Preview: UD vs. Kansas State

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 1:19 AM Sunday, November 22, 2009

Who: Dayton (2-1) vs. Kansas State (3-1)

What: Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic third-place game

When: 5:30 p.m.

TV: ESPNU

Radio: WHIO-AM (1290) and WHIO-FM (95.7)

Probable starters

DAYTON	Yr.	P.	Ht.	PPG.
Chris Wright	Jr.	F	6-8	15.7
Devin Searcy	Jr.	F	6-1	3.3
Kurt Huelsman	Sr.	C	6-1	0.7
Marcus Johnson	Sr.	G	6-3	6.0
London Warren	Sr.	G	6.0	4.3
KANSAS STATE	Yr.	P.	Ht.	PPG.
D. Sutton	Jr.	F	6-5	3.3
Curtis Kelly	Jr.	F	6-8	15.3
J. Henriquez	Fr.	C	7-0	5.8
Jacob Pullen	Jr.	G	6-0	14
Denis Clemente	Sr.	G	6-1	11.8

About the Flyers

After outrebounding foes by an average of 4.6 per game last season, UD is getting outboarded by 3.4 so far this year. Sophomore wing Chris Johnson is flashing star potential, leading the team in scoring (16.7) and rebounding (9.0). No one else averages more than five boards. The Flyers almost pulled off a comeback for the ages against Villanova. Trailing by 18, they outscored the nation’s fifth-ranked team 24-8 from 11:57 of the second half to the 2:23 mark before losing 71-65.

About the Wildcats

Beat Boston University 80-70 in the first round of the Tip-Off Classic but fell to Mississippi 86-74 in the semifinals. ... Picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 behind Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Have made three straight postseason appearances. Clemente was conference newcomer of the year last season after transferring from Miami (Fla.). Kansa State has five players averaging in double figures, including 6-4 freshman Rodney McGruder (11.0) and 6-7 sophomore Jamar Samuels.

FYI

The point guard battle should be worth watching. The Flyers lost an intense recruiting battle for Pullen to K-State and then-coach Bob Huggins. Pullen had never even visited Manhattan, Kan., before committing, and the irony is that Huggins was off to West Virginia before the Chicago-area star arrived. UD’s Warren has 14 assists, 11 turnovers and three steals this season, while Pullen is the better scorer and has 13 assists, seven turnovers and seven steals while playing one more game.

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