Dayton vs. UC

[bobbiemcgee]

What a conundrum.

[gladdenguy]

I will be rooting so hard for the Dayton Flyers even though this is the NIT.

[xubball93]

Yeah, I hate both teams but I gotta go with our conference. Actually, it should be a good game - both teams rebound and run the floor.

[The_Mack_Pack]

Prediction 41-40 UD

Is there any way both teams could lose?

[rhyno2110]

Yeah, I hate both teams but I gotta go with our conference. Actually, it should be a good game - both teams rebound and run the floor.

Likewise. Although, it won't make me throw my glass of water all over the kitchen floor if Cincinatti wins (which is what happened when Dayton anialated us at the dump).

Whatever the outcome, i'm sure it won't be a fluid game, especially with London Warren running the point.

[smileyy]

Does anyone else miss the days of the full MMVC schedule?

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

UC fans are always clamoring that they can finish top 4 in the A10...If they can't beat the 8th best team in the A10, they will eat crow

[blobfan]

UC fans are always clamoring that they can finish top 4 in the A10...If they can't beat the 8th best team in the A10, they will eat crow

Well that clinches it for me. Go Flyers!!

[CinciX12]

I hope a natural disaster occurs from exit 2-4.

[xsteve1]

Who cares!! X hasn't played in that tourney for about 12 years, thank god. As far as looking at attendance numbers fans from most schools in that tourney don't care either.

[PM Thor]

No matter who wins, X fans get some good fodder to use.

"oh yeah? Well you stink so bad you couldn't even beat dayton."
Or
"oh yeah? Well you stink so bad you couldn't even beat UC."

But obviously, everyone knows who I want to lose. Every time. Even if they played Satan, I would root for him over them.

[ballyhoohoo]

Prediction 41-40 UD

Is there any way both teams could lose?

possibly, is Cahill doing the game?

[Snipe]

We should get a pack of Xavier fans to go just to taunt both teams. We could wear Xavier gear and chant "NIT, NIT" everytime either team scores.

[coasterville95]

I am planning on going to that game, if UC will come off of the ticket information.

Hmm, I can wear RED, that way I haven't expressly alligned myself with either school.

If anybody did want to get a mutual taunting section together, let me know the details on that....

But think if it, I can sit back, watch two teams we don't like, and two coaches we don't like unloading both barrels at each other in the name of advancing in the NIT.

For Dayton - maybe they CAN get a win in Cincinnati!
For UC - maybe they CAN get a win over an A10 team for the first time in 3 years.

I do like that though, no matter who wins, we gain smack talk to use against the other!

[DfinnsDog10]

21- 13 Dayton wins. Low scoring grade school barn burner. Count it!!!

[Xman95]

Gregory vs. Cronin...

http://images.paraorkut.com/img/funnypics/images/m/midget_basketball-12223.jpg

[PM Thor]

Gregory vs. Cronin...

http://images.paraorkut.com/img/funnypics/images/m/midget_basketball-12223.jpg

Offensive foul on gregory there. He dropped a little shoulder on that drive.

[X-band '01]

I am planning on going to that game, if UC will come off of the ticket information.

Hmm, I can wear RED, that way I haven't expressly alligned myself with either school.

If anybody did want to get a mutual taunting section together, let me know the details on that....

But think if it, I can sit back, watch two teams we don't like, and two coaches we don't like unloading both barrels at each other in the name of advancing in the NIT.

For Dayton - maybe they CAN get a win in Cincinnati!
For UC - maybe they CAN get a win over an A10 team for the first time in 3 years.

I do like that though, no matter who wins, we gain smack talk to use against the other!

Been there, done that for Dayton. They can beat UC at 5/3 Arena and already have in recent memory (2-3 years ago, I think).

[danaandvictory]

I went with some UC fan friends to the NIT game last night. "Sparse" doesn't even describe it. We purchased $10 upper level seats 10 minutes before game time and the crowd outside the first 10 rows was so sparse that athletic department personnel waved us into the student section so it wouldn't look quite as pathetic on TV. I don't know what the announced attendance was (they didn't say at the game), but I'd be shocked if there were more than 3,000 people there.

