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Juwan Staten has already recorded 36 assists in just five games, leading the A-10 with an average of 7.2 assists per game. |
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FLYERS & BEARCATS RENEW THEIR RIVALRY ON SATURDAY
Seeking their second in-season tournament title in three seasons, the University of Dayton Flyers head down I-75 to face the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN3 online, carried by WHIO Radio and available with live streaming video, stats on Gametracker and streaming audio at www.DaytonFlyers.com.
This is the final game of the Global Sports Main Event. UD and UC have each won their first three games of the tournament, defeating Mount St. Mary’s, Savannah State and Florida A&M.
The Flyers enter the contest 5-0 overall and have an offense on the move. UD averages 72.4 points per game and the Flyers are shooting .333 from 3-point range. Chris Wright leads the Flyers in scoring (13.8 ppg) and rebounding (8.4), but Dayton has plenty of balance. Juwan Staten, the reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week, leads the conference with 7.2 assists per game. Josh Parker is averaging 15.0 points in his last three games and shooting 7-of-19 (.368) from 3-point range. Dating back to last year, the Flyers have won 10 consecutive games.
ABOUT CINCINNATI
Cincinnati is unbeaten as well, starting off the season 4-0. Balance on offense is the name of the game for UC as well with six different players averaging 8.8 or more. Led by Yancy Gates (12.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg), the Bearcats are also out-rebounding opponents by a plus-10.8 margin. Sophomore guard Cashmere Wright has been hot of late with two consecutive double-figure scoring games.
SERIES STUFF
Cincinnati leads the all-time series 59-31, but the Flyers have won two of the last three meetings including a 81-66 decision in last year’s NIT Second Round. This is Dayton’s oldest rivalry, dating back to 1907.
IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT NOTES
The University of Dayton has won two of the four early-season basketball tournaments it has played in since Brian Gregory took over as head coach in 2003. The Flyers became the only team to win the EA Sports Maui Invitational under the guidance of a first-year coach when UD won Maui in 2003. In 2008, Dayton defeated No. 15 Marquette in the finals of the Chicago Invitational Challenge. Chris Wright was named MVP of the tournament after getting three double-doubles in the four-game event. The Flyers’ in-season tournament history goes all the way back to 1949 when they placed second in the National Catholic Invitational in Denver. In addition to the 2003 Maui Invitational, UD has won 11 other in-season tournament championships, including the 1955 University of Kentucky Invitational and the 1999 CoSIDA Classic played at The Pit in Albuquerque.
DAYTON TO PLAY IN THE 2011 OLD SPICE CLASSIC
Continuing a commitment to enhancing the non-conference schedule and increased national exposure, the 2010 NIT Champion Dayton Flyers announced they will compete in the 2011 Old Spice Classic. The Old Spice Classic, a bracket-format tournament, will be held Thanksgiving weekend, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Nov. 24, 25 and 27, from the HP Field House at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla. Dayton will be a part of a competitive field that includes Arizona State, DePaul, Fairfield, Minnesota, Texas Tech and Wake Forest. An eighth team will be announced at a later date.
A FEAST OF GIVING
The University of Dayton men’s basketball team once again volunteered on Thanksgiving Day at “A Feast of Giving” a Dayton community event that provides a Thanksgiving dinner to anyone spending the holidays alone, military personnel stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base spending the holiday away from home, or those less fortunate. It was held downtown at the Dayton Convention Center.
NAISMITH TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST ADDS DAYTON’S WRIGHT
Senior forward Chris Wright has been named to the 2010-11 Preseason Naismith Trophy watch list for the second consecutive season. Wright is one of three players named to the Naismith watch list from the Atlantic 10. The Naismith Trophy is presented by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
DAYTON’S CHRIS WRIGHT NAMED TO WOODEN AWARD PRESEASON TOP 50 LIST
Chris Wright is one of the top college basketball players named to the John Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list. This is the third straight year Dayton has had a player on the Wooden List. Brian Roberts was on the 2008 Midseason Top 30 List, and Wright was also on last year’s Preseason List. The Trotwood, Ohio native is 30th in career scoring at UD with 1,196 points in just 92 games. Named First Team All-Atlantic 10 last year, Wright is averaging 13.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game this season. His 8.4 rebounds per game ranks third in the A-10.
