Miller looks for UD to fly downhill against VCU

By Paul Gotham

Archie Miller knows well VCU’s numbers: Shaka Smart’s Rams lead the nation in turnovers forced per game (19.4) and turnover rate (27.0) Their defense limits opponents to .89 point per possession (11^th).

And if Miller’s Dayton Flyers (13-5/1-2) are to avoid a two-game losing streak, they will need to offset VCU’s strengths when the Rams (14-4/2-1) visit UD Arena Wednesday night.

“Their full-court pressure is something that is constant,” Miller said during the Atlantic 10’s weekly tele-conference. “As much as you get caught up with the pressing, and they can press you and make some runs, their ability in the half court to really disrupt is something that’s amazing. That’s where they make their money.”

Briante Weber couples an Atlantic 10-leading 3.8 steals a game with an assist to turnover rate better than two to one.

“He’s like a one-man wrecking crew,” Miller stated.

Weber orchestrates a VCU offense with three scorers averaging double figures led by Treveon Graham at 15.2 points a game.  Nine Rams average more than 12 minutes a game. Six Rams score six or more per contest.

“They play a ton of guys who buy in,” Miller continued. “That’s the thing that VCU has going for them. They have an identity. They believe in it. It works. If you don’t the turn the ball over against them, you may have a chance to beat them. It’s not guaranteed. You gotta be organized. You gotta be strong with it.  You got to be functioning at an aggressive, confident level. If not, they’re on your heels. When you’re on your heels against them, at that point, they take over.”

Dayton leads the A-10 in 3-point percentage (42.7) and points per possession (1.103). Question is if they can execute against VCU’s Havoc defense.

“We believe that if you press us, we have the ability with multiple ballhandlers to attack downhill. That’s what we want to do,” Miller stated. “You have to score against pressure defense. You can’t allow the pressure to take you out of what you want to do. We’re aggressive on offense. We like to play downhill. If we can get it past the first line, obviously we’re looking to see if we have numbers. If not, then we’re going to have to find some way, form or fashion to not let them dismantle us and reset.”

Jordan Sibert leads three Flyers in double figures scoring more than a dozen a game. Ten different Flyers have scored ten or more points in a game this season, and UD is 9-0 when four different players net double figures.

“You certainly have to be ready for the things that they’re going to do offensively. They really run some great stuff, and they do it with really good pace,”  Smart said. “They flow into their stuff very well. They have multiple guys who are threats behind the arc.”

Dayton’s 76.1 points a game are good for third in the conference while their rebound margin of +5.2 ranks second behind St. Joseph’s. VCU has a deficit of -1.2 on the boards.

“We’re not going to adjust our style of play or change who we are,” Smart. “We’re going to keep playing VCU basketball.”

The game will be the first for Dayton and VCU as rivals at UD Arena. The Rams last played at Dayton in the opening round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. VCU went on the Final Four that year. Shaka Smart worked as an assist at UD under Oliver Purnell from 2001-03.