WSU vs. Milwaukee
Badin Spirit Olympics
Adventure Summit
Thursday, February 26, 2009
KINGSTON, R.I. — Dayton is known for its miserly defense, but that reputation was sullied at Rhode Island on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
The Flyers, who held Bethune-Cookman to 38 points, Miami to 40, Delaware State to 42 and Saint Louis to 46, gave up 52 in the first half against the Rams, who are ninth nationally in scoring at 80.2 points per game.
The previous high for a UD opponent in a half was 46 by Charlotte in its 79-66 win Feb. 8.
The Flyers were much better in the second half, holding the Rams to 26 points before the overtime, but the defense became porous again in the extra session. The Rams scored on their final seven possessions, including a game-winning drive by Marquis Jones at the buzzer.
The Flyers, who shot 63 percent in the first half but still trailed 52-44 were ranked 13th nationally (out of 330 teams) in scoring defense at 59.0 points per game.
Sub connects
Kurt Huelsman twisted his ankle while being fouled on a rebound with 5:46 left in the game. He was replaced by freshman guard Paul Williams, who shot the center's one-and-one and made both to cut Rhody's lead to 71-68. Huelsman returned 32 seconds later, and the crowd booed his arrival, thinking the Flyers were pulling some chicanery.
Faulty free throws
The Flyers, who are 13th in the A-10 in foul shooting, made just half of their first 18 free throws and finished 21-of-35. They were 56-of-104 in their previous four games. Rhode Island went 21-of-29.
Johnson no factor
Freshman standout Chris Johnson, who missed the Flyers' last game with a bruised calf, came off the bench with 5:05 left in the first half but lasted just one minute.
He's the team's fifth-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder. The Flyers also are missing their third-leading scorer in point guard Rob Lowery, who's out for the year with a knee injury.
Intentional hurts
UD's Mickey Perry committed a flagrant foul with 11:46 to go in the first half, a costly gaffe.
After a London Warren turnover, Rhode Island's Keith Cothran dribbled to a breakaway layup. Perry grabbed Cothran just before the ball went in, giving the player two free throws (he made one) and the Rams an extra possession. Jimmy Baron made a 3-pointer, and a 19-18 Rhode Island lead swelled to 25-18.
Temple sold out
Dayton's home game with Temple on Saturday is a sellout, and only a limited number of tickets remain for the Flyers' last home game, a March 7 meeting with Duquesne.
In other news, the UD-Xavier game in Cincinnati at 9 p.m. Thursday, March 5, will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Game notes
• UD sophomore center Devin Searcy had the first double-figure game of his career (and the first for a Flyer post player this season), getting 10 points off the bench.
Comments
By tr
February 27, 2009 7:51 PM | Link to this
how can huelsman leave a game, when he’s never ‘in’ the game?
By betspin
February 27, 2009 3:01 PM | Link to this
I agree with billg and mike s that Kurt Huelsman seems to not be able to play very good defense.He is too slow and cannot jump.He misses easy bunnies as if he is afraid to get his shot blocked!!We need a good center and outside point guard who can shoot to make teams to be honest as a threat from outside.Coach Gregory needs to be on them for their out of control play and needless turnovers.
By Bhoops
February 27, 2009 2:35 PM | Link to this
It is not their lack of practice on FT shooting, it is lack of potential. FLYERS have two players who have fundamentally sounds shots. MP and CJ. MP shoots 83%, CJ at 80%. All else have problems with their form and will not improve much with practice. As a team, the FLYERS shoot to their potential at 66%. Poor FT shooting or not, they need to stick to the formula that has been working: Defense and Rebounding. You can’t win if you let teams shoot 60% from field like RI did in first half…..
By the rosser
February 27, 2009 9:01 AM | Link to this
As I mentioned before the Rhode Island game, I think the Flyers’ problems at the free throw line could improve by means of Maxwell Maltz’s Psychocybernetics. I implore Coach Gregory and our red and blue squad to get this book and read his experiment with free throw shooting. One group practiced by actually shooting ten free throws in the gym. Another group just mentally shot ten times, visualizing the ball going in each time. The latter group did better. Why not give this a try?
By Ray Z
February 27, 2009 8:37 AM | Link to this
I find it interesting that the UD Flyers do not improve as the season goes on. The same shortcomings that they have in the early season is what hurts them at tournament time. How a team can lose so many games at the foul line and expect to be considered an NCAA calibre team is beyond me. Free throw shooting this bad shows a definite lack of practice and discipline, another words coaching. The inability of UD to win on the road is becoming the fodder of sportwriters in other A10 cities.
By mike s.
February 27, 2009 12:37 AM | Link to this
Are billg and I the only ones to notice the LACK of defense by Huelsman??? I only watched the second half, but RI went around him EVERYTIME. I couldn’t believe he was still in the game at the end…at least put Searcy in for his quickness! Plus, I’ve lost count this season watching Huelsman allowing the ball to be stripped from him - OR - not being able to hang on to a pass or a rebound… will he ever look intense during a game? It always appears that he’s never fighting for a win. Wake up “H”!
