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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > March > 20 > Entry
blog: Flyers get some R-E-S-P-E-C-T
MINNEAPOLIS — There was a nice little touche’ touch after the Dayton Flyers upset West Virginia, 68-60, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Minneapolis, Friday.
Charles Little was sitting at the podium in the post-game press conference when someone asked if he had gotten much motivation from hearing all week how superior the Big East is.
“I really don’t draw much from it,” the Flyers senior forward said with a shrug. “I think we’re like 4-1 the last couple of games we played the Big East.”
Marcus Johnson, sitting next to Little, leaned over and with a grin said quietly: “Correction, 5-1.”
The Flyers took it to West Virginia from the opening tip and except for a 3-2 Mountaineer lead, UD led the entire game.
Early on, West Virginia tried unsuccessfully to muscle UD:
Flyer freshman Chris Johnson ran unsuspectingly into a Mighty Hulk pick set by the Mountaineers 6-foot-7, 230-pound Wellington Smith. It stopped Johnson face-first for just a moment, then he shook it off.
The Mountaineers trumpeted freshman — 6-foot-9 Devin Ebanks — swung an elbow at Kurt Huelsman after the Flyers’ big man fouled him on a shot underneath. A couple of words were exchanged and Huelsman held his ground. The message was clear.
“Just because it’s a Big East team,” Huelsman explained later, “we weren’t going to show we are inferior or afraid by any means. We’ve played teams that are just as good or better than them. That’s the type of mentality we had coming in. We never step back for anybody. We always step up and play as hard as we can.”
Flyers guard Mickey Perry said he thinks UD’s game-long aggression surprised the Mountaineers:
“Yeah, we are 5-1 versus the Big East, but I don’t think they respected us like that. And that’s kind of sad, you know what I’m saying?
“We try to compete against anybody and earn respect like everyone else, but I don’t think they had that respect early on.”
They did in the end.
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Comments
By scooter
March 22, 2009 6:48 PM | Link to this
Better continue playing the Big East,because you just got ran out of the BIG 12 BY 2 jrs and a bunch of freshman and sophomores
By Flyer Fan from AZ
March 22, 2009 3:34 PM | Link to this
Those Cousin Lovin’ Oxycontin Poppin’ Moonshin’ Drinkin’ Bluegrass Playin’ Mountaineers from WV will feel even better when Dayton beats Kansas tomorrow!
By Flyer Fan from AZ
March 22, 2009 3:32 PM | Link to this
Those Cousin Luvin’ Oxycontin Poppin’ Moonshin’ Drinkin’ Mountaineers from WV will feel even better when Dayton beats Kansas tomorrow!
By Flyer Fan from AZ
March 22, 2009 3:30 PM | Link to this
Re WV comments: I forgot to say “Cousin Luvin’”. :)
By Slingblade
March 22, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this
Hey Jaybird, I agree with you but hey, let the little Flyer fans have their 15 minutes of fame. After all, it will be another 20 years before they’re back in the Big Dance so they’re enjoying it while they can :-)
By jaybird
March 22, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this
the flyers have had their nice little cinderella run..now go on home boys and let the real teams battle it out.
By jon
March 22, 2009 2:28 AM | Link to this
Lets pray that Huelsman gets a stomach virus and cant play against Kansas. I will not be surprised if Huelsman costs us the game, this guy is horrible!!
By Flyer Fan in AZ
March 22, 2009 1:20 AM | Link to this
Those Oxycontin Poppin’ Moonshin’ Drinkin’ Bluegrass Playin’ Mountaineers from WV should feel a little better when Dayton beats Kansas tomorrow!
By Flyer Fan in AZ
March 22, 2009 1:19 AM | Link to this
Those Oxycontin Poppin’ Moonshin’ Drinkin’ Mountaineers from WV will feel even better when Dayton beats Kansas tomorrow!
By tg
March 21, 2009 11:46 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately UD is a smaller sampler of what our community overall faces - a lack of respect. They don’t realize what fighters we are and that we don’t back down - the Flyers or our home town. Let everyone underestimate us - it makes it that much more fun when we prove them wrong later!
By Mike in Texas
March 21, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this
That must mean the Flyers would be ahead of WVU in the Big East standings if you want to make the comparison….
By Reality Check
March 21, 2009 3:01 PM | Link to this
Minus Brian Roberts of course. But the fact remains.
By Reality Check
March 21, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this
Big East Fan it sounds as if you are the one that needs to get a grip and recognize this is the same team that beat 11th ranked Louisville on the road and crushed 6th ranked Pitt @ home last year. Seems as if the no respect trend continues.
By Big East Fan
March 21, 2009 2:44 PM | Link to this
West Virginia finished in 7th place in the Big East. get a grip big boy. Dayton would be in the bottom half of the Big East in their best year in school history.