season Wooden candidate scores 14 and half points and grabs seven rebounds in 28 minutes of playing time. Wright scored Dayton’s first 11 points against Duquesne. He is capable of dominating, but he has not shown that he can do it for long stretches.

Marcus Johnson chips in eight points and three rebounds. Rob Lowery shares point guard duties with Warren. The senior scores almost seven a game and hands out nearly four assists.

Paul Williams is valuable off the bench. The sophomore has hit 26 threes this season.  Mickey Perry hit five threes against Massachusetts.

Richmond hit 12 trifectas in an overtime loss to Xavier.

Kevin Anderson leads three Spiders in double figures. The junior point guard scores 17.4 while handing out 2.7 assists. Anderson is joined in the back court by senior, David Gonzalvez. The senior scores 13.8 a game and leads the Spiders with 60 threes.

Justin Harper leads the Spiders with 5.6 rebounds. The junior adds almost 11 points a game.

Ryan Butler and Darrius Garrett combine for nearly 10 points and six and  a half rebounds.

Dan Geriot provides valuable minutes off the bench for the Spiders. The junior scores seven and grabs four boards.

Resolution: In the final five minutes of play, Dayton has outscored opponents 327-239. That trend will continue tonight as the Flyers steal one in Richmond.

Got any comments on the game? Post them here.

By Paul Gotham

Setting: 1776 N. Broad Street is the location for an Atlantic 10 showdown between Brian Gregory’s Dayton Flyers (18-8/ 7-5) and Fran Dunphy’s No. 18 Temple Owls (22-5/ 10-2).

Plot: Urgency is the theme for Dayton. At one time, the season held promise for the Flyers. Now, they find themselves in seventh place in the A 10 standings.  Temple seeks to keep pace with Richmond for the regular season conference title. The Owls have won the past two A 10 crowns.

Sub-plot: Dayton’s eight losses have been by a combined total of 27 points. This includes losing their last two on the road by a total of five points. Dayton has not yet suffered a double-digit loss this season. The Flyers are 1-2 against ranked opponents.

Temple has won three in a row and five of their last six. The Owls have held all but two of their opponents under their season scoring average. Sixteen of those opponents have scored 10 or more fewer points than usual. Temple posts a similar record against ranked opponents of a win and two setbacks.

The A 10 has 18 victories over BCS schools. Nine different teams have posted non-conference triumphs over the BCS conferences. Temple leads the way with four victories. Richmond, Rhode Island, and Xavier each have three.

Flashback: Dionte Christmas and Ryan Brooks tallied 20 a piece, but the Owls came up short at UD Arena last season.  Chris Wright matched Christmas and Brooks with 20. London Warren grabbed nine boards and dished out eight assists as the Flyers took 70-65 decision.

Temple leads the all-time series 14-11, but the Flyers have taken the last three in the series.

Temple has made 27 appearances in the NCAA tournament including Elite Eight spots in ‘01, ‘99, ‘93, ‘91, and ‘88. Dayton has earned 14 invites to The Dance, including a spot in the 1967 title game where they fell to John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins 79-64. Dayton beat West Virginia in last year’s opening round, 68-60.

Foreshadowing: Thirty-three former Owls have played in the Association. Mardy Collins is the lone Temple alum in the league. Sixteen from the Marianist college have gone on to enjoy careers in the NBA including Jim Paxson Jr. and Johnny Davis.

Conflict: Call it psychedelia, tonight’s game will be played in the 60s. Dayton averages a touch above 70, but, as pointed out above, Temple trims their opponents’ totals. The Owls enter the action at 66 a contest.

Surprisingly, the Flyers fell victim to foul troubles in their two-point loss at Duquesne. Ten Flyers play at least ten minutes. Usually, they can avoid foul problems. Nonetheless, Chris Wright spent significant time on the bench with four fouls, and London Warren fouled out at 1:19 mark with Dayton in the lead.

How will this affect the usually aggressive Flyers?

