CHANDLER (AZ) — There has been a constant wailing and gnashing of teeth ever since the UD schedule was announced last year. There were few big names on board and certainly little television, especially when compared to our brothers down south. I must say that I am probably in the minority when it comes to this discussion, but I think those in charge, be it Ted Kissell or Brian Gregory, were brilliant.

If you look at where we were at the beginning of the season, there were probably more questions than answers as to how good this team would be. Personally, I didn’t feel that they were NCAA bound, more likely falling into the NIT. Certainly their 21-2 record has gotten them enough acclaim to be listed on virtually every NCAA bracket proposed by experts all the way down to any Joe Blow that knows how to set up an internet site.

You have to ask the question, “Would they be there with last year’s schedule?” I think not. UD would probably be limping abound with at least five defeats and not getting any attention. Being 26th in both polls isn’t bad. It could be a lot worse.

We all know what happens when you put together one of the better schedules that we have seen at UD in recent years like last year. After the season was completed, UD sat at number 30 on both RPI and strength of schedule. Both of those numbers tended up slightly because of the NIT, but for whatever reason they were not good enough to get into the big dance with an RPI of 32 on Selection Sunday.

It is obvious that unless you are a member of the BCS conferences, your team has to have an airtight resume’. Dayton’s was not good enough because of the 8-8 mark in the A-10. Certainly, Chris Wright’s availability had a lot to do with the decision, but no Big East team with an RPI of 32 will ever be left out.

Our average opponent with regard to RPI for the whole season currently stands at 147. Last year it was 117. The top of the schedule isn’t a great deal different with the exclusion of two good BCS teams verses this year’s Marquette. It is the bottom of the schedule that really hurts with eight games against teams rated 200 or higher.

Even with all of this said, the 2008-2009 teams was not prepared to play last year’s schedule at the beginning of the season. If this team started the season 9-6 or 10-5, the likelihood of making the big dance would be fleeting. However, with the less taxing schedule, the team learned that it could survive without Brian Roberts. It learned that the two headed point guard combo wasn’t all that bad. It learned that if they busted their hump on the defensive end, they could win on the road and when they didn’t shoot well.

They have matured into a group that knows that there will always be somebody that will step up when needed. The LaSalle game is a perfect example of a game that would have been placed in the loss column in previous years. Losing a 17 point lead would have been enough for earlier versions to expose their belly and go quietly. This team has been handled perfectly to know that they are good enough to beat just about anybody when they play with enthusiasm.

Fans always expect perfection with regard to their team. I have seen more whining about this team than any in recent memory. They are 21-2. Say that very slowly. They do not have a column that says close wins against poor teams. The number under the W column is the only number that counts. This is not a team that has the offensive abilities to just blow people away. It is far more important to know how to win that knowing how to destroy an opponent when they are 15 down.

It seems that this year, like many, will be graded on how well they do against Xavier. That shouldn’t be the case. Believe it or not, they are a top 10 team. They have beaten some pretty good teams. Should Dayton lose to them, it will certainly be disappointing, but it does not spoil the season. This is a fabulous season that we all should enjoy, not complain about.

It is true that Xavier has beaten common opponents more impressively that UD. That doesn’t mean that they will do the same to Dayton. One thing I am certain about is that they have not played a defensive team like Dayton, I don’t care what conference they come from. Dayton has played Marquette on a neutral court and completely dominated them. They have that ability; it just doesn’t show up every night. They just know how to win.

I suggest you all just smell the roses. It’s not the final destination that brings you pleasure, it’s the journey.