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Home > Blogs > Flyer Connection: University of Dayton sports > Archives > 2009 > November > 02 > Entry
UD looking for improvement in exhibition
Exhibition games are normally a time for fans to kick back and enjoy a stress-free night while their team splatters an opponent, but that wasn’t the case when Dayton faced Findlay two years ago.
The Flyers survived, 81-78, against the Division II school and needed a questionable foul on Findlay and subsequent technical on the visitors’ coach to avoid a shocking defeat.
Of course, Findlay showed just how good it was by beating Ohio State, 70-68, a few days later.
The Flyers will play their first exhibition of the 2009-10 season at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Ferris State, and fans probably won’t have to worry about sweating this one out.
Although the D-II Bulldogs return four starters, they finished just 14-14 last season and didn’t start anyone taller than 6-foot-6 a year ago.
The Flyers, too, are more established than that 2007 team was at the beginning of the season. Although point guard Rob Lowery (knee) is still mending, and sophomore guard Paul Williams (concussion) will sit out, UD has experience galore this year.
“I think the most important thing is our guys have great confidence right now — not only in each other and themselves, but in the system, in the things we really try to preach and exercise,” UD coach Brian Gregory said.
“But we can’t look differently at what our core values are and foundation of what we’ve built this success upon. First and foremost, that’s taking every day and using every day to get better. The reason we’ve had some success is guys are continually getting better.”
Gregory is seeing that single-minded focus, thanks to veteran leaders who never try to slide by during practice.
“Those seven seniors (counting walk-ons) have set the standard. Those are the guys who are in charge of that,” Gregory said. “They don’t let any slip-ups. And that’s always the biggest challenge with a team that’s had success and is coming back. We tell our guys this is their team, and they need to take ownership for us in taking the next step as a program.”
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By flyerfan
November 2, 2009 2:49 PM | Link to this
I hope that Coach Gregory taught the boys how to shoot free throws over this summer, else we will once again be subject to a bunch more games that are closer than they should be. Seriously, there is no excuse for any player on a top-25 caliber team to shoot under 60% FT, and most if not all should be able to shoot over 70%. No excuses!
By gtmoBlue
November 2, 2009 6:49 PM | Link to this
FT’s? the Flyers have troubles at the line? It could be a Long nite for them in their opener. The Jays won’t miss many. Plus your shortage of PG’s… hmmmm.
By Hugginator
November 3, 2009 7:49 AM | Link to this
I think he loves the fact that he doesn’t need to worry about the payroll for his players like OSU (lots of extra paperwork)
By Joe Pyne
November 3, 2009 10:03 AM | Link to this
Free throws are a minor issue with this team. The bigger question is where will the outside shooting come from? God knows the Flyers don’t have an inside presence or an outside jumper so where will the scoring originate?
By knowerofthings
November 3, 2009 1:27 PM | Link to this
I think Flyer fans are in for a tough year. The Flyers have no inside game and no outside game. The centerville stiff will not help and Chris Wright is as over rated as any player in UD history. I like them to win 17 this season. 18 if they get lucky.
By erv giiddings
November 3, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this
I think our outside shooting will improve this year due to the development of Paul Williams and Chris Johnson. I also think Marcus Johnson will shoot the ball better this season. Not to mention the progress of Luuuuuke
By confuseus
November 3, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this
the shooting will originate from the mind, grasshopper, from the mind. And, we have a great post presence on the defensive end. We don’t need scorer in post. Only have one ball, grasshopper. Make all shots, no need for post scoring
By Basketball Fan
November 5, 2009 1:18 AM | Link to this
Looked like that 6’6” Ferris player gave Dayton’s big fella’s all they could handle and then some: 25 pts & 8 rebs, not bad for a D2 guy, huh? :-)