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Sports
March 2014 March 27, 6, 2014
Dayton Flyers: breaking brackets
MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW:
LONGHORNS, WILDCATS & CYCLONES Chris Fravel Staff Writer cfravel@lhup.edu
Chris Fravel
This week in the March Madness Preview we’re going over the Texas LongStaff Writer horns, Kentucky Wildcats, and the Iowa State Cyclones, all teams that I believe could make thecfravel@lhup.edu NCAA tournament. Analysis of Texas and Iowa State are courtesy of Kyle Harstead, senior at LHU. TexasI had Longhorns: When originally picked my bracket, I They score 76.9 points per game (50th) and grab 42 offensive per game (5th). They don’t the round rebounds of 64 because I knew the Flyers werespread the ball around much only averaging 12.3 assists per underrated and the Buckeyes were vulnerable in a lot of spots. Why I didn’t have the same making their shots 43.7 percent of the matchtime (220th). thought-process for the Flyers’ potential Their defense has some work to do. They are giving up per game (207th) and do not create I71.0 had points ‘Cuse beating Dayton and even making it many turnovers averaging 6.2The steals per game (173rd). to the Eliteonly Eight. Silly me. Dayton Flyers They are, however, very strong underneath grabbing 27.4 story” defensive rebounds game (12th) and averaging ella after beatingpertwo nationally-ranked 6.1 blocks (13th) teams in a per rowgame during the NCAA tournament. Because of their wins over some top teams, I look at them to come in as a 4-6 seed however I don’t see them making a deep run. It’s one of those teams with their thought Jim Boeheim would get his team back to playing to their potential by the round but most tournament likely the second. time the NCAA rolled around. Unfortunately that was not the case and
Kentucky Wildcats:
The Wildcats have three major offensive and three major defensive stats all in the top-100 of the NCAA. Kentucky is averaging 78.2 points per game (35th), 41.4 rebounds per averaging game (6th)7 and area-piece. shooting 46.8% game. The duo both lead the team in rebounds, boards How long will this run last for the Flyers? Can Dayton continue its winning ways? the next Wildcats to 66.9 pointshave per It’s not hard to imagine as their gameare is holding against opponents Stanford. The Cardinal game (89th), snagging 26.9 rebounds proven that per theygame can (18th) throw and blocking 6.5 shots per game (5th).with the elite of punches If the Wildcats can win that game, with they their will the tournament streak into the SEC tournament and over NCAA tournaupset wins New Mexment with enough momentum to the make some ico in round of serious 64 and noise. I foresee Kentucky clawing their wayround through to Kansas in the of 32. the Sweet Sixteen, perhaps Let’s even face the Elite Eight. This it though, they’re Wildcat squad has some serious potential, take them seriously creating your a very when beatable opponent March Madness brackets. for Dayton. Not to mention Iowa State Cyclones: the Florida Gators have It is clear this team’s strength is on the ofnot been playing as solidly fensive side of the ball ranking in the top 38 in four as they would have hoped, major offensive categories. They score 83.6 points showing some real holes in per game (6th) while shooting 47.3 percent from the their game in the rounds of 64 and 32 this year. A per game (25th) and are very good at spreading the keen eye should be kept on ball around averaging 18.7 assists per game (1st). the Dayton Flyers as their However, it looks like a whole separate team when time to make a run is right it comes to their defense. In 3 of the 4 main defen- now. Dayton is for real, folks; sive they categories, they rank no higher than and could make a deeper impact on 162nd. this year’s tournament than most people If they can run the table in their last four games, I can see them coming in as were expecting. a 3 or 4 seed. they beat the teams they need night to beat splitting with Watch the Because Dayton Flyers for yourself on Thursday at while 7:15 EST on CBS in toughSweet games, I fullygame believe this team can easilyCardinal. make a Sweet Sixteen run but I’m their Sixteen against the Stanford sure we will see them in the Elite 8.
Top right, senior forward Devin Oliver. Photo courtesy of Jared Wickerham. Bottom left photo courtesy of Scott Coleman.