Dayton 12/20 8:30 ESPNU

[swilsonsp4]

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).

[leeraymond]

Jizzle was our best player against Dayton, posting 7.4 net points. He scored 14 from the field on only 9 shots and added 3 assists and 3 blocks. Skillings was just behind with 6.5 net points. He got to the rim 8 times and finished 5 of them and added 5 for 5 at the line, 4 steals, and 4 offensive boards. Day Day was the only other player with a positive statistical impact thanks to his 6.8 defensive BPM. Hickman and Simas had the worst games. Simas only scored 11 from the field on 17 shots and Hickman was the only player to post a negative BPM on both sides of the ball.

Our rim defense was once again excellent. We held the Flyers to just 43% there. And we ran them off the three point line, giving up just 18 attempts.

Our shooting wasn't good, only 43% effective field goals. But we only took 7 midrange jumpers and we rebounded 43% of our misses. I think it's fair to say we won this game on the offensive glass.

I agree with you that UC helped itself by beating Dayton on the offensive glass. Consequently, those offensive rebounds gave UC an advantage in second chance points 18-11. UC also had more points off of turnovers 15-9. Likewise, believe it or not, UC went 16 for 21 from the free throw line in the second half. Those free throws helped UC to maintain its lead late in the second half. Everything else was pretty even between both teams.

UC had two tough games (Xavier and Dayton) where it beat two good teams when it had a hard time scoring. My guess is that UC will have many games in the BIG XII where scoring is going to be tough. However, UC has shown that it still can win even when points are difficult to get. Hopefully, UC's defense will be a constant.

[sedz]

Jizzle was our best player against Dayton, posting 7.4 net points. He scored 14 from the field on only 9 shots and added 3 assists and 3 blocks. Skillings was just behind with 6.5 net points. He got to the rim 8 times and finished 5 of them and added 5 for 5 at the line, 4 steals, and 4 offensive boards. Day Day was the only other player with a positive statistical impact thanks to his 6.8 defensive BPM. Hickman and Simas had the worst games. Simas only scored 11 from the field on 17 shots and Hickman was the only player to post a negative BPM on both sides of the ball.

Our rim defense was once again excellent. We held the Flyers to just 43% there. And we ran them off the three point line, giving up just 18 attempts.

Our shooting wasn't good, only 43% effective field goals. But we only took 7 midrange jumpers and we rebounded 43% of our misses. I think it's fair to say we won this game on the offensive glass.

[UC4me]

My point is not concerning the tourney, but what beating X means to those in Cincy. It is the rivalry and the biggest game every season. I would also find it bigger beating Kansas and Houston. You beat them and you are in the Dance. I look at the present and I am tired of losing to them. I enjoyed the beating of Dayton, but X means so much more to folks in the community of Cincinnati.

For THIS year, I believe beating X was the bigger win. Picture losing that game this year. Fans would be big-time down on the team. There would have been a lot of chatter about getting rid of Wes. The players would have felt like the monkey on their back was growing to gorilla size. The whole dang mojo would have been off. We very well lose to Dayton then as a result. But that didn't happen. For what seemed like the first time in a decade, we beat the school we call "little brother" but who had repeatedly kicked the crap out of us. We did it with determination and guts. The Enquirer printed a story early in the week of X wondering if UC could win a close one against X. We did. Fast forward to Dayton. We looked tough. We looked determined. We played like our shorts were on fire. Yes, the game got close at the end, but we didn't buckle. I believe we hit 4 out of 5 free throws in the final 3 minutes, two by Aziz. We almost never do that. We didn't fold. We held tough. I think a good case could be made that beating X gave us the self confidence that we could beat a team that just beat #6. THIS year, in my book, X is a bigger win than Dayton.

[Rufus]

Disagree about Page. This year is his first significant playing time, I think he has a pretty high ceiling. You can see him getting better as the season goes on, he’ll be OK.

Besides that if memory serves CWM indicated that AP was sick his freshman year at USC and never could re gain his feet. So last year was a lost year. I think the potential is there just needs developed.

[Carthage World]

As long as Dayton takes care business in the A10, last night's win will likely hold up as Wes's second Q1 non-conference win during his 4 years at UC.

He won his very first Q1 game against Illinois in 2021. He would go on to lose his next 7 Q1 non-conference games (per my count).

[leo from jersey]

I agree with Leo on this one. Not sure how long or if you've been around long, but those of us who haved lived with X fans through the years, realize that the X game has always been the most important game of every year.

The football games were huge too.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

I disagree. I'll take the Quad 1 win, should come in handy come March.

I agree with Leo on this one. Not sure how long or if you've been around long, but those of us who haved lived with X fans through the years, realize that the X game has always been the most important game of every year.

[leo from jersey]

Jeff I enjoyed it when the Cats were in the same league as Rutgers, but X is still the game to me - It is on par with OSU-UM to me.

[leo from jersey]

I disagree. I'll take the Quad 1 win, should come in handy come March.

My point is not concerning the tourney, but what beating X means to those in Cincy. It is the rivalry and the biggest game every season. I would also find it bigger beating Kansas and Houston. You beat them and you are in the Dance. I look at the present and I am tired of losing to them. I enjoyed the beating of Dayton, but X means so much more to folks in the community of Cincinnati.

[Jeff Burk]

Nothing is bigger than beating X (kansas or Houston may be close) especially after the last few years, but this was a great win.

I disagree. I'll take the Quad 1 win, should come in handy come March.

[leo from jersey]

Disagree about Page. This year is his first significant playing time, I think he has a pretty high ceiling. You can see him getting better as the season goes on, he’ll be OK.

next year he may have a "Key" player who can get him the ball down low while he is in position.

[longtimefan]

All lobs way off the marks, Page does not look a good player. Great free throws by Aziz. Too many turnovers. UC played good defense.

Disagree about Page. This year is his first significant playing time, I think he has a pretty high ceiling. You can see him getting better as the season goes on, he’ll be OK.

[Rufus]

Great win, some officiating crews would have called about 80 fouls, 60 on Dayton. Dayton grabs a lot of D, tonight they got away with it. Also, my opinion of that arena hasn’t changed. Anything but monster truck shows shouldn’t be held there.

I noticed too that some of the Dayton guys like to whine to the refs. I hate when teams do that. The flagrant one on Aziz shouldn't have been so severe but that's hind sight. Let's keep this train rollin

[fmirzamd]

All lobs way off the marks, Page does not look a good player. Great free throws by Aziz. Too many turnovers. UC played good defense.