It is currently Mon Feb 10, 2025 8:30 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:58 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2021 10:18 am
Posts: 216
Location: Section 104
Loyola Ramblers Preview – https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2025/1/ ... ayton.aspx

Dayton Stats and Intel - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... /2025.html

Record: 11-6 (1-3, 14th in A-10 MBB)
Coach: Anthony Grant
PS/G: 75.3 (181st of 364)
PA/G: 68.7 (102nd of 364)
SRS: 11.50 (66th of 364)
SOS: 5.81 (45th of 364)
ORtg: 113.5 (70th of 364)
DRtg: 103.5 (206th of 364)
Preseason Odds: Championship +25000


Loyola Chicago Ramblers (11-6, 2-2) at Dayton Flyers (11-6, 1-3) – 3:00 pm CST @ UD Arena

Just one month ago, the Dayton Flyers were sitting in a good spot, appearing to have a tournament bid potentially secured with strong non-conference victories over Northwestern, Uconn, and Marquette, with very close losses to UNC, Iowa State, and Cincinnati. But since December 20th they’ve dropped off immensely, losing 4 of their last 5 and are trying to pull themselves out of a hole the Dayton program has not experienced in quite some time.

Visiting them in game-1 of this season’s 2-game series is Loyola, who looks to carry momentum from Wednesday night’s thrilling 81-77 victory over Rhode Island into UD Arena with hopes of helping Dayton dig themselves into a deeper hole. Considering Dayton opens as -9.5 favorites in this one, Loyola should expect to play against a team fighting for its life, and to get the best version of Dayton early in the game – or else we could have another quick ending and disappointment like we saw last Saturday at Joe’s.

Dayton has not lost 4 straight games since January of 2014, when Archie Miller was their coach, and that year they advanced as far as the Elite Eight.

Dayton leads the all-time series with us 25-16 and has won two of the three games since Loyola joined the A-10 in the 2022-23 season. Meeting for the first time since 1993, Dayton defeated Loyola 85-81 in overtime at UD Arena (the Ted Valentine game) and then gave us a pounding on an ESPN Friday night game, 65-49 at Loyola.

Last season when we defeated them on our floor 77-72 before a sold-out capacity crowd and nationally televised audience at Gentile Arena, we let Dayton know that we are here, we are good enough for them, and we're going to be your rivals.

Anthony Grant has had Dayton as one of the top teams in the Atlantic 10 the past six seasons and was picked to finish second in the A-10 preseason poll. Grant’s consistency mixed with a bunch of returning talent for the Flyers could end up making this team the potential favorites to win the conference despite the current 3-game losing streak.

Senior forward Nate Santos headlines the Flyers, a solid rebounder and elite floor spacer (41.8% 3P) who also leads them in scoring at nearly 15 ppg. Santos originally entered the transfer portal but ended up returning to the program, giving a huge boost of experience and consistency.

The Flyers return a trio of key guards along with a couple of deep bench pieces in the backcourt. Junior guard Malachi Smith (11 ppg, 5.6 apg) has returned after missing all last season due to injury. Smith gives the Flyers a natural starting point guard, something they did not have at all in some games last season. He also hits 42.5% of his threes. Enoch Cheeks, their second leading scorer at 12.4ppg and 6.8rpg, is a two-way veteran guard who needs to get watched closely. The lineup also features a third guard, Javon Bennett, a great defender for the Flyers who averages 9 ppg.

Despite key returnees, Dayton lost several integral pieces from last season’s squad. Most notably, Daron Holmes II (20 ppg, 9 rpg) pursued the NBA draft after a tremendous junior year at Dayton. Additionally, two crucial backcourt members, Koby Brea (11 ppg, 4 rpg), and Kobe Elvis (9 ppg, 4 apg), both went portaling following their junior seasons as well, transferring to SEC schools.

To replace the lost production, Grant landed Butler transfer Posh Alexander (6.6 ppg and 2.7 apg), who is a good defender and physical guard who brings four years of high-major experience with him. Alexander gives the Flyers another ball-handler alongside Bennett and Smith and levels up the defensive side of things.

New in the Flyers frontcourt is Ohio State transfer, Zed Key, who averages 11.4 ppg and 4.2rpg. Key’s production fell off in his senior year at Ohio State after averaging 11 ppg and 8 rpg as a junior, but transferring into the Atlantic 10 has benefited him. Key brings a physical presence to the paint and is an elite rebounder at just 6-8.

The Flyers have gone 10-1 in home games this season, which is something to be mindful of. Their main rotation only consists of 7 guys too, so fatigue and foul trouble could become a late game factor. Dayton is seventh in the A-10 at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 68.7 points while holding opponents to 42.8% shooting.

As the legendary JCT wrote previously on Dayton in last season’s game preview -
Quote:
It’s a really difficult thing to beat Dayton. You’ve got to hold them to under 42% field goal shooting, and hope they are also having an off night on threes or at the free throw line (they’re a 71% free throw shooting team). Generally, they seem to struggle more at a deliberate pace with long possessions.


^^^^^ (That’s how George Mason ALWAYS BEATS THEM!)

Dayton will run a starting lineup of 6-7 F Nate Santos, 6-8 F Zed Key, 6-3 G Enoch Cheeks, 6-0 G Malachi Smith, and 5-11 G Javon Bennett.

Loyola’s starting 5 should then feature JQ, Dawson, Watson, Rubin... and DeLoach, Nwaokorie, or Houinsou... who knows.


LAST 10 GAMES FOR BOTH SQUADS

Dayton: 6-4, averaging 72.1 points, 29.6 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 7.1 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.7 points per game.

Loyola:4-6, averaging 70.1 points, 29.2 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.0 points.


