BEVERLY HILLS (MI) — One of the questions that usually comes up before sitting down at the keyboard to bang out the old blog is this:

Produce a column before a UD game or after?

My timing this week was pretty decent, as “FTS” was last posted prior to the St. Joe’s embarrassment and this piece is being written immediately after the Flyers most important win of the campaign–thus far. Obviously, their next tilt is the biggest game of the regular season — the roadie at SLU on Ash Wednesday. Won’t have this problem next time you hear from me, as “FTS” will be hitting the road and writing during the Richmond game. Really looking forward to both battles!

Meantime, to the links:

— Multimedia maven David Jablonski of The DDN posted this splendid gif of Dyshawn Pierre’s reverse slam vs. UMass:

http://gifmaker.me/PlayGIFAnimation.php?folder=2014030111GJPK5QfPddno8125RS8S1B&file=output_2y4Q5L.gif

Jablonski tweeted that teammate Vee Sanford only gave DP a 6/10 on that dunk.

— Speaking of blogs, UD Assistant Coach Kevin Kuwik checks in with his from College Chalk Talk entitled “Know Your Personnel”:

http://collegechalktalk.com/2014/02/27/know-your-personnel-dayton-asst-kevin-kuwik/

— I could watch this You Tube video of the final minutes of the Dayton upset of then #2 rated DePaul all day and twice on Sundays and never get tired of it:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152258016822372&set=vb.147064647371&type=2&theater

— Nice long-form piece from Grantland on “The Amazing Pace” of the NBA DL’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers, former home of Chris Johnson:

http://grantland.com/features/nba-dleague-rgv-vipers-houston-rockets-future-of-basketball/

— UD signee Darrell Davis is one of five candidates for Michigan Mr. Basketball:

http://lms.usatodayhss.com/detroit/articles/item/1851-mr-basketball-candidates-which-senior-will-lead-his-team-in-state-tournament

Double D was in the house for the UMass win.

— Two new names from Verbal Commits to add to the Archie Miller recruiting funnel:

2014 SG Aubrey (son of Johnny) Dawkins

http://verbalcommits.com/players/aubrey-dawkins

2016 PG Howard Washington from Buffalo

http://verbalcommits.com/players/howard-washington

Buffalo, eh? Gee I wonder who the lead recruiter on Washington might be?

— Rush the Court checks in on the A-10, prior to UD’s UMass win and SLU’s two losses:

http://rushthecourt.net/2014/02/26/checking-in-on-the-atlantic-10-55/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

— Timing is, indeed, everything. Pickin’ Splinters asked the question “Are the Flyers finding their defensive identity?” immediately before their lousiest defensive effort of the season vs. SJU:

http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=35854

But then they also cranked out this timely piece on EC Matthews of URI and Jordair Jett of SLU:

http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=35940

— Shaka Smart and Derek Kellogg talk about the strength of the A-10:

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/23/shaka-smart-derek-kellogg-speak-to-the-strength-of-the-atlantic-10/

— Atlantic 10 Tempo Tuesday:

http://collegechalktalk.com/2014/02/25/atlantic-10-tempo-tuesday-brooklyn-draws-near/?utm_content=buffer32a64&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

— Let’s get funereal!

RIP Mid-Major:

http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/obituaries/ci_25233968/term-mid-major-hoops-finally-dies-old-age

Death to the RPI:

http://www.theonlycolors.com/2014/2/26/5444872/death-to-the-rpi

— Some funny photoshops of Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim going ballistic:

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/23/brilliant-photoshops-of-jim-boeheim-getting-ejected-photos/

That’s it “From the Swamp.”
You can email me at: [email protected]