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Dayton @ LaSalle

3.2K views 141 replies 29 participants last post by  CarlosTheJackal  
#1 ·
What's everyone think about this one? I picked the Explorers in the contest but in my mind it's a coin flip. A loss tonight would be devastating to the Flyers. LaSalle is playing pretty well these days and has a rangy athletic team like GW that seems to give UD trouble. If they shoot remotely like they did the other night they win easily.

On the other hand, the Explorers seem to play worse at home than on the road and a letdown after the huge win over the Hawks seems likely.

And then there's the Xavier game factor. Will the Flyers be somewhat overlooking tonight's game in anticipation of the game on Sunday?

The Explorers have some big quick guys that should make Brob's life tough. Will some of the other guys step up and make them pay? Should be very interesting.
 
#2 ·
If the Dr. deploys a similar "shoot anything and everything" strategy and the Explorers make them at a 50% clip or better I don't know how Dayton can stay in the game. But then the real question is, how many times can La Salle take and make that many shots in a game??

I also picked La Salle to win this.
 
#7 ·
LaSalle is 1-4 at home in A-10 play. They are confident after a home win against NJIT and a road win against St Joe's. Temple was confident before we played as well.

UD's offense is back in gear the last few games, so is the perimeter defense. In the last 6 games, UD has allowed only one team to shoot over 40% from 3 pt land (RI at RI), and 3 teams have shot under 30%. Duquesne would have shot under 30% had someone guarded James his last 2 shot attempts as well.

I think tonight UD will get more firmly back on the tracks.
 
#8 ·
Look for LaSalle by 6. Dayton has been woeful on the road of late after a hot start. Poor shooting, poor defending, and the big one -- god awful foul shooting. You can only miss one of those three on the road and expect to still win.

This game means more to Dayton. Their NCAA chances hinge on it. In effect, tonights game is UDs first round NCAA game. You lose you go home.
 
#11 ·
An interesting A-10 stat is that LaSalle and UD are tied for first in rebounding margin. No UD player is in the top 20 rebounders. LaSalle has Jerrell Williams at #3with 7.6. Individually, Huelsman is tied for 15th with 2.09 offensive rebounds, and Williams is tied for 7th with 2.6. Neither team has a player in the top 15 defensive rebounders.

A key to the game will be the battle on the boards. UD's perimeter defense against LaSalle will also be key, as discussed in my prior post UD has dramatically improved recently with the perimeter defense. UD needs to drive the ball on LaSalle who is 7th in 3FG% defense, but dead last in FG%. I predict after two horrible FT shooting games, UD's free throw shooting will not be determinative (altough it may be mediocre).
 
#12 ·
Planning on attending this one in person. I watched both the LaSalle/St.Joe and UD/Temple games in their entirety, and have no idea how this one is going to break tonight. The performance of Marques and Binnie recently make me optimistic, the athleticism and depth of LaSalle worry me. I'm hoping to see solid transition and half-court D from the Flyers and a road win.

Any suggestions from the LaSalle contingent on places nearby for a meal and drink beforehand? Appreciate it!
 
#13 ·
Binnie and/or Perry knocking down a couple of early threes would be huge. I think this is the type of game Little and Johnson can excel. I expect double figures out of both.

But more than anything, this game is about effort from UD. They have to be the aggressor, and they have to establish that fact from the opening tip. They failed to do that against GW, and they dug a deep hole. La Salle is better than GW. Get off to a slow start and let La Salle make a big run early, and it's lights out.

La Salle will be fired up. Match their intensity early and stay disciplined, and the Flyers should win a close game.
 
#15 ·
key matchups to watch tonight is how well the Flyers can defend LaSalle's forwards...Marcus Johnson will get the assignment on the Explorers #1 scorer and I like this matchup.

UD can't let the Explorers think this is Monday night part 2...we'll need to come out strong and maintain good defensive pressure throughout. I like our chances...I think the Flyers are finally in a better mental state and have snapped out of their shell shocked state. La Salle's goal is to try to get the Flyers back into that state early. And finally can the Flyers shoot 65% from the line...
 
#18 ·
Roberts got bumped awkwardly and appears to have hurt his hip or knee. I'm going fetal. Someone tell me when it's ok to look.