UD at Xavier game preview
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Time: 8 p.m.
Radio: WHIO-AM (1290),
Extras
WHIO-FM (95.7)
TV: CSTV (digital cable, satellite)
Records: No. 16 Dayton is 14-2 overall, 2-1 in the Atlantic 10;
No. 23 Xavier is 15-4, 3-1
Series record: UD leads, 80-64.
Probable starters
XAVIER Yr Ht P Ppg
Drew Lavender Sr. 5-7 G 12.4
Stanley Burrell Sr. 6-3 G 10.0
Derrick Brown So. 6-8 F 11.1
C.J. Anderson Jr. 6-6 F 11.2
Jason Love So. 6-9 C 5.5
DAYTON Yr Ht P Ppg
Brian Roberts Sr. 6-2 G 20.1
Marcus Johnson So. 6-3 G 9.4
Andres Sandoval Sr. 6-4 G 4.4
Jimmy Binnie Sr. 6-7 F 5.9
Kurt Huelsman So. 6-10 C 6.2
About Xavier
The Musketeers are first in the Atlantic 10 and 15th nationally in scoring margin (plus-15.9 per game). They're first in the league and sixth in the country in free-throw shooting (76.1 percent). They also lead the A-10 in 3-point accuracy (40.1 percent). Lavender, the former McDonald's high school All-American who transferred from Oklahoma, has three times as many assists (93) as turnovers (31). Brown, a long-armed leaper from Chaminade-Julienne, has three double-doubles and leads the team with 6.7 rebounds per game. Xavier has ideal balance with six players averaging in double figures, including subs B.J. Raymond (12.0) and Josh Duncan (10.3). The Musketeers are 13-0 when four or more players reach double digits.
About Dayton
The Flyers are first in the A-10 and 20th nationally in rebounding margin (plus-7.1). UD is second in the league in 3-point shooting (39.5 percent) but last in free-throw accuracy (65.8). UD will be without its two most athletic frontcourt players in the injured Chris Wright and Charles Little. They are among the team's top four scorers and top three rebounders and have a combined vertical jump of roughly 80 inches. Roberts, who is being touted as an All-American by The Sporting News, plans to play despite being on antibiotics for cold-like symptoms that have persisted for a month. UD has won six of its last eight road games, including a 4-1 mark this season.
FYI
UD and Xavier have met 144 times, but only once before while both teams were ranked. The No. 14 Musketeers beat the No. 25 Flyers, 73-72, at UD Arena on Feb. 22, 2003. "X" won all three meetings last year and has prevailed against Dayton in 22 straight games in Cincinnati, last losing in 1981.
Quote, unquote
"I guess there's always a little added to (this game) because of the rivalry, but the most important thing is to stick to the things we're good at and really focus on those," UD coach Brian Gregory said.
Game on
Xavier is 9-3 against Dayton in the past five seasons (home team in bold):
2002-03
Xavier 85, Dayton 77
Xavier 73, Dayton 72
2003-04
Dayton 74, Xavier 67
Xavier 67, Dayton 60
Xavier 58, Dayton 49 (A-10 tourney)
2004-05
Dayton 59, Xavier 55
Xavier 74, Dayton 65
2005-06
Xavier 60, Dayton 55
Dayton 66, Xavier 62
2006-07
Xavier 83, Dayton 67
Xavier 75, Dayton 67
Xavier 72, Dayton 51 (A-10 tourney)
Comments