Now that we’ve had time to digest the non-conference schedule, let’s take a look at how well it will serve UD’s needs this year. We’ll take a look at each game and evaluate the team’s ability and take a shot at their year-end record and RPI.

November 21, 2003 @ Pepperdine | 2002-2003 Record 15-13 | RPI 138
Pepperdine Projections | 2003-2004 | Record 20-11 | RPI 78

After last year’s disappointing 15-13 record, look for Head Coach Paul Westphal and guard Alex Acker to lead the Waves to post season play in the 2003-2004 season. Returning an experienced core of players from the Pepperdine team from the ’02-’03 campaign, the Waves will have a horde of experience and players hungry for victory. The Pepperdine schedule reflects the expectations of this years team. With non-conference match-ups against Maryland, Oklahoma State, Utah, Colorado, and Dayton, as well as a late December trip to Honolulu to participate in the Rainbow Classic, Pepperdine has booked a tough road to a 20-win season. Look for the Pepperdine Waves to get back to post season play for the fourth time in five years and play in the NIT. Bottom Line: This is going to be a tough first game for the Flyers, especially on the opponent’s home court with a new coaching staff, but this is UDPride, and we’ll give the Flyers a victory here. Player experience and senior leadership just won’t let the Flyers lose.

November 24-26, 2003 @ Maui Invitational | 2002-2003 Record N/A | RPI N/A
Maui Impact on Projections | 2003-2004 Combined Opponent Record 53-36 | Avg Projected RPI 62

Playing in arguably the weakest Maui field in the history of the tournament isn’t going to spoil the fun for the Flyers and their fanatics who make the trip to the Rainbow state. After all, there is still some quality teams making the trip. Ohio State, Villanova, and Hawaii will be there. As will Central Michigan, Santa Clara, San Diego State, and host Chaminade. While this year’s field is a bit weak, five of the eight teams participating have legitimate chances at a post season berth: Ohio State, Villanova, Hawaii, San Diego State, and Dayton. Wesley Stokes of San Diego State, a former PG at Missouri who also has Quinn Snyder hair and a lot of game, could prove troublesome, but a stronger and more experienced Villanova team may possess the most talent Dayton will face all season. One problem here however, due to some poor judgment and a quick finger on the telephone key pad, several Villanova players will be completing suspension from the previous season that have been carried forward. Regardless, Villanova is going to put up a fight and along with Dayton and Ohio State, they will be a favorite to take home the EA Sports Maui Invitational Title. As far as Ohio State goes, transfers seems to be the topic of this year’s Maui Classic, because that’s what has the hopes of Ohio State fans so high. With the eligibility of former Arkansas player J.J. Sullinger and ex-Clemson PG Tony Stockman, Ohio State has two immediate impact players along with highly touted incoming freshman Ivan Harris. Bottom Line: The Flyers get a 3 seed and take on Central Michigan in the first game with a potential second round match-up against Villanova. The only way Ohio State and UD play is in the championship game. The Flyers go 2-1 in Maui losing one that most Flyer fans think they shouldn’t have. Pairings aren’t out yet, so this is still pure speculation, but just a gut feeling. Not a bad start though to the season, 3-1 with seven of the next nine in the friendly confines of The University of Dayton Arena, and oh yeah, this will ultimately help the RPI.

December 3, 2003 vs Miami (OH) | 2002-2003 Record 13-15 | RPI 149
Miami (OH) Projections | 2003-2004 Projected Record 17-12 | Projected RPI 92

Always a dangerous game, a Flyer fan has to believe that the seniors on the team are not going to lose to the Redskins, I mean Redhawks, again this year. Charlie Coles loses a lot of unsung talent from the ’02-’03 version including Matt Jameson and Doug Davis, but don’t think the crafty veteran coach won’t have his team ready to play. With returning starters Chet Mason, Danny Horace, and a host of other underrated Ohio players, Miami is the last remaining non-conference rival on this year’s schedule. Bottom Line: The Flyers dominate the boards as the seniors on the Dayton team hand the fledgling Redhawks a sound defeat. Flyers move to 4-1.

December 6, 2003 vs Wagner | 2002-2003 Record 21-10 | RPI 103
Wagner Projections | 2003-2004 Projected Record 19-11 | Projected RPI 143

Mike Deane, remember that name? Well he will bring his first Wagner College Seahawk team to UD Arena for a match-up against the Flyers. After losing leading scorer Jermaine Hall at 21.4ppg, Deane has a large hole to fill for this year’s squad. The good news for Dean is that he still has some very talented scorers on the team including athletic 6’9″ forward Nigel Wyatte. The big question for the Seahawks will be who is going to step up and be the team leader. Wagner has some size and experience, but they will only go seven deep for significant contributions. Bottom Line: Wagner’s thin bench limits Wyatte’s huge game. Flyers get a scare, but a win is a win. Coach Gregory moves to 5-1 in his UD career.

December 9, 2003 vs Louisiana Lafayette | 2002-2003 Record 20-10 | RPI 72
Louisiana Lafayette Projections | 2003-2004 Projected Record 21-10 | Projected RPI 66

UL-Lafayette opens the season in the Owens Corning NIT and this Flyer fan believes they have a shot to make it all the way to MSG. With an opening round game against an over-rated Georgia Tech team and potential second round matchup against Hofstra or Marist, the Ragin’ Cajuns have a chance to make a lot of noise in this year’s pre-season. This task however will not be easy for veteran head coach Jessie Evans. Evans will be finding a way to mesh seven newly eligible players together to form a cohesive group, but there is talent on this UL-Lafayette squad. Mike Southall will be the man that wins games for this year’s team. If Southall can stay on the floor and out of foul trouble, this guy can fill up the stat sheet. Southall led last year’s team in all rebounding categories, blocked shots, and foul outs while still contributing a solid 13 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal per game. This 6’10” 240lb center can be a force on both ends of the floor and originally committed to Kentucky before getting caught with dope. Along with Southall, the Ragin’ Cajuns will return leading scorer Brad Boyd. Two words describe Boyd: shooter, good. Bottom Line: This will be the best team Dayton will play on their home court in the non-conference portion of the schedule. Thanks to the tight game with Wagner, the Cajuns get the Flyers’ best shot. Dayton dominates, but Louisiana Lafayette keeps it respectable. Flyers move to 6-1 and talk of a Top-25 ranking is swirling on the UDPride message board. Oh yeah….RPI gets a boost.

December 13, 2003 vs IUPUI | 2002-2003 Record 20-14 | RPI 160
IUPUI Projections | 2003-2004 Projected Record 15-14 | Projected RPI 230

Dayton-native Ron Hunter will bring his IUPUI Panthers to the arena after the team’s first ever appearance in the NCAA tournament. Who can forget Ron Hunter sprawled out on the floor after the Panthers’ conference tournament championship? That is what makes college basketball special. Don’t count on another season like that however as reality sets in after losing seven seniors from last year’s team. We won’t see the same team that comprised a 20-14 record as the loss of first team all-conference selection Josh Murray will hurt IUPUI, but it will be a much better team than the first IUPUI team that visited the arena in their inaugural Division I season. Look for Odell Bradley and Matt Crenshaw to lead the Panthers in ’03-’04, but it could be a struggle at times. Bottom Line: Gregory gets the Flyer bench some quality minutes and an easy victory over IUPUI. UD moves to 7-1 as Igoudala lights up the arena with a series of spectacular dunks.

December 20, 2003 vs Prairie View | 2002-2003 Record 17-12 | RPI 203
Prarie View Projections | 2003-2004 Projected Record 17-13 | Projected RPI 216

Remember the last time Prairie View was at the arena? Anyone know who had the lead halfway through the second half? Hint: It wasn’t the home team. A much improved Prairie View team comes to the arena for another paycheck from Ted Kissell. The Flyer faithful may be surprised by the competition the Panthers provide, but this is still a game against a middle-of-the-road team in a low level conference. Prairie View loses a lot from last year’s team (two multi-year starters) and won’t hold the conference’s highest RPI spot coming into this game. Led by the biggest player the Flyers will face all season outside of Fordam’s Glenn Batemon, Roderick Riley 6’11” 310 lbs, Prairie View will play competitive the whole game, but Dayton pulls away for a ho-hum victory. Flyers beware though, as Prairie View fans could get a pleasant surprise from inbound signee Lonnie Wyche. Bottom Line: Dayton’s starters go almost the whole game as the Panthers stick close. A late surge led by Ramod Marshall takes the Flyers to victory.

