Flyers talented, but schedule looks tricky

Early tests await Flyers

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer 1:34 AM Thursday, July 23, 2009

Senior guard Marcus Johnson has been playing at a high level. The two freshmen from last season, Chris Johnson and Paul Williams, look like big-time players. And newcomer Matt Kavanaugh is too good a shooter not to be in the mix for a starting spot inside.

I’ve watched the Dayton basketball team play pick-up games frequently this summer, and coach Brian Gregory will be in an enviable situation again with quality depth at every position.

But after looking over the schedule this season, the Flyers will be hard-pressed to match last year’s 27-8 record.

Yes, there’s the usual lineup of sacrificial lambs (should we expect Presbyterian College to suit up seminary students?). But of the 14 foes I’d consider the best of the bunch, the Flyers will face 11 of them away from UD Arena.

They’ll tackle three high-caliber teams in the Puerto Rico Tip-off Classic, travel to George Mason, New Mexico and Miami in the nonleague season and then take trips to Xavier, Temple, Saint Joseph’s, Richmond and Saint Louis in A-10 play.

They also have home games with Creighton, likely an NCAA tourney team; Old Dominion, which won 25 games last season and returns five starters; and, of course, Xavier.

The Flyers likely will begin the season ranked in both major polls. But even though they return 10 of their top 11 scorers — and all of them seem to have improved — staying there won’t be easy.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article