Miller expects Flyers to get call on Selection Sunday

A flagpole that once stood at Ebbets Field, the famed home of the Brooklyn Dodgers before their move to Los Angeles, now stands outside the Barclays Center.

The Boys of Summer knew heartbreak like few teams, losing six World Series in seven tries between 1940 and 1960. Maybe Dayton Flyer fans can’t relate on that level, but they know something about disappointment. The latest chapter in the book of tears leaves all the Dayton players, coaches, administrators and fans facing one of their more nerve-wracking weekends in years.

The Flyers lost 70-67 to Saint Joseph’s on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament here, thanks to a 3-pointer by Langston Galloway with 19 seconds left. The Flyers won’t remember the shot as much as the push that Galloway got away with — not to mention a possible travel violation — before he let it fly. Then again, maybe they will forget the whole sequence if their name gets called on Selection Sunday.

For what it’s worth, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi still listed the Flyers (23-10) as one of the last four teams in a bracket he updated Friday night. He predicts the Flyers will get a No. 12 seed and play Providence in the First Four at UD Arena.

“I hope we get the call,” Dayton coach Archie Miller said. “I expect to get a call. I think we have done enough, and if it’s in Dayton, it’s in Dayton.”

No. 4 seed Saint Joseph’s (22-9) needed the victory more than No. 5 seed Dayton. It now has three victories over the Flyers and jumped them in the RPI. The latest update Friday night listed the Hawks at No. 39 and the Flyers at No. 43.

“You saw two high-level teams,” Saint Joseph’s coach Phil Martelli said, “and if justice is to be served for those kids and for Archie and that wonderful fan base, they will get their name called on Sunday.”

Good attitude: Dayton senior Matt Kavanaugh has been to three NITs, but he'd love to get to the big tournament one time.

“That would be the perfect period at the end of a senior season,” he said. “We think we’ve done enough to earn a spot in the tournament. We definitely know we have more basketball to play, so whichever tournament we’re in, we’re going to be excited and ready to keep battling.”

Last play: Miller took the blame for the play the Flyers ran after Galloway's shot. The Flyers first called time out after falling behind 69-67. With four seconds left, Devin Oliver took a desperation 3-pointer that was well off the mark.

“Like I told the guys afterward, I have to do a better job for them with 15-16 seconds to go,” Miller said. “I have to set them up a little bit better. We have to get a two-point basket on that. I’ll kick myself on that one.”

Later Oliver wrote on Twitter, “There is something wrong if we aren’t in (the NCAA tournament), but I wish that one would have dropped.”

Billikens upset: Saint Joseph's will play No. 9 seed Saint Bonaventure in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. today. The Bonnies upset No. 1 seed Saint Louis 71-68 in the first game Friday on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Charlon Kloof at the buzzer.

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