As for UC, they remain the exact same team as at the beginning of the year. They jack up a million threes, turn the ball over on the inside, and make bizarre coaching decisions (UC got up 18 using a zone press that Weber just could not handle, so YTG backed off and WSU immediately cut it to 8). Stephenson does nothing without the ball and loves his jumper even though he's unstoppable at the rim. Gates is unbelievably soft. The only guy I was impressed by was Darnell Wilks, who is an explosive athlete and has a decent touch, sort of a poor man's (and I mean POOR, like 1700s Russian serf eating horse meat poor) James Posey.

[Masterofreality]

Sorry, Thor.

Have to go with the dump in this one.

Atlantic 10 team vs a Big Greased team- and I hate the Borecats and Big Greased way more than the Cryers. I just want another B-Espn propped team sent packing.

.....................and Mo Egger's head will explode.

[xu05usmc]

I hope a natural disaster occurs from exit 2-4.

I hope that doesn't happen. That would wipe me out as well.


I went with some UC fan friends to the NIT game last night. "Sparse" doesn't even describe it. We purchased $10 upper level seats 10 minutes before game time and the crowd outside the first 10 rows was so sparse that athletic department personnel waved us into the student section so it wouldn't look quite as pathetic on TV. I don't know what the announced attendance was (they didn't say at the game), but I'd be shocked if there were more than 3,000 people there.

As for UC, they remain the exact same team as at the beginning of the year. They jack up a million threes, turn the ball over on the inside, and make bizarre coaching decisions (UC got up 18 using a zone press that Weber just could not handle, so YTG backed off and WSU immediately cut it to 8). Stephenson does nothing without the ball and loves his jumper even though he's unstoppable at the rim. Gates is unbelievably soft. The only guy I was impressed by was Darnell Wilks, who is an explosive athlete and has a decent touch, sort of a poor man's (and I mean POOR, like 1700s Russian serf eating horse meat poor) James Posey.

Crowd was 2,100 last night. About what should have been expected considering their sparse crowds, all the events going on (St. Pat's, HS games, and UC is in Finals week) but Oscar Robertson, Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minillo were courtside!!! Nothing quite says college basketball by having an overweight and old curmudgeon former legend and former B list celebrities sitting courtside!

As a man who has attended and watched too many UC games this year I can say this, Wilks is absolutely terrible. He is an incredibly gifted athlete but is always out of position and cannot handle or pass the ball, nor stay in front of his man on defense. He suffers from Birdman-itis meaning he can make a few big plays so people think he is good despite his severe limitations.

With Stephenson being bad off the ball, that has a lot to do with his lack of quality teammates. Outside of Stephenson no one on their roster has good vision or passing ability to help him do anything off the ball. The same thing is happening to Favors at GT.

As an extremely biased alum of the great Withrow High School (GO TIGERS!) I will continue to defend Gates as not being soft (sorry, I like to see kids from the old school do well). If you ever watched him high school whenever he brought it to the basket he would get hacked by some little GCL scrub to no call, so he was forced to learn to fade away. On defense whenever someone made contact with him, or he went for a rebound and made slight contact he was called for the foul because of his size. All that caused him to develop these bad habits he has now. He tends to attack the basket early, until he gets hacked multiple times with no calls before settling for the fade aways. And defensively he just isn't very quick.

[XUglow]

I can't pull for UD or UC. I can pull for the Big East to lose, so I am going there.

[Smails]

I don't give a whore's ass who wins that game. I will simply revel in the awesomeness that reads "Dayton versus Cincinnati in the 2010 NIT"

[XU 87]

Crowd was 2,100 last night. About what should have been expected considering their sparse crowds, all the events going on (St. Pat's, HS games, and UC is in Finals week)
.

