After upsetting #6 Marquette and then miraculously Malachi Smithing UNLV, the #22 University of Dayton Flyers headed south on I-75 to the Queen City for a rematch with the #19 ranked UC Bearcats. “From the Swamp” chronicled last year’s dandy 82-68 Dayton W here:
https://www.udpride.com/live-from-cincinnati-its-ud-vs-uc/
The last line of that column reads:
This game needs to be an annual event.
Even better than that would be the 4 team round robin–UD, UC, X and tOSU–that was bandied about here:
You gotta figure if the four head coaches did a Zoom call about it, there is a strong possibility fans will see an All-Ohio Four Team Round Robin in our near-to-immediate future. Altho, in talking to Doug Hauschild there are a ton of issues that would have to be worked out before it becomes a reality.
Here is how Jablo previewed this game in The DDN:
Lotsa Red and Chapel Blue in the crowd tonight. I don’t think UC HC Wes Miller’s plea that Jablo mentioned did the trick–sorry dude, the Bearcat fans are still outnumbered. The UD Pep Band is loud and proud as always and they got to perform the National Anthem.
If you perused last year’s “FTS” posted above, you know I sat on the floor with my vision obstructed by the UD bench. No such problem this time, as I’m up in the press row in section 211, but with a center-court view of the proceedings. They sold the seats down on the floor–can you blame them? I really don’t care, as long as I’m in the building. Arch and Hal McCoy are sitting next to me, so can’t complain.
In the meantime, let’s get ready to rumble!
UC breaks the ice on a tip that looked like it was off a UD player. Javon hits a pair of FTs. UC hits a coupla layups to go up 8-2. Nate gets mugged on the way to the hoop and makes ‘em both. UC nails a triple and it’s 11-4. Mali throws an oop fro Frenchie, but he ain’t there. It’s Flyer turnover city, UC hits another three and the lead is now 16-4 under 11 minutes. So, for those of you keeping score at home, the Flyers are 4-4 from the line and 0-fer from the field thus far. Not good.
Nate finally finishes a reverse to get UD off the schneid from the floor. Isaac Jack sighting! (For a minute anyway). UD commits its first PF with 6:25 left. With 3:34 remaining in the first frame UC leads 21-10. The Flyers are shooting, 20% from the field, 0-6 from three and 100% from the line. UC not much better at 32/20/0. A T on UC results in two Zed FTS and a mid-ranger by Mali and it’s suddenly 21-14. UD finally misses a FT but snags the board and Posh makes a layup.
25-17 at the half. UD is lucky to only be down by 8. 11 1st half turnovers combined with a grand total of one assist did not help matters any. Believe me, the sucktitude was a total team effort but were we to point fingers, we should start with Enoch Cheeks, who is 0-2 from three with 3 boards and 2 TOs for a -8. Dude needs to take over. The Flyers are wearing the Chapel Blue “Go Get ‘Ems” so it’s time to live up to the name.
AG runs a set play for Zed to start the 2nd stanza and it results in a dunk. Zed hits a jump hook and UC drains a trey. Enoch musta heard me as he joins the party for three. 30-24. UD goes zone but it doesn’t work. O boards by UC are killing the good guys. Nate hits a triple and UC answers. 38-27 at the under 16 media TO. UD shooting 57% this half and are 2-2 from three, so that’s progress, I guess.
Frenchie gets fouled on an O board and makes the pair. Posh hits a J and at 14 and change remaining, the Bearcats lead by 12. AG tries playing Zed and Frenchie together. Let’s see how that works, shall we? L’Etang needs to hit the weight room is the answer. 48-31 with 9 ½ to go. Mali with the hoop and the harm and the chance to cut the lead…to 15.
The game is turning into a parade to the FT line which is always spellbinding. Posh gets called for a BS PF on a fine acting job by Lukosious. UD cuts it to 9 with 3:30 remaining but Zed gets called for a PF, Dayton’s 10th.
Zed dunks and Mali makes two freebies and the delta is down to 7. Mali steals and nails a triple and we have ourselves a 4-point game with 2 minutes on the clock! And here comes the Flyer Faithful!
Nate misses a much-needed reverse. UC makes 2 FTs. Nate airballs a three. Ballgame.
Final:
UC 66
UD 59
That’s it “From the Swamp.”
Struggle bus all night. Nothing looked natural.
Arch with his impressions of the UC game: