DaytonDailyNews.com

I feel like taking a few hacks with my belligerent black bat. So board up the windows. Hide the women and children. Because I believe:

• The Dayton Flyers will smash Saint Louis in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 tournament, fall to Xavier and be listed among the 20-win teams left out of the NCAA tournament.

• UD, Wright State and its identical 21-10 records should be matched up in the first round of the NIT.

• Basketball fans need helmets at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., to protect their noggins from errant London Warren passes.

• Duquesne transfer Scott Grote will make an immediate and positive impact for the Wright State Raiders in 2008-09. Hopefully, he wears uniform No. 30 like his old man.

• Doris Burke is by far the best sideline reporter AND color analyst in college basketball, better than any guy.

• Brett Favre's streak of 275 consecutive starts is much more impressive than Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2,632. It ain't even close. Baseball players hurt their poor lil' pinkies. Football players get their bones crushed.

• Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd's and Delino Deshields' Urban Baseball League venture will be a huge success. The UBL's goal is to re-establish the Negro Leagues, inspire youth and promote business in the African-American community.

• My vintage Memphis Chicks jersey from Ebbets Field Flannels is absolutely awesome.

• Bob Stricker is the greatest neighbor in the world for plowing the Miamisburg War Room driveway on Saturday, March 8, so I could attend the UD-Saint Joseph's game.

Contact this reporter at 225-2253

or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.