Watch / Listen – Saturday’s game is nationally televised on CBS Sports Network, with Tom McCarthy and Chris Walker on the call, and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with our friends Sudikoff and CT.

Postgame Show - Tune in to Sudikoff on RSN, followed by TalkinBlers Spaces on the X: https://x.com/blerstalking?s=21


Odds: Dayton -9.5


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 8:08 am 
Offline

Joined: Wed Nov 08, 2023 1:32 pm
Posts: 133
Stat Dump via @Rambler_SN on X aka me.

In Wins: 10.7 Turnovers/Game
In Losses: 14.2

Loyola is 5-2 with 7+ Steals and 4-2 when the opponent has 15+ Turnovers.

--

The Ramblers are 5-0 when they connect on 9+ 3-pointers AND shoot 40%+ from 3PT.

4-0 when attempting 25+ 3s in a game.

Loyola is 6-1 when allowing 7 or fewer 3PM.

--

Loyola is 5-1 when attempting 25+ Free Throws.

5-0 with 20+ Assists. 1-5 with 13 or fewer.

--

Specialty stats:

5-0 with 15+ Second-Chance Points
10-3 with 30+ Points in the Paint
4-3 with 10+ Fastbreak Points
6-2 with 15+ Points Off Turnovers
10-2 with 20+ Bench Points


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 8:16 am 
Offline

Joined: Wed Nov 08, 2023 1:32 pm
Posts: 133
Des Watson's 8-13 FG (.615) vs. URI on Wed. was his 5th-best shooting performance since joining @RamblersMBB last season.

8-11 (.727) vs E.Illinois (Nov. 11, '23)
7-10 (.700) @ St. Louis (Jan. 3, '24)
9-13 (.692) vs Dayton (Mar. 1, '24)
8-12 (.667) vs E.Michigan (Dec. 3, '24)

--

Jalen Quinn had 17 Points, 5 Assists, 0 Turnovers vs. URI on Wed.

It's the 2nd time this season (and in his career) that he's had 10+ Points, 5+ Assists and 0 Turnovers in a game.

--

Jalen DeLoach had career-high 6 Assists vs. URI on Wed.

His previous high was 4 last year in the NIT for Georgia vs. Wake Forest.

--

Francis Nwaokorie had his 2nd game of 3+ 3PM in a Loyola uniform on Wed. vs. URI. It was the 19th time in his career with the other 17 occasions happening in his 3 seasons at UC San Diego.

Francis had 4+ 3PM 7 times including a career-high 5 3PM vs. UC-Irvine Feb. 23, 2023.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 9:18 am 
Offline

Joined: Wed Nov 08, 2023 1:32 pm
Posts: 133
Regarding the Jalen Quinn note:

By the way, this is fairly rare. Kymany Houinsou has also done it this year. Past players:

Braden Norris: 3x
Cam Krutwig: 2x
Clayton Custer: 2x
Lucas Williamson: 1x
Tate Hall: 1x
Marques Townes: 1x
Christian Thomas: 1x

(Not full/complete research but puts it in perspective)


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 6:10 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2023 11:57 am
Posts: 142
The boys played a good road game today although we came up short in OT

Ramblers to Dayton
PF 25 to 16 (Rubin and Francis fouled out)
FT% 64 to 78
TOs 19 to 14
Pts off TOs 14 to 19

Any chance if Rubin stayed in the game he may have stopped the last bucket against the 7 footer from Dayton?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 7:28 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 12:39 pm
Posts: 2557
Tough loss. That was, on paper, our toughest game of the year. We fought back from being down double digits in the 2nd half in a tough road environment.

Happy with the clutch 3 point shooting down the stretch. Felt like Sheldon and Des couldn't miss for a bit.

9-14 from the line isn't good enough.

Someone posted in the RI thread about how we always switch on picks and it leads to Rubin getting hung out in the perimeter vs a quick guard. Felt like UD exposed that big time today and Miles just isn't quick enough to guard a quick PG. Ended up in either an easy layup, a foul or an and-1.

Dayton drew up a great play at the end there. Caught us chasing a bit.

Let's bounce back at home next week vs last plage Fordham.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 8:47 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2020 2:59 pm
Posts: 96
Location: Parts Unknown
Great effort tonight. Once Rubin fouled out, the Dayton guards lost their fear of going to the rim. It was still a great comeback and a massive effort. Too bad the Rambkers came up a little short.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 9:53 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2021 10:18 am
Posts: 216
Location: Section 104
Hard for me to get mad or upset about the outcome. Exceeded my expectations. Dayton is not a very good team right now, so I wished we got the win for that though.

Wildly entertaining to watch on TV, and Sudikoff and CT were even more entertaining to listen to. Made my day!

Thought the comeback throughout second half was some of the best and most inspiring ball we’ve played all year. Several traps and dbl teams resulted in steals and Dayton mistakes. Creating Chaos on D led to many scores.

All the mistakes and errors we saw throughout this game and late for the Dayton winner showed how important connectivity on both ends of the floor and focus are. We do not master in those crafts whatsoever.

Watching replays of the last two possessions of the game, it did seem like JQ absorbed the contact to tie it 81 - Santos left his feet and maybe should or should not have gotten called for the and-1. But then as DeLoach remained under the basket for a little too long, he snoozed and lost sight of his guy (I think???), the 7 footer, and it was game over.

I’ll bet Friday, February 21st is now circled in everyone’s calendars.

Enoch Cheeks was awesome.

Has Rubin hit a sophomore slump, or has his game disappeared? We need him.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 9:55 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sat May 04, 2013 12:11 pm
Posts: 4798
Well, we tried.

_________________
MBB Scholarship Chart


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 


All times are UTC - 6 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 12 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group Color scheme by ColorizeIt!