WRIGHT NOMINATED FOR LOWE’S SENIOR CLASS AWARD
University of Dayton senior forward Chris Wright is one of 30 men’s basketball players who have been listed on the official candidate list for the 2011 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. The award - presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Year in eight sports - focuses on the “Four C’s” of classroom, character, community and competition. Wright is the second Flyer named to the Lowe’s Senior CLASS candidate list. Brian Roberts earned the honor in 2007.
THE COMPANY YOU KEEP
Chris Wright is one of nine college basketball players whose name appears Lowe’s Senior CLASS, Naismith and Wooden Watch Lists. Joining CW are Kevin Anderson (Richmond), Malcolm Delaney (Virginia Tech), Jimmer Fredette (BYU), Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall), Jon Leuer (Wisconsin), E’Twaun Moore (Purdue), Jacob Pullen (Kansas State) and Kyle Singler (Duke).
WRIGHT AMONG 10 COLLEGE STARS INVITED BACK TO PRACTICE AGAINST TEAM USA NATIONAL TEAM
University of Dayton senior forward Chris Wright was one of 10 members of the USA Basketball Select Team that trained against the gold-medal winning 2010 USA Men’s World Championship Team this summer.
THE HIT LIST
Chris Wright is picking up the stellar production from where he left off last season. He tallied his 13th career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the opener against Mount St. Mary’s. Wright added another one with game highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds versus Akron. He had 12 points and nine boards versus Savannah State. In the Florida A&M game he scored 15 points.
BETTER MAKE THE WRIGHT DECISION
Chris Wright is not just climbing UD’s charts offensively, but defensively as well. Wright has 117 career blocks, tied for third on the Flyer all-time list with Erv Giddings. Roosevelt Chapman is next with 124. His career average of 1.3 blocks per game would also rank first on Dayton’s all-time list. He had two against Mount St. Mary’s and two versus Akron. Wright also holds UD’s single-season record for blocks, with 53 during the 2009-10 season.
BLOCK PARTY
Dating back to last year, Chris Wright has a block in 13 of his last 15 games. He leads Dayton with six swipes.
PRICE IS WRIGHT
Senior Chris Wright earned a spot on the Atlantic 10 Preseason First Team for the second straight season. Wright stepped up his level of play against A-10 regular season opponents last year averaging 14.6 points, 7.7 boards and 1.9 blocks per game.
THAT FIGURES
Chris Wright has scored in double figures in 43 of his last 47 contests, including 23 of his last 28 games and seven of his last nine.
WRIGHT’S ALL-ATLANTIC 10 ACCOLADES
Chris Wright earned a First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection in 2009-10. A preseason nominee last year for both the Wooden and Naismith awards, Wright led Dayton in scoring (13.7 ppg), rebounding (7.2 rpg), minutes per game (28.6) and dunks (a school-record 68). He also ranked third in the A-10 in field goal percentage, ninth in rebounding and blocks, and 17th in scoring. Wright is the fifth player in UD history to earn a First Team selection and the first underclassman.
WRIGHT TO KNOW
The Dayton Flyers are 70-21 overall, 48-2 at home and 6-6 against ranked opponents with Chris Wright in the lineup during his UD career. In fact, he is 68-2 at home over his last four-and-a-half years of organized basketball in high school and college.
BEST AGAINST THE BCS
With a 43-and-a half inch vertical leap, Chris Wright saves his best efforts for the best competition. Four of his 14 career double-doubles have come against BCS schools, including 13 points and 13 rebounds against Marquette, 10 points and 14 rebounds versus Auburn and then 27 points and 10 rebounds in the Flyer win over West Virginia in the First Round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Last year he tallied 15 points and 10 boards against Kansas State. Also against BCS opponents last year Wright scored 11 points at Cincinnati in the NIT Second Round. In the NIT Quarterfinals, he recorded 10 points and seven rebounds at Illinois. In the NIT Semifinals, he had nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds versus Ole Miss.
