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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2012 > January > 22 > Entry
Matt Kavanaugh: Once he collected Flyers’ autographs, now he gets Flyers’ praise
I thought Chris Mack was a class act when he had nothing but praise for Archie Miller, Kevin Dillard and especially Matt Kavanaugh after his Xavier Musketeers were outplayed by the Dayton Flyers, 87-72, Saturday at UD Arena.
“As crazy as this sounds as an opposing coach, I’m really proud of Matt,” the Xavier coach said after Kavanaugh made eight of nine field goals, four of four free throws and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and two assists. “I know it’s crazy to say that.
“We didn’t recruit him…not that we probably could have gotten him. His parents are season ticket holders here.
“He’s a self made player. He’s done an amazing job of understanding his role. Playing to his strengths. Being an efficient scorer. He’s put up numbers against really good teams. I’ve got a lot of respect for Matt. Good things happen to guys who really work hard when it means a whole lot to them. A couple of players in our locker room could learn a lot from that.”
When Mack said this “means a whole lot” to Kavanaugh he was right on the money.
The other day when we I sat down with him in the Kennedy Union snack bar on campus, Kavanaugh talked about growing up in Centerville a Flyers fan.
“The first UD game I actually went to I was younger than I can remember - my parents took me,” he said. “My parents had season tickets a while and my dad used to get seats from his bank. The games I first remember going to is when Mark Ashman, Brooks Hall and Tony Stanley were playing.
“Back then I was a big Flyers fan. I had posters in my room I went to all the camps - Oliver Purnell was the coach then - and I’d get autographs from players like Nate Green, Sean Finn and Brooks Hall.
“By sophomore or junior year in high school, I knew I wanted to come here. There were a lot of reasons, but one was the crowds They really support our team and they really pull for guys from here who play hard. Guys like Keith Waleskowski, he was a crowd favorite.”
Kavanaugh has become the same thing this season.
Although you’ve got to give former coach Brian Gregory credit for recruiting Kavanaugh, the 6-foot-9 center spent his first two years at UD often buried at the end of the bench. He got little playing time - especially freshman year when he got in a grand total of just 43 minutes in 14 games. The other 23 games he never got off the bench. Sophomore years he got in most games, but played in bits and pieces averaging just over nine minutes and just under two points a game.
Both seasons he got yelled at constantly in practice.
This year - getting more of an embrace from the new coaching staff - he’s averaging 9.2 points and a team-leading 5.9 rebounds a game.
And as the season progresses and he becomes more and more of a force for the Flyers. the UD Arena crowd is rewarding him with some of its most heartfelt cheers. And after games he is one of the players little kids wait for outside the Donoher Center doors. Today he’s the one giving the autographs.
Watching this scene, a lot of Flyers fans will agree with Chris Mack.
You’ve got to be proud of Matt Kavanaugh.
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By Jack
January 23, 2012 8:55 AM | Link to this
Good for Kavs. Even recently, did not see much improvement, but these last few games, he has really carried us. Keep it up Kavs!
By Kramer
January 22, 2012 6:11 PM | Link to this
Nice story. But the name Brooks Hall pops up. (problematic in) his personal dealings with some people
By Golfplayer
January 22, 2012 5:11 PM | Link to this
Im not a Chris Mack fan but i will give him credit for the comments about Kav.Its refresssshing to hear other coaches comment about him after they lose to UD.Exspecialy Xavier.After saying that I believe UD will take care of Xavier when they play them next .CJ is still getting back on track.Watch out Xavier ,here come UD,,,Go Flyers