The Flyer Faithful got their first look at the 99-00 version of the University of Dayton Flyers in competitive form this afternoon as Oliver Purnell’s club blitzed Ukraine Select 114-64 in a game that was never close.

The Flyers jumped out early and often and before the first media timeout a blowout was in the works. Dayton managed 114 points on superlative perimeter shooting and a nice effort in the rebounding department but make no mistake — Ukraine Select would be hard-pressed to beat anyone, let alone a Division I college team. Like all east European squads that travel the North American circuit in November, the Ukrainians could shoot the three ball, but aside from dialing in from long distance, it was a yawner of a game that left as many questions as it answered.

Dayton got hot in the early going as Tony Stanley and Cain Doliboa lit it up from behind the arc. With a starting five of Edwin Young, Tony Stanley, Nate Green, Cain Doliboa, and Mark Ashman, the Flyers were too quick, too organized, and too deep for the watered-down Ukrainians. Mark Ashman picked up an early foul but had his way in the paint nearly every trip down the floor. When Ashman wasn’t shooting, he and Yuanta Holland were dishing out to the perimeter guys for more treys — this time coming off the hands of Brooks Hall, Edwin Young, and David Morris. Halftime score was 63-32.

In the second half the Flyers called off the dogs as Purnell pulled out the wrenches and screwdrivers to work several combinations of players on the court. Young and Morris, Green and Holland, Brooks and Cain. The Flyers played big, the Flyers played small, the Flyers could have played 3 on 5 and still won by 10 points.

Tony Stanley led all Flyer scorers with 20 points while Doliboa add 19 and Brooks Hall 15. Yuanta Holland chipped in 8 points and 8 boards while David MOrris had a team-high 5 assists.

The two positions most fans feel are still up for grabs — the forward slots — may still be up for grabs, but the players fighting for those jobs are making a strong account of themselves.

Cain Doliboa started the game and played as well as anyone on the floor. Doliboa cranked in three-pointer after three-pointer, avoided mistakes, and made everyone around him more effective. At the same time, Brooks Hall played typical “Brooks Ball” — efficient, no mistakes, timely scoring, a nose for rebounds, and with a high basketball IQ. At this point, Doliboa and Hall appear to be as talented a QF tandem as there is in the league and should serve Purnell well all season.

At the power forward slot, Yuanta Holland and Nate Green had a similar story. Green appears more mature than he was last season and has a wonderful touch around the basket. Green also appears quicker and more assertive on the offensive end, and it’s Dayton’s good fortune that Green has four years ahead of him in a Flyer uniform. Yuanta Holland brings a different game and because of that offers a different look for Dayton. Holland’s long limbs and added muscle should earn him plenty of minutes all season — especially when Purnell wants to play up-tempo.

While it was an excellent chance to get everyone some valuable minutes and feel success, don’t read too much into this win just yet. The Flyers have a long way to go before anyone starts penciling in their postseason tournament brackets. Edwin Young and David Morris appear to have shaken last season’s voodoo and the Flyers are as deep, talented, athletic, and quick as they have been since Purnell took over the program. What is still in the air is whether Dayton has the mental toughness and physical fortitude to win games down the stretch — games that mean more than an exhibition.

The Flyers looked good and shot the ball as well as a team can. The players seem confident, the fans are ready for a winner, and the season is just a couple weeks away. Before the New Mexico opener however, the Flyers get one more tune-up Thursday night in the final exhibition of the season. Hopefully it will be a stiffer test and answer some of the questions still lingering in the minds of the Flyer Faithful.