DUNK TANK
After just 92 games in a Flyer uniform, Chris Wright is Dayton’s all-time dunk leader with 141 career dunks. His 68 slams in 2009-10 topped his own school record of 54 set in 2008-09. He had one versus the Mount, three against Akron, two at Ole Miss and one each against Savannah State and Florida A&M.
CHRIS & CHRIS
In the previous two seasons, Chris Wright and Chris Johnson have formulated a winning one-two punch. When the duo is out on the court, Dayton has won 75 percent of its games (56-19).
JOHNSON NAMED THE 2010 ATLANTIC 10 CHRIS DANIELS MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Chris Johnson earned the 2010 Atlantic 10 Chris Daniels Most Improved Player award. Last year, Johnson led the team in FT% (.848, 84-99) and was second in scoring (11.9), rebounding (6.9), third in steals (34) and fourth in 3-pt. FG% (.349 66-189). In 2008-09, Johnson averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He is the first player in league history to be named the Most Improved Player after being named to the All-Rookie Team.
CJ NAMED TO PRESEASON A-10 THIRD TEAM
Junior Chris Johnson earned a spot on the Atlantic 10 Preseason Third Team. CJ was the 2010 NIT Most Valuable Player. This season Johnson busted out in a big way with 20 points and 11 rebounds at Ole Miss. Johnson is among the A-10 leaders in free throw percentage (11-14, .786)
CHRIS-CROSSING
Last year Chris Johnson was strong in league play during the regular season (11.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and finished 13th in the A-10 in rebounding and eighth in 3-point shooting. He had 21 points (5-10 3-pt.) with eight rebounds and three steals at New Mexico, and then bettered that with career-highs of 26 points and 20 rebounds in the Duquesne win. He was named A-10 co-Player of the Week after his 20-20 game. Johnson was also only one of three players in Division I to score at least 25 points and grab 20 rebounds in a game last season.
WARM IT UP CHRIS
Chris Johnson looks ready to build off a breakout sophomore season. At Ole Miss he had game highs of 20 points and 11 rebounds and shot 7-of-8 at the free throw line. He had 16 points and 10 rebounds after the Flyers trailed by 16 points in the second half. Johnson scored nine against Savannah State and nine versus Florida A&M.
DIAL IN WITH DEVIN
Senior forward Devin Searcy looks to close his Flyer career on a high note. He opened the 2010-11 season with his first career double-double, tallying 15 points and 12 a career-high rebounds against Mount St. Mary’s. Searcy added his second double-double in as many games with 10 points and 11 boards versus Akron. At Ole Miss Searcy scored nine points and against was 4-of-4 at the free throw line. In the Atlantic 10 Searcy is seventh in rebounding (6.6) and tied for ninth in field goal percentage (.577). He also ranks fifth in the A-10 in free throw percentage (10-12, .833)
DOUBLE DOWN
After not having a double-double in his first 94 career games, senior Devin Searcy has two this season. Searcy leads the team with 16 offensive rebounds and is second in field goal percentage (.577) and free throw percentage (.833).
P-DUBYA
Since the beginning of 2010 NIT, Paul Williams has come alive on the offensive end. He opened up this season with a 14-point effort against Mount St. Mary’s hitting a career-best six field goals. Williams added nine points versus Akron. He tallied seven points and five rebounds at Ole Miss. Added a season-high 15 points against Savannah State. Williams leads the A-10 in free throw percentage hitting 8-of-8 attempts.
BIG WILL
Paul Williams plays his best against the big-name opponents. Last season Williams added 16 points against North Carolina in the NIT Championship and scored 11 at Cincinnati in the NIT Second Round. At the Puerto Rico Tipoff, the junior guard hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the win over Georgia Tech and scored 10 versus Kansas State. Williams scored seven of his 13 points in the final minute to help UD to the victory.
