Law Enforcement Memorial Day
American Idol 2012 finale
Rollover crash injures 2
Home > Blogs > Flyer Connection: University of Dayton sports > Archives > 2012 > January > 31 > Entry
More from Archie on state of Flyers
After the fiasco against Rhode Island, I asked Dayton coach Archie Miller on Monday whether he’d consider any lineup changes.
“Absolutely,” he said.
Maybe the slumping Paul Williams, I asked?
“Maybe everybody,” he said with a chuckle.
Of course, the Flyers only have four scholarship subs, which means we can assume at least one starter is safe. But who knows what the first-year coach has in mind?
“One of the things our team has been able to do through the first seven games of conference play is change the complexion of the way we play offensively. Going with that, we’ve had our moments when we’ve been really good. I also think as we started Atlantic 10 play, our defensive intensity, our lack of interior paint protectors, however you want to look at it - not just guarding the basketball - has really dropped off and almost has been dropping off game by game,” he said.
“The last three halves of basketball we’ve played, minus the first half at St. Joes, we totally lost the edge of what we had going for us in some of our big wins.
“It’s alarming. I think the (opponents’) field-goal percentages from 2 and 3, the lack of turnovers being forced, all of those numbers are alarming. And it really, to me, has to be recreated through practice and, hopefully, effort. Everything is coming back around to effort. And in February you can’t have that (as a problem).”
When I asked Miller how he was doing personally, he said: “Terrible. Absolutely terrible. Like I tell the guys, you only get so many opportunities to cash in. Momentum after a big weekend (beating Xavier) turns into, hopefully, a feeling of desperation this week. That’s the name of the game.
“How can we improve? What can we do differently as a defense to have a chance - ‘cause you can’t play how we’re playing on offense every game.”
How he processes bad losses like the one against URI, Miller said, “You replay every play offensively and defensively in your brain. You have every emotion you probably can imagine going through you. But it’s not a good feeling. Those things eat at you.”
There are some positives, of course. Chris Johnson followed a 17-point performance at St. Joe’s with a 20-point, 12-board effort against URI.
“Yeah, I don’t think we have guys right now not trying. We’ve had our moments where every team goes through these lapses where certain individuals go through a rut and they have to get themselves back out,” Miller said.
“But I can point to Chris Johnson and say he’s probably playing as hard as any player I’ve been around in a long time. He’s really getting after it. I think Matt Kavanaugh is really playing hard and well. What we need to do is get a couple guys back in that mode of thinking about effort plays and hustle plays and doing the little things, and I think they’ll start playing a lot better.”
Permalink | Comments (24) | Post your comment |
Tweet
Comments
By Rudy
January 31, 2012 10:20 PM | Link to this
We will beat Duquesne by 25 points. Joe Lunardi has us as a LOCK for the NCAA’s. No way the lowly dukes can compete with us. It will be an old fashioned butt-kicking
By mott
January 31, 2012 11:06 PM | Link to this
Hope your right Rudy, but we just got stung by the worst time on the schedule. UDs bad habit is to play down (or up) to the level of the team they are playing. — R.I. beat us by disrupting the passing lanes, swatting at the ball every chance the got. We could get a clean pass or rebound or an in the paint shot without getting mugged. (MK needs to learn to pump fake and draw fouls.) Go Flyers - good luck.
By Sam
February 1, 2012 1:59 AM | Link to this
Whatever…big yawn.
By Bill T.
February 1, 2012 7:50 AM | Link to this
Lucked into tickets to the UK,UT game last night. Worth the drive to see real basketball played with top notch players and coaches. UK has the longest home winning streak. I will continue enjoying fundamentally sound coaching and winning as a Wildcats fan. Try it Dayton, you will like it.
By Bill T.
February 1, 2012 7:51 AM | Link to this
Lucked into tickets to the UK,UT game last night. Worth the drive to see real basketball played with top notch players and coaches. UK has the longest home winning streak. I will continue enjoying fundamentally sound coaching and winning as a Wildcats fan. Try it Dayton, you will like it.
By Jack
February 1, 2012 8:12 AM | Link to this
The problem with the Flyers is simple. They need to play every game as if it were Xavier. They do tend to take a night off against teams they should be trouncing, and sometimes (as Rhode Island)they get their behinds handed to them. Its a matter of being able to seal the deal. I don’t fault Archie here its the players lack of believing, and self-motivation.
By FaithfulFlyer65
February 1, 2012 8:17 AM | Link to this
The Flyers have proven that they can beat or lose to any team on their schedule. If they are going to beat the Dukes, or anyone else they play, they need to compete with the same intensity that they brought to the Xavier game. Anything less and they will have another loss on their record.
By G.t.t.
February 1, 2012 8:28 AM | Link to this
You guys need to get out of the ud dumps and take in some talented college ball. You are making fools of yourselves defending a poor team and coach. Maturity and expertise wins every time.
