Oct. 25, 2007
Roberts Video Interview
A-10 Preseason Release in PDF Format
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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - A pair of University of Dayton Flyer basketball players have been chosen for preseason honors that were announced at today's Atlantic 10 Conference Media Day at Boardwalk Hall, the site of the 2008 A-10 Championship. Senior guard Brian Roberts was named First Team All-Atlantic 10, while freshman forward Chris Wright was chosen for the All-Rookie Team. The Flyers were also picked to finish sixth in the league according to a poll of the Atlantic 10's head coaches and media.
A two-time All-Atlantic 10 selection and UD Most Valuable Player, Roberts is just the eighth Flyer to earn MVP honors as a sophomore and junior. Last season, he led UD in scoring (18.5), assists (2.7), minutes (35.6), 3-pt. FG's per game (2.7), FT% (.899, 133-148) and 3-pt. FG% (.458, 82-179) in 2006-07.
He was the only player listed among the Atlantic 10's top five in scoring (3rd), minutes (2nd), FT% (2nd), 3-pt. FG% (2nd) and 3-pointers per game (5th) in 2006-07. He enters the season with the third-highest shooting percentage from three-point range in A-10 history (minimum 1.5 made per game). Robert's .433 (193-445) is behind Pat Carroll's (SJU) .445 and Richard McCormick's (SBU) .444.
Three respected ranking services - HoopScoop, Rivals.com and Scout.com - rate UD's group of three incoming freshmen the best in the Atlantic 10. Forward Chris Wright is the headliner of the three rookies. Considered by many experts to be the top incoming freshman in the A-10, Wright was ranked as high as the 18th-best prospect in the country. He averaged 19.2 points and 12.8 rebounds for Trotwood-Madison High School while earning First Team All-Ohio Division I honors. At the Jordan Brand All-America Game played in Madison Square Garden, the 6-8 high "Flyer" turned in a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Xavier was named the preseason favorite, with 42 of the 59 first-place votes. Rhode Island garnered five first-place votes and placed second in the preseason poll. Saint Joseph's was tabbed third, while Fordham earned a pair of first-place votes and was chosen fourth. Saint Louis was selected fifth in the poll, while Dayton garnered a pair of first-place votes and was tabbed for sixth.
Defending A-10 champion George Washington was picked seventh, while 2007 regular season co-champion Massachusetts received a first-place vote and was selected eighth, followed by Temple, Charlotte, Duquesne, Richmond, La Salle and St. Bonaventure.
The coaches and media also selected the preseason All-Conference teams. The first team is comprised of Roberts, Rhode Island's Will Daniels, Xavier's Drew Lavender, St. Joe's Ahmand Nivins and Fordham's Bryant Dunston. The second-team consists of Xavier's Stanley Burrell, Temple's Dionte Christmas, Maureece Rice of George Washington and teammates Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch of Saint Louis. On the third team are Pat Calathes of Saint Joseph's, Massachusetts' Gary Forbes, Leemire Goldwire of Charlotte, Fordham's Marcus Stout and Temple's Mark Tyndale.
The preseason All-Defensive team consists of Lisch, Dunston, Stout and teammates Kieron Achara and Shawn James of Duquesne. Joining Wright on the All-Rookie team is George Washington's Xavier Alexander, Lavoy Allen of Temple, Dante' Jackson of Xavier and Charlotte's Phil Jones.
Dayton returns four starters and its top two scorers (Roberts and 2007 A-10 Sixth Man of the Year Charles Little). UD finished the 2006-07 season with a 19-12 record, and ranked No. 75 nationally in the RPI.
Fans will have their first opportunity to see the 2007-2008 Flyers in action on Saturday at the annual Red & Blue Game. Doors open at UD Arena at 9 a.m. ET with free donuts and milk available for the first 500 fans in attendance. Also, the first 2,000 fans will receive free UD flags and all will get vouchers for free admission to Saturday's football game between Dayton and San Diego at Welcome Stadium.
