Special kids get chance to play
Benefit held for crash victim
WSU vs. Milwaukee
'an added dimension'
Win would be a big boost to UD's tourney credibility
Some have called Flyers' schedule weak, but no one could knock a win over 14th-ranked Xavier.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
DAYTON — Rob Lowery has been wowed by the charged-up crowds at UD Arena this season, but his Dayton teammates have told the former junior college star to expect an even more frenzied atmosphere for Xavier's annual visit tonight, Feb. 11.
"They say it's a big rivalry," Lowery said. "It ranks up there with the big rivalries in college basketball, like North Carolina-Duke."
OK, that may be a bit of a stretch, but the Flyer Faithful are as desperate for a win over their team's archrival tonight as Tar Heel and Blue Devil fans will be when their teams meet a couple of hours later. In addition, there's no denying how important the game has become for UD in building its NCAA tournament profile.
Although the Flyers were pegged with one of those dreaded "bad losses" at Charlotte on Sunday, they have a solid RPI of 32, a 5-1 record against the top 100 in the computer rankings and a signature win over Marquette. And knocking off another top-15 team could all but clinch an at-large spot in the tourney, as long as UD avoids any serious slumps the rest of the season.
"I think it will help our credibility as a team," Lowery said of beating Xavier. "Some people say, 'You play cupcake teams, and your nonconference season was cupcake.' But ... nobody can argue about this team. Coach already stressed how good they are, that they're an NCAA tournament team every year. We've just got to come to play."
Although he wouldn't get lured into a discussion about the postseason ramifications, UD coach Brian Gregory acknowledges victories over the Musketeers carry more weight than others.
"It's important," he said. "We recruit the same kids. We see each other all the time. There's an added dimension to this game, there's no doubt about it."
The Musketeers have dominated the rivalry, winning six straight and going 36-14 since 1984. UD had its way before that, posting a 44-8 record from 1950-82.
"We always beat them," said Kevin Conrad, who starred for the Flyers in the early 1980s and will be inducted into the UD Hall of Fame on Saturday.
"I coach a travel basketball team, and one of the kids' dad is a Xavier grad. We were talking the other day about the unbelievable amount of success Xavier has had in the last 10 years — really at the expense of Dayton. Obviously, as a Dayton fan, you look forward to the day when that's reversed."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Xavier (20-3, 8-1 Atlantic 10) at UD (21-3, 7-2)
When: 7 p.m. today
Radio: WHIO-AM (1290), WHIO-FM (95.7)
TV: ESPN Classic (live), ESPN2 (rebroadcast at 11 p.m.)
UD's tourney resume
Record: 21-3, 7-2 Atlantic 10
Vs. RPI Top 100: 5-1
Quality wins
Marquette: UD held the nation's 12th-ranked team to 39-percent shooting in 89-75 win on neutral floor.
Saint Joseph's: Flyers posted a 69-58 home win over a team expected to challenge for A-10 crown (Currently 7-1 in A-10).
George Mason: Patriots are 16-7 and ranked 56th in the RPI.
Bad loss
Charlotte: 49ers are 8-14 and ranked 169th in RPI.
Comments
By JQ
February 15, 2009 1:08 PM | Link to this
Getting one win against Xavier was well needed. The fact of the matter is that, two of Dayton’s wins weren’t even against division-one teams. That means that when Slection Sunday comes around, you can subtract two wins automatically from what Dayton already has, because the committee won’t count them.
By Morty McGulalilooney
February 11, 2009 7:39 PM | Link to this
No, UD does not have to pull out this win tonight over Xavier to get into the tourney. They just don’t. My name is Morty and you have read the truth.
By Kyle
February 11, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this
I don’t think UD has to one one of the games against Xavier, but they may have to win the remainder of the conference games (at URI, Temple included) to be considered a lock if they don’t. Winning tonight gives UD a lot more room to work with in case they slip up elsewhere (at STL for example). I think that a win over Temple would be considered a quality win, especially if they stay in the top RPI 50 and finish 3rd or 4th in the A-10. Obviously, a win over Xavier is more impressive.
By Michael
February 11, 2009 11:50 AM | Link to this
Yes, UD has to win one of the two games against Xavier. No tourney without one quality win down the stretch.