Where: United Center, Chicago
TV/Radio: Big Ten Network; AM 1290, News 95.7 WHIO.
Probable Dayton starters
Scoochie Smith, 6-2, Sr., G, 14.0
Kyle Davis, 6-0, Sr., G, 8.3
Charles Cooke, 6-5, sr., G, 20.0
Ryan Mikesell, 6-7, So., F, 6.2
Kendall Pollard, 6-6, Sr., F, 12.7
Probable Northwestern starters
Bryant McIntosh, 6-3, Jr., G, 12.6
Scottie Lindsey, 6-5, Jr., F, 15.3
Vic Law, 6-7, So., F, 15.8
Sanjay Lumpkin, 6-6, Sr., F, 6.6
Barret Benson, 6-10, Fr. C, 2.4
Series history: Dayton leads 2-1. Dayton lost 64-57 at Northwestern on Dec. 5, 1998. Dayton won 77-69 at UD Arena on Dec. 27, 1997. UD won 73-66 at UD Arena on Dec. 22, 1972.
Coaches: Dayton's Archie Miller is 122-57 in his sixth season. Chris Collins is 57-50 in his fourth season at Northwestern. Collins played at Duke and coached at Duke under Mike Krzyzewski from 2000-2013.
About Dayton: The Flyers have won five straight games. … Dayton has won four of its last six games against the Big Ten. It lost 80-78 to Nebraska on Nov. 24. … KenPom.com gives Dayton a 48 percent chance of winning and predicts a 70-69 score. … Dayton ranks 39th in the Pomeroy rating. Northwestern is 47th. In the RPI, Dayton is 29th. Northwestern is 37th. … Pollard made his first start of the season last Saturday in a 75-61 victory over East Tennessee State. … Miller said Thursday injured forward Josh Cunningham is ahead of schedule in his rehab. He will have to wear a boot on his foot for a couple more weeks and will move to the next step of rehab when it comes off.
About Northwestern: This is Northwestern's second game at the United Center and first since 2003. … Northwestern has won 15 straight games in December. … The Wildcats avoided a major upset Wednesday, beating Chicago State 68-64. Northwestern shot 62.5 percent from the field. It was a three-point game in the final minute. Chicago State ranks 253rd in the RPI. … Northwestern has seven players from Illinois on its roster. … Gavin Skelly, a 6-8 junior forward, is the team's top scorer off the bench (8.0 points per game). … Law leads the team in 3-pointers (24 of 48, 50 percent). … BYU (7-3) and Illinois (8-3) play in the second game at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the United Center.
Looking ahead: Dayton plays Vanderbilt (5-5) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at UD Arena and hosts VMI (2-7) at 7 p.m. Friday.
About the Author