COOL HAND LUKE
Luke Fabrizius, Dayton’s top 3-point shooter from last season, has not yet played this season due to a sprained right ankle. He has begun light workouts, but is not yet cleared to play. Fabrizius was limited to 25 games last season, but when he has played, the sharp-shooter was a positive influence. Dayton was 17-8 last season when Fabrizius could play. His best performances of late occurred when he scored nine against Illinois State in the NIT First Round and nine at Illinois in the NIT Quarterfinals. Fabrizius shot better from outside the arc 37-of-91 (.407) than his overall 42-of-114 (.368).
BOOM BOOM BENSON
Josh Benson is consistently providing a spark off the bench this season. He had a career game at Ole Miss scoring 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting and added five rebounds. He followed that up with eight points versus Savannah State. Against Florida A&M, Benson added six points and seven rebounds. He leads the team in field goal percentage at .667 (12-of-18).
WELCOME MATT
Matt Kavanaugh returns to the Flyers looking to add much needed depth to the rotation. He tallied a career-best five rebounds to go with two points in the opener against Mount St. Mary’s. He followed that up with two offensive rebounds versus Akron. Kavanaugh then had two points and three rebounds at Ole Miss. He corralled three rebounds versus Florida A&M.
PARKER BROTHERS
A guard who graduated in 2007 from Thornton High School in suburban Chicago, redshirt junior Josh Parker is a double-digit scoring threat. After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, Parker is solidifying the point guard spot for UD. He showcased that scoring ability with 18 points at Ole Miss. Parker opened up this season with seven points and five rebounds versus Mount St. Mary’s. Against Akron, Parker scored nine points in the win and had nine against Savannah State. In the Florida A&M win, Parker led all scorers with 18 points.
GREAT PUNCH LINE
In his last three games, Josh Parker has converted a team-best 16 free throws. He is tied for the team lead with 17 free throws made. Also in his last three games, Parker is averaging 15.0 points and shooting 7-of-19 from beyond the arc.
STATEN NAMED A-10 ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Point guard Juwan Staten was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week, Monday, Nov. 22, 2010. Staten led the Flyers to an undefeated week (2-0) with wins over Akron and Ole Miss. He has also already recorded 36 assists in just five games, leading the A-10 with an average of 7.2 assists per game.
STATEN THE OBVIOUS
One of the top point guards in the 2010 class, Juwan Staten will be among the leading candidates for Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year. Against Florida A&M, Staten had his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He started off the year with eight assists to one turnover in the win over Mount St. Mary’s. Staten matched that eight-assist effort with another one at Ole Miss. He is the first Flyer freshman point guard to start in a season opener since 1996.
HIGH PRAISE
As a senior, Juwan Staten helped lead Oak Hill to the #1 ranking in the state of Virginia and a 29-4 record overall. Staten also helped Oak Hill to a #7 national ranking according to a USA Today poll and a #12 national ranking by ESPN.
IMPACT PLAYER
Juwan Staten ranked as the #49 overall player and #13 overall point guard on Rivals.com for the 2010 recruiting class. ESPN rated Staten as the #71 overall player and the #12 overall point guard, and ESPN writer Paul Biancardi ranks Staten as the #9 freshman who will make an immediate impact this season.
NO BS WITH SPEARMAN
An athletic and aggressive swingman with a strong body, freshman Brandon Spearman plays with energy on both ends. In his first career game Spearman sank a three-pointer against Mount St. Mary’s. He followed that up with seven points in 12 minutes against Akron. He had two offensive rebounds against Savannah State. Spearman provided a big lift with 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting versus Florida A&M.
