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Wright’s sore ribs prove UD practices intense

Brian Gregory has created a culture on the University of Dayton basketball team where manic intensity in practice is the norm, but Chris Wright jokingly questioned whether the coach would be so eager to see bodies flying if he had to jostle for position among the players himself.

AP Photo Brian Gregory has created a culture on the University of Dayton basketball team where manic intensity in practice is the norm, but Chris Wright jokingly questioned whether the coach would be so eager to see bodies flying if he had to jostle for position among the players himself.

Flyers’ forward jokes that coach Gregory might not opt for such intensity if he was on the court.

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 7:22 AM Tuesday, October 27, 2009

DAYTON — Brian Gregory has created a culture on the University of Dayton basketball team where manic intensity in practice is the norm, but Chris Wright jokingly questioned whether the coach would be so eager to see bodies flying if he had to jostle for position among the players himself.

“If BG would step in once with people going crazy and going wild after the ball, he might want to tone it down because he might catch a ’bow or something,” the junior forward said.

Wright should know. The Trotwood native took an elbow in the ribs during a recent practice from former Dunbar standout Josh Benson and had to spend some time recovering on the sidelines.

“Josh Benson has sharp elbows,” Wright said. “I told him he tried to get me back from Trotwood drilling Dunbar all the time.”

The Flyers, who are a week away from their opening exhibition game, have had spirited workouts since practice began Oct. 16 — even during a couple of sessions scheduled for the crack of dawn.

The NCAA allows teams to practice four hours per day and 20 hours per week with one day off. Rather than having one long session, Gregory has opted at times for two practices with the first starting at 6 a.m.

Other teams around the nation are doing the same thing, but that doesn’t make it any less challenging.

“When you first walk in, it’s like everybody is sleepwalking,” senior guard Marcus Johnson said. “But on the court, once you get up and down a little bit, the intensity picks up. Everybody’s wide awake and everybody is ready to practice.”

Johnson has to set his alarm for 4:55 a.m. those days and then catch his morning classes afterward — but he’s not complaining.

“Those are the sacrifices you’ve got to make to be good,” he said.

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

Next game

Who: Ferris State at Dayton (exhibition)

Where: UD Arena

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday,  Nov. 3

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

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UD is #22 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll...this is because of the winning mentality BG has brought to the Flyers. UD has finally earned back the national recognition it had many years ago. By the way, Wright State is NO WHERE TO BE SEEN in the preseason polls, so who has the REAL team in Dayton??

Barnaby
9:58 AM, 10/29/2009

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Brian Gregory has brought a culture of winning, hard work, intensity, unselfishness to the UD Flyers. This on paper may be the most talented collection of players Dayton has ever assembled. But press clippings don't win anything. The practice sessions should be the most intense thing the guys face and then when they play the game it will all flow because the the groundwork has been laid. Chris Wright is the Flyers Kevin Garnett. Intense, driven, unselfish, a leader by example.. One heartbeat...

Harry the Horse
11:13 PM, 10/28/2009

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Nick M do you live under a rock? Better said did you live under a rock during your great UD era of scheduling. Check the UD schedule during your lost glory years and you will find that schedule today 2009-2010 is tougher than the Ryan Perryman, Negele Knight, Chip Hare years- hands down!

centerville buckeye
5:20 PM, 10/28/2009

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could the trolls please go back to their caves. UD is ranked in the top 25, had an upset win in the tourney, and there are still idiots on here complaining. Tiger- you think North Carolina and Duke don't practice hard? Nick M, you don't understand scheduling. NO ONE will come to UD Arena. Worst thing was when we beat Pitt at home. Good schools have nothing to gain by playing us if we are not top 25 consistently. Why would they play UD and risk being dismantled like we did to Pitt. HATERS GO HOME

morons
5:59 AM, 10/28/2009

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Listen, ive been a fan of UD Basketball since i was a little kid. Negele Knight, Ryan Perryman, Chip Hare, Andy Meyer were heros to me growing up. But what Brian Gregory has come in here and done with the schedule every year is a JOKE. I hate to say it, but its time to call a spade a spade. With games scheduled against Towson, Lehigh, Presbyterian, Appalachain State and Boston U, its no wonder we have won 50 games the last two years. UD fans say we wont play Wright State because of their RPI??

NickM
8:41 PM, 10/27/2009

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