December 23, 2003 @ Cincinnati | 2002-2003 Record 17-12 | RPI 29
Cincinnati Projections | 2003-2004 Projected Record 26-5 | Projected RPI 8

UD heads down to the newly named 5/3 Arena at the Shoemaker Center after selling the naming rights of its basketball facility to fund their new varsity village. Dayton faces the stiffest challenge of the year as they take on Bob Huggins’ nationally-ranked Bearcats. In this game, James White may be making his UC debut against the Flyers after sitting out a year since announcing his intentions to transfer from Florida. As UC returns a host of talented players from the previous team, the Bearcats will field the most talented and balanced team Dayton will face all year. With a starting lineup of Chadd Moore, Field Williams, James White, Jason Maxiell and highly touted JC transfer Robert Whaley, can you see why Huggins is so confident? Dayton gets down early and it’s a long night for the Flyer fans after that. James White is sensational in his Bearcat debut and the frontcourt of Whaley and Maxiell punishes the Flyer big men. Flyers drop to 8-2 and talk of a national ranking is quieted for now on the UDPride messageboard. Bottom Line: Dayton takes a spanking but a boost in the RPIs.

December 29, 2003 vs Wofford | 2002-2003 Record 14-15 | RPI 233
Wofford Projections | 2003-2004 Projected Record 10-18 | Projected RPI 256

Exactly one month after taking on Oliver Purnell and the Clemson Tigers, the Wofford Terriers will visit the Arena. Don’t look for a competitive game as Head Coach Mike Young has to find a way to replace Mike Lenzly and Lee Nixon who accounted for 40% of last years total points, 44% of the assists, and nine rebounds. This is no small task for a team with virtually no size and limited experience, but look for Sam Daniels and Adrien Borders to pick up some of the slack. This should be Dayton’s easiest win, but nothing is a sure thing — remember a game between Michigan State and Wright State in 1999? Bottom Line: Flyers get a rebound game and give the Terriers a spanking of their own to move to 9-2. Greg Kohls has a career high as the students are on Christmas break. Wofford’s RPI is only as high as it is due to its tough non-conference schedule.

December 31, 2003 vs St. Louis | 2002-2003 Record 16-14 | RPI 57
St. Louis Projections | 2003-2004 Projected Record 16-14 | Projected RPI 51

Brad Soderberg will make his first trip to the University of Dayton Arena as a head coach. Like many other teams Dayton is playing this year, there are several new faces on the ’03-’04 St. Louis squad, six to be exact including former Flyer recruit Tom Frericks. Losing their best guard, Marquis Perry (17.1ppg), and there best big man, Kenny Brown (6.4rpg), it’s easy to say that there is going to be some changes. So what can you expect? Well that’s why we’re writing this article. Look for newcomer Brandon Morris and incumbent Josh Fisher to man the guard spots, along with some hefty support from the bench. As far as the interior goes, that job is going to fall into the hands of incumbent Chris Braun and newcomers Bryce Husak and Ian Vouyoukas. If this team jells they are going to be dangerous, if not, it’s a repeat of last year where the Billikins started cold, got hot, but never really stayed on track. Bottom Line: The Billikens are going to be a repeat of last year. The game is at home and that’s the difference. Flyers by three (10-2), and everybody is asking Brooks who, after Monty Scott’s performance.

January 3, 2003 vs Wyoming | 2002-2003 Record 21-11 | RPI 63
Wyoming Projections | 2003-2004 Projected Record 22-9 | Projected RPI 41

All Flyer fans should be thankful that Uche Nsonwu-Amadi has moved on. That’s the good news. The bad is Wyoming will be loaded with senior leadership. Much like the previous year when the Cowboys easily absorbed the loss of All-Conference performer Josh Davis, this Wyoming team is going to have a strong year that leads them to postseason play. Much like Purnell’s teams we have come accustomed to, Wyoming is a T-E-A-M and they play as such. There is no one superstar on the team, but they are fundamentally sound and play solid defense without taking gambles. With a rebounding margin of +4.6, much like Dayton, Wyoming is relentless on the boards. Dayton will win if they execute their offense and outrebound the Cowboys. Could the 6,000ft elevation be the difference? Bottom Line: Much like the Flyers, the Cowboys take pride in taking care of their home court. Flyers lose and drop to 10-3.

Summary

This schedule is by no means optimal, but it’s not to bad. Dayton may not have many games against Top-50 RPI teams, but they will have up to nine games against potential Top-100 RPI teams. The down side to this schedule is the lower level teams the Flyers will play. They are not going to be good. This is a schedule that Dayton can have success with, but they MUST win the games they are supposed to, which is all but three or four games. If they execute according to the coaches plan, Dayton will be successful. If not, then it could be a long and frustrating season for the Flyer faithful who are left saying, “just wait till next year when we get our Top-20 recruiting class in school.”

[Originally written by Aaron Miller]