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.
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