Final notes about UD from Maui Invitational

Fans and Dr. Curran enjoying the sunshine with photos of friends who could not make the trip to the Maui Invitational.

Fans and Dr. Curran enjoying the sunshine with photos of friends who could not make the trip to the Maui Invitational.

O CANADA!

The Maui Invitational has a definite Canadian flair, with several teams featuring players from north of the border. Here would be my Maui Invitational Maple Leaf All-Star team:

Tyler Ennis – Syracuse
Brady Heslip - Baylor
Kenny Chery ( yes that's only one "r") - Baylor
Kevin Pangos -Gonzaga
Dyshawn Pierre - Dayton

Predictions made
During the broadcast of the Chaminade vs. Gonzaga game when Gonzaga was coasting to victory ESPN announcers John Sciambi and Jimmy Dykes were talking about the field of the tournament in general. Jimmy Dykes had high praise for Dayton. "They will not finish 6th in their conference (inferring UD would finish higher). They would not finish sixth in any conference, Big 12, SEC, ACC. They are that good."

Miller a surfing stud
Jimmy Dykes picked Archie Miller as the best potential surfer among the coaches in the field, because of his toughness and athletic ability. When reminded that Gonzaga Coach Mark Few spends two weeks every summer in Maui surfing with his family, Dykes responded, " But Archie would knock him off his board if that is what it takes to win."

Where is Dayton?
My hotel maid at the Hyatt Regency has done a wonderful job of cleaning and maintaining my room this week, although she was a bit suspicious of the large amount of electronic equipment situated throughout the room. When I explained to her that I was a radio announcer and that most of the equipment was for the broadcast, and the rest to transmit videos and stories back to our listeners/viewers /readers in Dayton, her fears were eased. "Where is Dayton?" she asked. "Is that in the United States?"

Time for a rest
The Dayton basketball team (and its broadcasters) will arrive back early Thanksgiving evening, and will not have a game until the following Wednesday at home vs. Delaware State. That's enough time to do laundry before another road trip to Illinois State. After that, the Flyers are home through the rest of 2013 (Central Michigan 12/14, Iona 12/19, USC 12/22, Murray State 12/29 and Winthrop 1/1) before finishing the non-conference portion of their schedule at Ole Miss on January 4, 2014.

 

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