OLIVER TWIST
Devin Oliver consistently gets to the glass and provides energy off the bench. He tallied two rebounds and a steal against Mount St. Mary’s in his Flyer debut. He connected on his only field goal attempt and had two rebounds versus Akron. Oliver then snagged five rebounds in eight minutes against Savannah State. Oliver had five points and three boards against Florida A&M. Oliver is averaging 3.0 rebounds per game this season.
KING OF THE HILL
Ralph Hill had a strong opening performance, connecting on a three-pointer and adding two rebounds versus Mount St. Mary’s. He added two points and a rebound against Florida A&M. As a high school senior, Ralph Hill averaged 22.6 points per game while leading his team to an 18-5 record. He was named First Team All-Central District and was also selected to the Division I All-Ohio Third Team.
DILLARD TRANSFERS TO DAYTON
In May, coach Brian Gregory announced that Kevin Dillard, who was the 2008 Illinois Mr. Basketball award winner, will transfer to UD from Southern Illinois University. Dillard, a 6-0 guard who graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Chicago, will become eligible to play for the Flyers beginning with the 2011-12 season. He will have two seasons of basketball eligibility remaining. Dillard averaged 12.3 points and 5.0 assists in 2009-10 for SIU. He was the Salukis’ leading scorer and the Missouri Valley Conference’s assist leader. In 2008-09, he was named the Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year after leading Southern Illinois in scoring (12.2).
UD BASKETBALL SIGNS LaDONTAE HENTON & PERCY GIBSON
Coach Brian Gregory announced the signing of two coveted prospects from the state of Michigan to National Letters of Intent as 6-foot-8 forward Percy Gibson of Southeastern High School in Detroit, and 6-foot-6 forward LaDontae Henton of Lansing’s Eastern High School committed to UD. Both players verbally committed to UD this summer. Gibson averaged 17.2 points and 11.0 rebounds last season for powerhouse Detroit Southeastern High School. Henton is a three-time All-Michigan Class A (big school) selection. He averaged 24.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.6 blocked shots, 2.5 assists and 2.3 steals, and was the only junior named first team all-state in Class A.
CONQUERING GOLIATH
The Flyers have proved they can handle the big-name programs. Dayton is 11-4 in the last four years against BCS programs and has won four of its last five games against BIG EAST opponents.
NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER
In his Flyer coaching career, Brian Gregory is 31-7 all-time in the month of November and has never had a losing month.
FLYERS PICKED TO FINISH FOURTH IN THE PRESEASON ATLANTIC 10 POLL
The Flyers were picked to finish fourth in the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll. The Flyers will be led by preseason first-team selection Chris Wright and third-team selection Chris Johnson. Freshman Juwan Staten, an ESPNU Top 100 guard, earned a spot on the preseason all-rookie team.
SHUTDOWN DEFENDERS
The Flyers limited Mount St. Mary’s to 52 points after a suffocating defensive effort. The Mount shot just 31 percent from the floor and had seven shots blocked by Dayton. Against Akron, the Flyers held the Zips to 37 percent shooting from the floor. Against Savannah State, UD forced 17 turnovers. Florida A&M had 20 turnovers against the Flyer defense. Dayton is 3-0 this season when limiting opponents to 60 points or less. In that same category last year the Flyers were 13-1.
EYE 75 ON THE SCOREBOARD
UD is 49-6 under Brian Gregory when scoring at least 75 points. The Flyers are 3-0 in 2010-11 when reaching 75 points. UD went 10-1 last year and is 19-2 the previous three seasons.
THE DRIVE FOR FIVE
This is only the third time in coach Brian Gregory’s tenure that Dayton has started the season 5-0. The previous two seasons, 2003-04 and 2008-09, UD went to the NCAA Tournament. In fact, the last three times Dayton started the season 5-0 (1999-2000, 2003-04, 2008-09), the Flyers have earned a bid into the NCAA Tournament.
WELCOME TO FLIGHT CLUB
Dayton set a new single-season record for dunks with 127 last season. This year Dayton came out flying again with three slams versus Mount St. Mary’s. Chris Wright, Devin Searcy and Chris Johnson had one apiece. Wright had all three slams for UD versus Akron. At Ole Miss, UD had three slams as Wright flushed home two and Josh Benson added another. UD had two against Savannah State and three versus Florida A&M.
