Dayton’ had its eight-game winning streak snapped at New Mexico on January 1 68-66. Sophomore forward Chris Johnson led all scorers in the contest with a career-high 21 points. UD out-rebounded the Lobos 43-32 and forced them in almost double their season average in turnovers with 19, but the Flyers shot a season-low .339 (21-62) from the field.
ABOUT BALL STATE
The Cardinals are 6-5 on the year, and have won their last three games. Sophomore forward Jarrod Jones has turned in double-doubles in all three wins, and leads the team in scoring (15.1) and rebounding (7.8). Jones and freshman guard Juwan Schaife are the only two Ball State players to start every game this season. Schaife averages 10.5 points a game, and is shooting .441 (15-34) from three-point range.
SERIES STUFF
Dayton leads the series 4-1, and has won the last three meetings. All four UD wins have come in Dayton. The two teams first met in the 1920-21 season, with the Flyers winning 38-10. BSU’s only visit to UD Arena came on Dec, 17, 2002, with UD taking an 80-65 win.
TAKE FIVE
Dayton has played its best basketball this season in the final five minutes of regulation, out-scoring its opponents 144-106. The Flyers are shooting 37-of-88 (.420) from the floor, 16-of-43 (.372) from beyond the arc and 54-of-72 at the free throw line (.750). But defensively, UD is limiting opponents to 27-of-77 shooting (.351), 7-of-29 from three (.241) and have forced 23 turnovers in that span.
DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK
One of the early themes to the 2009-10 season has been the Flyers ability to make big second-half runs. In the win against Towson, UD out-scored the Tigers 28-5 in the final nine minutes of the game, good for the program’s biggest comeback ever inside of 10 minutes. Dayton used a 13-2 run in the final 4:14 of regulation to defeat Georgia Tech. Dayton has been down by at least 10 points in five games this season. UD rallied to win three and bring the other two contests to a single-possession game.
TAKING THE NATIONAL STAGE
To start the 2009-10 campaign the Dayton Flyers were nationally ranked in a major poll for the first time since the 1967-68 season. With UD being ranked at some point in each of the last three seasons, it is also the first time in 49 years the Flyers have been ranked in three consecutive seasons. The last time that happened was the 1958-59, 1959-60 and 1960-61 seasons.
THE TOP CHOICE IN THE A-10
With four starters and 10 of its top 11 scorers returning from last year’s 27-8 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the University of Dayton Flyers were selected as the team to beat in the Atlantic 10 this season in the league’s preseason poll.
• Dayton has won a school-record 27 consecutive home games.The streak is the third-best nationally.
•A win tonight would make the Flyer seniors the first class in school history to go undefeated at home in non-conference play over their careers. The UD seniors have won all of their 35 non-con home games.
• A deep and talented team once again serves as the calling card for the Flyers’ success. This year the Flyer bench has out-scored its opponents 432-258. The Flyers have 11 players who are averaging three points or more per game and nine players averaging more than 15 minutes per contest.
• In the last six games, UD has out-rebounded its opponents by 8.5 boards per game. Dayton is 8-1 this season when out-rebounding its opponents.
• Chris Wright has 9 career double-doubles and 3 this season. Of his last 37 FG’s, 17 are dunks.
• Chris Wright needs five dunks to reach Charles Little’s UD record of 102 career dunks.
• Kurt Huelsman has started all 113 games of his Flyer career. In his last eight games, Huelsman is shooting 10-of-14 (.714) at the free throw line and 16-of-29 (.552) from the field.
• London Warren possesses a streak of 48 consecutive games with at least one assist.
• Dayton opened the year with probably the toughest schedule in the NCAA. Two teams were nationally-ranked and two were receiving votes. UD’s three losses are to No. 8 Villanova, No. 12 Kansas State and No. 19 New Mexico, who have a combined record of 37-3.
• UD has won 16 of its last 18 games and is 3-1 this season in games decided by five points or less.
• The Flyers celebrated their 500th win at UD Arena on Dec. 21. The Arena opened in 1969.
• UD is nearly at full strength after missing its then- #2, #3 and #4 scorers in late December. Chris Johnson (#2) had a concussion one minute into the Presbyterian win but returned against Boston U and scored 12 points in 16 minutes. Marcus Johnson (#3) saw the court for 14 minutes vs. BU and had four assists after spraining his foot three games ago. Luke Fabrizius (#4) suffered a moderate MCL sprain in his right knee early in the ODU win and has been upgraded to questionable for Ball State.
• UD has held five of its last six opponents under 40% from the field.
•The Ball State game will be the 397th of UD’s last 400 regular season games to draw at least 10,000 fans. Counting BSU, the last 196 games have pulled in 11,000 or more.