As an extremely biased alum of the great Withrow High School (GO TIGERS!) I will continue to defend Gates as not being soft (sorry, I like to see kids from the old school do well). If you ever watched him high school whenever he brought it to the basket he would get hacked by some little GCL scrub to no call, so he was forced to learn to fade away. On defense whenever someone made contact with him, or he went for a rebound and made slight contact he was called for the foul because of his size. All that caused him to develop these bad habits he has now. He tends to attack the basket early, until he gets hacked multiple times with no calls before settling for the fade aways. And defensively he just isn't very quick.

As for the first paragraph, the crowd was actually 2410. But I blame that on a lethargic fan base. Xavier sold out the Gardens against Princeton on St. Patrick Day when playing in the NIT.

As for your second paragraph, Gates is lazy. He was lazy in high school and he is lazy in college.

P.S. Now that Xavier is clearly the #1 team in town, and has been for the past 5 years, why don't we ever hear from my old buddy Eastside Jay anymore?

And one last note. Did anyone hear Cronin's interview last night? When asked the softball "question" about how he was starting to turn things around, he somehow went into his standard speech of 1) how tough the Big East is and 2) how young his team is. The guy just can't help himself.

[GoMuskies]

Pretty sweet matchup......I mean, as sweet a matchup as you can get in the NIT.

[Muskie]

I stopped caring about UC's season 12:00 am December 14, 2009.

I haven't thought about UD once since last Friday.

[picknroll]

Offensive foul on gregory there. He dropped a little shoulder on that drive.

God, if it wasn't so true it would be funny :D

[Cincypunk.org]

Went to the game last night.... it was brutal. I had nightmre of huggins last night.

Today I am depressed and it shouldnt be like this on the NCAA tourney's opening day!

[danaandvictory]

As an extremely biased alum of the great Withrow High School (GO TIGERS!) I will continue to defend Gates as not being soft (sorry, I like to see kids from the old school do well). If you ever watched him high school whenever he brought it to the basket he would get hacked by some little GCL scrub to no call, so he was forced to learn to fade away.

Explain it however you want, but he's soft. He shies away from contact, he fades away against guys 6-7 inches shorter than him, he's absolutely a waste of an NBA body at this point in his career.

"Undersized GCL scrubs"? Really? Like the Moeller team that went to the Withrow gym and won Yancy's senior year the day after they beat Elder away? Those scrubs? Are you referring to the same GCL where every one of the four goddamn teams has won a state title in the last 30 years, that constantly churn out D-I recruits? Those scrubs?

Scrubs. Hilarious. I'd take a Moeller kid over a paper tiger like Gates any day.

[Juice]

Explain it however you want, but he's soft. He shies away from contact, he fades away against guys 6-7 inches shorter than him, he's absolutely a waste of an NBA body at this point in his career.

"Undersized GCL scrubs"? Really? Like the Moeller team that went to the Withrow gym and won Yancy's senior year the day after they beat Elder away? Those scrubs? Are you referring to the same GCL where every one of the four goddamn teams has won a state title in the last 30 years, that constantly churn out D-I recruits? Those scrubs?

Scrubs. Hilarious. I'd take a Moeller kid over a paper tiger like Gates any day.

St. X knocked Yancey and Withrow out of the tournament that year as well. X's tallest player was 6'5'' if I remember correctly.

[pimpinthebox]

I have a very clear pecking order of teams I root against:

1. UC
2. UD
3. Any Bob Huggins coached team
4. Duke

As a result, it's <gulp>, go Dayton for me. Makes me wanna puke just saying it. Oh yeah, and I'll be there. Wouldn't miss it.

[coasterville95]

I had a friend stop past Fifth Third Arena on the way to work this morning. (All for the greater glory of watching basketball, right).

I'm in Sec 104 Row 8 - Thats 8 rows off the floor, right across from the Dayton bench. Have actual hard ticket in hand.

For those who were serious about going to see Rival/Midget Coach 1 play Rival/Midget Coach 2 (Does this have Snuggie Award implications), GREAT lower level seats are available.

[JimCoker]

Maybe Cronin could say "Any Big East team would win the NIT."

[coasterville95]

Just curious, as game time draws near, who else is attending this stress relieving game tonight?

