Know Your Enemy - Creighton - Five You Should Know

In an effort to get geared up for the UD season opener Saturday against Creighton, I will be using this week to look at the Creighton Bluejays. This post will look at five Jays that you should know going into the opener.

#1 Justin Carter - 6-4 Forward - Senior

The senior from Maryland had a rough game last year for the Bluejays against the Flyers in Omaha scoring only 2 points in 12 minutes. Averaging 8 points and 5.5 rebounds a game, Carter will be someone to watch on Saturday. He could struggle against the athleticism of the Flyers especially Chris Johnson and Chris Wright he will probably match up against. The JUCO transfer crashes the boards hard and the Flyers will need to make a concerted effort to keep him off the glass to be successful.

#10 P'Allen Stinnett - 6-3 Guard - Junior

One of the more unique names in college basketball, Stinnett was a tough match-up for the Flyers last year in Omaha scoring 13 points and leading the Jays to a huge win over UD. Stinnett averaged 12.5 points per game last year and is aggressive on defense finishing with over a steal per game. P'Allen has the ability to fill up the basket scoring 30 points last season against New Mexico. UD will need to be much better at stopping the Stinnett who is shooting the ball well for the Jays in their two exhibition games scoring a total of 32 points in 48 minutes of play.

#15 Kaleb Korver - 6-5 Guard - Junior

Flyer fans should be all too familiar with Korver and not because his older brother Kyle is playing in the NBA for the Utah Jazz. Kaleb was lethal for the Jays from beyond the arc last season and scored 12 points on 4-5 shooting from three. Generally a one dimensional player on offense, the Flyers can not afford to lose Korver on defense. A career 43.5 percent three point shooter, Kaleb can fill it up from the outside and is nearly automatic when he is open. Between Mickey, London, and Marcus, UD has to find a way to prevent Korver from getting open looks. Creighton shot 52 percent from three against Dayton last season, that can not happen again.

#25 Kenny Lawson Jr. - 6-9 Center - Junior

Essentially the only inside presence for the Jays, Kenny Lawson Jr. is relied on to handle the bulk of the interior offense and defense. Kenny is coming off a very productive exhibition game in which he scored 20 points and grabbed 7 boards. Lawson will be a good litmus test to see how the Flyers have improved on down low after being embarrassed by Kansas' Cole Aldrich for the first triple-double in the NCAA Tournament since Dwayne Wade. The combination of Huelsman, Searcy, Benson, and Kavanaugh will have to be physical and keep Lawnson in check.

#30 Antoine Young - 6-0 Guard - Sophomore

The point guard for the Jays, Young is a small and quick guard who distributes the ball very well. With 13 assists and no turnovers in exhibition play, Young is picking up right where he left off last season. London and Mickey will need to stay aggressive on Young and prevent him from finding open passing lanes. Mickey struggled against the quick point guard from NKU Scott Bibbins and will need to improve on defense for UD to be effective. The London and Mickey can apply pressure to Young in the back court, they should be able to force some turnovers from Young.

Dayton vs. NKU - A Recap

Dayton finished up their exhibition schedule tonight with a 71-61 victory of Division II Northern Kentucky. There are a few points which can be taken from the game which I will focus on below.

- After struggling with turnovers in the opener against Ferris State, the Flyers did a great job controlling and protecting the ball tonight. UD only committed 6 turnovers on the night and only one of those came from the Flyer point guards. This was a major point of concern after last Tuesday's game and it was clearly addressed by BG in practice.

- Chris Wright and Marcus Johnson were in game action for the first time this year and both looked impressive. Marcus had 13 points and Chris added 11 to pace the Flyers attack. Marcus looked very impressive coming off of curls and hitting the mid-range jumper consistently. Chris struggled shotting the ball but that will come as he gets more reps.

- Offensively the point play for the Flyers was pretty impressive with Mickey scoring 11 points and London scoring 4. London also added 9 assists and only had one turnover, a key for the Flyers. Mickey struggled defensively against the short and quick point guard for NKU Scott Bibbins. Mickey who is more of a true shooting guard does not have the quickness of London Warren to keep up with fast point guards. This could be something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

-Josh Benson and Matt Kavanaugh had rather uneventful games. Josh had 4 points but was quiet on the offensive end. Kavanaugh had zero points but did contribute with 5 rebounds, many of them coming late in the game.