DOING IT THE WRIGHT WAY
Junior Chris Wright has shouldered most of the Flyer workload so far this season, leading the team in scoring (14.3 ppg), rebounding (7.2 rpg), blocks (8), minutes per game (27.3) and dunks (27), and ranking second in field goal percentage (.585, 69-118). Wright scored 15 points against No. 5/6 Villanova. He came back to record a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds versus Kansas State. In the Towson win, Wright scored 20 points and grabbed nine boards. At Miami, Wright scored 14 points. In the Lehigh win he tallied a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards. Wright led UD with 16 points and 12 rebounds over Old Dominion. Wright recorded 15 points and eight rebounds versus Presbyterian and 14 and six in the App St. win. His 19 points in the Boston University win came on 8-of-10 shooting and featured five dunks, one off Sean Finn’s school record. Wright is 14th in the Atlantic 10 in scoring average, eighth in rebounding and second in field goal percentage. He is 13th nationally in FG%.
DAYTON’S WRIGHT NAMED ATLANTIC 10 CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
UD’s Chris Wright was named Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week after his 25-point performance, including 18 in the second half, to lead the Flyers to a 90-80 win over Creighton in the season opener. Wright shared this year’s first A-10 Player of the Week award with Duquesne junior Damian Saunders.
UD’S WRIGHT NAMED TO NAISMITH TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
University of Dayton forward Chris Wright was named to the 2009-2010 Preseason Naismith Trophy watch list. The Naismith Trophy is voted on by coaches, administrators and journalists from around the country and is awarded to the nation’s top player.
WRIGHT NAMED TO WOODEN AWARD PRESEASON TOP 50 LIST
UD’s Chris Wright is one of the top college basketball players named to the John Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list. Wright led the University of Dayton to the NCAA tournament and a 27-8 record last season. He was First Team All-NABC All-District, Second Team All-Atlantic 10 and the MVP of the Chicago Invitational Challenge in 2008-09. After missing 19 games with a fractured ankle as a freshman, Wright came back to lead UD in scoring (13.3), rebounding (6.6) free throws made (121), dunks (a school-record 54), double-doubles (6) and SportsCenter Top Ten Plays (3).
THE WRIGHT STUFF
A charismatic player whose work ethic matches his athleticism, it took Chris Wright just eight minutes to become one of the top players in the Atlantic 10 Conference. That’s all the league action he saw before fracturing his ankle in the A-10 opener. Yet he was named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team in 2007-08, and to the Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Second Team in 2008-09.
BEST AGAINST THE BCS
The proud owner of a 43-and-a half inch vertical leap, the high-flying Chris Wright seemed to save his best efforts for the best competition. Four of his nine career double-doubles came have come against BCS schools, including 13 points and 13 rebounds last November against No. 15 Marquette to lead UD to the 2008 Chicago Invitational Challenge championship, and a career-high 27 points and 10 rebounds in the Flyer win over West Virginia in the First Round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. He tallied 15 points and 10 boards against Kansas State in the 2009 Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
CAMP CONFIDENTIAL
Chris Wright has achieved numerous accolades in his first two years at UD. However, the Trotwood native is on a never-ending quest to improve. He made several trips around the nation for individual training and to play against other top collegians as a counselor at summer camps. Wright worked at LeBron James’ camp in San Diego and in Cleveland matching up against the superstar in nightly pickup games. Wright also participated in the Vince Carter Skills Academy in Orlando.
WRIGHT EARNS FIRST TEAM, ALL-ATLANTIC 10 PRESEASON SELECTION
Junior forward Chris Wright earned a preseason First Team, All-Atlantic 10 selection after leading the Flyers last season to a 27-8 overall record.
FIGHT FOR YOUR WRIGHT
In his freshman season, Chris Wright earned a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie team even though he logged just eight minutes in conference play. Wright was the fifth Dayton player to be selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team. Tony Stanley (1998), Brooks Hall (2000), Keith Waleskowski (2001) and Brian Roberts (2005) are the previous Flyer A-10 Rookies.
ON THE ATTACK
Chris Wright’s aggressive approach on offense often puts him on the line. He has made more than twice as many free throws than anyone else on the team. Wright has 44 while Chris Johnson and Mickey Perry both have 21. Wright leads the team in free throws made (44) and attempted (59) and at 74.6% is one of six Flyers shooting 70% or better from the line.
WRIGHT TO KNOW
The Dayton Flyers are 50-13 overall, 35-0 at home and 6-4 against ranked opponents with Chris Wright in the lineup during his UD career. In fact, he is undefeated at home (55-0) over his last four years of organized basketball in high school and college.
