Today’s game:
Who: Dayton vs. Findlay (exhibition)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: UD Arena
Radio: WHIO-AM (1290), WHIO-FM (95.7)
Matt Kavanaugh was stoked about making his first start for the University of Dayton basketball team last week, even if it was only an exhibition game against Walsh. But he wishes his big night would have lasted a little longer.
The 6-foot-10, 250-pound junior picked up two fouls in the first 1:58 and went to the bench. He later was whistled for his third with 1:33 to go in the first half and played only 14 minutes in the 92-78 win.
For the Flyers to be successful, they’ll need heavy production from their biggest and most physical player, but they can’t count on getting much unless he refrains from playing defense like a policeman frisking a suspect.
“I think probably because it was my first game and first start, I was a little antsy and a little nervous,” he said. “I got myself together in the second half and stayed in the game a little longer.”
After being brutes on the boards under coach Brian Gregory — they were first in the Atlantic 10 in rebound margin last season at plus-4.8 per game — the Flyers were outboarded, 37-32, by the NAIA Division II team.
Kavanaugh had just three rebounds in his short stint. And UD coach Archie Miller called the Centerville product’s foul trouble “scary.” The coach added: “Even the amount of fouls he’s had in practice has hurt him with some of the reward systems we have when we evaluate our guys.
“Fouling is not an option. Playing hard is all we’re about, and our frontcourt in particular doesn’t have room for error with our (limited) rotation. ... That doesn’t do us a whole lot of good. He’s very important to our team.”
Miller puts some of the blame for the whipping from Walsh on the perimeter players, saying they have to become more engaged. But Kavanaugh plans to do his part.
“That’s been the main focus of our film study and practice all week — we’ve got to win the rebounding battle to be competitive this year,” he said.
“I’ve got to have a rebounding mentality on the offensive and defensive end — no matter how long I’m in there. You’ve got to attack every play.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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