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DAYTON — Norm Grevey is one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in University of Dayton basketball history, but his personal highlight against Ohio State came at the defensive end.

Although hobbled throughout his career by a knee injury, Grevey had a steal and took a charge during a five-minute stint in an 81-80 road victory over the Buckeyes in 1987.

"It's something I had never done before and probably never did again," he cracked.

The Hamilton native relished a shot at the home-state Buckeyes, as did every other native Ohioan on the roster.

"We were all big Buckeye football fans, but we can't stand Buckeye basketball. It's that simple," said Grevey, who now works for an investment company in Springboro. "That's a team you always wanted to play against."

Relatively few UD players, though, have gotten that opportunity over the years. OSU and Dayton staged a four-game series beginning in the mid-1980s, but their NIT quarterfinal clash tonight will be just the fifth meeting between the schools in UD's modern era (since 1947).

The Flyers were always eager to play, but the Buckeyes were reluctant until coach Eldon Miller initiated a home-and-home series in 1985.

Miller was fired in 1986, later resurfacing at Northern Iowa, and his successor, Gary Williams, faced the Flyers three times before leaving for Maryland. But the series was discontinued after that.

"The meaning of having them on the schedule, I can't tell you how big that was," said Don Donoher, who coached the Flyers to a four-game split, each team winning once on the other's home court.

"We live in Big Ten country, and to be able to get a victory over a Big Ten school like Ohio State ... We played Michigan and never did beat them, but we split with the Buckeyes."

Donoher always felt indebted to Miller for his willingness to play an in-state school.

"When he was at Northern Iowa, he called and wanted to see about playing some games," Donoher recalled. "I said, 'Let me think that over and talk to (Athletic Director) Tom Frericks and get back to you.' I hung up and it hit me. Why am I even thinking about this?

"What that guy did for us when it wasn't the thing to do ... I got him right back on the phone and told him, 'We'll work out some dates.' And we played a two-year series."

Former UD standout Damon Goodwin lost to the Buckeyes in his only appearance against them as a player, but he was a first-year grad assistant when the Flyers pulled off an 89-86 victory in 1986.

The St. Marys native believes UD players — especially the home-state ones — need to guard against being obsessed about proving themselves against the Buckeyes.

"Hopefully they don't get too caught up in that, that they play for themselves and their teammates," said Goodwin, who plans to attend the game.

Now the head coach at Division III Capital University, Goodwin believes the Flyers should find ample motivation in knowing what's a stake: a trip to Madison Square Garden for the NIT semifinals.

"I remember thinking (as a player), if you can get to New York, that's pretty cool," he said. "There are good teams in the NIT. There's probably better teams in the NIT than in the NCAA in some of those games.

"I don't think you can forget that as a player. You're still playing for a championship. Is it the national championship? No, but they're still playing for a championship and to get to New York, and that can be a pretty neat memory for those kids."

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

Dayton-Ohio State series

In UD's modern era (since 1947)

Date	Site	Winning team	Score
Dec. 19, 1985	St. John Arena	Ohio State	80-73
Dec. 16, 1986	UD Arena	Dayton	89-86
Dec. 19, 1987	St. John Arena	Dayton	81-80
Dec. 17, 1988	UD Arena	Ohio State	104-76

> Do you remember any of the previous meetings between OSU and UD?