WRIGHT NAMED NABC FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT
Chris Wright was named First Team All-District by the National Association of Basketball Coaches on March 5, 2009. Wright was the 11th player in UD history and the first Flyer sophomore to be named First Team NABC All-District. Previous first-team selections were Brian Roberts (2008), Tony Stanley (2001), Roosevelt Chapman (1984), Jim Paxson (1979), Don May (1967 & 1968), Henry Finkel (1966), Bill Uhl (1955), Jack Sallee (1954 & 1955), John Horan (1955) and Don Meineke (1952).
THAT FIGURES
Chris Wright has scored in double figures in 20 of his last 24 contests. Wright is tied with Allen Elijah for 58th on Dayton’s all-time scoring list with 806 career points. Wright needs six points to reach David Morris for 57th.
BETTER MAKE THE WRIGHT DECISION
Chris Wright is not just climbing UD’s charts offensively, but defensively as well. Wright has 66 career blocks, good for ninth on the Flyer all-time list. Wright needs four to reach Keith Waleskowski for eighth.
DUNK TANK
Chris Wright possesses 97 career dunks in a Flyer uniform. After just 63 career games, Wright already ranks third on UD’s all-time dunk list behind Sean Finn (98) and Charles Little (102). Wright has 27 dunks this year. Over the last seven games, 17 of Wright’s last 37 field goals are dunks. He matched his career high and just missed the UD single-game record with five slams vs. Boston U.
MARVELOUS MARCUS
Marcus Johnson returned to action for the Boston U. game after missing the Appalachian State win with a sprained left foot/ankle. Johnson opened the year with 13 points against Creighton. Johnson tallied a 14-point performance versus Kansas State in the finale of the 2009 Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Johnson scored 12 points and dished out five assists in the win over Towson. At Miami he came up with a clutch rebound and sank two key free throws with 11 seconds remaining to seal the win. Johnson had nine points against Lehigh. He added eight points and six rebounds at George Mason. Johnson scored 12 points against Old Dominion.
JOHNSON NABS PRESEASON ALL-ATLANTIC 10 SECOND TEAM SELECTION
Earlier this year, senior Marcus Johnson earned a spot on the preseason All-Atlantic 10 Second Team. Last season Johnson was named to the Honorable Mention team and was named the co-winner of the White Allen MVP award.
MORE ON MJ
Marcus Johnson has moved up the charts in UD basketball history, ranking 38th on the all-time scoring list with 1,037 career points. Johnson needs 17 points to reach the late Dave Colbert for 37th. MJ joined the 1,000 point club at Miami.
SHUTDOWN CORNER
Marcus Johnson guarded the opposition’s top scorer in 21 of the last 26 contests of the 2008-09 season. Johnson had the primary defensive responsibility to guard four of the five 2008-09 First Team All-Atlantic 10 selections and West Virginia’s Alex Ruoff, a 2008-09 Big East Honorable Mention selection.
YOU LOOK MAHVELOUS
In the 2009 calendar year, Marcus Johnson has been one of the most consistent scorers for UD. Counting last season, Johnson has scored in double figures in 25 of the last 37 games.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Marcus Johnson, a 6-3 guard from Cleveland, has scored in double figures 47 times in his 110-game career, including 45 in his last 71 games. Johnson reached double figures in scoring 26 times during the 2008-09 season which led the team.
BEING `KURT’ TO THE OPPOSITION
Kurt Huelsman continues to serve as a leader on both ends of the floor. After scoring five points in the season’s first three games, Huelsman scored six points in the Towson win and followed it up with seven points and seven rebounds at Miami. Huelsman had three blocks and five boards against No. 21/19 Georgia Tech. He tallied five points and three assists versus Lehigh. Huelsman recorded six points and four boards at George Mason. He had eight points in both the Presbyterian and Appalachian State wins. In his last eight games, Huelsman is averaging 5.5 points on 18-of-31 shooting (.581) and has hit 8-of-10 free throws. He is second on the team in FT% (.786, 11-14) and third in FG% (.559, 19-34).
THE IRON MAN
Senior Kurt Huelsman has started every game in his UD career. Huelsman possesses the longest active streak of consecutive starts in the Atlantic 10 Conference with 113 games. Nate Green holds the all-time record with 133 games played. Mark Ashman holds the UD record for consecutive starts with 119.
LONG-LASTING FRESHNESS
Kurt Huelsman has started every one of his 113 career games at UD. Only two players, Clemson’s Trevor Booker and Oakland’s Johnathan Jones, have started every game of his college career and more than Huelsman. Through Jan. 2, Booker has started all of 116 games for Tigers, while Jones has started in 115. Tulsa’s Ben Uzoh and Texas’ Damion James are the active career leaders with 118, followed by Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds (117), Booker (116), Jones (115), and Texas’s Justin Mason and Huelsman (113).
