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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 > 2010 > March > 25 > Entry
Flyers: “We wanted Dayton to feel proud of us again.”
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Dayton Flyers impressive showing in the NIT — beating Illinois State, Cincinnati and now Illinois — wasn’t just about earning a trip to New York City and a berth in one of the tournament’s semi-final games at Madison Square Garden.
“We wanted the people of Dayton to feel proud of us again,” Flyers coach Brian Gregory — as relaxed and candid as I’ve ever seen him — said after his Flyers toppled the Illini, 77-71, Wednesday night at Assembly Hall. Next up is a Tuesday night game against Ole Miss at the Garden.
Gregory knows people were disappointed in the Flyers swoon as the regular season wound down and he realizes that stumble could fit into the fabric of what else has been happening in the city lately.
“The city of Dayton the last four years here has gone through some tough times and our guys — the seven seniors and especially Chris Wright, Josh Benson and Matt Kavanaugh, our Dayton kids — know that real well.
“We had a motto this year — we’re all Flyers, ‘Your team, your town,’ all that — and I think our guys wanted to make the city and the people who had supported us proud because there had been so many other disappointments in the city.”
Lost jobs, empty storefronts, declining population — Dayton has struggled like many Rust Belt cities. But college basketball — especially the successes of the Dayton Flyers — has always been something of a tonic.
No one knows that better than Wright, who grew up in some of the tougher neighborhoods of West Dayton and whose mom later raised him in Trotwood.
“These aren’t just words — it ain’t no joke — it really does something to me,” Wright said after scoring 10 points and pulling down seven rebounds against the Illini.
“I realize what’s going on in our city — the slump with jobs and people hating what’s happening to some of their neighborhoods. I’m from that, my family is part of it. It means something to all the guys on the team, but to us from Dayton, it means a lot more.
“We know when we’re playing, we’re doing it for the guys who played before us, the city and everybody who is watching us, including those people who lost jobs, who need something to feel good about.”
And after going to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year and returning all their players but one, the Flyers had lofty hopes for this season. And early on they were intensified with a Top 25 ranking and 13 wins in their first 16 games.
But they lost 5 of their last 7 regular season games, went 8-8 in the Atlantic 10 Conference — after being picked the preseason favorites — and then blew a 15-point lead late in the game against Xavier in the A-10 Tournament.
In Wednesday’s post-game press conference — after watching the way the Flyers ran roughshod over the Illini for most of the game — an Illinois writer questioned whether UD belonged in the NCAA Tournament.
Although he noted his team “was probably good enough” to be there, Gregory admitted: “We didn’t deserve to get in. We didn’t win enough games.. …I’m a realist.
“I would say for us, you have to have a really good non-conference, finish in the top two or three or be really good in the conference and then you have to do pretty well in the tournament, too.
“The only thing you don’t have to do is walk on water.”
He grinned when he said that, but his guys are pulling off some pretty impressive feats now. They’re playing some of their best basketball of the season.
“Two weeks ago when we got the bid to go to the NIT, we got our guys together and said we got to put those disappointments behind us . It’s up to you how you want to be remembered.
“And I think they’ve showed what they’re about. Our city is hard working and has been knocked down and it keeps fighting back and I think that’s what our team is about.
“They wanted people to proud of them again.”
And people should be now.
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Comments
By B-rad
March 25, 2010 3:37 PM | Link to this
Way to go Flyers!! Keep playing with the same intensity of the last 3 games and we will be adding “2010” to the NIT Champion banner hanging in the Arena. I agree-keep the black jerseys.
By Greg Tampa,Fl.
March 25, 2010 2:07 PM | Link to this
Keep the black jerseys there intimadating.
By marineman
March 25, 2010 1:11 PM | Link to this
It is still a disappointing season that should have been much more than this. However, these young kids are showing their character, and reinforcing the UD identity as being a team you that you better be ready to fight. Flyers, you all get a pat on the back from me! Own the NIT. Tonight, let’s root on X vs K State. Show the country that the A-10 is hungry!
By marineman
March 25, 2010 1:08 PM | Link to this
To me, the season is still a disappointment. It should have been so much more than this, but you can’t win them all and it is too late to turn back. These young men are showing some serious character, and an incredible desire to win. That speaks wonders for each one of them, and they are showing their UD’s identity as a true winning program. Flyers, you all get a pat on the back from me! Keep fighting and own this tourney! Now, let’s root on our rivals tonight against against K State. Show the country that when you’re on the floor with the A-10, you’re in for a fight.
By fka
March 25, 2010 12:33 PM | Link to this
We are very proud of you!! GO UD!! Bring it strong! Hoping your coach will improve at knowing the strengths and weaknesses of his players and substitute with a PURPOSE. Go Flyers!!
