Flyers showed firepower in Creighton win

Flyers’ 90-point games under Gregory

DAYTON — Coach Brian Gregory has built his basketball program at the University of Dayton on dogged defense and rugged rebounding, and this year’s team may be capable of adding another element to the foundation: entertaining offense.

The Flyers were lured into a shootout against Creighton in their season opener Saturday, Nov. 14, and seemed perfectly comfortable in the pointfest, winning 90-80. It’s only the fourth time UD has scored 90 or more in a regulation game in Gregory’s seven seasons.

“I think we’ve improved offensively,” the coach said. “Even when the defense stalls us and our offense breaks down, we’ve got some talented players who can go make a couple plays. I think you saw that.

“We’re a team that can score points. The good teams can win the 60-56 games, too. I thought at times last year that was one of our greatest strengths, to be able to win both those types of games. The tempo was fast against Creighton, and our defense has to get a lot better. But the progression of our offense has been a positive.”

The Flyers, who haven’t exactly had an abundance of shooters despite notching a combined 50 wins the last two years, have answers this season when their first unit falters. Sophomores Chris Johnson (15 points), Paul Williams (nine) and Luke Fabrizius (nine) popped off the bench to provide instant offense against the Bluejays.

“We’re still tinkering, but that is a great luxury,” Gregory said. “You’re talking about three guys on any given night who can get you between 15-20 points. That’s a good feeling when you know you can go to your bench. All three of those guys have improved defensively as well.”

The Flyers moved up three spots to No. 18 in the Associated Press poll this week and are ranked 21st in the ESPN-USA Today coaches poll. They leave for the Puerto Rico Tip-off Classic today and will open the tourney Thursday against Georgia Tech, which is ranked 21st by AP and 19th by the coaches.

UD has appeared in the national polls in each of the last three seasons. The last time the program had ranked teams for three consecutive years was 1958-59, 1959-60 and 1960-61.