Two years ago, on Senior Night, the NIT-bound University of Dayton Flyers put the finishing touches on a sparkling home season by defeating the NCAA-bound Rhode Island Rams. The lone senior saying goodbye to the Flyer Faithful in the lineup that night was Ryan Perryman. Flash forward to Saturday, February 26, and again the Flyers host Rhode Island in the home finale. This year, however, the two schools are in vastly different situations – UD looking to the Big Dance, and URI looking for a merciful end to a dreadful season. Entering the contest, Dayton checks in with a 19-6 overall record, 9-4 in the Atlantic 10 West Division. UD can wrap up no worse than a tie for the division title with a victory.

Dayton took a gigantic step towards the title on Wednesday by winning at La Salle. Meanwhile, Rhode Island limps in with a 5-22 overall record, 2-12 in the East Division of the conference. UMass humiliated the Rams in their last contest. The Rams are experiencing one of the worst seasons in Atlantic 10 history, while the Flyers are looking to clinch at least a tie for the A10 West title. The Flyers hold the edge in any tiebreakers with Xavier and George Washington so a win gives Dayton the #1 seed the A10 tournament.

With all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the final home game, one gets the feeling that Saturday night’s contest will be more of a celebration than a basketball game. In addition to the game and Senior Night, the University of Dayton will conclude a season-long Arena 30th Anniversary celebration by announcing the All-Arena team. As part of the celebration, the UD players will don uniforms like those worn when the Arena opened 30 years ago. Unfortunately, the players did not agree to wear the short shorts! URI’s terrible record does not help with keeping focus on the game either. The sadness in the midst of the celebration will be the final minutes at home for five men who have helped to raise the level of the UD program on the court — and who made the UD community proud off the court.

Starting center Mark Ashman (13.1ppg, 6.4rpg) will extend his Flyer-record consecutive starts streak, despite nagging injuries all year. Edwin Young (7.4ppg, 3.2apg) will complete a year of redemption for him, recovering from last season’s dismal offensive year. Matt Cooper (1rpg) will continue to spell Ashman in the middle, and provide valuable defensive minutes. And Ted Fitz (1rpg) will come off the bench to provide defensive hustle and hard physical play. Additionally, the long-time voice of the Flyers, PA Announcer Charlie Robinson (29 years behind the mike for varsity games) will call his final Flyer game. All will be missed. The Rhody Rams have been the Edsel of the A-10 this season.

The Ram front-court has been wrecked by injuries and academic problems all year. Prior to the start of the season, Ed Brown flunked out of school. Leroy Womack was hampered by foot problems — finally breaking the foot a month or so ago and is out for the year. Going against all this, Rhode Island will also be without their main weapon. Luther Clay (12.4ppg, 8rpg) injured his eye and, according to ESPN, is not expected back until March 3. Clay has been hobbled by hip and back injuries, missing two starts and large portions of other games prior to this week.

Without Clay, the Rams will rely heavily on Tavorris Bell (14.3ppg, 6.7rpg) and freshman Zach Marbury (15.1ppg, 3.4apg ). Marbury is the younger brother to Stephon Marbury, former Ga. Tech star now in the NBA. Zach’s game is much more suited to play the off-guard as he lacks true point-guard skills. He’s still shaking off the rust from sitting out last year after not getting through the NCAA Clearinghouse. Marbury averages 15ppg, but on the season has 93 assists and 123 turnovers. Teams struggle with freshman point guards, but there is no word to describe what happens when their point is a freshman two-guard who sat out a year. Tip Vinson, another outside player, averages 10ppg. Look for the Flyers to deny penetration and force Bell, Marbury, and Vinson to make the jump shot. With Clay’s absence in the middle, the Rams will have Andrew Wafula and Justin Henry in the post positions. Neither give the Rams any offensive presence in the middle, although Wafula is developing into a decent shot blocker and defender. Henry is a football player. Nuff said – against UMass Henry had 8 turnovers, 4 points, 2 assists, but 12 rebounds.

The fact that Henry starts illustrates the biggest problem the Rams have. While they are short on talent at a couple of positions they have absolutely no depth. Opponents have gotten huge runs when Rhody goes to the bench. The starters, knowing they have to produce all the points, often force things, creating turnovers and affording easy baskets on the other end. And to save their legs they frequently play soft on defense. To win, the Flyers need to show up and not get too caught up in the extra-curricular activities. Tony Stanley (14.5ppg, 5.8rpg) must continue to play a strong all-around game. The Rams’ lack of depth inside — especially without Clay — should allow the Flyers to pound the ball into Ashman. Nate Green (3.4rpg) and Yuanta Holland (8.7ppg, 5.6rpg) need to develop more consistency from game to game, guard against the interior, and look for Brooks Hall (10.7ppg, 5.6rpg) and his strong shooting.

After all is said and done, the Dayton Flyers should be banging the drum counting up to the 20th victory of the season. Based on recent performance, the Flyers should have little trouble dispatching the Rams, who appear to be headed toward a 5-25 season.

The Flyers biggest opponent will not be the Rams, but themselves. If they come out uninspired, fail to defend and rebound, and assume a win the Rams have enough talent to hang close. Let an inferior team hang around into the second half and you never know what might happen. Flyer fans certainly remember Cleveland State ending Dayton’s NCAA dreams two years ago. With three starters from that Flyer team still on the court it shouldn’t happen again. Ryan Perryman made two free throws at the end of the URI contest two years ago, and was able to receive a standing ‘O’. Hopefully, this game will not come down to the wire, and the four outgoing seniors can hear their names called off the court one last time by Charlie Robinson.