Game Thread: Dayton @ VCU (Wednesday 1/9/13)

[DistrictBaller]

Originally Posted by UMass87

That's just piling on. When a fan of another team is hyping your team's player you should just let it go. But if you were to respond it would be better if you actually added some information that was asked for...like HOW MANY OF DILLARD'S TURNOVERS WERE WEBER STEALS?

Sorry. I get excited about my team and my players. It happens a lot. I apologize if that offended you or any Dayton fans.

I can't say I counted how many of Dillard's turnovers were a result of Briante's D but he was hounding him all night.

We did a pretty neat A-10 inaugural game celebration where we striped the Siegel Center with t-shirts. It ended up looking pretty cool:

[Eight Legger]

This is what they've been doing for years. If refs actually called the games fair, their starting lineup would foul out by halftime every game. I guess in that regard, it's a genius strategy. Do what you can get away with, and they sure get away with plenty.

...and Mooney tried some mini-havoc himself last night

[FlyingElvis]

It played out something like I expected by the end. I was a little suprised that we threatened for about 30 minutes. My advice to teams playing VCU is to be as aggressive physically as they are. Come in with that attitude and don't worry about fouls. Make the refs crack down on physical play by going just as hard at them. But you have to have athletic, physical depth to pull it off.

[DistrictBaller]

Originally Posted by Eight Legger

This is what they've been doing for years. If refs actually called the games fair, their starting lineup would foul out by halftime every game. I guess in that regard, it's a genius strategy. Do what you can get away with, and they sure get away with plenty.

We play a very physical brand of defense, no doubt about it. Every team does what it's given latitude to do within the rules. Coach K teaches his players to flop because he knows it will get them calls. We play aggressive defense because we know they can only call so many fouls.

At the same time, I think the molestation claims are a bit overstated. We are much better conditioned than almost every team we face that tries to run with us. We are very quick and active on defense.

If it were just a matter of us fouling as a strategy, more teams would do it. It's not some big conspiracy that the NCAA is using to boost VCU against everyone else. Our success against teams at every level in college basketball from various different conferences with a variety of college refs over the last several years is proof enough of that. The refs aren't out to get everyone else and letting VCU do whatever they want.

[paulxu]

I wonder if we can get the Navy to put a Seal training base in Cincinnati?

[Cville Flyer]

Worst call the refs made was the charging call on Kevin Dillard. Defender got there late and wasn't set. VCU scored on the other end so that was a 5 point swing in what was still a close game at the time.

Anyway, congrats to VCU. They were the better team tonight.

[Rambunctious Rowdy]

I'd love to hear what our visiting Dayton fans thought of our arena and atmosphere for our first game. I thought it was very good especially when Daniels and that one Dayton player got tangled up on the ground and got the crowd riled up some more(Could hear the rafters shaking from the all out VCU chant following that confrontation). Much of the crowd was on its feet during large parts of the first and second half. I think this game definitely shows that VCU will be tough on its home court just as it always has been(#11 home winning percentage). I still think our Wichita State game earlier this year was louder but that had lots of drama late in the game. I think the stripe out looked really good though.

Sidenote: Lets keep the refs out of this. There were bad calls on both sides. Two balls that bounced off Dayton players(including right off the player's foot) and were called off VCU come to mind.

[Flyer'95]

I thought the place looked great on tv. And it seems like you guys have waaaaaay more students close to the court than any other A10 school i've seen. It's a real difference maker in terms of atmosphere and volume. I actually went to VCU for grad school and helped do some of the fundraising for that arena while i was there. So tonight i kind of hate myself. Good game though and welcome to the A10.

[DistrictBaller]

The great part about the student section and atmosphere is that school isn't even in session and won't be until Monday the 14th. That's where having a large local student and alumni base is advantageous to us.

Being at the game I was very proud of the atmosphere. All the Dayton fans behind the bench were shaking their heads at how loud the place got when it really got going. I'm sure part of it was the game being the A-10 opener, but the atmosphere was very big-time tonight.

I totally understand what many of you were saying about the difference in quality. We don't normally see teams as talented as Dayton in the CAA. Most years outside of George Mason, ODU, and occasionally Drexel, CAA teams are decidedly mid-major in terms of talent level. Dayton had BCS length and athleticism out there. That was really fun to watch just as a basketball fan. Very high-level play by both squads.

[tman]

VCU is better than Dayton.
For those who didn't get a chance to see the game VCU applied pressure to Dillard.
Now when I say Pressure--I mean they fouled the living hell out of the guy the entire night.
You see it sometimes. Big game, sold out arena and the refs allow the home team the opportunity to bump,hand check and out right clobber the hell out of the visiting team.
In this case---Dillard.
Ive seen it @ UD Arena many times.

I have no issue with the officiating other than the failure of the refs to see that it was the game plan to beat the hell out of Dillard.
VCU was going to foul the guy untill the refs stopped it---they never did.
A foul is a foul and I understand you're @ home. I get that. But what I saw last night was manslaughter.

Dillard never stood a chance--the refs saw to that.
I don't know if it would have made a difference--VCU is really good---but it did make what should have been a great game----not so great.

[TheCobra]

I turned down the truly god-awful announcers soon after the start of the second half, so I didn't hear the crowd, but people certainly looked to be into it. And the stripe thing looked awesome.

[DistrictBaller]

Originally Posted by tman

As I stated earlier in the year:
Welcome Butler and VCU.
We will now (the a-10) hand you your ass.

Glad to see you've changed your stance a bit.

I agree our game plan was to be extremely physical with Dillard. That's been done several times before and proven to be effective. Last night wasn't any different. You take what you see from the tape and use it.

VCU does a great job of adjusting to how the refs call the game. In this case, the refs let us play, and that certainly plays to our advantage with our style. We win plenty where the refs call it tight too though.

Here are Dayton's highlights and post-game comments from Archie Miller:





Post-game comments from Shaka Smart spliced with VCU highlights:

[ChrisSFlyer]

Top 5 things I took from the game last night:

1. VCU has the best looking cheerleaders & dance team in the A10....by a long shot.

2. Yes, havoc is a great defense, no question there. Your team is well coached and talented.

3. I never thought I'd hear TV announcers who make Xavier's Steve Wolf sound neutral.

4. VCU got more calls then a telethon.

5. Even Chris Brown would have been cringing at the beating Dillard took lat night...

I contend if dayton hit more shots last night in the second half, the game would have been closer.I mean, I was working out and had my wife check the score, we were down 1. Hop off the treadmill, grab a water, turn on tv and boom, down 8. Your place is going to be a tough out for anyone. i'm not conceding the league yet, I just wish we had the chance for payback in Dayton.

[Flyer75]

Originally Posted by Cville Flyer

Worst call the refs made was the charging call on Kevin Dillard. Defender got there late and wasn't set. VCU scored on the other end so that was a 5 point swing in what was still a close game at the time.

Anyway, congrats to VCU. They were the better team tonight.

That wasn't the worst call as far as a turning point. Game was probably out of reach at that point anyway. The turning point call was the over and back on Price that was not an over and back. Even the VCU announcers wondered about that call. VCU comes down and makes a 3 point play out of it....game over. Probably was over anyway but that call was atrocious and sunk us.

I'm not blaming the refs for the loss. It was "home court advantage" night for VCU. VCU is the better team this year no doubt. Hopefully UD can return the favor next year at the Arena.

Just playing VCU last night gave our SOS a nice boost...lol.

[ktabz16]

Originally Posted by ChrisSFlyer

I contend if dayton hit more shots last night in the second half, the game would have been closer.

i am shocked, SHOCKED that the team who scored the most points won the game last night. just flabbergasted.