DAYTON’S WARREN A CANDIDATE FOR 2010 COUSY AWARD
University of Dayton senior guard London Warren has been selected as one of 72 candidates for the 2010 Bob Cousy Award, an honor that goes annually to the top point guard in college basketball. Warren has quarterbacked the Flyers to a 10-3 record and leads the team in assists (3.9). He is also seventh in the Atlantic 10 Conference in assists per game. This original list of candidates will be narrowed down to a final 20 in January, final 10 by February 1, and final five by March 1.
LONDON CALLING
Known as the “Jacksonville Jet,” London Warren leads the Flyers in assists (3.9), ranks second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7) and steals (15). He was named to the 2009 Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team. Warren dished out eight assists and hauled in five boards against Creighton. He added five points, four assists and three rebounds against No. 21/19 Georgia Tech. He recorded five rebounds and three assists against Kansas State. Warren dished out four assists versus Towson. Warren had four points including two clutch free throws to seal the victory at Miami. He dished out five assists versus Lehigh. Warren had three points, three steals and four rebounds at George Mason. Warren recorded five rebounds and four assists versus Old Dominion. He dished out five assists and picked up three steals versus Presbyterian. In the BU win, he had nine assists, two steals and just one turnover. In the last three games, he has a 3.4 A/T ratio (17-5).
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Named to the 2009 preseason Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team, London Warren’s defense provides a huge spark for the Flyers. Last season, Warren had at least one steal in 29 out of 34 games, including three against Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. Warren led UD in steals (55) and assists (145).Warren has 141 steals in his Flyer career, good for eighth all-time in UD history, 14 behind David Morris.
THE JACKSONVILLE JET
Last season London Warren’s 2.33 assist-to-turnover ratio was tied for fifth-best in the program’s history. Speaking of program history, Warren has 348 career assists, putting him 13th on the Dayton’s all-time list. Former teammate Brian Roberts is 12th at 349.
RL BACK FROM THE DL
Ten months after surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, Rob Lowery returned by playing eight minutes, scoring eight points on 3-for-3 shooting from the floor, had three assists and a steal against Lehigh. Less than a month after that, he scored a career-high 23 points (8-10 FG, 7-9 three-pointers) in the win over Boston University. Building up to that, Lowery added two points, two rebounds and a steal at George Mason. Lowery added seven points and three assists versus Old Dominion. Lowery chipped in with seven points and four rebounds against Presbyterian. He had seven points, six assists and just one turnover in 22 minutes in the App State win. Sidelined by a knee injury that cost him the final 10 games of his junior season, Lowery averaged 7.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game last season. Dayton is 28-4 all-time with Lowery in the lineup.
BIG SHOT ROB
Prior to the injury Lowery made a name for himself as a clutch performer. In the 72-71 win over Fordham last year, Lowery drove the length of the floor for a basket with 5.4 seconds to go. In the win over No. 15 Marquette, Lowery scored 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor. He tied for the team-high with 13 points and had the steal and dunk that tied the game, the assist on the go-ahead three-pointer and the free throw that made it a two-possession game versus George Mason at home last year.
HEY MICKEY
In his last eight games, Mickey Perry is averaging 7.0 points and 2.0 assists. Perry matched his career-high of 15 points in two straight games (Presbyterian and Appalachian State), going a combined 11-of-11 at the free throw line in those games. Earlier in the year, Perry had a 10-point effort against No. 5/6 Villanova. Perry sank three shots from beyond the arc and dished out four assists versus Towson. He dished out a career-best six assists at Miami. Perry scored eight points in the win over Lehigh.
DIAL IN WITH DEVIN
Junior forward Devin Searcy has been deadly from the field this season for UD. He leads the team in field goal percentage, converting 23-of-35 (.657) from the floor. Against Lehigh, Searcy shot 5-for-5 from the floor and finished with a career-best 13 points. He started off this season shooting 3-of-3 from the field in the win over Creighton. Searcy connected on his only field goal attempt and added four rebounds against No. 21/19 Georgia Tech. He had four points and three rebounds at Miami. Searcy chipped in with six points and three rebounds at George Mason. He added six points and seven rebounds against Presbyterian, and four and seven in the Appalachian State win. He also had six points against Boston University.
SEARCY TRAVELS WITH ATHLETES IN ACTION
Devin Searcy was chosen to be part of an Athletes In Action team that traveled to New Zealand for two weeks in August. The AIA team played four games against the top professional team in that part of the world, the New Zealand Breakers, and two more games against New Zealand’s Under-20 National Team. Searcy opened the trip scoring a team-high 17 points.
