Last season before the Dayton game, Tom Blackburn of The Blackburn Review contacted me to see if I would answer some questions about the Bluejays before the upcoming game between the two schools. Hilarity ensued. Little did we know that Dayton would get stomped out of the Qwest Center with their first blemish of the season and Mr. Blackburn forever had Booker Woodfox burned into his brain. Again this season, The Blackburn Review interviewed me again for a preview of the Bluejays. But we thought turnabout was fair play, so we decided to ask Blackburn a set of questions ourselves to see what we can garner about the Flyers. Enjoy the lighthearted Q & A before Saturday’s 12:00 p.m. showdown between CU and UD.
P'Allen Stinnett slices through the Flyer defense en route to 13 points last December (Photo by www.gocreighton.com)
White & Blue Review: When was the last time Dayton was ranked to start a season? Are people losing their minds over this team? More importantly, are the players getting lost in the hype?
Blackburn Review: The last time Dayton was ranked to start the year was before racial integration in college athletics. Actually, it was before black people even existed. See what I did there? I used sarcasm to deflect what is an uncomfortable topic of discussion for UD fans. As you noted, the Flyers come into this season with a numeral next to their name. Whether or not they deserve it will be answered over the first four games of the season. UD takes on a solid program in Creighton, and then travels to San Juan for the Puerto Rico Tipoff. Their first round opponent is Georgia Tech, win that one and they will likely go up against Villanova. All told, Dayton fans will know everything they need to when the boyz (let’s get urban, but not urbane) come back to the Gem City.
I won’t say that people are losing their minds, but I will admit that fans have placed some high expectations on this year’s squadron. From what I can gather from my chemically-induced haze, UD fans are betting their subsidized farms on the Flyers making it to the Sweet 16. With the amount of players they have back, coupled with last year’s success, the majority of UD fans believe they can go at least one more game further in the Dance this year.
As far as the players go, I can almost guarantee that they are not buying into the hype. Head coach Brian Gregory is known for employing the type of mind-games that ensure his team doesn’t get a big head. Just last week, Gregory burned an effigy of Chris Wright on campus just to let his star player know that fame is fleeting, that he must continue to work hard to reach his potential. He shot out the windows of Rob Lowery’s parent’s house in order to encourage him to get recommitted to rehabbing his knee. Although these tactics may be deemed controversial by some, they seem to be just what the doctor ordered thus far.
(To answer your question, what is 1967-68).
WBR: Our team is rotten with injuries right now. Seriously, at this point I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dana Altman roll himself onto the court at Dayton in a wheel chair, the recipient of a freak injury sustained by yelling for his team to “bend your knees, and get a good base!” while practicing defense all week. Any who, how’s the health of your squad, apart from Rob Lowery’s knee? How much will the Flyers miss Lowery in the early part of the season?
BBR: Lowery’s absence is going to be a major factor for the first part of the season. The point guard slot, which performed surprisingly strong for us last season, has been thrown into disarray with Lowery’s injury. Although London Warren has performed above expectations since last season, the problem will be backing him up. Dayton runs a very frantic defensive set, and likes to push the ball in transition in order to avoid playing a half-court game. This means that Gregory substitutes liberally, constantly keeping his players as fresh as possible. With Lowery’s injury, this means shifting Mickey Perry over from his more comfortable shooting guard position and asking him to run the point.
If I was you, I would email Altman (his e-mail is 69freak@gmail.com, you’re welcome) and tell him to press the issue when Perry is in the game. I would expect that Perry’s time on the floor will result in a more cautious offensive approach and present Creighton with its best chance to make some runs.
WBR: Are Lowery and London Warren actually the same person? Is it true they are clones? We will miss our dreaded forward/guard, Justin Carter, as he’s hurt for the next few weeks. Do Lowery and Warren have an extra dread wig they can allow one of our players from Iowa to wear, for shock value?
BBR: You are right, Lowery and Warren are essentially the same person. Both are energetic, lighting fast and enjoy a stiff drink after a hard day at the office. The only notable difference between the two is that Lowery likes ‘em big, round, and juicy, whereas Warren prefers small, flat, and sapless.
WBR: The Dayton Flight Club is infamous. Club 40 lost one of its founding members after last season, though. Are there any newcomers to the Club, joining Marcus Johnson and Chris Wright? (Side note: What do you imagine the hazing ritual would be for admission into this club, besides having a 40-inch vertical leap, that is?) (Side note #2: Club 40 sounds like an awful strip club in a rough part of Dayton. Not having been to that fine city, would an adult club by such a name stick out like a sore thumb? Or would it fit right in the urban landscape?)
BBR: Agreed, a city like Dayton would require a more deliberate name for a strip club. Something like Hard-Onz (again, urban not urbane), Tits R’ Us, The Gawk n’ Stroke or just a crude sign saying “Nude Teen Runaways!” would be more appropriate.
The hazing ritual for inclusion into the Club has been well publicized. Potential members are forced to strip naked and sit in a folding chair. A napkin is placed over their naughty part and they are forced to watch clips of Dominique Wilkins/Michael Jordan dunk contest showdowns from 1985, ‘87, and ‘88. If that napkin rises even a millimeter during the viewing, that applicant is eliminated from consideration into the 40 Club. Men with 40-inch verticals must respect their forefathers, not yearn for them. Unfortunately, our two newcomers this season are both big guys and unfortunately lack in the vertical department.
