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Thursday, April 1, 2010
Flyers close gap on Tar Heels
When Dayton played at North Carolina four years ago — when Kurt Huelsman, Marcus Johnson and London Warren were mere freshmen — the Flyers absorbed a 30-point thrashing.
After knocking off the Tar Heels for the NIT championship, UD coach Brian Gregory marveled at how far those players have come.
“We got beat up pretty good, but Kurt, London and Marcus played their butts off back then,” Gregory said. “They weren’t afraid. They just weren’t good enough. After going against (Tyler) Hansbrough, Kurt wasn’t able to walk for a couple days. After going against Kurt this time, I don’t think their centers can walk.”
The Flyers were every bit the equal of the Tar Heels in skill and athleticism. That much was apparent as UD played a stunningly beautiful first half to build a 13-point lead, absorbed a counter-punch from UNC and then pulled away for a 79-68 win.
UD won its third NIT crown to go with titles in 1962 and ‘68.
“This is great for the program, great for the university and also great for the city of Dayton,” UD Athletic Director Tim Wabler said.
There is widespread speculation that the NCAA tournament will expand to 96 teams, absorbing the NIT and its 32-team field.
If it’s the last one, Gregory said: “That will be a tough one to take. This is the eighth championship (game) we’ve played in, and it might be a fitting way to end it, for us to win it.
“As I’ve said, our national brand was built right here in Madison Square Garden with Tom Blackburn and coach (Don) Donoher and all those great players that played for those two guys.”
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TweetFlyers capture NIT crown
NEW YORK — Marcus Johnson scored 20 points to lead Dayton to a 79-68 win over North Carolina to capture the program’s third NIT championship.
Paul Williams added 16 points and Chris Wright and Chris Johnson 14 for the Flyers (25-12), who beat four BCS opponents on their way to the crown. They also won titles in 1962 and ‘68.
UD ended the first half with a 17-4 surge to take a 45-32 lead. UNC (21-17) cut the lead to two in the second half but could get no closer.
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TweetWarren not starting after team violation
NEW YORK — Senior point guard London Warren will be held out of the starting lineup because of an undisclosed violation of team rules, coach Brian Gregory announced.
Rob Lowery, the senior back-up, will start at point guard, but Warren will still play.
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TweetFlyers, Tar Heels all business
NEW YORK — The Mississippi basketball team, during its short stay here for the NIT, visited Ground Zero and Battery Park. Dayton and North Carolina, though, haven’t devoted much time to recreation.
It’s been film sessions, meetings, practices and more meetings in pursuit of an NIT crown.
“We’ve had fun cracking and joking, but this has been a focus trip,” said UD’s Chris Wright. “Hopefully, if we get a win (in the finals), we’ll have even more fun. I’ve still been myself, clowning and dancing. But that’s every day. I ain’t going to stop doing that.”
UNC coach Roy Williams has had his players in lock-down mode, too — not that anyone is complaining.
“The kids’ focus, I think, has been good. It has been on basketball,” Williams said. “What we want to do is practice, play games and rest. It’s been a long year. We got here at 8:30 p.m. Monday night (for a semifinal game Tuesday). We are here to play basketball.
“Most of the time, when we take trips, I do try to plan other things. But this time of the year, with the injuries, between practice, eating and trying to get treatment, there’s not a lot of time left.”
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