How will the Owl defense respond? Temple was exposed earlier this year against Kansas. The Owls got out and defended beyond the arc while fronting the post. Kansas exploited an advantage in athleticism for a big win. Temple matches up with Dayton athletically, but will the Flyers take a page from the Kansas playbook?

The Flyers frequently run a double high screen on the ball. Opponents struggle to defend this. If Temple tries to apply pressure on the ball 25 feet from the basket, the Flyers could capitalize on an open area in the lane.

Chris Johnson is the key to Dayton’s success. The sophomore guard hits nearly 37 percent from behind the three-point arc. He is unafraid to shoot. He can create his own shot off the dribble. Dayton will need Johnson to open up the middle.

From there Wright has to takeover. The pre-season Wooden candidate scores 14 and half points and grabs seven rebounds in 28 minutes of playing time. Wright scored Dayton’s first 11 points against Duquesne. he is capable of dominating, but he has not shown that he can do it for long stretches.

Marcus Johnson chips in eight points and three rebounds. Rob Lowery share point guard duties with Warren. The senior scores almost seven a game and hands out nearly four assists.

Paul Williams is valuable off the bench. The sophomore has hit 23 threes this season.

Ryan Brooks leads three Owls in double figures with nearly 15 a game. The senior guard hands out almost two assists to every turnover.

Off the bench, Juan Fernandez hits 43.7 percent of his trifecta attempts. Fernandez hit seven of nine when Temple beat Villanova earlier this year.

Lavoy Allen averages a double-double (11.4ppg and 10.3 rpg).

Ramone Moore, Michael Eric, and Luiz Guzman round out the starting five combining for 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Resolution: The time is now for Dayton. They need to put their losses behind and notch a win over a ranked opponent. Temple will not go down easy. Wright and Johnson will combine for over 30 points as the Flyers win a low-scoring affair.

Got any comments on the game? Post them here.

Were you talking to me coach?

By Paul Gotham

On the lighter side

Leading off with a funny one from the folks over at The Big Lead. Not that Kentucky was caught in a close game with Vanderbilt or anything (The ‘Dores missed a chance to tie the game at the buzzer), but obviously, whatever the sideline reporter was scribbling on her pad was more important to DeMarcus Cousins than what Coach Calipari was discussing.

Darn those omnipresent digital cameras. I am trying to imagine the discussions in the Kentucky clubhouse about this one.

In all fairness, Cousins did lead the Wildcats with 19 points.

Familiarity breeds contempt

Speaking of UK-Vanderbilt, the final score of that tilt was 58-56.  Kentucky entered play Saturday averaging 81 per game. Conference play has a way bringing teams down to size. Opponents know tendencies and have seen familiar offensive sets. It all makes for great battles.

Kentucky isn’t the only top team to feel the pressure from a conference opponent. Texas A&M held Kansas to 59. Unfortunately, the Aggies only scored 54.  Pittsburgh beat Marquette 58-51. Wisconsin lost to Minnesota 68-52. New Mexico trimmed the Air Force 59-56.

Yeah, nothing comes easy in conference play.

Giving opponents a second chance is never a good idea

Sunday, Pittsburgh upset Villanova 70-65.  One statistic stands out as the difference: 21 – as in the number of offensive rebounds the Panthers grabbed. To put this in perspective, Pittsburgh grabbed more offensive rebounds than they made shots (20).

Villanova made more field goals (24). The Wildcats even made more threes, 6-4.

How did the Panthers win?

All that work on the offensive glass gave Pitt a 26-11 advantage at the charity stripe.

It’s never a good idea to give an opponent a second chance.

Player to watch: Damian Saunders – Duquesne

The 6’7″ junior forward averages 15 points and 11.6 rebounds for the Dukes.  Saunders has 18 double-doubles this year, including a 16 point, 16 rebound performance at Iowa and 21 point, 11 rebound at Dayton earlier this year. Saunders also grabs nearly three steals per game. The surprising thing about this stat is that Saunders gets many of his steals off the dribble. The 6’7″ forward is lightning quick and can step out on opposing point guards.

