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UD NOTES
Flyers hear their fans in Dean Dome
Sunday, December 31, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — At halftime, just before former North Carolina basketball players Raymond Felton, Sean May and Rashad McCants had their jerseys hung atop the Smith Center, Tar Heels coach Roy Williams told the crowd he hoped to watch games in the Dean Dome for another 30 to 40 years.
After a full-minute ovation, the ceremony continued as Williams scurried into the locker room for adjustments.
Extras
The baby blue T-shirted and sweatshirted crowd had shown its allegiance, but Dayton players said the attendance of 19,967 wasn't the main factor in their 81-51 loss to No. 2 North Carolina on Sunday.
Even though they entered one of college basketball's toughest road venues, don't think the Flyers lost because of where they played, coach Brian Gregory said.
"I think the tradition of the place is more intimidating than the actual place itself," Gregory said.
Particularly in nonconference games, the Tar Heels are nearly unbeatable at home.
Entering Sunday, UNC was 7-0 in Chapel Hill this season, winning by an average margin of 31.7 points.
Still, the red of Dayton fans was clear along the top rim of the arena, as well.
"Our guys could hear them more than maybe the rest of the place," Gregory said. "I think they handled playing in this place very well."
Two straight Top 10
While not unprecedented, it's rare for the Flyers to play two straight Top 25 teams, a streak they finished Sunday by facing the No. 2 Tar Heels nine days after playing No. 7 Pittsburgh.
The last time it happened was in November 2000, when UD lost to No. 1 Arizona 76-59 a day before defeating No. 6 Maryland 77-71 in the Maui Invitational.
Rebounding troubles-II
North Carolina outrebounded Dayton 44-31 on Sunday, the fifth time in the past six games that opponents have grabbed more boards than the Flyers.
In that span — against Creighton, Grambling, Western Carolina, Miami, Pittsburgh and the Tar Heels — UD has a combined 226-180 rebounding disadvantage.
Talking RPI
Dayton finished its nonconference schedule Sunday and opens Atlantic 10 Conference play on Thursday against Charlotte.
Aside from a 10-3 record, the Flyers also gained some quality RPI opponents in the season's first two months.
All of UD's three losses — SMU (18), Pittsburgh (5) and North Carolina (6) — came against teams ranked in the RPI's Top 18, according to collegerpi.com.
The Flyers also beat three teams in the RPI's Top 100 in Louisville (99), Holy Cross (76) and Creighton (72).
Overall, Dayton's 13 nonconference opponents have an average RPI of 146.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