For a game between two local schools, you'd think they could put fans in seats, but as of last night they still had lower bowl available. Two schools, less than 50 miles from each other, unable to fill even the lower bowl of a basketball arena for a tournament level game = Pathetic.

Who carrys the College Basketball Flag for our region? Oh, that's right, Dante does!

[danaandvictory]

I'll be there rooting for Dayton. I shall slake my thirst with Bearcat tears.

[CinciX12]

I wouldn't miss this game for the world. It will just be the best reminder how far we have come as a program and that we will never be in UC or UD's shoes.

[SixFig]

I'm gonna really enjoy this game.

Really...this game is poetic as all hell.

I picture it like a Shakespearean play...in the end almost everyone dies.

[CinciX12]

I say we get 20 of us together in a section and do 'Lets go X' over the entire crowd. Can be easily done. 30 of us got heard at Wake over 11,000 Wake fans. We can easily overcome 3,000 total.

[XUdenver]

Talk about the lesser of two evils....

I'm really getting torn about who to root for here. I obviously hate UC with fierce passion, but realizing how pathetic UD fans are, and how much the Cryers want to be us (and already think they are..) I would love to see them get spanked and disappear off the radar not to be heard from again. At least until next season, when they will again have top flight talent arriving/returning, and hopes for a Final Four.

[LyonsIsFlyin]

If there is a chant it should simply be "Sweet 16"..... enough said.:cool:

[UC observer]

I say we get 20 of us together in a section and do 'Lets go X' over the entire crowd. Can be easily done. 30 of us got heard at Wake over 11,000 Wake fans. We can easily overcome 3,000 total.

That would be the most pethetic thing I would have seen at a basketball game in a long time. Why would X fans care enough to go to UC and purchase a ticket? I don't understand your hatred for UC. I really dont understand it when you have been better recently.

Great win by the way verse Pitt. I will be pulling for you guys to go to the Elite 8. I actually think X would have a punchers chance at Cuse.

[JAX 3758]

That would be the most pethetic thing I would have seen at a basketball game in a long time. Why would X fans care enough to go to UC and purchase a ticket? I don't understand your hatred for UC. I really dont understand it when you have been better recently.

Great win by the way verse Pitt. I will be pulling for you guys to go to the Elite 8. I actually think X would have a punchers chance at Cuse.

No, actually, the most pathetic thing I have seen is a UC fan getting on the XU message board and calling our fans pathetic the day after XU just locked up a third consecutive sweet 16 run while you prepare to play a second round NIT game in front of approximately 6,500 people

BOOM

[xsteve1]

That would be the most pethetic thing I would have seen at a basketball game in a long time. Why would X fans care enough to go to UC and purchase a ticket? I don't understand your hatred for UC. I really dont understand it when you have been better recently.

Great win by the way verse Pitt. I will be pulling for you guys to go to the Elite 8. I actually think X would have a punchers chance at Cuse.

I agree with observer on this one. I can see going to the game and watching but there's no need to rub other fans noses in it. X has a lot of unfinished business left this year.

[coasterville95]

I'm gonna have to agree - Fine to go to the game. It's even fine to chose a side (be it UC or UD, your choice) and root for that side. (And then promise to take a real long hot shower aftwerwards with the strongest industrial grade soaps you can buy).

But for one night put the Xavier flag away, and just enjoy the game with a smug grin. Sh!t-eating grins allowed even.

Hey, with all the stresses and strains of vying for an NCAA Swet 16 berth. We coud use a night of stress free basketball. After all, no matter who wins and who loses, does it really matter? Really? The future of our season is not in danger, our brackets (which probably are already destroyed) aren't in danger.

Last word of advice - there are no beer sales at The Shoe tonight, game is at 9pm, no excuse for those going to the game not to preload! You'll have 2 hours to sober back up during the game.

[CinciX12]

You guys can rip my X hat from my cold dead fingers tonight!

That was a joke, please don't let anyone from Clifton kill me tonight. Oh wait, those people don't have computers, I'm safe.