-On the inside Kurt and Devin played decently scoring 6 points a piece. Although Kurt wasn't overly impressive, he was able to convert the easy baskets for the most part. Devin looked good offensively and even showed some range knocking down an open jumper just inside the three point line.

Overall I'd say the Flyers looked improved from the game against Ferris State but still have some work that needs to be done before Saturday.

Dayton Flyers Preview - Forwards and Centers

The forwards and centers for the Flyers will be interesting to watch this season. Leading to way for the Flyers once again will be Junior forward Chris Wright. Looking past the star of the Flyers, UD has a great deal of depth this season. Chris Johnson is on the verge of becoming a star for the Flyers after a fantastic senior season. While the forwards were generally productive last season, the center position was a virtual offensive wasteland. The Flyers added two plays to their interior this season with Josh Benson and Matt Kavanaugh, hoping to find some production from the inside. UD will be much deeper in the interior than last season and I expect to see a steady stream of substitutions between the four players. If Dayton can find production from the inside in the 2009-2010 they will add a whole new dimension to their offense.

#4 Chris Johnson – 6-6 Sophomore

The surprise of last seasons freshman class, Chris Johnson is poised to have another great year for the Flyers. The Columbus, Ohio product was an offensive force from behind the arc and on the boards. The Flyers’ fifth leading scorer, Johnson’s main contribution came on the offensive glass. The lanky forward has a propensity to crash the boards on offense leading to numerous offensive rebounds and put backs. Although he is a fantastic offensive rebound, Gregory has challenged CJ to do the same on the defensive boards as well. The current favorite to fill Charles Little’s starting spot, CJ helps the Flyers stretch the floor on the offensive end. Like Fabrizius, Chris creates matchup problems for opposing coaches with his size, range, and athleticism. If his 14 points and 9 rebounds against Ferris State in the exhibition opener are any indication, CJ should have a great season for the Flyers. If Johnson can stay aggressive on the boards and knock down the open jumper, he will a dangerous weapon for Brian Gregory.

# 33 Chris Wright – 6-8 Junior

Chris Wright is the rock star of the Dayton Flyers. With the ability to jump out of the building, Wright dazzled both UD fans and the national media with his shear athleticism. This athleticism and talent has made Wright into the first NBA prospect the Flyers have had in awhile. The Flyers leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker last season, Chris has brought national attention to the UD program. A player that seems to rise to the occasion, Wright dropped 27 points against West Virginia in the NCAA Tournament and propelled the Flyers to the second round of the tourney. While he is a force around the basket and in the open floor, Chris needs to work on spot shooting and body control to become an all around player. If Chris can do a better job control his body in the air on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, he can cut down his foul trouble and keep himself on the floor. Wright has worked on his mid-range over the summer and he can hit the open jumper with some consistency he will be scary. The Flyers will go as far as Chris Wright can carry them, which will be a long way.

#34 Devin Searcy – 6-10 Junior

The Michigan native has been an off and on player for the Flyers. Playing in 32 games for UD a season ago, Devin’s play has been inconsistent. The offensive combination of Huelsman and Searcy has been inept in the past, making the Flyers inside game invisible. After spending the summer in New Zealand working on his game, Searcy hopes to bring a new found effectiveness to the Flyers post offense. Searcy is generally more comfortable on the offensive side of the ball and can struggle to matchup defensively against high caliber centers. (see Cole Aldrich) Searcy will have to battle for consistent playing time this year with Benson, Kavanaugh, and Huelsman. Gregory and Flyer fans hope Devin has improved on both sides of the ball in the off season.

#35 Matt Kavanaugh – 6-9 Freshman

The only true freshman on the Dayton Flyers, Matt Kavanaugh comes in to UD with the reputation of being an offensive weapon. Averaging close to 20 points a game in high school Matt should provide a larger offensive punch than Huelsman or Searcy. A player comfortable playing either with his back to the basket or facing it, Kavanaugh will need to prove himself at the college level. In his collegiate debut against Ferris State, it is clear he still has some adjustments to make on the floor after fouling out with zero points in eight minutes of play. Look for Gregory to ease to his only true freshman into the college game, seeing the floor short spurts. If Kavanaugh can make the adjustment to the Division I level of play, he can be a valuable post presence for UD.

