Flyers plan to juggle starting lineup

Area health group's focus already on child obesity problem
2/10/10
Man reportedly shot at apartment complex
2/10/10
Woman, 19, reports rape, declines to pursue charges
2/10/10
Local pharmacist joins online cardiac venture
2/10/10
Supporters trying to keep aviation film festival on this year
2/10/10
> More headlines

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 2:38 AM Friday, November 13, 2009

Junior Devin Searcy will likely fill the team’s lone vacant starting spot in the opener, giving Dayton two 6-foot-10 players in its first unit. And he’ll be expected to play outside since coach Brian Gregory likes his offensive sets to have a point guard, a post and three perimeter players.

I’m interested to see how Searcy, a career post player, can adapt to operating outside. The Flyers will probably try some high-low exchanges with Searcy and center Kurt Hueslman (that worked well in the exhibition games). But UD will be making frequent substitutions, and 6-6 sophomore Chris Johnson, who at times looks like the team’s best player, will see plenty of action at the 3 spot with 6-8 Chris Wright shuffling to the 4.

“Chris Johnson, whether he starts or not, is going to get a lot of minutes,” Gregory said.

When the Flyers decided on their starters last year, they deviated from it only through injuries or for disciplinary reasons. Huelsman started all 35 games, while Wright and Marcus Johnson started 34 and London Warren and the graduated Charles Little started 33.

“That’s going to evolve this year,” Gregory said of the starting lineup, “where last year we were able to set something in stone and play off that.”

PERRY PITCHING IN: Senior Mickey Perry is the ultimate team guy. He’s at his best as a shooting guard, but will gladly be spelling Warren at the point until the injured Rob Lowery returns later this month.

Perry played point guard in high school, but the 6-2 native of Maywood, Ill., never ran the show in college until emergency duty last season.

“Playing last year in the NCAA tournament — and it came so random, them throwing me out there — I gained a lot of confidence,” he said. “With this whole summer (to work on it), I’m getting better at handling the ball and understanding what we want to get done out there. I think I’ve made some strides, but I’ve got a long way to go.”

Perry believes his experience as the offensive leader will come in handy when he returns to his more natural position.

“Having that responsibility of playing the point is going to do nothing but help me at the 2,” he said. “When I get some opportunities to push the basketball here and there, I’ll take it. Whenever that comes, I’ll be ready.”

A LOOK BACK: Before chugging into this season, let’s revisit what the Flyers did last year before it fades a little more from our memories.

They rode a commitment to defense and rebounding and ideal team chemistry to a 27-8 record and their first NCAA tournament win since 1990. They beat Auburn and Marquette to win the Chicago Invitational Challenge, knocked off Xavier in the regular season and then upset sixth-seeded West Virginia as an 11 seed in the first round of the NCAAs. A lopsided loss to Kansas in the second round didn’t dampen the euphoria for fans over the sweet ride.

Share this article