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UD’s Warren, Perry set to run the show

With point guard Rob Lowery still out, duo needs to step up for tough opening stretch.

UD guard London Warren is impeded by Duquesne forward Damian Saunders in the first half at UD Arena Saturday, March 7, 2009.

Contributed photo by E.L. Hubbard UD guard London Warren is impeded by Duquesne forward Damian Saunders in the first half at UD Arena Saturday, March 7, 2009.

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The University of Dayton's Mickey Perry blows by University of Toledo player Ian Salter during the first half of their game at Savage Arena on Friday, Jan. 22, 2009.

The Blade/Andy Morrison The University of Dayton's Mickey Perry blows by University of Toledo player Ian Salter during the first half of their game at Savage Arena on Friday, Jan. 22, 2009.

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By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 4:21 AM Friday, November 13, 2009

DAYTON — London Warren was nicknamed the “Jacksonville Jet” when he arrived at Dayton, but many of his early trips down the court ended in crash landings.

The senior point guard had more turnovers (77) than assists (65) as a sophomore, which was especially troublesome because Warren contributed so little as a scorer.

But the 6-foot Floridian no longer handles the ball like a wet bar of soar. Last season, he ranked second in the Atlantic 10 and 30th nationally in assist-turnover ratio (2.33 dishes for every miscue), and he elevated his play after point-guard mate Rob Lowery was lost for the final 10 games of the season with a knee injury.

Warren averaged 3.8 assists and 2.0 turnovers before Lowery’s departure and 6.0 assists and 1.7 turnovers down the stretch, a 3.59-to-1 ratio.

Asked what changed, Warren said: “I think I just got better. I was getting a lot more comfortable with the system and a lot more comfortable with teammates. I knew me taking care of the ball would be way, way more important, so I just really emphasized taking care of the ball.

“I didn’t make high-risk passes. I just thought about getting the ball to the good players I’ve got on the wing. ... Those guys make the plays.”

Warren, who had nine assists and just one turnover in the upset of West Virginia in the NCAA tournament, probably will need to play at a high level again this year for the Flyers to live up to their preseason No. 21 ranking. Lowery isn’t due back until later this month, and the team will play perhaps its toughest four-game stretch of the season with converted shooting guard Mickey Perry helping out at the point.

UD coach Brian Gregory, though, has liked what he’s seen from that tandem through the preseason.

“I do feel good about those guys’ ability to lead the team when they’re out there and also their ‘coachability’ in terms of being willing to improve,” Gregory said. “To me, that’s the most important thing. They’re both seniors. They’ve both played a lot of minutes there.”

Perry played point guard in high school, but the 6-2 native of Maywood, Ill., never ran the show in college until emergency duty last season.

“Playing last year in the NCAA tournament — and it came so random, them throwing me out there — I gained a lot of confidence,” he said. “With this whole summer (to work on it), I’m getting better at handling the ball and understanding what we want to get done out there. I think I’ve made some strides, but I’ve got a long way to go.”