Bracketology anyone?

Zach Hayes, over at Rush The Court, puts together his weekly projections. He includes seedings and predictions all the way through title game. Zach’s projections include the A-10 getting five bids with the Mountain West getting three. Conference USA, West Coast, and Colonial all get two spots in Zach’s bracket.

What do you think?

Is this heaven? No, it’s Dayton.

The week break from classes afforded the better half and myself the opportunity to put miles on the Chevrolet. We made our way to southern Ohio where our eldest attends college at Xavier. The Musketeers hosted St. Joe’s.

One day later, we trekked north along I-75 to the wife’s alma mater, Dayton. Yeah, I know it’s crazy. Daughter attends Xavier. Wife graduated from Dayton. They are rivals, but it all works.

The Flyers hosted LaSalle. No disrespect to the Explorers, but they entered play Thursday with a record of 11-13/ 3-7. Attending the game was more about it fitting into the schedule than anything.

I was more than pleasantly surprised. Check that. I was humbled.

Keep in mind LaSalle’s record, and that the game took place during the middle of the week.

Three hours prior to the game, we visited one of the better half’s favorite dining spots. Already there were people in attendance wearing their Flyer gear. One by one and two by two people trickled in. Ninety minutes before the game, there was not an open seat in the restaurant…and everyone was wearing Dayton colors. And everyone was talking hoops. As I walked through the dining area, the discussions focused on the game plan for the night.

I had to pinch myself.

Dayton has never won a national title. The Flyers played in the ’67 title game. They advanced to the Elite Eight in ’84, but their fans LOVE hoops.

The experience obviously continued with the game. Little things made all the difference. People milling around the concession stands before the game talking about rebound margins and shooting percentages. The television screens indicate how many minutes before the game starts or restarts at half. And fans are in their seats when play starts – nearly 13, 000 for a weekday game against a team with a losing record. Dayton fans not only cheer for their team, but they acknowledge a good play by opponents.

After the game, fans stayed in their seats while the cheerleaders gave a quick performance. It’s all part of the experience. Then it was time for Coach Brian Gregory post-game interview – done on the court. When the interview finished, people applauded.

Dayton fans aren’t front runners. They love their basketball.

There is a poster on the wall in the concession area. It has a picture of Andy Katz with a quote from the ESPN analyst. I don’t have it word for word, but it is something like this – when they decided to put the NCAA play-in game at the UD Arena, they picked the right place. Those fans are hoop crazy.

Yeah, it was Dayton. It just felt like hoops heaven.

1st Team All Casey

PG Scottie Reynolds – Villanova

SG Jordan Crawford – Xavier

SF Wesley Johnson – Syracuse

PF Damion James – Texas

C Greg Monroe – Georgetown

2nd Team All Casey

PG – Jon Scheyer – Duke

SG  Matt Bouldin – Gonzaga

SF  Evan Turner – Ohio State

PF  Patrick Patterson – Kentucky

C Cole Aldrich – Kansas

All-freshmen

John Wall – Kentucky

Xavier Henry – Kansas

DeMarcus Cousins – Kentucky

Isaiah Armwood – Villanova

Mason Plumlee – Duke

Got any college hoops splinters? Share them here.

By Paul Gotham

Setting: The Blackburn / McCafferty Trophy is on the line at the University of Dayton Arena  when Chris Mack takes his Xavier Musketeers (16-6 / 8-1) north on I-75 for a tilt with Brian Gregory and his Dayton Flyers (15-6/ 4-3) . The Trophy honors former Dayton coach Tom Blackburn (1947-64) and Xavier coach and athletic director, Jim McCafferty (1957-63).

Plot: There will be a plenty of energy on campus and plenty more on the court. Ten Flyers play 12 minutes or more per game. Eight Musketeers log at least 16 minutes per contest. Coaches Mack and Gregory take pride in their benches.

Sub-plot: Xavier sits atop the A-10 standings with Charlotte and Temple at 7-1 ready to pounce on the next chance. With four conference wins and three losses, Dayton is in the sixth place.

