Zips at Dayton

[ZachTheZip]

The Zips get their first true test on tuesday. Dayton is tough at home. To give you an idea just how tough, they just beat UNC there by double digits. That might set them up for a letdown after being so hyped up for their opener. Or it might mean we're in for a tougher time than anyone thought.

[ksu sucks]

Let's shock Flyer Nation.

Go zips.

[Quickzips]

No idea where you got that they just beat UNC at home. They won a game vs. Mount St. Mary's there this-afternoon which was their home opener. They beat UNC at Madison Square Garden by 11 at the end of last year to win the NIT Championship. Last years UNC team was amongst the worst in recent history. Not that I wouldn't take the win if it were the Zips in that position, but...

Dayton will be a tough matchup for the Zips. They are a very good team anchored by Chris Wright. The Zips will have to control Wright on the offensive end and particularly on the glass if they want to have a shot at this one. That is easier said than done. If the Zips have an advantage it will be experience in the backcourt as the Flyers are very young there. Talented, but young. Needless to say, if the Zips pull this one out I will be much more impressed than I have been with beating up on D-III schools at home.

[Dave in Green]

Last season's Dayton team beat UNC by 11 at Madison Square Garden to win the NIT. It should be noted that last season's UNC team finished the season with barely over a .500 record and were not the vintage UNC powerhouse of the past. But none of that takes anything away from the Flyers being extremely tough to beat on their home court. Dayton had a 30-game home win streak broken last season by Rhode Island, losing by 1 point.

Today, in their first game of the season, the Flyers beat the mighty Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers by 15 points. But Dayton only shot 40% from the field and 46% from the free throw line. They mainly won by outrebounding the Mountaineers 49-25. Freshman PG Juwan Staten was only 2-9 from the field in his first college game. He's a highly ranked recruit, but still inexperienced at the college level.

If the Zips hit the boards hard, play really tough defense and shoot close to 50% from the field, they have a chance to pull an upset. It won't be easy in front of 13,000 rabid Dayton fans, but it can be done.

EDIT: Now I see where Quickzips got his board name.

[ZachTheZip]

That'll teach me not to trust ESPN's mobile site. It showed Dayton as 1-0 with their last game being against UNC as a home game.

Still, Dayton is extremely tough at home.

Aaaaanyway, here is the Flyers' message board.