[XUdenver]

Awesome response, JAX. Loved every word of that one.

[CinciX12]

That would be the most pethetic thing I would have seen at a basketball game in a long time. Why would X fans care enough to go to UC and purchase a ticket? I don't understand your hatred for UC. I really dont understand it when you have been better recently.

Great win by the way verse Pitt. I will be pulling for you guys to go to the Elite 8. I actually think X would have a punchers chance at Cuse.

Purchase a ticket? I'm going to buy a ticket from a scalper for 5 dollars.

[bobbiemcgee]

Live chat from the game? Could be hilarious.

[bobbiemcgee]

That would be the most pethetic thing I would have seen at a basketball game in a long time. Why would X fans care enough to go to UC and purchase a ticket? I don't understand your hatred for UC. I really dont understand it when you have been better recently.

Great win by the way verse Pitt. I will be pulling for you guys to go to the Elite 8. I actually think X would have a punchers chance at Cuse.

You don't think Pitt could win the A-10?

[xuab]

Dayton pulls out the black unis tonight. Didn't help them last year at X.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Dayton overwhelming them at the moment. Lets see if lil Mick can make some adjustments...Yancy taking a 3 is hilarious

[PM Thor]

Dayton pulls out the black unis tonight. Didn't help them last year at X.

They obviously don't want to be easily recognized. This is the freaking NIT we are talking about here.

[CinciX12]

I underestimated how bad 'GO DAYTON FLYERS' and 'OOOO OOOO OOOO UC' could potentially be at the same game.

Are you telling me Cincinnati couldnt win the A10? I'm telling you they couldn't finish in the top half Mickles.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Some UC fan's quote:

"UC would finish top 4 in the A10"

well, not if they lose to the 8th place A10 team...

[chico]

Is Cahill doing this game? He's freaking ubiquitous.

I wonder if he was on the Muskie victory flight last night.

[bobbiemcgee]

Dayton is 4-40 in Cincinnati.

[PM Thor]

I underestimated how bad 'GO DAYTON FLYERS' and 'OOOO OOOO OOOO UC' could potentially be at the same game.

Are you telling me Cincinnati couldnt win the A10? I'm telling you they couldn't finish in the top half Mickles.

Yeah, I can't watch this game. I thought it would be fun to watch, in a "hey there's a big tractor trailer jack-knifed on the other side of the highway" kind of way, but just hearing these fans drives me up a wall. Freaking hilljacks, the lot of them.

Is Sanford and Son on some channel right now? I could use some real comedy.

[Pete Delkus]

I underestimated how bad 'GO DAYTON FLYERS' and 'OOOO OOOO OOOO UC' could potentially be at the same game.

Are you telling me Cincinnati couldnt win the A10? I'm telling you they couldn't finish in the top half Mickles.

Funny...i thought the same thing. it's almost cute...2 little groups of fans who still want to be important, acting like this game is a statement game.

It's like two kids trying to show their Dad's that they are getting older, bigger and stronger.

Keep fighting little Campers!

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

http://forums.bearcatnews.com/showthread.php?p=147832#post147832

"How does an A10 team have superior athletes to us???!!!"

[bobbiemcgee]

Yeah, I can't watch this game. I thought it would be fun to watch, in a "hey there's a big tractor trailer jack-knifed on the other side of the highway" kind of way, but just hearing these fans drives me up a wall. Freaking hilljacks, the lot of them.

Is Sanford and Son on some channel right now? I could use some real comedy.

Time for a "Days of Our Lives" rerun. Need some excitement.

[XULucho27]

It's like two kids trying to show their Dad's that they are getting older, bigger and stronger.

Except in this scenario I hate my kids and would rather have a drink be left the hell alone. NO, I WILL NOT GO TO YOUR LITTLE LEAGUE GAME! :D

[bobbiemcgee]

"Born Ready" on the NBA scrap heap.

[Murph85]

UC down 17 to the 8th place A-10 Dayton Flyers.

Does Mick have anything to say?