By G.t.t.
February 1, 2012 8:30 AM | Link to this
You guys need to get out of the ud dumps and take in some talented college ball. You are making fools of yourselves defending a poor team and coach. Maturity and expertise wins every time.
By @jack
February 1, 2012 8:36 AM | Link to this
@jack You should fault Archie. That is his job to motivate the players. Bet you blame parents for poor behavior of their kids. Take off those blinders.
By @jack
February 1, 2012 8:37 AM | Link to this
@jack You should fault Archie. That is his job to motivate the players. Bet you blame parents for poor behavior of their kids. Take off those blinders.
By @jack
February 1, 2012 8:38 AM | Link to this
@jack You should fault Archie. That is his job to motivate the players. Bet you blame parents for poor behavior of their kids. Take off those blinders.
By Realism Matters
February 1, 2012 8:43 AM | Link to this
No one is making excuses for the University of Kentucky basketball program every week of every season, as they can look their program smack dab in the eye and stand proud. As it should be.
By Bubba
February 1, 2012 9:06 AM | Link to this
Unfortunately, I just don’t think this flyer team is NCAA tournament bound. I don’t know whether to blame the players or the coach, but one thing is for sure—-they just don’t come to play every game, and they are not talented enough to win when they don’t. I hope the KD doesn’t take too much upon himself to make things happen because when he does, he makes too many mistakes.
By KY bball
February 1, 2012 9:11 AM | Link to this
Ky Wildcats Without a doubt the best college basketball money can buy. How many national championships has that bought you with that sleazy coach? Thats what I thought
By xugrad96
February 1, 2012 9:30 AM | Link to this
UD’s problem for years has been consistancy. They play to the level of their competition. They can beat X and Temple…but lose to Buffalo and Rhode Island. It doesnt make a lot of sense and as an X grad/fan it can be annoying. We never see the team that got beat by Buffalo…We get the team that is firing on all cylinders.
By dw
February 1, 2012 10:22 AM | Link to this
How many UD fans expected the Flyers to be 14-6 with wins over X, Temple, St. Louis, and Alabama before the season started? Unfortunately because of the unbelievable job AM has done, many fans have developed unrealistic expectations about this years team. We should have known there would be some bad losses along the way and there might be a few more. Does anyone really think the Flyers record would have been better this year under BG? AM is working with the players that were recruited by BG and they’re are very thin in depth and talent. Next year we get two players from the # 1 HS in the state and several others that AM recruited. . The future for UD Basketball looks bright.
By FaithfulFlyer65
February 1, 2012 10:34 AM | Link to this
I agree with you dw, but you’re missing one point. If this team is good enough to beat X, Temple, St. Louis, and Alabama, then they are surely good enough to beat Miami, Buffalo, and Rhode Island. All teams get upset, so I can see them losing one or even two of those games, but all three? And two of them at home? There is still something that is missing, and as coach, it’s Archie’s job to correct it.
By dw
February 1, 2012 10:53 AM | Link to this
I hear you FF65. It’s very frustrating when they lose to teams they should beat—especially at home! It’s AM job to motivate but there is a obvious lack of talent at certain positions that even coaching can’t overcome. I’m not trying to make excuses but it’s reality. If we’re stilling loosing to Buffalo and RI at home two years from now then there are no excuses.
By Mr. Sports
February 1, 2012 11:16 AM | Link to this
Who gives a crap about Kentucky basketball. Go read the Lexington newspaper and talk with “cheatin’ Cal.
By FaithfulFlyer65
February 1, 2012 12:54 PM | Link to this
I hear you too dw. And I’m nothing but complimentary with what Archie has accomplished with this team. But they were able to beat X, Temple, St. Louis and Alabama with the lack of talent at certain positions that you refer to, so my point is that they should be able to beat Miami, Buffalo, and Rhode Island with that same lack of talent. It would make more sense to me if they had lost to the teams they beat, and beat the teams that beat them. Either way, Go flyers, beat the Dukes tonight.
By to DW
February 1, 2012 1:06 PM | Link to this
to answer DW question: anyone really think the Flyers record would have been better this year under BG? Yes we would have the 2 studs from Mi one of which is almost averaging a double double in the big east. But Bg is gone and any talk or comparison is worthless
By dw
February 1, 2012 1:40 PM | Link to this
FF65-Your logic makes perfect sense. I think there are some teams who though have lesser talent that the Flyers just don’t match up well against. I’m sure it’s as frustrating for AM as it is for the fans. Hopefully, we won’t see many of these types of games again in the future. It’s been a fun season so far and nice to see improvements in MK and the development of some of the future Flyers.
By Stonemiller
February 1, 2012 5:30 PM | Link to this
@ Bill T ….who cares ?