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Despite their long shared history and friendship, Goodwin and Grant have never coached against each other. That changes Friday. Capital visits UD Arena for an exhibition game at 7 p.m.
“Damon, to me, was someone I always looked up to,” Grant said. “I had a lot of respect for him when I played with him. Even though we were only a year apart in school, he was a couple years older than me. I always admired his approach to practice, his approach to getting prepared for games and the way he went out and competed no matter who we were playing, no matter what night we were playing. His consistency is what stands out to me, and obviously, he’s just a great guy.”
Here are five things to know about the game:
1. Local connections: Capital's roster features three players from the Dayton area: senior guard Joey Weingartner, of Centerville High School; junior point guard Drew McCollum, of Alter; and freshman guard Ryan Rose, of Tipp City Bethel.
Weingartner, one of five seniors and one of 11 returning players, averaged 14.0 points per game as a junior and was the team’s top 3-point shooter, making 2.5 3-pointers per game while shooting 40.4 percent from long range. McCollum is a transfer from Lindenwood University.
2. Rotation plans: While Jalen Crutcher enters the season as the starting point guard for Dayton, several players will share the role as his backup.
“We’ll throw Dwayne Cohill back there some,” Grant said. “We’ll throw Jordan Davis back there some. We have a variety of different guys. I think we’ve got a versatile enough lineup that we’ll have a variety of people who can help us.”
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3. Defensive focus: Dayton scrimmaged Pittsburgh on Saturday at Denison University in Granville, and although the Flyers lost to a team picked to finish last in the Atlantic Coast Conference, according to a report by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Grant and the players were pleased with the performance.
“It went very well,” junior guard Trey Landers said. “You’ll see we’re a better defensive team.”
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The players have talked throughout the offseason about improving on that side of the ball.
“You’re going to see us do a lot more pressing and have a lot more intensity on the defensive end,” Landers said. “Last year, we were 238th in the country out of 350 teams, which is not good at all.”
4. Fan options: The game will not be televised or streamed online, but fans can listen to Larry Hansgen and Bucky Bockhorn call the game on WHIO Radio: FM 95.7 and AM 1290. Also, WHIO's John Bedell will host Flyer Feedback on the same stations after the game.
5. Arena changes: Fans will get their first look at the renovated UD Arena, which is now two-thirds of the way through a three-year, $72-million project.
Aside from the new seats in the 300 and 400 levels and expanded concourses, here are other things fans should know about:
• There is new free Wi-Fi, powered by Cincinnati Bell, available in the arena bowl seating area. The rest of the arena, including the concourses, will have Wi-Fi coverage in the 2019-20 season.
• Among the new concession options are items from City Barbeque, which can be found in the new craft beer concession stand behind section 214, and McAlister’s Deli (West Wing and East Concourse). Fans have several new menu items to choose from, including steak and shrimp tacos, and the “Rudy Flyer Jumbo Dog.”
• The UD Arena Ticket Office moved to the southeast corner of the arena.
• Doors will open to fans two hours early (at 5 p.m.) for this game and the Nov. 7 season opener against North Florida. Starting Nov. 10, when Dayton plays Coppin State, doors will open 90 minutes before tip-off.
FRIDAY’S GAME
Capital at Dayton, 7 p.m., FM 95.7 , AM 1290 WHIO
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