CHRIS-CROSSING
Sophomore Chris Johnson scored a career-high 21 points (5-10 3-pt.), with eight rebounds and three steals at New Mexico. He scored in double-figures in the season’s first eight games, and after a five-point, six-rebound effort in the ODU win, he suffered a concussion in the first minute of the Presbyterian game. He sat out the App State game, and made an impressive return to action in the Boston U win. He scored 12 points in 16 minutes, going 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from the line. He leads the team in free throw percentage (.875, 21-24) and steals (16), and is second in scoring (12.8) and rebounding (6.2 rpg). He started off the season with an explosive 18-point, 15 rebound performance in the opener against Creighton. Johnson then led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting and added seven boards in the victory over No. 21/19 Georgia Tech. Johnson then tallied 13 points versus No. 5/6 Villanova. He had 10 points and four assists in the win against Towson. He had 13 points and eight rebounds at Miami. Johnson added 13 points and seven boards versus Lehigh. He sank what turned out to be the game-winning free throws and finished with 14 points at George Mason.
P-DUBYA
Sophomore Paul Williams had his best game of the season in the win over No. 21/19 Georgia Tech. Williams scored seven of his 13 points in the final minute to help UD to the victory. He nearly matched that performance hitting a 3-pointer with 31 seconds, pulling down a defensive rebound and making a final free throw to seal the comeback against Towson. Williams scored 10 points versus Kansas State. Williams dished out a career-best four assists against Lehigh. All five of his points against Old Dominion came at the free throw line. Against Presbyterian, Williams snagged a career-best eight rebounds, and followed that up with 10 points and seven rebounds in a start against App State. In his UD career, the Flyers are 13-4 when Williams sinks a three-point shot.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
Paul Williams is shooting 15-for-16 in the final two minutes of the game at the free throw line this season. In the other 38 minutes of regulation, he is 5-for-9. Williams ranks second on the team in free throw percentage (.800, 20-25).
COOL HAND LUKE
Luke Fabrizius has a moderate sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee four games ago and has been upgraded to questionable for Ball State. Prior to the injury, Fabrizius came alive offensively this season. He netted career-highs of 16 points and nine rebounds versus No. 5/6 Villanova. Fabrizius netted nine points in the win over Creighton. He came back to hit four three pointers en route to 12 points against No. 21/19 Georgia Tech. Fabrizius closed out the 2009 Puerto Rico Tip-Off with two three-pointers against Kansas State. He hit three 3-pointers against Lehigh to finish with nine points. Averaging 7.2 points per game this season, Fabrizius is shooting better from outside the arc 20-of-44 (.455) than overall 22-of-54 (.407) from inside the arc.
BENSON’S BACK
Josh Benson is chipping in at almost every opportunity on the floor. Against Presbyterian he tallied a season-best 10 points with seven rebounds, and then came back with four and a season-high eight rebounds in the App State win. He also scored seven points against BU. Benson connected on his first career field goal attempt in the win over Creighton, played two minutes versus No. 5/6 Villanova and added a rebound against Kansas State. Benson sank both field goal attempts to finish with four points at Miami.
WELCOME MATT
With only one scholarship available, University of Dayton men’s basketball coach Brian Gregory and his staff landed their third top local product in as many years when Centerville High School star Matt Kavanaugh signed his letter of intent to attend UD and play basketball for the Flyers. Kavanaugh made his first collegiate appearance against No. 21/19 Georgia Tech. He tallied his first collegiate career rebound versus Kansas State. Kavanaugh corralled two offensive rebounds against Lehigh. He scored his first career collegiate point versus Presbyterian.
PARKER TRANSFERS TO DAYTON
In April 2009, guard Josh Parker transferred to the University of Dayton from Drake University. Parker, a 6-0 guard who graduated in 2007 from Thornton High School in suburban Chicago, has already begun classes and will redshirt the 2009-10 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Parker appeared in 33 games last season for Drake. He averaged 10.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 rebounds, while shooting .432 (57-132) from 3-point range and .720 (67-93) from the free throw line. He was third on the team in scoring, and led the team in 3-pt. FG%.
