Flyers look to control their own room

By PAUL GOTHAM

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Archie Miller‘s University of Dayton Flyers seek to continue their winning ways when they open the 2015 Advocare Invitational. After defeating Southeast Missouri State in their opener, the Flyers easily dispatched the Alabama Crimson Tide, 80-48 in a non-bracketed game of the event before downing William and Mary.

Those three games over eight days will serve as warmup to the three contests in four days UD will play at the HP Field House over Thanksgiving weekend.

“Any time you come into this type of a setting, the one thing you want to bring to the table is your effort level, your competitiveness,” Miller said prior to his team’s practice on Wednesday. “Then how you have to sustain that over the three games.”

Dayton opens with Iowa (3-0). Both teams received votes in this week’s AP and USA Today Coaches Poll. Dayton received votes in the Pickin’ Splinters Top 25.

“First one you have a little bit more time to prepare,” Miller stated. “You know what’s going on. First night’s the most important one.”

Iowa opened with wins over Gardner Webb and Coppin State before downing Marquette, 89-61.

Pending Thursday’s result, Dayton will play either No. 17/18 Notre Dame or Monmouth.

“You really got to be ready to adapt to who you’re playing in quick order,” Miller explained. “You also have to balance winning a game or losing a game. You really want to just control your own room, so to speak.

“There’s so much information win, lose or draw. It’s the competitiveness. It’s the punch that we have to bring every game, and then it’s also improving while you’re here.”

Dayton returns Kyle Davis, Kendall Pollard and Scoochie Smith from last year’s team which advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. All three played prominent roles in the Flyers 2014 Elite Eight run. Darrell Davis and Bob Wehrli came off the bench last season.

“That’s the one thing about us. We got some experience in terms of being in the post-season. I think we’re flexible in a lot of different ways offensively and defensively. This is a good way of getting us started in terms of how we adjust on the run.”

James Madison transfer Charles Cooke leads Dayton scoring 15. 3 points per game. The 6-5 guard is hitting 6 of 14 (42.9 percent) behind the arc.

“I’m happy the way he started,” Miller said of Cooke. “He brings an intensity level that we like.

“Usually, early on with those transfer guys the thing you want to see is not only that they fit in, but that they buy in to what we’re doing. I think Charles really has done that. He’s a good player. He has a chance to get better. Right now a lot of his mistakes and some of the things we’re watching and talking to him about are just inexperience with the other guys.”

Dayton won this event in 2011, Miller’s first season at the helm.

“Your style is most important than anyone else’s style because you have to be ready to execute what you do against certain people.”

The 2015 Advocare Invitational tips off at noon when Alabama (2-1) takes on No. 23 Xavier (4-0). The action continues with USC (4-0) meeting No. 20/20 Wichita State (2-1).