THIRD IS THE WORD
Dayton has hit at least one 3-point shot in 52 straight games.
HOT, HOT, HOT
UD has won its last 40 non-conference home games. Included are games against members of the BIG EAST, Conference USA, Mid-American, Colonial Athletic Association and Missouri Valley conferences.
FILLING UP THE STAT SHEET
Over the years Dayton has shown its offense is not a one-man show. Eight Flyers each led the team in scoring and nine players in rebounding last season. This year Chris Wright, Josh Parker, Chris Johnson and Devin Searcy have each led the charge in scoring. Wright (twice), Johnson, Searcy and Josh Benson have led in rebounding.
SPARK OFF THE BENCH
With such a deep team, it is no surprise UD’s bench serves as a big part of the team’s success. Dayton won the first bench battle, out-scoring Mount St. Mary’s 17-11. Against Akron, Dayton held a 20-12 edge. At Ole Miss, UD held a 30-18 edge. The Flyer bench enjoyed its best outing against Florida A&M scoring 42 points.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Through three weeks of play, Dayton ranks second the A-10 in rebounding margin (+12.8), third in field goal percentage defense (.390) and fifth in scoring defense (62.0) and blocks (18). Last season 23 of the opponents’ top individual scorers were held under their average against UD, including Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds (8), Temple’s Ryan Brooks (11), Illinois’ Demetri McCamey (13), North Carolina’s Deon Thompson (13), Ole Miss’ Chris Warren (15), Georgia Tech’s Gani Lawal (9) and Derrick Favors (10), George Mason’s Cam Long (8) and Illinois State’s Osiris Eldridge (12).
HOME SWEET HOME
Over the last four years on Tom Blackburn Court, the Flyers are 67-7. The 67 victories are the seventh-most in the NCAA since the 2006-07 season. Just ahead of UD are Kansas (78), Pittsburgh (71), Ohio State (70), Florida (69), UNLV and Syracuse (68). UD has started at home 10-0 for the last four seasons. Dayton won its 500th game at UD Arena on Dec. 29 and is 511-183 in 40 seasons at the Arena. The Flyers have a home all-time winning percentage of .781 (768-215).
BIG EAST BEASTS
Dayton is 152-203 all-time against opponents from the BIG EAST Conference. However, UD has won four of the last five meetings defeating Cincinnati, Marquette, Louisville and Pittsburgh in the last three seasons.
THE ROUND MOUND OF REBOUND
In the Mount St. Mary’s win, UD out-rebounded the Mount 54-31. The Flyers then followed that up with a 42-27 advantage over Akron and a 51-35 edge at Ole Miss. The Flyers have a plus-12.8 rebounding margin, which ranks second in the A-10. Last year Dayton had two games with 20 or more offensive rebounds. The Flyers have already matched that total. UD had 20 offensive rebounds against Mount St. Mary’s & Ole Miss.
TAKING THE NATIONAL STAGE
To start the 2009-10 campaign the 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 were ranked at any time in three consecutive seasons. The last time that happened was the 1958-59, 1959-60 and 1960-61 seasons. Here is the highest Dayton has been nationally ranked in the previous three seasons and the season finish:
2009–10 – #19 / (NIT Champions)
2008–09 – #25 / (NCAA Second Round)
2007–08 – #14 / (NIT Quarterfinals)
FORTUNE 500
The Flyers celebrated their 500th win at UD Arena on Dec. 21, 2009. The Arena opened in 1969. UD Arena is one of just 27 active facilities to have hosted at least 500 wins for its home team, and only one of two built since 1969. The list includes Cameron Indoor Stadium, The Palestra, Pauley Pavilion, Freedom Hall, Allen Fieldhouse, The Pit and Hinkle Fieldhouse. Only four facilities – Pauley Pavilion, The Pit, Freedom Hall and the Huntsman Center – had 500 wins faster than UD Arena.
