One of my best friends from high school is a HUGE North Carolina fan. Looks like I’ll be talking to him Wednesday. Go Flyers!
Say it out loud – “Dayton is playing North Carolina.” Sounds good doesn’t it.
For the first time since 1968, Dayton is headed to the National Invitation Tournament final (7 p.m., Thursday, ESPN). It’s been a long time – and it may never happen again. The NIT’s future after this season is in doubt with the possible expansion of the NCAA Tournament, so it’s fitting that Dayton could win the last one ever. The Flyers 22 appearances in the NIT are the second most of all-time. Dayton trails only St. John’s (27).
Although it would have been nice to get another shot at Rhode Island, there was a lot of satisfaction in seeing the Rams lose one at the buzzer. Yeah, I’m chuckling.
But I digress.
If you visit the NIT’s official website there’s a fan poll asking “Who do you think will win the 2010 NIT Championship?” The winner is North Carolina by a landslide (owns 56.5-percent of the vote). Has to be based on name recognition only. These are not your normal Tar Heels. UNC was 5-13 in its last 18 regular season and ACC Tournament games. The Heels current four-game win streak in the NIT matches it’s longest of the season. That run, which kicked off the season and included wins over Florida International, North Carolina Central, Valparaiso and Ohio State, ended in Game 5 against Syracuse.
Dayton’s largest win streak this year was eight.
From what I’ve seen of the Flyers in the NIT, there’s no reason to think they CAN’T win it.
Say this out loud too, but “Dayton is more athletic than North Carolina.”
And faster.
Suddenly a team that couldn’t beat St. Joe’s and Duquesne on the road in the regular season is tearing it up in the NIT. Go figure. The keys?
1. UD is hitting 3s: In regular road losses at New Mexico, Xavier, St. Joe’s, St. Louis, Temple and Richmond, UD made 29 total 3s and shot 24-percent from behind the arc (29-of-123). In just three wins away from home in the NIT – over Cincinnati, Illinois and Mississippi – the Flyers have made 25 total 3s and are shooting 38-percent (25-of-66) from long range.
2. UD’s defense is STILL solid: The Flyers defensive prowess this season was never in doubt. UD was always good at stopping other teams and continues to be. Although the Flyers have turned the ball over more than their opponent in three of the four NIT games (and tied in the other), they haven’t let the other team take many uncontested and easy shots. Only Illinois (37-percent) has shot over 34-percent from the field against the Flyers in the NIT.
3. Chris Johnson emerging as the go-to guy: Yeah, he faltered at Duquesne when he had a shot at the buzzer, but in the NIT Johnson has been the Tournament’s MVP. He’s led the Flyers in scoring in three of the four games and continues to be the teams most complete player. All season long UD lost close games because it didn’t have that one guy who could take over at the end of the game. Now they might.
PREDICTION: UD gets it done. Flyers 65, North Carolina 58