#41 Kurt Huelsman – 6-10 Senior

Few players have drawn more criticism than Kurt during his first three years in a Flyers uniform. Huelsman regularly looked timid on the offensive end of the court and may feature some of the worst hands in basketball. Through all his struggles on offensive, Kurt has started every single game of his college career and is generally solid defensively. What may be the most frustrating aspect of Kurt’s game is that occasionally he shows flashes of the type of player he could be. During last season’s game against St. Joes, Kurt played against the A-10 player of the year Ahmad Nivins and had a good offensive game. Kurt will never be a flashy player on the offensive end but the recipe for his success is simple. If Huelsman can take advantage of the opportunities other players create for him, he can be very successful. Take his game against Ferris State of example. Kurt scored possibly the quietest 15 points in basketball history. There were no flashy moves or big play, but Huelsman simply cashed in on the easy lay-ins and put backs created by other players. If he can do this consistently there is no reason Kurt can not average close to 10 points per game.

#44 Josh Benson – 6-9 RS Freshman

Technically a newcomer for the Flyers, redshirted last season after tearing his labrum in practice. Sitting out for the entire season allowed Benson to learn the offensive and defensive schemes of Coach Gregory. Benson is another athletic player for UD that can move in the open floor, shoot the jumper, and finish in the lane. Like so many other Flyers, Benson creates matchup problems with his size and athletic ability. Expect Benson to see the floor more than Kavanaugh this season and have a few fantastic games. When all is said and done I believe that Benson will have a great career with the Flyers and we will see flashes of brilliance from him throughout the season. A player that can fill up the basket and crash the boards, Benson will be hard to keep off the floor for Gregory. Look for Josh’s playing time to increase as the season progresses.

That wraps up our look at the preseason position preview for the Flyers. Stay tuned for a preview of Monday’s final exhibition game against the Northern Kentucky Norse.

Dayton Flyers Preview - Shooting Guards

The Flyers will feature a great deal of athleticism from their shooting guards this season. Although UD only officially features two players labeled as shooting guards in Marcus Johnson and Paul Williams, I will include Luke Fabrizius in the shooting guard section. Dayton will look to these three players to contribute heavily in the upcoming season and their success could hinge on the performance of their guards.

#22 Paul Williams – 6-4 Sophomore

Paul Williams came into Dayton last season as the Flyers highest rated prospect and was named to the A-10 All Newcomer team in the preseason. With the reputation of filling up the basket, he struggled in the early going of his first season at UD. Although he only averaged 2.2 points per game, Williams showed some dramatic signs of improvement as the season went on. Williams had the disadvantage of coming into his first season injured causing him to miss significant practice time. This lack of practice showed in the early goings and he didn’t look comfortable until midway through the season. Paul and his left-handed shot will play a crucial role in the Flyers offense off the bench. Now a full year into the Brian Gregory system, look for Williams to blossom in his Sophomore season and dramatically improve in all offense categories. Paul will be one of the first players off the bench for the Flyers.

#23 Luke Fabrizius – 6-9 Sophomore

Standing at 6-9, Luke is not what you would call the prototype outside shooter. Although he is gifted with great size, Luke is most comfortable on the perimeter facing the basket as opposed to playing in the post. His size and range can create matchup nightmares for opposing coaches. After an extremely slow start to his first season, Fabrizius had a coming out party in the stretch-run of the season. In the regular season finale against Duquesne, Luke dropped 17 including five consecutive three-pointers. A catch and shoot player, Luke struggles with creating his own shot and generally relies on screens and passing to create open shots for himself. Fabrizius like most outside shooters is a streaky player that can be lethal when he is feeling it from long range. Expect Luke to improve in his 4.0 points per game average last season but I wouldn’t expect him to be a consistent double-figure scorer for the Flyers at least this season.