Xavier brings a four-game win streak into Saturday’s match-up. The X-Men are in the middle of three consecutive road games. Dayton beat St. Bonaventure the last time out, but the Flyers have split their last six games.

Flashback: Dante Jackson had a career-high 19 points. Jordan Crawford and Terrell Holloway contributed 15 and 16 a piece as the Muskies beat UD on January 16th, 78-74. Dayton leads the series 81-62. Xavier has taken eight of the last nine meetings.

Xavier has earned 20 NCAA Tournament berths, including last year’s Sweet Sixteen run and Elite Eight showings in 2008 and 2004. Dayton’s resume includes 14 appearances in ‘The Dance.’ Brian Gregory took the Flyers to the tourney last year and in 2004.

Foreshadowing: Sixteen Flyers have gone on to enjoy careers in the NBA, including Jim Paxson Jr. and Johnny Davis.  Sixteen Musketeers have played in the Association, including current stars Derrick Brown, James Posey , and David West.

Conflict: Xavier ranks twentieth in the nation scoring 80 points per game. Dayton holds opponents to 62 points. The Flyers have out-rebounded opponents by 9.9 over the last eight games. Dayton is 13-3 when winning the war on the boards. Xavier’s rebound margin is 3.7.

Xavier’s attack begins with Terrell Holloway. The sophomore point guard has an assist to turnover ratio of 2.4:1 while putting 11 points per game. Holloway hit 85.6 percent from the free throw line.

Jordan Crawford leads the way with 19.5 points. The sophomore transfer adds 4.8 rebounds and hits 41.2 percent from behind the arc.

Inside, Jason Love and Jamel McLean make it happen. Love grabs 8.5 rebounds to go with 11.1 points. The senior’s best weapon is his jump hook. When on, the shot is nearly indefensible.

McLean logged a double-double last time out against UMass. The junior scored 14 and grabbed 11 boards as the X-Men to a 87-79 road win. McLean is a ball-getter. Opponents need to keep track of him at all times when the ball goes in the air.

Dante Jackson hits 43.4 percent from behind the arc. Jackson hit five of eight from long range last time out against the Flyers.

Brad Redford, Mark Lyons, and Kenny Frease log valuable minutes off the bench. The trio contributes 20 points and eight rebounds. Redford is deadly from long range hitting with 45.2 percent accuracy. Lyons has become a defensive stopper on the perimeter, and Frease provides valuable minutes in the paint.

Chris Wright leads the Flyers. The Wooden Award candidate heads a balanced attack with 14 points and seven rebounds. Wright can score from the inside and from the outside. McLean and Jackson will have their hands full trying to slow down the junior.

Chris Johnson is capable of exploding. The sophomore had 26 points and 20 rebounds against Duquesne last month. The 6’6″ forward averages 12 points and 7.6 rebounds.

Rob Lowery and London Warren are Dayton’s two-headed point guard monster. The duo nearly split time (Lowery 18.9 minutes, Warren 20.4) for the Flyers. The pair combine for two steals a game and an assist to turnover ratio of 1.8:1.

Paul Williams and Kurt Huelsman contribute nine points and five rebounds.

The Flyers attack is about depth and balance. Ten players log double digit minutes per game.

Marcus Johnson add eight points and three rebouns off the bench.

Resolution: Urgency reigns in the Flyer locker room. Pre-season polls pegged Dayton for back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournaments. And why not? The Flyers returned all their starters from last year’s club that beat West Virginia in the opening round of ‘The Dance.’ One year ago, the Flyers were 21-2. Dayton’s last four losses have been by a combined eight points. Last year, UD topped Xavier at home 71-58.

Chris Mack will use last year’s loss as motivation. Crawford has become a special player, and the Flyers will struggle to contain him. Earlier in the year, Crawford wasted numerous possession with ill-advised shots. The shooting guard has grown from the experience.

Dayton uses more players, but Xavier brings more talent. The Muskies drop the Flyers in a game decided in the final moments.

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