Archie Miller found some benefits with inheriting a veteran team in his first year as the University of Dayton coach last season. It was sort of like having a microwave meal — not a lot of preparation needed to get it ready.

“Last year’s team, although thin, was very experienced in terms of waking up every day and understanding what practice is and waking up every day understanding what a scouting report meant,” Miller said. “We have four freshmen, and all four of them right now are important. It’s not like we have time for those guys to just sit and wait their turn.”

Playing four rookies may not be ideal for a team with NCAA tournament aspirations, but all of them displayed signs in the two exhibitions that they’re prepared to take on the challenge of major-college basketball.

Jalen Robinson, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward, had 13 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes during an 81-63 win over Walsh on Sunday night after getting 19 and 10 against Findlay last week.

Forward Devon Scott (6-9, 215) had nine points against the Cavaliers, while wing Dyshawn Pierre (6-6, 210) had six points and five rebounds after missing the first exhibition with an ankle injury.

Point guard Khari Price (5-11, 170), while not yet an offensive threat, looks to be a strong enough ball-handler and defender to give senior starter Kevin Dillard some breathers.

Having lost center Matt Kavanaugh to a year-long suspension and being without back-up Alex Gavrilovic for a few weeks while he was sidelined with mono (he was cleared to practice Monday), Robinson and Scott have gotten plenty of extra time on the practice floor and in games.

“Jalen’s got a unique game,” Miller said. “He’s a very crafty player. He’s got quick feet. He’s got great hands and great footwork. And he’s unorthodox for a lot of people around the basket because I don’t think they understand how long he is and how big he is. He’s going to be a terrific player.

“Devon is a guy you never have to run a play for, and he impacts a lot of plays — whether he’s screening or he’s offensive-rebounding or he’s blocking shots. He’s active, and it’s good to see him out there making the plays naturally that he’s able to make.”

Robinson, who started both exhibitions, sparked the struggling Flyers at the beginning of the second half against Walsh. He had a rebound off a teammate’s missed free throw, leading to a bucket, and bulled his way to another rugged rebound and put-back in the first 97 seconds.

He sprained his ankle under the basket with 18 minutes left and hobbled off. But after being treated by trainer Nate Seymour in the locker room, Robinson returned later in the second half.

“He’s another big body for us — a great finisher down low and a great rebounder,” Dillard said. “If he keeps working, he can be a big part of our success.”

Pierre has been the biggest surprise since he’s from Ontario, Canada, and was an unknown commodity to recruiting analysts in the U.S. He averaged 17.8 points and 11.8 rebounds for the Canadian junior national team and had a tryout this summer with the senior national team that included several NBA players.

“He does a lot of things, Miller said. “He’s very big, he’s strong, he’s athletic. He can rebound, he can pass. … He’s got a very bright future. He’s learning the system, though. He’s not there yet in terms of understanding what we want to do. But firing him out there, he can make plays, and I like that about him.

“Our team is different this year,” Miller added. “We’re much bigger. We’re much more physical.”