No one can accuse Northwestern Head Coach Kevin O’Neill of playing favorites. After all, four starters returned from a 10-17 squad a year ago and those same players were thought to be the leading cogs once again in 1998-99. But O’Neill has shaken things up a bit since last season. Of the five Wildcat starters this year, three are freshmen, one is a sophomore, and the other is a 6th-year senior. All told, only shooting guard Sean Wink and center Evan Eschmeyer are holdovers from the starting unit that took the floor in 1997-98.

On the surface it appears O’Neill is building for the future, but in reality, ten Northwestern players play at least 10 minutes a game to give the team from Evanston, Ill., sufficient depth at every position. Trouble is, it’s a lack of talent that still paralyzes this program. The good news is that Kevin O’Neill is one of the best coaches and recruiters in the country and should have the program talking NCAA bids in another 2-3 years – if a better job doesn’t come along for O’Neill. Right now however, Northwestern has one great player, a fine shooting guard, some excellent but raw newcomers, and a laundry list of questions and concerns.

At the heart of the purple and white is senior Evan Eschmeyer, a bulky center who rarely passes the look test but who puts up better numbers than most other centers with more athletic strength and talent. A native of New Knoxville, Ohio, Eschmeyer has shot better than 60% from the field over the last two seasons and is currently ripping the nets at .651% after four games in 1998-99. Eschmeyer’s size draws so many fouls that he could break the Big-10 season FT attempt record this year. He missed the record by a mere eight attempts a year ago. If Eschmeyer were playing for a Top-20 program, he would be considered the country’s best center. Still, even at Northwestern, enough pro scouts have taken notice at the former Top-50 HS player.

In the frontcourt, Sean Wink supplies the firepower from long distance, leading the Big-10 is treys last year (86) and leading the team in minutes played this season. He and freshman PG David Newman provide the bulk of the ball-handling, but Julian Bonner, a starter a year ago, comes off the bench for added ball-handling and decisionmaking. Bonner’s stats aren’t outstanding (2.8ppg, 1.3rpg), but he is one of Kevin O’Neill’s favorite players mostly due to the fact that he averaged an insane 38.8 minutes per contest last year. He’s a durable guard who seldom complains and does what is asked of him. This year he is averaging 15 minutes a game.

The rest of the NU players are unproven, especially the newcomers. O’Neill’s newest players are heralded but they lack the experience and perseverance to win games on their own. Even worse, O’Neill has little idea how good his team is at this point in the season due to a cupcake non-conference schedule. The Wildcats dropped the season opener to Maine 69-57 but have won their last three against Oakland (MI), St. Francis (NY), and Furman. Dayton is their toughest non-conference game of the season and should supply O’Neill with more answers.

For the Flyers, it’s another road game full of optimism and apprehension. On paper, Dayton has the edge in every category with perhaps the exception of the post position. Mark Ashman and Stephen Bamigbola will have a tough time containing Eschmeyer, but Dayton’s guards should outclass NU’s backcourt on every possession. If Eschmeyer doesn’t have a career game and Wink’s three-point shooting is kept in check, the Flyers will win. Dayton must play the same level of defense that tore apart Marquette a week ago. At the same time, it is imperative for Dayton to get off to a good start. Northwestern’s arena and fan base are substantial enough to rattle opposing teams who have a hard time adjusting to unfamiliar settings. If the game is close in the final minutes however, NU could be in trouble. The Wildcats are shooting a dismal .566% from the charity stripe.

Look for the Flyers to pressure the basketball, push the ball on transition, establish a presence in the blocks, then let the guards do what they do best – score and distribute the basketball. This is a must-win game for the Flyers. No longer can UD fans be content with moral victories and close calls. With three home games following the NU contest, Dayton could be 7-1 heading into the Rock n’ Roll Shootout against UC. If the Flyers waste this opportunity however, 6-2 or 5-3 is a possibility. That is a huge difference.