WEDNESDAY’S GAME
Dayton (14-12, 4-8 Atlantic 10) at Charlotte (18-8, 6-6), 7:30 p.m., Ch. 7, 95.7, 1290
Dayton’s Matt Derenbecker has taken on a more prominent role of late, topped by playing a season-high 25 minutes against UMass on Saturday. Look for that trend to continue.
Devin Oliver was one of only two Flyers to average 30 or more minutes per game before being limited to 16 against the Minutemen. Consider that a one-game aberration.
UD coach Archie Miller has been forced to go with patchwork lineups while working with just nine healthy scholarship players, and he rewards the players having the most production with extended stints on the floor.
Derenbecker has been playing fearlessly and had nine points at UMass after getting 10 against Xavier. He’s first in the Atlantic 10 in 3-point shooting at 44.3 percent.
“I thought Matt, in last couple weeks, has been playing really well. … Against UMass, with the way the game goes up and down with them, sometimes the penetration lanes are open, and he was able to be freed up a couple times. And I thought him banging some shots was good. It gave us some confidence,” Miller said.
The 6-foot-7 sophomore can play multiple positions, although he has trouble matching up with quick perimeter players. But with Khari Price, the team’s third guard, out indefinitely, Miller turned to Derenbecker when backcourt starters Kevin Dillard and Vee Sanford needed a breather.
“We’re pinned up against it right now just in terms of our depth. Regardless of matchup situations out there, you’ve got to go with what you have,” Miller said.
“He’s going to play an important role down the stretch. We need his shooting. I do think he’s a competitive guy. And moving forward, hopefully he’ll finish the back two weeks for us (strong).”
The Flyers also need Oliver to perform as he has through most of the season. He’s fifth in the A-10 in rebounding with an 8.0 average.
Josh Benson played extensively off the bench as the Flyers’ stretch forward against UMass, and he responded by scoring all 12 of his points in the second half. But Miller doesn’t necessarily look at that as a permanent solution.
“I thought Devin didn’t have it (against UMass). In watching him play, I didn’t think he was all there in terms of being able to play well,” Miller said. “I thought in the second half, Josh gave us the best chance at the small forward spot — because he got off to a pretty good start. That’s just kind of how it played itself out.”
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