Four on the Floor

BEVERLY HILLS (MI) -- Entering the final week of the Atlantic 10 regular season, the fight for the conference crown is akin to a loose ball in the middle of a hotly contested hoops game. The difference here is that instead of it being merely a “50/50 ball” there are four teams scrambling on the floor, all battling for 1st place and it could go in favor of any of them.

Schedule-wise, here is what each of the four 12-4 teams are looking at:

Dayton

@ VCU
Home vs. Rhody
@ LaSalle

VCU

Home vs. UD
@ Davidson
Home vs. GMU

Davidson

Home vs. GW
Home vs. VCU
@ Dukes

Rhody

@ LaSalle
@ UD
Home vs. St. Joe’s

At first glance, it appears that Rhode Island has the easiest path to A-10 regular season supremacy, but after Wednesday night’s craziness who the hell knows? VCU and Davidson both play two of their three remaining tilts at home, while UD and Rhody hit the road for two out of three. UD and VCU both face two of the final four; Davidson and URI only one. Which means Dayton and VCU are captains of their own fate, while the other two must rely on the kindness of strangers.

We shall see

Those are the external forces at work, but even more important for the Flyer Faithful is what is going on internally with the Red and Blue. Found it interesting that after the GMU game Archie revealed that Jordan Sibert hasn’t practiced in the last week and probably won’t for the rest of the season, due to a wrist injury. The obvious side benefit to that decision is that Jordan also got to rest his legs. Wouldn’t you love to see a side-by-side video comparison of Sibert’s shooting form against Duquesne (4/14 from the field; 3/12 from three) vs. his form in the GMU game (7/10 and 5/6). JS looked whipped in Pittsburgh as opposed to being his normally springy self on Wednesday night.

ICYMI, the following excellent piece from USA Today also lets us in on another adjustment Archie has had to make out of necessity:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...fb0d1320e20fc4

Cutting Flyer practices from 90 minutes to 45 minutes and making them non-contact is such a smart move. That probably goes totally against the grain to Archie’s mode of thinking, but desperate times call for just such an adjustment.

Maybe Allen Iverson was right about “practice” after all, eh?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI

Like many on the UD Pride Message Board have already professed, this “Magnificent Seven” ensemble is one of my all-time favorite Flyer squads, right up there with the 1973-74 triple overtime vs. UCLA team that featured Donald Smith and Mike Sylvester. Gotta love their heart, grit and determination…what college hoops fan wouldn’t?

But I won’t miss them!

Allow me to explain

The razor-thin edge that Archie has had to dance on in every single game since the roster shrinkage will not be mourned here. Having to continuously avoid foul trouble; having to dodge nagging injuries and play thru illness; and of course, having only seven guys, none of them over 6’6”. Arch should have as many weapons at his disposal as possible – go big if he needs to; go small if the situation warrants; play offense/defense if need be. He cannot do that this year.

And I will not miss it.

Beat VCU!

That’s it “From the Swamp.”
You can email me at: swampy@udpride.com

	Flyer Faithful FLYER FAITHFUL Best college basketball fans in the country. Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and loyal. Help to create one of the toughest home courts in the nation at UD Arena. Over 12,000 fans a game put the Flyers in the Top-30 nationally in attendance. Fan spirit and support growing to other UD sports and athletic programs as well.

	Rhode Island RHODE ISLAND The University of Rhode Island was chartered as the state's agricultural school in 1888. The school became the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1892. Located in southern Rhode Island, URI is a quintessential New England campus - rural in feeling yet close to the city of Providence, the state's capital. Linked to the city, the beaches, and nearly every corner of the state by both rail and public transit, the campus is easily accessible from Boston and New York URI currently offers 100 majors in seven degree-granting colleges. There are more than 12,000 students on the Kingston campus, about 3,000 in Providence, and a complement of about 700 faculty. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Rams.

	Duquesne DUQUESNE Duquesne University is a private, coeducational university, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania located on 48 secluded acres, on a bluff above downtown. Founded in 1878 as a Catholic college by the Order of the Holy Spirit. It is the only Spiritan institution of higher education in the world. Duquesne offers 10 schools of study and 100 degree programs to 6,000 undergraduates and 3,800 graduate students. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Dukes.

	LaSalle LA SALLE In 1863, La Salle University was established through the legacy of St. John Baptist de La Salle and the Christian Brothers teaching order, which De La Salle founded 300 years ago. Located in Philadelphia, La Salle is an educational community shaped by traditional Catholic and Lasallian values. La Salle's main campus is an ideal place for students to pursue an education. The 130-acre park-like setting includes 54 buildings and is located approximately six miles from Center City Philadelphia. The University can accommodate 2,114 resident students in its 12 residence halls, two apartment complexes, and 75 townhouses. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Explorers. Notable athletes include Tom Gola and Lionel Simmons.