GREGORY’S CONTRACT TO RUN THROUGH 2018
University of Dayton Vice President and Director of Athletics Tim Wabler announced in May that the University has extended head men’s basketball coach Brian Gregory’s contract for an additional five years, and that it will run through the 2017-18 season. Since taking over as Dayton’s head coach in 2003, Gregory has a record of 125-68. His original contract term was five years. He signed a new agreement in 2005 that originally ran through 2013. He is one of just 25 coaches who have been at their current school at least five years. That list includes Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, UConn’s Jim Calhoun, Florida’s Billy Donovan, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Duke’s Mike Kryzewski, Louisville’s Rick Pitino, Kansas’ Bill Self, Maryland’s Gary Williams and North Carolina’s Roy Williams, average at least 20 wins a season. Gregory coached his 200th career game against Lehigh.
GREGORY TOURS WITH USO’S OPERATION HARDWOOD VI
In August, University of Dayton men’s basketball head coach Brian Gregory had the opportunity to travel to the Persian Gulf and visit troops as part of the sixth installment of “Operation Hardwood,” a USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour. The tour featured a week-long basketball tournament and championship game with some of the best military players stationed overseas. It was the second straight year Gregory toured the Middle East with the USO.
EARLY SEASON TESTS
The Dayton-Creighton game was the nation’s only season-opener that features two teams that received votes in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Top 25 poll. Dayton was ranked 22nd in the preseason poll, while Creighton received seven votes. UD’s next game against No. 21/19 Georgia Tech featured the first time during the 2009-10 season two ranked opponents squared off against each other.
SEASON’S GREETINGS
The month of December has been kind for Flyer head coach Brian Gregory. Gregory has never had a losing month of December, going 41-12 (.774) in seven seasons. This year, Dayton went 7-0 in December and UD has won 20 of its last 21, including 11 in a row, dating back to the 2007-08 campaign.
STEAL OF A DEAL
During the 2009-10 season the Flyers are averaging 6.46 steals per game. Last year Dayton’s 6.49 steals per game was UD’s best average in 17 years and ranked as the fifth-best steal-per-game average in school history. UD opened the 2009-10 season with four swipes against Creighton and had eight against No. 21/19 Georgia Tech. At George Mason, UD posted a season-best 10 steals. The Flyers matched that with 10 at New Mexico.
CLOSE SHAVE
Dayton was 11-1 in games decided by five points or less in 2008-09, the best record of close games in the nation. The Flyers were also 19-0 last season when leading with five minutes left in regulation. This season, UD is 3-1 in games decided by five points or less, and 8-0 when leading at the five-minute mark.
ARENA ROCK
The Flyers are riding a school-record 27 consecutive home game winning streak. UD’s homecourt streak is tied for fifth-best in the nation through games of January 4 and is the best in the Atlantic 10. Dayton is behind Kansas (50) and Pitt (29), and Missouri and Siena (28).
HOME SWEET HOME
Over the last four years on Tom Blackburn Court, the Flyers are 55-5. The 55 victories are the eighth-most in the NCAA since the 2006-07 season. Just ahead of UD are Kansas (64), Florida, Ohio State and Pittsburgh (59), UNLV and Pitt (58), Syracuse (57) and Texas A&M (56). UD has started at home 10-0 for the last three seasons (the Flyers are 7-0 so far in 2009-10). Dayton won its 500th game at UD Arena on December 29 and is 500-181 in 40 seasons at the Arena. The Flyers have a home all-time winning percentage of .780 (756-213).
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Dayton’s 18 victories last season at UD Arena set the program record for home wins and eclipsed the old mark set by the 2002-03 team that went 17-1 and the 1977-78 squad that went 17-3. Only two other Flyer squads, the 1949-50 team at the Fairgrounds Coliseum (16-0) and the 1959-60 squad in the UD Fieldhouse (14-0), ever went unbeaten at home.
DAYTON SIGNS TOP RECRUITING CLASS OF STATEN, HILL, BERRY, SPEARMAN, & OLIVER
University of Dayton men’s basketball coach Brian Gregory and his staff continue to stockpile strong, incoming talent, as another exceptionally talented recruiting class signed National Letters of Intent today to continue their careers at UD. The newest official members of the Flyer family are 6-foot-1 guard Jesse Berry of Lafayette (Ind.) Jefferson High School, 6-foot-6 forward Ralph Hill of Westerville (Ohio) North High School, 6-foot-7 forward Devin Oliver of Kalamazoo (Mich.) Central High School, 6-foot-3 guard Brandon Spearman of Chicago Simeon High School, and 5-foot-11 guard Juwan Staten from Dayton, Ohio who attends powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. Headlined by Staten, who Rivals.com has ranked the 44th-best player in his class, the 2009-10 signing class is ranked as high as 15th in the country.
BIG ROTATION
The Flyers have 11 players who are averaging three points or more per game and nine players averaging more than 15 minutes per contest this season. During the 2008-09 campaign, UD was one of 15 teams with at least 27 wins, but was the only one with 12 players averaging eight minutes per game.