WBR: Speaking of Club 40, I see UD scored some major recruits this week. Based on your knowledge of their games, which can only be based on slobbering teen-crush sites such as Rivals and Scout, can you give Jays fans a recap of the future Flyers CU might see in coming seasons? Who are UD fans most excited about, recruit-wise?
BBR: By far the most exciting recruit in recent UD history is Juwan Staten. How we could financially afford Staten remains to be seen, I am sure a collection plate will be passed around at the next booster meeting. Staten currently plays for Oak Hill and is regarded as a top 50 recruit by middle-aged white men who never played past the eighth grade. He is fast as a cheetah and if agitated, twice as deadly.
Brandon Spearman, a guard out of Chicago, has the type of skill set that will fit right in with the current Flyer basketball philosophy. He shoots to kill and plays hands-in-your-pants defense. Spearman is currently way too attached to his girlfriend and will need to cut ties with her if he really wants to excel at the next level. Take it from me Brandon, paying for it is much easier and oddly more satisfying.
Jesse James Berry is a two guard who never saw a shot he didn’t like or a face he wouldn’t punch. Berry put up games of 55 and 51 points during his junior year, and has reached the 40 point mark six times in his career. However, at this point it’s hard to tell if Berry is a prolific scorer or just a man with no shame. Jesse James will likely have to face the most adversity when he steps on campus, as Brian Gregory likes to run a lot of offensive sets that include passing the ball.
The last two players, Devin Oliver and Ralph Hill, are considered unknown commodities. No one is sure what types of games they have or if they even exist. It sounds like some weird human pyramid scheme to me.
WBR: One of UD’s assistants, Cornell Mann, was on the Central Michigan sidelines when the Chippewas upset Creighton in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. If you get close enough to the court, will you punch Cornell Mann for me? And it looks like Jon Borovich, another one of your assistants, played at and graduated from CMU. Two birds with one stone … could you clothesline Mann and Borovich ala the Ultimate Warrior?
BBR: I’m not sure about dropping an Ultimate Warrior clothesline on them, but I’m pretty sure I can make it look like they both pulled a Chris Benoit.
WBR: Last season, Creighton packed a zone around the interior and allowed the Flyers to shoot … themselves in the foot. Knowing what injuries have done with some of our key frontcourt players heading into this matchup, if CU attempts the same thing, can Wright and Johnson and the others hit some shots this time? Only one of UD’s starters attempted a 3-pointer in last year’s game (Johnson went 1-5) and Lowery had 3 of the Flyers’ 7 long-range makes. Who should Jays fans fear on the perimeter? Has Wright mixed in any more outside shooting to his game?
BBR: If I’m Dana Altman, I am dusting off the same game plan I used last December. The Bluejays would be wise to make it a half-court game, sit back in a zone and watch as UD fires from the outside. The Flyers do not have a reliable perimeter shooter. Although I will say that sophomore Paul Wiliams has impressed with his outside game during the exhibitions. Luke Fabrizius can get hot from outside the arc, he will be the lanky white guy literally standing outside the three-point line waiting for others to get him the ball, but those moments are few and far between. Johnson & Johnson have the ability to hit some long-rangers if given the opportunity. That being said, I wouldn’t worry about UD killing you from outside.
Jay fans should not fear Chris Wright. He struggled to even get the ball in his hands last year, finishing the game with a meager 8 points. I imagine that Wright goes to the gym to work on his perimeter game, gives up after a few minutes of clanging three-pointer after three-pointer, and ends up spending two hours working on his dunks. But Christ, you will never see a more exciting 13 points per game player in your life. Or so I’m told.
WBR: Be honest with me. Just how much do you hate Xavier and all things Musketeer-related? Like, if you’re standing in line at the grocery store and you happen upon some candy at the point of purchase, and you see the silver wrapper of a 3 Musketeers bar starring back at you, do you lose it? Do you start throwing the candy bar down in disgust, smashing it with the heel of your Dayton Blue and Radio Flyer Red sneakers? (Side note: Would your actions be any different if I told you Booker Woodfox, your Bluejay man crush and a passionate candy admirer, was standing behind you in line?)
BBR: Hate is more times than not an emotion that blankets jealously and fear. Being a man of virtue, I do not have hate the Xavier Musketeers. I respect their program and hope that UD can enjoy the same postseason success in the near future. Xavier is the poster boy of mid-major achievement, and for that reason, should be applauded.
If Booker was behind me in line, I would offer to carry his bags to his car after I shined his shoes. Would I go as far as to follow him home and live in the woods behind his house? I wouldn’t rule it out. By the way, the only candy bar a man of sophistication would enjoy is the Fifth Avenue chocolate bar. It’s rich chocolate and crunchy peanut butter combine to offer a discriminating experience fit for a king.
WBR: Finally, what’s your prediction for Saturday’s tilt? What has to happen for the Jays to show up and win; or, since you’re more familiar with the Flyers, what has to happen for the home team to lose a highly anticipated home season opener?
BBR: I think UD will win this one, but it will be close (somewhere between 3-8 points). Justin Carter’s absence will hinder CU’s ability to keep UD off the offensive boards and the Flyers will likely score enough to get the W. Getting easy buckets and production from the point guard position will be vital for the good guys.
However, if Creighton can force turnovers, the Bluejays can win this mid-major battle. I would think P’Allen Stinnett needs to drop around 20 points and Witter needs to be an offensive threat as well. Opening up against a quality opponent like CU will be a tough task for this Flyer team, who might already be looking ahead to the fun and rum in Puerto Rico.