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

UC down 17 to the 8th place A-10 Dayton Flyers.

Does Mick have anything to say?

Post game excuses....

"Well, you know, Lance was hurt"

"Well, you know, Parker was hurt"

"Well, you know, Yancy was in foul trouble"

"Well, you know, there were some horrible calls"

[GuyFawkes38]

The zone is giving UD some serious problems on offense.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

This game is gonna end up in a brawl....I can feel it

Warren just got an intentional. Lance Stephenson rolling on the ground, an academy award type performance - again

[rhyno2110]

This game is gonna end up in a brawl....I can feel it

Warren just got an intentional. Lance Stephenson rolling on the ground, an academy award type performance - again

I don't know, I mean, Warren woudn up all the way before laying the smackdown on Stephenson's face. That sh!t has to hurt. But I don't know if all that rolling around was necassary as you said.

UD will win as long as they don't fall into their zone offense, because that was ugly. They looked great in transition though, and that is how they will win this game.

[XURunner85]

Post game excuses....

"Well, you know, Lance was hurt"

"Well, you know, Parker was hurt"

"Well, you know, Yancy was in foul trouble"

"Well, you know, there were some horrible calls"

"Well we are a young team"

"Well these snot nose kids don't listen to me and I am their coach damn it"

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

I don't know, I mean, Warren woudn up all the way before laying the smackdown on Stephenson's face. That sh!t has to hurt. But I don't know if all that rolling around was necassary as you said..

Good point. I was factoring in his previous injury where he was screaming and rolling on the ground in pain, practically carried off the court, and then came sprinting back from the locker room 2 minutes later Paul Pierce style.

[bobbiemcgee]

I don't know, I mean, Warren woudn up all the way before laying the smackdown on Stephenson's face. That sh!t has to hurt. But I don't know if all that rolling around was necassary as you said.

UD will win as long as they don't fall into their zone offense, because that was ugly. They looked great in transition though, and that is how they will win this game.

Warren smacking Lance....love it!

Announcer says dumb plays like that are why they're in the NIT.

[CinciX12]

Lance got smacked pretty good. I might still be on the ground.

[PM Thor]

I am throwing popcorn seeing if the dog can catch every throw.

I bet I am more entertained than anyone watching this game.

[SixFig]

I may be the only one, but I'm sad seeing Huelsman play for the last time. The guy played his little heart out. He didn't seem like a bad guy really, just a bad basketball player.

The only question is...who will inherit the Jimmie Binnie/Kurt Huelsman crown?

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

I am throwing popcorn seeing if the dog can catch every throw.

I bet I am more entertained than anyone watching this game.

Oh this game is great. It really is a war.

[PM Thor]

Oh this game is great. It really is a war.

Yeah well the dog can't catch a curveball for some reason. He keeps joebooing it.

[GuyFawkes38]

I guess now that I want Dayton to win, I can understand why UD fans are so frusterated.

Honestly, it's a really, really talented team with 2 awful point guards.

[Masterofreality]

I may be the only one, but I'm sad seeing Huelsman play for the last time. The guy played his little heart out. He didn't seem like a bad guy really, just a bad basketball player.

The only question is...who will inherit the Jimmie Binnie/Kurt Huelsman crown?

Matt Kavanaugh...

....wait for it.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Yeah well the dog can't catch a curveball for some reason. He keeps joebooing it.

hahahahahaha, London Warren actually hit a 3 in the 1st half. Then I looked out my window and saw a pig fly by my window

[Masterofreality]

hahahahahaha, London Warren actually hit a 3 in the 1st half. Then I looked out my window and saw a pig fly by my window

......then he bricked all of his free throws.

[CinciX12]

Is anyone actually watching the game? Are the announcers finding good things to say about this horse crap? Its the most fundamentally flawed game I have ever seen.

[Xman95]

Does Mick have anything to say?

"A10, please remove your balls from my mouth."

[XerXes]

Does Mick have anything to say?

"So your telling me Dayton wouldn't win the A10.......................Oh wait"



Didn't realize horseabuse beat me to the punch...

just didn't get online quick enough.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Well, the comment section on the cincinnati.com article is entertaining as usual.

