By PAUL GOTHAM
To some the numbers may not add up, but Dayton Flyers coach Archie Miller understands that conventional statistics have limitations.
Darrell Davis contributes less than 10 precent of UD’s scoring output. His one assist per game doesn’t amount to much. But when it comes to minutes played, the junior guard is on the court more than 50 percent of the time.
“He’s brought an added dimension to what we’re trying to do defensively,” Miller said during the weekly Atlantic 10 tele-conference. “I don’t know how to put it into words. Some guys get credit with improving year to year with offense or with production. He’s as improved a defender as I’ve ever coached or as I’ve ever been around from freshman to sophomore to junior year.”
Don’t bother looking at the defensive numbers either. Davis does not have a block this season and averages less than a steal per game. Assessing his play comes with watching how he moves on the flight and defends before an opponent catches the ball.
“Being in the right place,” Miller explained when asked about Davis’s play on the defensive end. “Right now, he’s as equal as any guy we’ve ever had in terms of doing it off the ball, on the ball.”
Davis along with pre-season Atlantic 10 All-Defensive team picks Kyle Davis and Charles Cooke form a trio which has Dayton tied for 34th in the nation holding opposing shooters to 31.2 percent from behind the arc.
“You have more perimeter depth defensively not making mistakes,” Miller added. “He’s done a great job with it. He’s embraced it. It’s turned him into a very confident player.”
The 6-foot-5 guard has logged more than 28 minutes per game (up from his season average of 21.7) over UD’s last nine contests – a stretch where the Flyers have held seven opponents under 70 points.
“The thing that stands out about Darrell right now in terms of what we’re doing isn’t so much as anything other than his IQ,” Miller stated. “He’s really locked in. He’s thinking the game.”
The Detroit, Michigan native saw 26 minutes of action over the weekend in UD’s 90-53 win over Duquesne, a game in which the Flyers held the Dukes 18 points under their season average.
“I’m a huge fan of his. He’s so disciplined,” Duquesne coach Jim Ferry said. “They’re so locked in. All five guys are moving on every pass. They close out lanes so quickly. They’re all in sync to get to gaps. There’s just no space to play.”
Dayton (8-2/17-5) hosts Saint Joseph’s (3-7/10-12) Tuesday night. An 8 pm tipoff is scheduled.
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