Your Requisite Towson Recap

The University of Dayton Flyers played one of those classic "get healthy" games that all teams need from time to time during a season. A vastly inferior opponent + at home + coming off a tough loss or two = a recipe for a blowout win and a much needed confidence boost. The Towson Tigers, however, did not receive the memo on this. They gave your Flyers everything they wanted and then some this afternoon.

In the end, UD managed - and I'm still not totally sure how - to squeak out a 74-69 win. Honestly I feel worse after this game than I did after both the 'Nova and K-State losses. Letting a piss poor Towson team dominate you for 30 minutes only to turn it on with ten to play and eek out a victory is just asking for trouble. Games like these make you glad nobody outside the Miami Valley actually watches the Flyers play. I have no idea what emotion to feel right now. Anger? Relief? Disbelief? Here's a schizophrenic recap:

• Mickey, Marcus, CJ, Wright and Kurt started the game. Chris Johnson got the nod because of his play in San Juan, Mickey because LW was late to a meeting this week.
• Remember when the Flyers were a team renowned for their defense? When any bucket against that stout D was cause for celebration from an opponent? Not anymore, folks. TU came in shooting 28% from deep only to go 4-5 to start the game and 9-14 in the first half from downtown. Even after missing a bunch of desperation 3-pointers late, the Tigers still shot over 50% from three for the game. At one point in the second half, Larry H said Towson was shooting 75% from the field for the half. I honestly think this was more a case of them crapping the bed than UD storming back and winning it.
• Is there a difference between a two-fisted jam and a two-handed one? Larry kept saying two-fisted, which sounds dirty.
• Bucky's ability to identify a defense is just plain comical at this point. He gets it wrong more often than right anymore. You know your broadcast team is solid when they can't even agree if your opponent is Towson or Towson State.
• At what point does Chris Wright outgrow the "catch the ball and take two steps before dribbling" move? It was cute when he was a freshman, now it's just annoying.
• Trailing by as much as 18 to Towson is straight up embarrassing. Right now, this team is on the NIT bubble.
• Watching UD play so far this year has been painful, and it's not just because they fall behind every game. The play is so sloppy and full of turnovers (again, the last ten minutes notwithstanding) that the games never seem to have any rhythm. Against K-State, I chalked it up to the number of fouls called. Not this time, though, it was just a matter of poor play.
• London Warren played like ass today. Let's hope it's his sore back and not something more serious. With no Lowery, he becomes one of, if not the, most valuable guys on this team.
• Right now Marcus Johnson couldn't throw the ball in the ocean while standing on a beach in Puerto Rico. Normally, I'd say it's a slump and that he's a senior and will work his way out of it. The problem, however, is that London already can't shoot to save his life and UD's 5 spot is no threat to score either. With MJ slumping, this means the other team only has to defend TWO guys. I don't care how outmatched you are athletically, five guys can stop two from scoring all day every day.
• HOWEVER, the turning point came when Towson missed a wide open three and Marcus grabbed the board. He took it coast to coast for the and-1. The made free throw finally got the deficit back to single digits. After a Tigers bucket, Mickey and CJ then hit back-to-back threes to cut it to five. That was the first time I actually let myself think UD would win since late in the first half.
• Nice reminder that Mickey Perry is a SG playing out of position. He knocked down two huge 3-balls when UD was making its big push.
• How about not one but two passes that didn't come within 15 feet of a teammate? That's how you completely dominate a game for the first 30 minutes and still find a way to lose. Thank you, Towson, thank you much.
• CJ's three to give the Flyers the lead was huge. You think he'll go pro after this season? P-Will's three on the ensuing possession was arguably just as big. That kid deserves to be in games during crunch time. Plus, I'm pretty sure he missed that last FT on purpose just so UD could be perfect in games decided by five points or less.
• From 62-45 down with 10:00 to play, UD closed the game on a 29-7 run. Big time finish.
• CW's line: 20 points on 5-7 from the field and 10-11 from the line and 9 boards. Ah, if only the Puerto Rico Tip-Off was played at UD Arena.
• Chris and Marcus combined for 8-20 shooting and 3-9 from three. Thing is, it was waaaaay worse until both hit a couple key buckets down the stretch. If those two are going to take almost 40% of the team's shots, UD's going to need more out of them than it got this afternoon.
• Time for me to ask Tim if he's ready to concede a loss on our preseason point/counterpoint article.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to try to find someone to punch me in the stomach so I'll start feeling better.