Dayton 12/20 8:30 ESPNU

[BearKatz]

Then wouldn't Dayton have the same issue after Marquette?

No not really, since Dayton played UNLV last night! UC will have not played since X, a liitle different!

[red_n_black_attack]

...

I still like UC's chances here. UC has the one thing on its side that Dayton does not have: REVENGE FOR LAST YEAR. I would imagine that UC has NOT forgotten the butt whipping that Dayton gave them last year. I truly hope that Aziz can have a good game.

We have a significant size advantage inside. Mitchell is a scoring machine who can create for himself. Aziz is a dunk monster. Page is quite capable to create and take the lob. If we can be nearly automatic in the paint (60% or greater), then the outside shots will open up a little. UC hasn't really had a game where we've hit on all cylinders/phases since early in non-conference play against a much lesser opponent. I'd like to see if we can do well inside and outside against a better opponent like Dayton to give me confidence as we close in on conference play.

[leeraymond]

The Dayton game should be another interesting game. Dayton is coming off of two tough emotional wins and Cincinnati is coming off of the Xavier win. Both teams are good scoring teams. UC's defense, on paper, is a little better. Dayton has four double digit scorers and UC has three. The one thing that makes Dayton different is that Dayton is good at getting to the free throw line. On the season, excluding the UNLV game, Dayton gets to the free throw line 23 times a game and hits 16 free throws a game. UC gets to the free throw line 14.6 times a game and makes 9.1 free throws a game (based on latest stats.)

One other thing. Dayton is battle-tested. It has big wins over Northwestern, UCONN, Marquette, and a gritty win over UNLV. It also plays in a zone defense some of its defensive possessions.

I still like UC's chances here. UC has the one thing on its side that Dayton does not have: REVENGE FOR LAST YEAR. I would imagine that UC has NOT forgotten the butt whipping that Dayton gave them last year. I truly hope that Aziz can have a good game.

[bba_1979]

Then wouldn't Dayton have the same issue after Marquette?

That's what happened tonight. UD was sluggish the whole game. Fortunate to pull out the W.

Before the season I wasn't too worried about this game. Now I am. (Full disclosure time: I am a lifetime UD fan. Second favorite team after UC. I get to see them a lot in person thanks to family connections.) This UD team has shown the ability to gut games out even when shots aren't falling. They play tough man-to-man mostly, but can also play a pretty decent 1-3-1 zone. And for those who haven't seen UD (I've seen almost all of their games either live or on TV), the falloff I expected from last year year hasn't seemed to materialize. Anthony Grant is a good coach. He'll have the Flyers ready Friday night. The Bearcats need to be the more physical, aggressive team. I believe it's really that simple. Play tough defense, get the ball to the hoop, and rebound at both ends of the court.

Oh - and those UC fans who are at Heritage Bank Center? You better be loud and proud because UD travels exceedingly well. Like last year, I imagine it will sound like a UD home game!

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

Aziz should have a big game on Friday, if he's on. Possibly Page as well!

I'm worried about a possible hangover from the X Game. That's my biggest concern!

Then wouldn't Dayton have the same issue after Marquette?

[swilsonsp4]

Half: UNLV 28, UD 27. Flyers led at one point, 22-14. They've shot 11/25 FG (44.0%), 2/9 3P (22.2%), 3/4 (75.0%)

The Runnin' Rebels hung with the Flyers throughout the second half and took a 4-point lead late. UD rallied to go back up by one at 0:08. UNLV got off a shot at the horn, but UD hung on, 66-65.

[swilsonsp4]

UNLV @ UD tipping off in about a half hour (7:00 ET) on CBSSN (Channel 221 on DirecTV).

ESPN.com was wrong. Per UD's website, the game is on Peacock.

[BearKatz]

Early look at Dayton:

9-2 with the following notable results: 5 point win versus Northwestern; 7th place in Maui but it featured a 2-point loss to North Carolina (held a huge lead), 5-point loss to Iowa State; and 18-point win versus UConn; knocked off #6 Marquette on Saturday by 8

#23 in NET
#26 in Ken Pom (#10 adjusted offensive efficiency, #65 adjusted defensive efficiency -- whereas UC is 45 and 10)

Top players:
- Enoch Cheeks (5th year senior), 6'3 guard averaging 15.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg
- Nate Santos (senior), 6'7 forward averaging 13.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg
- Zed Key (5th year senior via Ohio State), 6'8 forward averaging 12.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg
- Malachi Smith (redshirt junior), 6'0 guard averaging 11.1 ppg, 6.0 apg
- Javon Bennett (junior), 5'10 guard averaging 9.2 ppg, 2.7 apg
- Posh Alexander (5th year senior via Butler), 6'0 guard averaging 6.4 ppg, 3.6 apg

Key should be a load in the middle (but not as tall/long as UC's bigs) but otherwise a largely guard-oriented team it seems. They return several key players and--like many--have some experienced D1 players, though in last year's 82-68 win against UC, 67 points came from DaRon Holmes, Kobe Elvis and Koby Brea who have all departed.

UD plays UNLV on Tuesday night on CBS Sports Network

Aziz should have a big game on Friday, if he's on. Possibly Page as well!

I'm worried about a possible hangover from the X Game. That's my biggest concern!

[GoBearcats31]

Early look at Dayton:

9-2 with the following notable results: 5 point win versus Northwestern; 7th place in Maui but it featured a 2-point loss to North Carolina (held a huge lead), 5-point loss to Iowa State; and 18-point win versus UConn; knocked off #6 Marquette on Saturday by 8

#23 in NET
#26 in Ken Pom (#10 adjusted offensive efficiency, #65 adjusted defensive efficiency -- whereas UC is 45 and 10)

Top players:
- Enoch Cheeks (5th year senior), 6'3 guard averaging 15.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg
- Nate Santos (senior), 6'7 forward averaging 13.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg
- Zed Key (5th year senior via Ohio State), 6'8 forward averaging 12.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg
- Malachi Smith (redshirt junior), 6'0 guard averaging 11.1 ppg, 6.0 apg
- Javon Bennett (junior), 5'10 guard averaging 9.2 ppg, 2.7 apg
- Posh Alexander (5th year senior via Butler), 6'0 guard averaging 6.4 ppg, 3.6 apg

Key should be a load in the middle (but not as tall/long as UC's bigs) but otherwise a largely guard-oriented team it seems. They return several key players and--like many--have some experienced D1 players, though in last year's 82-68 win against UC, 67 points came from DaRon Holmes, Kobe Elvis and Koby Brea who have all departed.

UD plays UNLV on Tuesday night on CBS Sports Network

[swilsonsp4]

The Flyers have another game coming up this week. On Tuesday night at 7:00, UNLV (5-4) will be at UD Arena (televised on CBSSN).

[cpawstoney]

While I already have my tickets to next Friday night's game downtown, I was curious as to how ticket sales had gone thus far. There still are tons of seats left, mostly upstairs.

In the lower bowl sections dedicated to each school through ticketmaster.com, UD has 135 remaining, while UC have at least 410 (Sections 112-128).

The prices they are asking are obscene.

[sedz]

The Flyers were down 13 in the 2nd half and dominated the Golden Eagles over the last ten minutes or so.

The opposite of their game against UNC in Maui, where they blew a 21 point second half lead.

[swilsonsp4]

Dayton just knocked off #6 Marquette

The Flyers were down 13 in the 2nd half and dominated the Golden Eagles over the last ten minutes or so.

[GoBearcats31]

Dayton just knocked off #6 Marquette