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No. 6 Pitt's visit to UD Arena is a rare opportunity for Flyers

Last time such a highly ranked team played the Flyers in Dayton was when No. 3 DePaul visited in 1984 and fell victim to a 72-71 upset.

By Doug Harris

Staff Writer

Thursday, December 27, 2007

DAYTON — The University of Dayton men's basketball team will be hosting its highest ranked opponent in more than two decades when No. 6 Pittsburgh visits Saturday night. And while the game will be broadcast on ESPN2, droves of Flyer fans have decided they'd rather sit in distant seats than watch the action from home.

Gary McCans, UD's director of premium seating, said the game will sell out, assuring the Flyers of drawing at least two capacity crowds of 13,435 this season (the Xavier game on Feb. 24 also is sold out).

Extras

Attendance has gotten a boost this season from the Flyers' 10-1 start. They're averaging 12,283 fans through seven home games, a jump of about 400 from the same point last season.

UD hasn't had a visit from a team ranked sixth or higher since a memorable 72-71 victory over No. 3 DePaul on Feb. 18, 1984.

"It's a terrific opportunity for us," UD Athletic Director Ted Kissell said. "With nonconference scheduling being what it is, you're just not going to get many of these (games) anymore. I think it's going to be a very, very special environment."

The Flyers had two sellouts last season and were 26th nationally in attendance with an average of 12,266 — despite a notable lack of marquee opponents.

While UD once had natural rivalries with Notre Dame, DePaul and others, Kissell said those teams are no longer interested in playing because their league schedules are so demanding. And few BCS-conference teams are willing to venture into Dayton and risk a loss their fan base will find unacceptable.

Kissell said the Flyers will need to match the NCAA tourney success of non-BCS schools like Gonzaga and Xavier before they'll have any clout in the scheduling realm.

"Frankly, there's too much dollars involved ... and things are not done on relationships any more," Kissell said.

"It is what it is. There was a day — especially for a program with such a proud tradition as Dayton's — where people felt compelled to keep the relationship going, whether it was Notre Dame or DePaul or Marquette. That era is gone."

Next game
Who: Pittsburgh at UD When: 8 p.m. Saturday Radio: WHIO-AM (1290)
UD draws a crowd
Top average-attendance seasons at UD Arena:
Season	Record	Avg.	Nat'l
			rank
1969-70	19-8	12,982	5
1970-71	18-9	12,767	6
1971-72	13-13	12,741	10
1999-00	22-9	12,644	24
1990-91	14-15	12,597	25
2003-04	24-9	12,597	25
Bottom 5
1982-83	18-10	9,950	32
1981-82	21-9	10,235	28
1980-81	18-11	10,424	25
1979-80	13-14	10,770	22
1983-84	21-11	10,836	25
Source: University of Dayton