Flyers finding balance at the right time

By Paul Casey Gotham

It’s only fitting that the state of Pennsylvania has a hand in the recent turnaround for the University of Dayton men’s basketball team. After all, UD’s first-year coach, Archie Miller, learned his first hardwood lessons in the Keystone State. So when the Duquesne Dukes of Pittsburgh,Pa. left UD Arena with an 83-73 victory, Miller took it as another opportunity for growth.

The Dukes didn’t just go in and take one at an opponent’s barn. They exposed the Flyers or at least UD’s inability to defend the behind the three-point arc.

The loss was the third of four straight.

“We’re not the same team we were in January,” Miller explained. “Since our Duquesne game at home, where they made 12 threes in the game and ten in a half, I’m not sure a team has made more than five and anything higher than thirty percent.”

Dayton returned the favor three weeks later at the Palumbo Center, part of a stretch where the Flyers have won four of five with triumphs over Fordham, Charlotte and UMass this past weekend.  The perimeter defense has been the rudder as the rest of Dayton’s game has come together in a balanced effort.

“A conscious approach to ball pressure and the ability to really guard the three-point line has changed the dynamic for us just a little bit,” Miller explained. “Our ball screen defense is much better. Our way to impact these guards has changed.”

With the defense intact, the Flyers have found a rhythm on offense while keeping their rebounding intact.

UD’s 14.6 assists per game is fifth in the Atlantic 10, but the Flyers have handed out 17, 18 and 17 assists in three of the five contests since the February first loss. The last of which came Saturday night as the Flyers dispatched UMass, 76-43.

The Minutemen entered play with a league-leading 76.4 points per game. They left hitting just 13-of-52 from the field and 4-of-17 from behind the arc.

Kevin Dillard dished seven dimes with just one turnover in the win.

“It doesn’t get any better than that,” Miller said of Dillard’s showing on Saturday. “That’s what I talked to him about at halftime. Make guys better. If you make guys better, things will open up for you, and that’s what he’s got to be looking for.”

Dillard is averaging more than four assists in the five-game stretch while turning over the ball once per contest.

“We’re a pretty balanced team in general,” the redshirt junior said. “We look for the open man and one more pass.”

Where Dillard may be the conductor, Chris Johnson has been the engine. The senior forward has turned a pair of double-double outings in the last five games including 20 and 11 in the victory over UMass.

“He’s a competitor,”  Miller said of his senior leader. “His motor is going all the time. He very rarely gets a blow at this point. He gives us such a physical presence. He plays to win. He’s unselfish, and part of the reason he’s reaping rewards is because he’s unselfish.”

Dillard and Johnson set the tone, and their teammates take care of the rest.

Luke Fabrizius (11), Devin Oliver (10) and Josh Parker (10) all added double digit offensive outputs to Saturday’s win.  It was Parker’s third such contribution in the five contests. Oliver added 14 in the win over Charlotte.  Matt Kavanaugh and Paul Williams chipped in 11 and 18 in the overtime loss at Xavier. The pair added 12 and 18 in the win at Duquesne.

Johnson talked about the hunger and motivation of the Flyers.

“It starts in practice. With the players and coaches we have, you are going to get better.”

Johnson was the only one in double figures at Fordham, but nine other Flyers contributed in the score column for the overtime win.

“We have to play balanced,” Miller noted. It is something that obviously serves us well. When we have balance we are harder to deal with.”

One constant in the Dayton approach remains the work on the boards.  Dayton’s 3.8 rebounding margin is second only to St. Bonaventure in the conference.

“It’s our mantra,” Miller stated. “It’s who our team is.”

The Flyers haven’t come out on the short end of rebounding since the December 21st loss to Seton Hall. In all, the Flyers have been outrebounded on four occasions – three of those resulted in losses.

“We can’t allow teams to get second shots,” Miller explained. “It’s the most important thing we talk about on a daily basis.”

Kavanaugh leads the way hauling in 6.4 boards per game including more than three of those per contest coming on the offensive glass.

“Big Kav, he’s a monster inside,” Dillard boasted of his teammate.

Kavanaugh corralled a game-high 10 on Saturday despite taking just three shots. It was his third straight double-digit rebounding performance getting 11 each against Xavier and Duquesne.

“Kav’s been working hard since day one,” Johnson said. “It’s been showing in the games.”

At eight wins and six losses in the conference, a first-round bye is nearly of out touch. But a first-round home game is well within reach. The way Archie Miller’s team has been playing of late, another game can only be a good thing. It’s an additional chance to strike a balance.