#32 Marcus Johnson – 6-3 Senior

Marcus Johnson is a freak athlete. Period. Since his first game with the Flyers where he scored 23 points, Flyer fans have expected great things from Marcus. Though he has been slightly overshadowed by Chris Wright, Marcus is just as much of an athlete as Wright is. Marcus’ above the rim game is scary and he is a force on both offense and defense. After averaging 11.8 points his junior year, Flyer fans can look for an improvement in his final year. Marcus can be a frustrating player to watch as he seems to occasionally disappear on the court for a half. When he is on the top of his game, Marcus is one of the best players in the A-10, but he needs to remain aggressive throughout the game. Unlike Fabrizius, Marcus has the ability to create his own shot and can finish in the lane. Johnson is also known for his lock-down defense and is generally assigned to the opposing team’s best guard. UD fans have expected a lot out of Marcus and I believe that his senior season is when he puts it together. With flashes of brilliance the last three years, it’s easy to drool over the type of player he could ultimately be.

That wraps up the guards for the Flyers. Tomorrow I will take a look at the Flyers forwards as well as provide a look at UD’s final preseason game against Division II powerhouse Northern Kentucky. Be sure to check back here tomorrow.

Dayton Flyers Preview - Point Guards

Entering the 2009-2010 season, the point guard position could be the biggest question mark. The Flyers are led by Senior London Warren at the point who offers stifling defense and incredible speed. Rob Lowery, who was lost to a knee injury in February last season, is looking to return to form but still may not be ready for a couple more weeks. UD will look to Senior shooting guard Mickey Perry to handle the workload in Rob’s absence, a role he performed with mixed results last season. Below is a in-depth look at the Flyers’ three point guards for the 2009-2010 season.

#0 Mickey Perry – 6-2 RS Senior

Mickey has been an interesting player during his career with the Flyers. Coming to the Flyers from Wisconsin, Perry was thought to be the knockdown shooter the Flyers needed. After being eligible to play with the Flyers in December of 2007, Perry struggled and many UD fans expressed some disappointment in his ability to shoot the ball. After a junior season where he averaged 4.6 points per game, Perry will be looked to for more production in his final year. Perry, a natural shooting guard, will see some time at the point with the rehab of Rob Lowery still in progress. Perry and Warren will man the point for the early portion of the season and Mickey needs to cut down his turnovers for the Flyers to be successful. I look for Mickey to have a very successful senior season and finally emerge as a consistent outside shooting threat for the Flyers.

#1 London Warren – 6-0 Senior

London Warren, aka the “Jacksonville Jet,” is the type of player who can both drive you nuts and make you love him. Warren has two speeds, faster and fastest, which are his greatest assets and well as his greatest weakness. No player on the floor will give you more hustle than London Warren which has endeared him to UD fans. Entering his fourth and final year with the Flyers, London’s point guard game has seen dramatic improvement. As a freshman London was wild and turnover prone. Over the past three years, Warren has learned to control himself and use his speed and hustle to his advantage and even finished his junior season with a respectable 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Flyers will rely on London heavily in the beginning of the season with Lowery out. Although his jump shooting can be summed up by the word “ugly” Warren has started to use his speed to get to the glass and draw fouls.

#3 Rob Lowery – 6-3 Senior

Rob Lowery had a tragic end to his first season as a Flyer in 2009. Rob, a spitting image of London Warren in both looks and style of play, was in the midst of a very effective season with the Flyers until it all came to an end on February. Coming to the Flyers as a JUCO transfer, Lowery’s hardnosed style of play fit perfectly into the personality of the Flyers. Although he tore his Patella Tendon against Xavier causing him to miss the final 10 games of the season, Rob still finished with the fifth most points on the team and averaged 3.4 assists per game. Although it is uncertain when Lowery will be back in the Flyers lineup this season, he will play a crucial role in the success of the team. His ability to knock down the three adds a dimension at the point which London Warren can not. Look for Rob to be eased back into games by Brian Gregory, who hopes to have him at full strength by conference play.

Welcome

Welcome to the Flyer Faithful blog. The Flyer Faithful blog will be a way for all UD basketball fans to get an in-depth look at the team that you love. From game previews, predictions, recaps and more, the Flyer Faithful blog will give you the inside scoop into what is happening with the Flyers. While there are obviously other blogs about the Flyers, I hope provide a unique perspective on the Flyers and their season.

To kick off the blog and the 2009-2010 season, I will be doing an in-depth preview of each position for the Flyers as well as an overall season preview. Stay on the lookout for game updates, info, and more. Although currently I am the only writer, I hope to expand and have others providing their input in the near future.

I hope you enjoy the blog and use it as a way to get to know the University of Dayton's Men's Basketball team.