Finger pointing, Xavier/A10 fans, Mick haters, and even someone blaming Obama for UC's troubles.

http://news.cincinnati.com/comments/article/20100322/SPT0101/303220087/Dayton-ends-Cincinnati-Bearcats-season-Deonta-Vaughn-s-college-career

[danaandvictory]

Just got back from the UD Arena South Annex. Hilarious surrender from YTG and crew. UD's effort the last 10 minutes was impressive, if they played like that with any consistency they'd have been in the big tournament.

The day Yancy Gates committed to play for Mick Cronin will haunt him forever. That kid should transfer out and go somewhere with a coach that has some clue how to develop a big man.

[Billy]

Well, the comment section on the cincinnati.com article is entertaining as usual.

Finger pointing, Xavier/A10 fans, Mick haters, and even someone blaming Obama for UC's troubles.

http://news.cincinnati.com/comments/article/20100322/SPT0101/303220087/Dayton-ends-Cincinnati-Bearcats-season-Deonta-Vaughn-s-college-career

Nothing smart can possibly come from clicking that link.

I think I'd rather be Rickrolled.

[XUglow]

A-10 2-0, Big East 0-2 That demanding Big East regular season takes more victims.

[coasterville95]

I was also at UD Arena South. So were about 6,472 other people. For a game between two local schools, with post season play implications. I know, game was on HD, late game time, weeknight, lack of beer, etc.

I thought the crowd split between UC and UD fans was actually pretty even. Both bands were there, and several times there was a Battle of the Bands as the bands, and cheerleaders were trying to drown the other out. Now we know what it sounds like to hear "GOOOOO Dayton Flyyyyyeeerss!" and "OOHHHH OHHHHHH OHHHHHH da-da-da-dum UC" together, at least 1,234,567 times throughout the night. I may have missed an occurance or two at halftime. I don't think the lower level at UC has rocked that much, (or at Cintas for that matter) - imagine the people in the "Wine and Cheese" sections doing things like oh - standing up during key runs of the game, getting rowdy. It was a very exciting atmopshere to be a part of. I only wish the score could have been kept within 5 points going into the final minute, then we could have really seen how loud and crazy that crowd could have gotten.

As may have been mentioned - UD was absolutely SICK with the 3 point shooting in the first half. Remember Snuggie Night at Palumbo where the Dukes could do no wrong, particularly from behind the arc, and we could do no right? That's what this reminded me of. On the other end of the floor - the UC team couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and when there was a rebound or a loose ball, the UC players didn't exert themselves, they let the UD players run and pick up those loose ballls. Cronin looked lost as ever, and I heard he didn't even come out for his post game comments. At least Brian Gregory looked like he wanted to be there.

The group I went to the game with (about 16 of us) was mixed about half/half UC/UD fans with a couple of us XU fans in there to referee. Unfortunately the game was pretty much one sided most of the night, so there wasn't too much give and take to referee,, mostly the UD fans giving and the UC fans taking,. The best part for me was at dinner before the game was hearing both sides rat on their own team. We knew the UC fans don't like Cronin and a few of their players, but it was refreshing to hear the UD fans rag on Kurt "No Discernable Basketball Skills" Huelsman and a couply other players. I got daring and remarked about the good Jimmie Binnie years. :D So not all Dayton fans are delusional about the state of their program. That and both sides commiserating with each other over beer about what it is Xavier does right. "Those guys can loose coachs, lose players to the NBA, graduate seniors, lose players to injury, have their recruits decommit, and yet they always manage to succeed - why can't WE have that!"

Oh, and just wait - I can see the UC fans calling the Dayton players thugs. I guess you need something to fall back on when you have lost to two A10 teams in one season, particularly when your coach loves taking pot shots at the A10 for being inferior.

I turned to a couple of the UC fans in our group as the game was getting out of hand and said "Hey, last time you guys lost an NIT game at home, your coach got fired!" Response: "We can only hope!"