By pervin
February 26, 2009 8:58 PM | Link to this
You can not take two players out of your lineup that have been contributing 35+ minutes per game together and rank in the top 5 on the team in points per game, 3-point percentage, and steals, and expect to win on the road in the A10. (RL & CJ led the team in points or rebds 17 games this year) Yes,the Flyers blew at FT line again…but it was a great performance by both teams, the Flyers grit was phenomenal Jimmie Barons last shot the real dagger! GREAT GAME!
By amy katz
February 26, 2009 8:47 PM | Link to this
UD will be in the NCAA tournament and all these sad sacks commenting will be revealed for what they are - know nothing blow hards!
By billg
February 26, 2009 5:36 PM | Link to this
Now, to answer the question…the Flyers are NOT DONE LOSING YET! If the selection committee does their job, and one of the criteria will be the team’s record its last 10 games, the Flyers will be in the NIT. X will tear ‘em a new one and negate the first game win. The A-10 will NOT send middle of the conference teams to the Dance like the Big East and ACC will. Maybe next year when UD has more competition for the Post position!!
By billg
February 26, 2009 5:27 PM | Link to this
Watch the replay of the last play and watch Huelsman turn sideways and get out of the way; he’s been there 3 years and NO IMPROVEMENT! Also, you could tell the players were concentrating on FT’s at the end…they made ‘em; but earlier, disgusting! And finally, I’m sick and tired of watching Wright play ghetto basketball and keep charging…I blame the coaches for letting him play out of control. Sitting on the pine may help!!
By randy
February 26, 2009 3:22 PM | Link to this
i dont get to see many Flyer games, but last nights’s game was 30 min from home; so off we went!…I’m certainly no expert here, but do know UD should have won that game by at least 10pts…from the FT line. Go Flyers & win the rest of ‘em !
By michael thomas
February 26, 2009 3:08 PM | Link to this
I grew up in the Dayton area. I cut my teeth un UD basketball. If UD was losing to teams in the Big 10, I think peole would say, they have been losing to teams in a solid conference. But we are talking the Atlantic 10 here. There are too many good teams with more losses than UD but when you lose in the SEC, ACC, Big 10 and Big 12, the NCAA will probably go with more teams from there. If UD waslosing to good teams they would make it… maybe the NIT! IMPROVE YOUR SCHEDULE AND GET OUT OF THE A-10
By dag1312
February 26, 2009 2:46 PM | Link to this
curious…how is it Gregory’s fault exactly? Does he throw the ball all around the gym causing T.O.’s. Is he missing FT’s. Is he the one who can not make an aggressive post play? At some point in time responsibility needs to fall on the players. As a coach, you can push but “real players” take responsibility in the off-season to improve the weak aspects of their game. This clearly is not going on.Let’s not forget the weak schedule being palyed as well…which BG can’t control broken contracts.
By Reggie98ud
February 26, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this
If the Flyers do not make the NCAA tourney, it will be because of these two losses which are solely due to poor FT shooting. This is 100% BG’s fault and he should pay the consequences of squandering another great start on an NIT bid. If Dayton does not make the NCAA Tourney it is time to get rid of BG.
By dag1312
February 26, 2009 11:48 AM | Link to this
how about recruiting point guards who can knock down an open shot and eliminate turnover. how about wingmen who play under control when going to the basket? how about a center who is not afraid to dunk? if you look around the country, the teams/programs who have sucess year in and year out do not lack these things. if their starters do lack in these areas, they bring in a player who does not. “MAJOR” Div.I programs have athletes who improve their game during the summer/off season.
By lc
February 26, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this
Temple needs the win on the way to a bid. Dayton needs a win on the way to a higher seed. Regardless of who wins, bid and seeding will be determined by performance in Atlantic City.
By DavidUDUK
February 26, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this
I love UD but BG should have every player keep shooting FT’s until they can make 10 in a row.
By tds70
February 26, 2009 10:36 AM | Link to this
Been saying all year,to go to NCAA UD will have to shoot 68-70% free throws, get 8 pts + from KH & KS, hold teams to 65 pts or less, win the boards. They have 3 games to hit the formula I feel will keep them winning. The unknown factor - injuries. The A10 coaches predicting 3-or 4th place is looking very accurate. The A10 coaches in general are top notch and if they stay put, the leagues will continue to improve. If the keep shuffling,its hard to keep programs consistant. Go A10,Go Flyers!
By Tom
February 26, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this
Until Gregory and the players put emphasis on free throws this will be a problem for seasons to come also. ZERO excuse for this kind of FT performance.
Every loss goes back to missed FT’s.
By Ballgame
February 26, 2009 10:21 AM | Link to this
Means they better beat Temple Saturday.
By Brian
February 26, 2009 10:21 AM | Link to this
Free throws !