Saint Joseph?s-Dayton

[IE]

Dayton starters

Kevin Dillard, 6-0, Sr., G, 14.5 ppg.
Vee Sanford, 6-3, Jr., G, 12.8
Jalen Robinson, 6-9, Fr., F, 5.8
Devin Oliver, 6-7, Jr., F, 9.2
Dyshawn Pierre, 6-6, Fr., F, 7.6

Saint Joseph?s starters

Carl Jones, 5-11, Sr., G, 15.1
Langston Galloway, 6-2, Jr., G, 13.9
Chris Wilson, 6-3, So., G, 7.6
C.J. Aiken, 6-9, Jr., F, 11.6
Ronald Roberts, 6-8, Jr., F, 11.4

About Dayton: The Flyers are trying to avoid their first 2-5 start in the A-10 since 2005-06. They?ve already played five of the top six teams in the standings, losing to each. ? Freshman Khari Price, the team?s top sub at both guard spots, is doubtful because of a bruised thigh. ? Dillard is 11th in the A-10 in scoring, fifth in assists (4.7) and fourth in foul shooting (86.7). He has scored in double figures in 13 of his last 14 games. But he?s been getting off to slow starts. He?s been shut out in the first half five times this year and scored just two points in the opening half against Saint Louis on Wednesday.

About St. Joe?s: The Hawks came back from a nine-point deficit in the final 5:39 at home to beat Temple, 70-69, Wednesday. ? They rank eighth in the nation in blocks with 6.3 per game, while committing the second-fewest fouls. Aiken is first in the A-10 and 11th nationally in blocks (3.0). ? Roberts is first in the A-10 in rebounding (8.9). ? Halil Kanacevic, a part-time starter at forward, averages 9.0 points and 7.3 rebounds.




Miller time: ?We?re taking a lot of inventory on a lot of guys. It?s a soul-searching, gut-wrenching feeling right now. ? There?s a lot of conversations behind closed doors right now that are happening that mean more than even practice. It?s that time of year. We?ve got to do the best job we can to get the most out of our guys right now and resurrect their confidence a little bit,? UD coahc Archie Miller said.

 

[IE]

Dayton has two home games to get on right track


Dayton is looking at two home games this week as a chance to shake its doldrums and begin its ascent toward the upper echelon of the Atlantic 10.

But the problem for the Flyers is they?ll be facing two teams intent on doing the same thing and, if the preseason poll is any indication, are better equipped to get there.

Saint Joseph?s, which visits Wednesday night, was picked as the A-10 favorite, while Temple, which plays Saturday at UD Arena, was pegged to finish fourth.

?Like I told our guys, there?s no life raft that people are going to send out there for you,? UD coach Archie Miller said. ?Everybody wants the same thing. And as soon as they can step on your throat and put you on the ground, they?re going to do it.

?We have to have a sense of urgency. We have to play hard. We have to play together. We have to play the right way. And we?ve got to get back to doing some things at a high level against good teams. If not, we?re going to experience some of the same disappointments we?ve had.?

St. Joe?s is riding a three-game winning streak, including a one-point home win Saturday over Temple. The Hawks, who returned their top eight scorers from a 20-14 team last season, also beat Big East power Notre Dame in November.

The Owls (14-7, 3-4) have a win over Saint Louis and also handed Syracuse its first loss this season.

?We play at home this week, and it?s not going to be easy,? Miller said. ?St. Joe?s is terrific. You follow that up with Temple, and they?re terrific. Those teams can beat anybody in the country. We?re going to have to play with great pride and passion. An opportunity is there (tonight), and if you win that game, everything starts to feel a little bit better.?

Phil Martelli, the dean of A-10 coaches with 18 years at St.Joe?s, called his team?s status as the preseason favorite ?overblown.? And he?s leery of the Flyers, despite their woes.

?They play with a speed that we can?t replicate. That?s not something we have,? he said. ?We have athletic ability in terms of jumping and size, but we don?t have the speed.

?(Kevin) Dillard is a unique guy in a league that?s loaded up with point guards. He never seems to bring the speed down. And they?re the home team. The arena is a special place because they have really, really supportive fans ? people that understand what the challenges are that Dayton is facing coming off two losses and the challenges that we would bring. They?re very knowledgeable.

?But their speed has me scratching my head, trying to put a speed bump into their game plan.?