ELITE COMPANY
Dayton coach Brian Gregory became just the fourth coach in Flyer basketball history to record 100 career victories when the Flyers defeated Delaware State on Nov. 18, 2008. Gregory joined Don Donoher, Tom Blackburn and Oliver Purnell as the only Dayton coaches to reach the 100-win plateau. Gregory reached 100 wins faster than any Dayton coach except the two icons of Flyer basketball: Donoher and Blackburn.
THIRD IS THE WORD
Dayton has hit at least one 3-point shot in 27 straight games.
WELCOME TO FLIGHT CLUB
Dayton set a new single-season record for dunks just 19 games into the 2008-09 season. The Flyers’ total of 117 was 56 more than the 61 slams performed by the 2003-04 team in 33 games. This season UD has 57 dunks through the first 13 games with Chris Wright (27) leading the way followed by Marcus Johnson (6), Josh Benson (5), and Devin Searcy and Chris Johnson (4 apiece), and London Warren (1). The Flyers are three games ahead last year’s record-setting pace. UD’s eight dunks in the Boston U win were one off the UD single-game record, as were Wright’s five. He is eight games up on last year’s single-season individual record pace.
FILLING UP THE STAT SHEET
Dayton has shown early on that their offense is not a one-man show. Five Flyers, Chris Wright, Luke Fabrizius, Mickey Perry, Rob Lowery and Chris Johnson, each have led the team in scoring this season. Wright and Johnson have each led the team five times, Perry twice, and Fabrizius and Lowery once. Wright has led the team seven times, Chris Johnson three times and Marcus Johnson, Williams, Benson and Fabrizius once apiece. (Note: scoring and rebounding numbers add up to more than 10 due to games where more than one player tied for the team-high).
EYE 75 ON THE SCOREBOARD
UD is 38-6 under Brian Gregory when scoring at least 75 points and were 7-1 last season. UD is 2-1 this year.
WHAT SOPHOMORE SLUMP?
UD’s sophomore class of Chris Johnson, Paul Williams and Luke Fabrizius are enjoying a great start to 2009-10. The trio combined for 36 points, 17 rebounds and shot 13-of-30 (.433) from the floor against Creighton. Versus Georgia Tech, the trio added 44 points, on 13-of-29 shooting from the floor (.448). Against Villanova, Johnson and Fabrizius combined for 29 points with eight three-pointers. Against K-State the trio combined for 32 points.
THE ROUND MOUND OF REBOUND
This season UD is 8-1 when outrebounding the opponent and have a plus-5.1 rebounding margin in the 10 victories this season. In the three losses, UD is -3 in rebounding margin.
SPARK OFF THE BENCH
With such a deep team, it is no surprise UD’s bench was a big part of the team’s success. UD non-starters have won the battle of the benches 10 times in 2009-10. UD held a 42-27 advantage in bench scoring against Creighton. The Flyers then out-scored No. 21/19 Georgia Tech’s bench 47-24. Against No. 5/6 Villanova, UD’s bench out-scored the Wildcats 39-25. In the K-State contest, UD held a 35-20 bench scoring advantage. Against Presbyterian, UD held a 43-16 bench scoring edge. In the BU win, it was 48-16. At New Mexico, it was 31-7. This year the Flyer bench has out-scored opponents 432-258.
QUALITY OF COMPETITION
UD’s three losses are to No. 8 Villanova, No. 12 Kansas State and #19 New Mexico, who have a combined record of 39-3. Dayton has quality victories versus Georgia Tech and Old Dominion and road victories against George Mason and Miami.
CONQUERING GOLIATH
The Flyers have proved they can handle the big-name programs. Dayton is 7-4 in the last three years against BCS programs and has won three of its last four games against the Big East.
HEAD OF THE CLASS
UD’s seniors, the Class of 2010, have tied the best mark in UD history for wins in their first three seasons on campus. The Flyers’ 69 wins from 2007-09 tied the freshman-sophomore-junior wins by the Class of 1955 and the Class of 2005. The 69 wins are also the third-best three-year period, regardless of class year, in school history. Dayton won 79 games between 1949 and 1952, and 75 games between 1953 and 1956. UD’s Class of 2010 is attempting to be the first class in school history to go undefeated at home against non-conference opponents.
HOT, HOT, HOT
UD has won its last 35 non-conference home games. Included are games against members of the Big East, Conference USA, Mid-American, Colonial Athletic Association and Missouri Valley conferences.
SPECIAL DELIVERY
This year’s Dayton Flyer basketball marketing theme is “We’re All Flyers,” once again signifying the bond between UD and Miami Valley residents. For the second year in a row, head coach Brian Gregory and every UD player hand-delivered season tickets to 20 season ticket-holders around Dayton on Oct. 19.
