Flyers roughed up by Bearcats

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 12:41 AM Sunday, November 28, 2010

CINCINNATI — The University of Dayton basketball team has suffered worse defeats in its history, but it’s never been so thoroughly whipped and utterly embarrassed in eight years under coach Brian Gregory.

The massacre is all the more shocking considering the last three seasons of prosperity at UD.

As President Obama would say, the Flyers took a shellacking.

Shooting just 20 percent from the field and producing its fewest points since 1947, UD was hammered by Cincinnati, 68-34, at U.S. Bank Arena on Saturday.

The Flyers trailed by 10 before the first media timeout, by 19 with 7:30 to go in the first half and by 23 at halftime on their way to their most lopsided loss in 15 years.

A crowd of 6,016 (about two-thirds UD fans) witnessed the carnage in the Global Sports Main Event finale.

“We had some pretty good looks at the basket, but we couldn’t make shots,” Gregory said. “Their defense had something to do with it, but we didn’t generate any offense with our defense.

“I’m disappointed. We didn’t respond well in any important aspect of the game. ... If you’re not at the top of your game — playing away from home against a Big East-caliber team — you’re going to get your lunch handed to you. And that’s what (happened).”

The Flyers (5-1) went 7-of-30 from the field and had more turnovers (9) than field goals (7) while finishing the first half with a 42-19 deficit. They went scoreless in the second half until Juwan Staten made a free throw with 13:22 left. By then, it was 56-19.

UC coach Mick Cronin said his team made some adjustments against UD after an NIT second-round loss last season.

“Get back, keep them out of the paint, and we blocked out,” he said. “(The strategy on) Chris Wright and the rest of the team is ‘no paint.’ That team really thrives off the dribble-drive not only to score, but rebounding — because everybody is following. We wanted to make them shoot jump shots.”