LEGENDS OF THE NIT
Dayton’s NIT history is rich with success. Last season was Dayton’s third NIT title. UD previously won the NIT in 1962 and 1968. Last year was also Dayton’s 22nd appearance in the postseason NIT. Dayton has been the runner-up five times and showcases a 40-20 all-time record. Coach Brian Gregory is 7-1 all-time in the NIT. Dayton’s 22 NIT appearances are second only to St. John’s 27 berths. The Flyers reached the finals five times in the 1950’s and won the tournament in 1962 (under coach Tom Blackburn) and 1968 (under coach Don Donoher).
DAYTON TO HOST NCAA INAUGURAL FIRST FOUR NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES
As it has for the past decade, the Road to the Final Four will begin at the University of Dayton Arena this year. That was made official when the NCAA announced that Dayton will be the site of the inaugural First Four games of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 15 and 16. UD Arena will host the four first-round games at UD Arena over two nights in the NCAA’s new 68-team format, which was announced in July.
MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
The University of Dayton Arena has hosted NCAA tournament events in 24 of the 41 years since opening its doors for the 1969-70 season. The NCAA First Four games will make UD Arena the most-used tournament venue in NCAA history. To date, UD Arena has hosted 83 NCAA men’s tournament games, tying it with Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium.
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. He signed a new agreement in 2005 that originally ran through 2013. He is one of 24 coaches who have been at their current school at least seven years and have averaged at least 20 wins a season. 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, KU’s Bill Self, Maryland’s Gary Williams and UNC’s Roy Williams.
TRIPLE PLAY
Dayton has won 20 or more games for the third consecutive season. The last time the Flyers accomplished that feat was from 2000-01 to 2003-04 when UD reached the 20-win mark four consecutive years.
AND THE CROWD GOES WILD
The eight-millionth UD fan in UD Arena history attended the Presbyterian game on Dec. 19, 2009. UD’s last 170 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 (409 of 412), including the last 208 regular season games. The last 27 regular season games 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. UD Arena has had 96 sellouts in its 40-year history including seven last year. The record for sellouts is eight in the Arena’s first season (1969-70). The Flyers finished the 2009-10 regular season averaging 13,038 fans a game.
UD AMONG THE BEST IN NCAA ATTENDANCE
Dayton finished in the Top 30 in men’s basketball attendance for the 14th straight season in 2008-09. The Flyers led the Atlantic 10 in attendance for the 13th straight season (including the 2009-10 season). UD averaged more than 2,400 fans a game better than any other team in the A-10.
RECORD BREAKING SEASON
The UD men’s basketball program set the regular season attendance record in 2009-10. The Flyers averaged 13,038 fans per game, during the regular season. That mark was slightly above the all-time mark of 12,982 set during the first season at UD Arena in 1969-70.
TOURNEY TOWN
The UD Arena holds the all-time record for the most NCAA Tournament games with 86 contests hosted. The NCAA Division I Tournament made its start at UD Arena for the 10th year in a row as the University of Dayton Arena hosted the NCAA Opening Round Game in 2010. This year the UD Arena served as a regional site for the 2010 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. Dayton will host the Opening Round through 2013 and will have the First and Second rounds in 2013. UD has hosted the Opening Round game since its inception in its current form in 2001. UD Arena has been an NCAA site in 24 of the last 40 years.
DAYTON FARES WELL IN THE 2010 NCAA GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE
The NCAA Graduation Success Report on Division I institutions released today places the University of Dayton in familiar territory – among the nation’s best. UD’s 94 GSR in this year’s report places the University tied for 21st in the nation and tied for first in the Atlantic 10. Dayton has 10 of its sports teams – baseball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country, men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s rowing, women’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and volleyball -- that have a perfect 100 GSR in this year’s report, the most of any school in the A-10. The UD men’s basketball team’s GSR ranked second 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.