DAYTON TEAMS’ ACADEMIC PROGRESS RATES AMONG THE NCAA’S BEST AGAIN
In April 2009, eight athletics programs at the University of Dayton were honored by the NCAA with Public Recognition Awards for their latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. The Flyer men’s basketball team was one of 10 NCAA teams listed (BYU, Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan State, North Carolina, Texas, Villanova and VCU are the others) that posted multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads. The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester or quarter by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete.
ATTACK THE MAC
Dayton is 157-135 all-time against the Mid-American Conference. UD coach Brian Gregory is 10-1 all-time against the MAC. This is his first game against Ball State.
UD LAUNCHES GODAYTONHOOPS.COM
The University of Dayton Division of Athletics launched a new website, GoDaytonHoops.com, to provide users an inside, in-depth look at the Flyer Men’s Basketball program. The first phase includes exclusive videos, interactive roster elements, and an interactive schedule. It also includes key links to social networking sites for Flyer Fans to interact regardless of their location. In January 2010, more features will be added as the Flyers enter into conference play.
FLYERS TO PLAY AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
UD will play the Fordham Rams at one of the most storied arenas in the nation, Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game will be on Jan. 13 at 9:15 p.m. ET as the second part of a double header. The first game will be between Cincinnati and St. John’s. This will be Dayton’s first appearance at Madison Square Garden since 1991. UD has a 37-24 all-time record at the Garden. The Flyers’ 37 wins at the Garden are the second-most victories of any non-New York metropolitan area school, behind only Duke’s 38.
AND THE CROWD GOES WILD
The 8 millionth UD fan in UD Arena history attended the Presbyterian game. UD’s last 158 regular season home games have had attendance of at least 11,000 fans. In the last 14 years, 99% of UD’s home games have drawn at least 10,000 (396 of 399), including the last 195 regular season games. The last 14 have drawn at least 12,000.
THE FLYER FAITHFUL
For years, UD has claimed it has had the best fans in the nation. In 2001, The Sporting News conducted an unscientific poll of college basketball coaches, media and SIDs. In the Jan. 8, 2001 issue of the magazine, UD’s fans were tabbed as college basketball’s best. And they prove it to everyone the Flyers play. In 2007-08 UD had the second-best average home attendance in school history (12,801). UD Arena has 91 sellouts in its 40-year history. UD sold out the opener against Creighton, the Appalachian State game, and the Boston U game, and has already announced Duquesne and Xavier. The record for sellouts is eight in the Arena’s first season 1969-70.
UD AMONG THE BEST IN NCAA ATTENDANCE
The University of Dayton finished in the Top 30 in men’s basketball attendance for the 11th straight season in 2007-08. The Flyers led the Atlantic 10 in attendance for the 12th straight season. UD averaged more than 2,400 fans a game better than any other team in the conference.
TOURNEY TOWN
The NCAA Division I Tournament made its start at UD Arena for the eighth year in a row as the University of Dayton Arena host the NCAA Opening Round Game in 2009. This year the UD Arena will serve as a regional site for the 2010 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. UD has hosted the Opening Round game since its inception in its current form in 2002. When the 2010 NCAA Tournament is over, UD Arena will have been an NCAA site in 24 of the last 41 years and will have hosted 87 NCAA Tournament games. It makes UD Arena the most prolific NCAA Tournament venue ahead of Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City (83) and the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City (81).
NCAA TOURNAMENT RETURNING TO UD ARENA THROUGH 2013
The National Collegiate Athletic Association has announced preliminary round sites for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championships, and the tournament is returning to the University of Dayton Arena in each of those years. The NCAA First and Second Rounds will come back to Dayton in 2013. In addition, the NCAA Opening Round Game will remain at UD Arena through the 2013 tournament.
DAYTON AMONG TOP 10 IN NCAA GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE
The University of Dayton’s 94 percent Graduation Success Rate is second in the Atlantic 10 Conference and ties it for 22nd in the NCAA. In addition, this year’s GSR Report shows that UD graduated 100 percent of its student-athletes that participated in women’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country/track & field, men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s rowing, women’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and volleyball. The UD’s men’s basketball team’s GSR was the best in the A-10.
DID YOU KNOW?
UD won more games than any other school in both the 1950s and `60s. UD won 435 games between 1950 and 1969 and ranks among the top teams of the 1950s and 1960s in Division I history. The Flyers’ .763 (228-71) winning percentage in the 1950s ranks fifth in the decade. Their .729 (207-77) winning percentage ranks eighth in the 1960s.
