By Paul Gotham
Somewhere in the annals of coach speak is an axiom about adversity creating opportunity. Archie Miller’s University of Dayton Flyers have a chance to live that saying.
Just don’t expect Miller to fall back on excuses.
After the dismissal of two post players last month, UD found itself without a player 6-7 or taller in the lineup. Since then the Flyers have rattled off four straight wins including their conference opener.
“We’ve had to change the way we play,” Miller said during the Atlantic 10’s weekly conference call. “Offensively, we’re a different team. Defensively, now we’re a different team.”
Amid all the change, Miller keeps one constant.
“The only thing we’re not going to do is look at them differently,” Miller said of his lineup. “The expectation is at a high level right now to do things the right way… To our kids credit they’ve really handled things on the run pretty well.”
Kendall Pollard is making the most of the chance. The 6-6, 210 forward averaged single-digit minutes during his freshman season a year ago. For the first nine contests this year the Chicago native logged 22 minutes a game playing no more than 28 in any single affair. In the four games since he has played 30 or more.
He has responded by adding more than a point to his season average at 10.5 a game and nearly one rebound at 6.4. He dropped a career-high 19 against Boston University and turned in double-digit performances against Ole Miss (12) and Duquesne (13) while grabbing eight boards versus BU and Georgia Tech.
“We’ve moved him around the floor, and he’s had some success,” Miller added. “He’s a tough kid and been in big games his whole life.”
At the same time, Pollard is seventh in the Atlantic 10 in defensive rating (an estimate of points allowed per 100 possessions) at 87.8. Rhode Island’s Hassan Martin leads way at 79.7. St. Bonaventure’s Youssou Ndoye is sixth at 87.7.
“I’m here to tell you he’s not finished yet,” Miller said of UD’s forward. “Far and away he can continue to get better. As the season goes down the line, he’s going to have even bigger games.”
Pollard emerged late last season scoring nine points in 10 minutes as UD closed the regular season with a win at then-first place Saint Louis. He followed with workmanlike efforts in the A-10 tournament along with the second and third rounds of the NCAA Tournament. He peaked with a 12-point performance on 5 of 6 shooting as UD knocked off Stanford in the Elite Eight.
“Most people saw it toward the end of the season,” Miller said. “What he was able to do in the off-season was to continue to get stronger, get in better shape and work on his game. He’s been able to translate that into an opportunity on the court here.”
Pollard combines with 6-6 Dyshawn Pierre to form UD ‘s current starting front court. The duo averaging more than 22 points along with 11 rebounds leads the Flyers (11-2/1-0) into St. Bonaventure, Thursday night for a battle with the Bonnies (8-4/1-0).
Bona head coach Mark Schmidt doesn’t need any introductions.
“I don’t have enough time to explain how many problems they present,” Schmidt stated. “They’re a mismatch with Pierre and Pollard taking guys off the dribble and spacing you out. Pollard and Pierre – they’re three men. They run like they’re point guards. That transition game that they have is something that you have to deal with.”
Bona opened conference play with an impressive 69-55 win at UMass. UD opened at home with a convincing 81-55 thumping of Duquesne, a game in which the Flyers hit 7 of 15 from behind the 3-point arc in the first half.
“They shot the heck out of the basketball,” Schmidt said. “When they’re doing that, you really can’t beat ‘em.”
Dayton handed out 21 assists on 30 made baskets while holding the Dukes to 21 makes for the contest.
“They scrap,” Schmidt continued. “They play really hard on defense. They may be out-sized, but they’re playing really hard, and that overcomes any size limitations they may have. They’re a really good offensive team.”
Jordan Sibert leads Dayton scoring 15.7 points a game.
Two-time Big 4 Player of the Week Marcus Posley scores 17.6 a game for Bona. Jaylen Adams has garnered a pair of Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for the Brown and White. Ndoye leads the conference with 12.5 boards and three blocks a game.
Devin Oliver and Vee Sanford netted 15 apiece as Dayton downed Bona 72-69 last season.
A 7 pm tip time is scheduled at the Reilly Center, Thursday night.
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