Today’s game
Who: Mount St. Mary's at Dayton
When: 2 p.m.
Where: UD Arena
Radio: WHIO-AM (1290), WHIO-FM (95.7)
University of Dayton basketball coach Brian Gregory probably qualifies as an expert on what determines wins and losses in close games. He saw his team prevail in virtually every one it was involved in two years ago and lose the majority of them last season.
But while he’s experienced both extremes, Gregory only professes to know this: Games aren’t usually decided by lucky breaks or fortuitous bounces.
“You put yourself in the position to get the right bounce at times,” he said. “We didn’t make the plays down the stretch we needed to make defensively or offensively (last season). A lot of times on defense, in close games, we fouled at the end of games and didn’t get the stops we needed. And we didn’t at times execute as well offensively.”
The Flyers had a charmed season in 2008-09, going 11-1 in games decided by five points or fewer. In 2009-10, their record in those close encounters dipped to 4-9.
But while the personnel didn’t change much from one year to the next, Gregory pointed out the Flyers were often hindered last season because their best 3-point shooter, Luke Fabrizius, was sidelined with an assortment of injuries. And a timely trey or two certainly could have made a difference.
“You can say what you want, but if Luke Fabrizius plays in some of those games, you probably win those games,” Gregory said.
The oft-injured junior forward will start the season on the sidelines again with a sprained ankle. But the Flyers appear to have enough in their arsenal to make a run at an NCAA tourney berth — depending, of course, on how they do in crunch time.
Gregory figures about 10 games each year will come down to the final few possessions.
“I always say, the difference between a great season and good season is those 10 games,” he said. “If you split them, you have a good year. If you win most of them, you have a great year.”
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