UD’s “Hype” well deserved, but fragile
By Mickey Shuey
Most, if not all, college basketball fans (and experts) had this year’s Dayton men’s basketball team written off as a “rebuilding program” after losing not only coach Brian Gregory but also two highly talented freshmen that chose to transfer.
The Flyers (12-4, 2-0) are in position to return to both the AP and USA Today/Coaches’ polls for the first time since Nov. 19, 2009 (when they were ranked 18th and 21st respectively) following a week in which they defeated St. Louis in overtime and snapped Temple’s 25-game home win streak.
But how did Dayton make such a remarkable transformation since April? With an entirely new coaching staff, a pair of redshirt-transfers and a lone true freshman, the Gem City appeared at least a few years away from the success it’s had so far.
When Archie Miller was introduced as the 19th head coach in program history, he made something clear: Dayton is on the rise.
“Our charge is to take something ‘good’ and go to ‘great’,” he said in his first statement as the Flyers’ head coach. “It’s to be better than we ever have been before in every area that we can possibly be in.”
So far, the team looks like it’s well on its way to achieving this. Miller’s coached the Flyers to wins over four BCS schools, including two on the way to winning the Old Spice Classic championship. In those victories (over Wake Forest, Minnesota, Alabama and Ole Miss) Dayton has won by an average margin of 11 points.
The down side is a loss Wednesday night at St. Bonaventure (8-6, 1-1) or even a loss at home against a 13-4 (2-0) La Salle team on Saturday night could put a damper the team’s position on the bubble for a few weeks. Should Dayton fall in Olean, NY—even by the slimmest of margins—the damage will be done in the eyes of the media.
A journalist myself, I personally don’t get the whole win this game or else threat the media, albeit typically the national media, uses when dealing with college programs like Dayton. Case in point: the 29-point loss at home to Buffalo (now 8-4) on Nov. 30.
To most, beating Buffalo would be simple enough for UD; the Flyers were coming off the Old Spice Classic title, which was something that nobody thought they’d win in the first place. They had momentum. Buffalo went up big early and never looked back, winning 84-55, Dayton’s worst home loss in 16 years.
My point is three of the four losses—Buffalo, Murray State, and Seton Hall—were not at the hands of bad teams. Perhaps Buffalo was awful at the time, but as it stands now the Bulls are in the top 50 nationally in three categories, including third overall in rebounding (42.6), and seventh in assists (17.8)
The Atlantic-10 is arguably more competitive this year than it ever has been. The Pac-12 facing constant self-implosion could help Dayton and it’s fellow A-10 members out in the long run too. Despite the conference’s only pre-season ranked member (Xavier) dropping out in week 8 following a post-brawl record of 1-3, several other members have earned face-time and praise from major media outlets, namely Dayton, St. Joseph’s, St. Louis and Temple.
Fragility comes in many forms in the world of college basketball. Anything and everything can change in the blink of an eye. Dayton has proved this to be true. Few gave them a shot at the start of the season and if they so much as lose one or two games leading up to their first encounter with Xavier on Jan. 21, they’ll become an afterthought.
Having said that, this team wants to prove everybody wrong…again. The players have heart and know what it takes to win games—big games. These coaches keep coaching and these players keep playing until the last horn sounds. That’s why I’ve had them going to the Sweet 16 from day one.
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