Facing their third game in six days,the University of Dayton Flyers look to salvage some pride and restore the home court advantage as the Morehead State Eagles visit Thursday evening. The Eagles are coached by former University of Kentucky All-American Kyle Macy.

Foremost on the Flyer’s minds will be correcting what has gone wrong since returning from a promising tournament to open the season. In dropping three of their first four home games, the Flyers have been plagued by poor ball handling, porous defense on the perimeter, and inconsistent perimeter offense. The Flyers’ three returning veterans are all experiencing a decline in production from last year. David Morris is averaging 4 assists and 3 turnovers, slightly worse than last year. Excluding the Marshall game in which Morris contributed 6 assists against just 1 turnover [despite the Flyers’ stagnant offense in that contest] he’s averaged 3 assists and 3 turnovers. That ratio must be improved if the Flyers hope to finish with a postseason tournament. Moreover, Morris is shooting 36% from the field compared to last year’s 41%. In contrast, Ramod Marshall is shooting 47% while averaging 2 assists against just 1 turnover and he shows the ability to penetrate the seams of the defense.Brooks Hall is shooting just 31%, compared to 43% his freshman season. Hall continues to hoist treys at an alarming rate – 70% of his shot attempts each of his first two seasons have been from behind the arc. For his career, Brooks has attempted just 71 free throws in 40 games, and just 1 per game this season. He has to find a way to penetrate the defense and get himself to the free throw line when his shot is not falling.A constant throughout the non-conference portion of the schedule has been the solid play of the post contingent. Keith Waleskowski is averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds. Nate Green averages 9 and 4. Yuanta Holland 13 and 7. Combined, the three are converting 60% of their field goal attempts. The Flyers need to continue to dump the ball in low until opponents show an ability to shut down scoring on the interior. Once they do, the post players can kick the ball back outside. If the Flyer perimeter players employ the discipline required to get the ball inside on every possession, they may find their own offensive production will improve. It is far easier to convert a jump shot on a pass from the interior than it is on a pass from the perimeter, primarily because a pass from the perimeter requires the shooter to catch and square to the basket. On a pass from the post, the shooter will already be squared up.

While there has been no advance word, if the ball handling and perimeter play does not improve, changes in the starting lineup could be in order. One option is to start Marshall at the point and bring Morris off the bench, a role in which David excelled last year. However, this option does not address the lack of production at the small forward position. To cure those ills, the Flyers may give some consideration to playing Marshall and Tony Stanley on the wings in halfcourt sets while letting Hall attempt to run the offense at the point. Or, Waleskowski may begin to get some looks at the wing. Both alternatives have their drawbacks.

While we dwell on the seemingly unproductive offense, we must remember that the Flyers could be 8-1 if they had remained solid on the defensive end of the floor. Losses to Cincinnati, Marshall, and Old Dominion can all be attributed to the Flyers’ inability to cut off dribble penetration from the point. Penetration down the middle has to be denied, and this may lead to an increase in Marshall’s minutes. Despite making some freshman mistakes, he and Tony Stanley have been the Flyers best perimeter defenders. When dribble penetration does occur, the defense has to be ready to rotate and provide help, something sorely lacking against ODU, primarily by the other perimeter players. It is inexcusable to allow an opponent to execute a spin move at the 3-point line and take the ball to the rack for a tomahawk slam ala Pierre Green of ODU. Someone has to step out and take the charge, rather than back off and avoid the contact. And the defense has to close out on shooters and stay in their legs to contest jumpers.Morehead will provide an opportunity for the Flyers to prove they learned something from Tuesday’s debacle.

On paper, the Eagles should be hopelessly out-manned, particularly inside. They enter the contest with a 4-3 record, and lost last Saturday at Ohio State by 31. Morehead has defeated Huntington College of Indiana, Mt. St. Joseph, VMI (who also lost to Old Dominion) and St Francis, Pa. Eagle games tend to be low scoring, indicating a patient style of play. They are a young team, with 6 freshmen and 4 sophomores on the roster. Like their coach, they can be deadly shooters, and nearly everyone on the roster is willing and able to shoot the trey. They will frequently employ a 3-guard offense, and on occasion will utilize 4 guards and a forward.The Eagles are led in scoring by 6’4″ freshman guard Ricky Minard at 17 points a game. Minard also leads Morehead in rebounding with 7 a game, and is second on the team in assists. Minard is shooting 57% from the field, 45% from the arc, and 80% from the free throw line. In 7 games, Minard has attempted 79 field goals, 38 treys and 21 free throws. The Eagles look for Minard on most possessions. Greg Hendricks, a 6’1″ senior guard, typically mans the point and averages 11 points, 2.5 assists and 1.7 turnovers — but he did not play against St. Francis. Chez Marks, a 6’2″ sophomore, filled in against St Francis with 19 points and converted 60% of his three point shots. Kyle Umberger, a 6’7″ junior forward, is second in scoring at 13, and third in rebounding at 5. Umberger is shooting 55% from the field and 84% from the free throw line. Iker Lopez, a 6’8″ forward originally from Spain, rounds out the Eagles frontcourt.The Flyers should be able to handle Morehead, however, if they continue to watch good shooters shoot uncontested threes and refuse to take the ball inside on every possession, it could be another long and frustrating night for the Flyer faithful.