By Jack
March 25, 2010 11:27 AM | Link to this
Lew Alcindor was in the 1967 national final. Bill Walton was in the 1974 triple ot game in the regional final.
By 6flyer4
March 25, 2010 10:21 AM | Link to this
I really questioned both the coaching and guts of this team earlier. The last two games have shown a different team then we saw at yearend and the A10 tourney. The NIT has always meant a lot to the school and I hope that these young men are good enough to follow the Blackburn/Donoher teams to the championship. GOOD LUCK FLYERS
By null
March 25, 2010 10:09 AM | Link to this
This team had the talent to go far in the NCAA. They should have beaten Xavier 3x and we see how far they have gone. Losing so many games late was crushing. Really proud of how this team has rallied. winning the NIT should help spur a good season in 2010-11
By Flyer93
March 25, 2010 9:14 AM | Link to this
Way to go Flyers! CW continues to show that he is a class act, both on and off the court. While the team struggled at the end of the season, they are on fire now. I support BG and want him to remain coach. Now go to the Big Apple and wear UD Pride!
By sec 312
March 25, 2010 9:06 AM | Link to this
Note to BG and the players..I am proud of you, you reached down and given great effort. I am amazed at the intensity..this IS coaching and desire. Thank you for closing strong, you should be proud of yourselfs
By BobbyG
March 25, 2010 8:37 AM | Link to this
Great overall effort last night, and a lot of fun to watch. But sometimes it’s painful to watch Kurt run around out there like a chicken with no head, or London be so out of control with the ball. At times we still have that “million dollar talent and a ten cent head” thing going on. Great coaches can recognize and correct that. BG still hasn’t totally figured that part of this game - or this team - out. But we’re off to NYC, and I look forward to how the guy can do there. The venue and the crowd should be on our side, but Ole Miss will be ready with the full court press from the opening bell, so you can forget the cushy 15 point early lead. The Flyers will have to gut this one out all night!
By Steve
March 25, 2010 8:04 AM | Link to this
I’ve been critical enough for ten people this season and for good reasons but I must admit they seem to have amped it up here in the NIT on the road. Makes one wonder what could have been. Good job!
By Wagonspack
March 25, 2010 7:59 AM | Link to this
Dayton fans will support in droves when you play smart as well as hard, when you do the “little things” that win championships, when you hold leads and finish down the stretch, when you play a good nonconference schedule, when you wear red and blue on the road, and when you play to your potential and get in the Blackburn and Donoher won the NIT when it meant something, BG. No parades for this watered-down deal.
By dave from dayton
March 25, 2010 7:57 AM | Link to this
Great effort Flyers!!! This team is fun to watch and pretty darn good right now. Good luck in New York!!! Go Flyers!!!
By Scott
March 25, 2010 7:44 AM | Link to this
Het Arch: How far back in the 80’s did you go for the “rust belt” term? It is inaccuate and insulting. It is bad enough the nationjal media uses this derogatroy term, but it is worse when our local journalists perpetuate that negative image
By jerseyflyer
March 25, 2010 6:43 AM | Link to this
Super win that makes every Flyer alumni damn proud. Entire team played very well and NYC awaits. I’ll be there to cheer my team on. WE ARE UD….
By Dave
March 25, 2010 6:18 AM | Link to this
RadioActive747, Don’t you mean Bill Walton?
By Bonaflyer
March 25, 2010 5:55 AM | Link to this
Fantastic display last night and in the previous 2 showings! There are only 20 teams still playing NCAA D1 BBall right now! The Flyers are 1 of them!! Let’s go FLYERS!!
By RadioActive747
March 25, 2010 4:09 AM | Link to this
I have lived in this town since 1969. I started following the Flyers after graduating from Roth High School in 1970. Another graduate was the late Donald Smith who committed to Dayton. That was the beginning for me. Smith and Mike Sylvester were special. I survived the triple-overtime loss to UCLA and Lew Alcindor(Kareem Abdul Jabar). I was proud when Negele Knight and company made it to the “Big Dance”. I was dissapointed when We didn’t make it back this year. But the NIT is where we will show the Country that we belong. I have no doubt that we can win this thing. Mr. Gregory, would you please request that the team each shoot at least a hundred foul shots per practice, because that is the only reason that we could lose the NIT. Let’s get the FTM percentage up about ten points, and then let’s see what happens in those close games that we manage to lose. I applaud the seniors, and I once again look forward to seeing my team next year running up and down the court at mach 2 with their hair on fire. But for now, let’s go to The Garden and win this thing!!!