When: Noon
Where: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, N.J.
TV: WHIO (Channel 7)
Radio: WHIO-AM (1290), WHIO-FM (95.7)
Series: UD leads 82-72
Probable starters
Dayton | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos. | Cl. | Ht. | Avg. |
C. Wright | F | Sr. | 6-8 | 12.9 |
C. Johnson | F | Jr. | 6-6 | 11.6 |
J. Benson | F | So. | 6-9 | 5.6 |
P. Williams | G | Jr. | 6-4 | 8.2 |
J. Staten | G | Fr. | 6-0 | 8.7 |
XAVIER | ||||
Player | Pos. | Cl. | Ht. | Avg. |
J. McLean | F | Sr. | 6-8 | 10.8 |
K. Frease | C | Jr. | 7-0 | 11.9 |
T. Holloway | G | Jr. | 6-0 | 20.1 |
M. Lyons | G | So. | 6-1 | 13.8 |
D. Jackson | G | Sr. | 6-5 | 7.9 |
About the Flyers
Juwan Staten has moved into fourth at UD for single-season assists with 175. Negele Knight holds the record with 216 in 1989-90, followed by David Morris (192 in 2001-02) and Kevin Conrad (179 in 1980-81). ... Chris Wright, who was named second team all-district by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (the district encompasses most of the A-10), is 16th on the all-time UD scoring list with 1,540 points. Next up is Johnny Davis (1973-76) with 1,562. ... The Flyers were protecting the ball much better this season until stumbling of late. They averaged 14.5 turnovers in 2009-10 and 12.5 through 26 games this season. But they’ve averaged 18.3 giveaways over the last six games, putting them at 13.6 for the year. ... The game is being carried by WHIO-TV, but Fox Sports Ohio is showing it outside of Dayton.
About the Musketeers
Kenny Frease, an honorable mention all-league pick, sat out Thursday’s shoot-around because of a sore back. He’s considered probable for the game, though. ... Xavier has won nine straight games and 16 of its last 17. The A-10 champs are one win away from their fifth straight 25-win season. They’ve also won 20 or more in 14 of the last 15 years. ... Tu Holloway, the A-10’s player of the year, also made the league’s all-defensive team. He’s second in the A-10 in scoring, assists (5.5) and foul shooting (86.7). ... Mark Lyons and Jamel McLean made the all-league third team, leaving Dante Jackson as the only starter not to get postseason recognition. But he’s been a Flyer-slayer, twice winning the MVP trophy in the UD-Xavier game.
FYI
UD and Xavier are meeting in the A-10 tourney for the fourth time in five seasons (UD is 0-3). The Flyers are 17-14 all-time in the event, including an 8-7 mark under eighth-year coach Brian Gregory. They won their lone crown in 2003 and made their only other finals appearance in 2004. Both tourneys were held at UD Arena.
Quote
Asked what it will take to upset top-seeded Xavier, Wright said: “Hard work, less mistakes and focus. We play hard when we play them, but we’ve just got to be sharper.”
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