High notes from Chris Wright expected

Coach says team’s leading scorer and rebounder keeps improving

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 12:15 AM Tuesday, October 13, 2009

DAYTON — Brian Gregory stopped mid-sentence during an interview at the University of Dayton basketball team’s media day Monday, Oct. 12, his train of thought derailed by some warbling from star player Chris Wright.

The outgoing junior forward fancies himself as the team’s best singer, but his imitation of Michael Jackson’s lead vocals on “I’ll Be There” didn’t exactly get a favorable review from his coach.

“That was brutal,” Gregory teased. “I thought you were supposed to be talented. You must have done the percussions in church.”

The Flyers have won 50 games in the last two years — their most in back-to-back seasons since the 1954-55 and ’55-’56 teams also reached the half-century mark. And to duplicate that success, they’re counting on Wright to live up to those lyrics: Whenever you need me, I’ll be there.

He led the Flyers in scoring (13.3) and rebounding (6.6) last year while setting a program record for dunks (54). And he’s considered a leading candidate for the Atlantic 10 preseason player of the year award, which will be announced Oct. 22.

“He’s had great success, capped off with a tremendous performance in the NCAA tournament game against West Virginia,” Gregory said of Wright’s 27-point, 10-rebound, four-dunk effort in leading the Flyers to their first NCAA tourney win since 1990. “But then he didn’t play as well in the game against Kansas (10 points, nine boards, 4-for-16 shooting). In a 48-hour period, he saw the challenges he faced with his consistency, in finding different ways to impact a game and in being even more versatile.

“He worked very hard in the summer and under our supervision in the fall on those things. He’s a guy ... who gets better each season because of his work ethic.”

Defense rules

The Flyers were adept at unnerving opponents with their non-stop energy. They were 25th last season in field-goal percentage defense (.397) and 35th in scoring defense (61.4).

“I thought one of the things that set us apart was the pace we played at — that high-intensity pace,” Gregory said. “That has to continue. And I think we can get even better at that.”

Baselines

• Although the Flyers have staged Midnight Madness-type events for their first practice in the past, they’ll have a routine closed-to-the-public session when they begin drills Friday. But fans are welcome to the annual Red & Blue scrimmage at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at UD Arena. The women’s team will scrimmage first at 9:40 a.m.

• The Flyers have a comprehensive weightlifting program, and several players added bulk in the offseason. Luke Fabrizuis, a 6-9 sophomore, picked up 22 pounds and is listed at 227. Classmate Chris Johnson put 15 pounds on his 6-foot-6 frame and is 191.

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

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