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The real problem this year
Lost in the discussion of whether AG can or can't coach in the Flyer universe I think are some bigger problems this team is having this year on the offensive end that factor in this close games.
First, is that UD is 322 in the country out of 351 D1 teams in turnovers forced. Why is this important? Forcing turnovers are the back bone of being able to get easy buckets in transition. I can find fast break points for UD by game but not overall. Just looking at those and my recollection of the games this year lines with this being a UD that can't get easy buckets in transition. There's competent defenders on this team but no one who's truly disruptive on the defensive side of the ball.
The team doesn't push the ball up on missed shots either often which also cuts down on transition baskets.
So all this means that Dayton has to get points in it's half court offense. Obi and Josh are great at scoring inside and Crutcher has shown that he can attack the basket and knock down shots from the outside. There's not a player out of the rest of the team who can consistently create his own shot, attack the basket and finish/get to the line or can make tough, contested shots.
This is a tough position for the team to be in. Jordan Davis I like as a player and still think he can be a great player but if you look at the box score on the offensive end he's disappeared for way too many games this year. Is this some kind of Darrell Davis sophomore year where a guy who's a good shooter is just off for most of a season?
Cohill is playing like a freshman. Trey and Mikesell are 4/5th options on offense. Important players, needed on the team but it's trouble if those are guys that have to be relied upon in the half court especially when Jordan is having an off day. On a NCAA team Trey/Ryan would play the glue guy role and be the 5th option on offense. Certainly those guys are capable of having good games but they're not consistent enough to be able to hang your hat on them.
So if Jordan Davis is off (more times than not this year) the half court offense is Obi/Josh and Crutcher. That's a lot of playing a lot of possessions where the offense has 2-3 guys they can realistically count on. That puts pressure on Crutcher if the post is covered to force shots or try to make something happen.
The defense in the most of the losses outside of Auburn was enough to win but the offense just couldn't get over the hump. Some of that is a testament to other teams D but I think the real problem is being limited in the half court offense game. The high shooting % as a team from points in the paints makes the offense look better statistically than what it actually is
Late game the opposing coach to work to double/take away Obi/Josh and force the other guys to beat them in a half court and based the results they can't do it.
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