NCAA Tourney - Providence vs. Dayton 9:57 p.m. truTV

[anXUfan]

Dayton has a helluva coach. Amazing they've gotten this far with the roster they have.

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

GAME PREVIEW (ESPN)

# 6 seed PROVIDENCE FRIARS (ESPN)

POINTS PER GAME .................... 70.2 ..... 98th
OVERALL REBOUNDS PER GAME .....36.0 ..... 87th
OVERALL ASSISTS PER GAME ....... 14.1 ..... 71st
OVERALLFIELD GOAL PCT............ .442 .... 127th

# 11 seed DAYTON FLYERS (ESPN)

POINTS PER GAME .................... 68.2 ..... 153rd
OVERALL REBOUNDS PER GAME .....31.5 ..... 300th
OVERALL ASSISTS PER GAME ....... 13.8 ..... 85th
OVERALLFIELD GOAL PCT............ .463 ..... 52nd

I'm surprised that the Flyers are only a 3-point 'dog. I would have expected Providence to be a 5-point favorite against a well-rested Dayton team, and a 10-point favorite against the Dayton team that is playing its fifth single-elimination tournament game in eight days.

But it has been less that 48 hours since the Flyers surprised everyone who watched their last game:

RECAP: Dayton 56, Boise State 55 (ESPN)

The Flyers trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and by seven with 3:43 to go.

... so you can never be sure about what will happen in a March Madness game. Yesterday, two # 14 seeds knocked off two # 3 seeds.

It should be a good, hard-fought game if the Flyers have any fuel left in the tank.

[BEX]

All of Xavier Nation solidly behind the Friars. Did you know Henton was on his way to Flyerland until he met Archie at a Dunkin' Donuts and decided to play for Providence? UD has nothing for Dunn and Henton. Friars by 10.

[Jet915]

This will probably be a pseudo road game so 3 points sounds about right.

[PMThor]

I will not be watching, because watching dayton make a mockery of my favorite sport makes me physically ill. All I can say is I hope Providence absolutely destroys the cryers by 20 and their fans get lost on the drive home. Go Friars!

[BEwannabe]

Dayton got a gift. If the kid, Marks, didn't turn the ball over twice in the last two minutes due to over-dribbling,, and get himself trapped in the corner and throwing up a desperation shot, Dayton would have lost. PC will not beat themselves. Unless Dayton plays significantly better, this will be an relatively easy victory for the Friars.

There is no question the last couple of minutes Boise melted down. Solid ball club and we had no answer most of the night, they were very sound defensively so we weren't able to break them down going to the rim which is what we like to do and in transition they were the best team we've played this year. All 5 of our starters are good in transition and Boise was like the State Patrol armed with road blocks and spike strips.

[XUFan09]

Dayton got a gift. If the kid, Marks, didn't turn the ball over twice in the last two minutes due to over-dribbling,, and get himself trapped in the corner and throwing up a desperation shot, Dayton would have lost. PC will not beat themselves. Unless Dayton plays significantly better, this will be an relatively easy victory for the Friars.

There is no question the last couple of minutes Boise melted down. Solid ball club and we had no answer most of the night, they were very sound defensively so we weren't able to break them down going to the rim which is what we like to do and in transition they were the best team we've played this year. All 5 of our starters are good in transition and Boise was like the State Patrol armed with road blocks and spike strips.

Ha, I like the analogy!

[ChicagoX]

I think Providence's size and athleticism helps them win this game comfortably. Dayton only made the tournament because they were able to take advantage of a very weak A10. The Flyers would have likely finished 8th in the Big East this year behind the six teams who made the NCAAs and Seton Hall. Dunn and Henton will prove to be too much for them.

[stever20]

I think Providence's size and athleticism helps them win this game comfortably. Dayton only made the tournament because they were able to take advantage of a very weak A10. The Flyers would have likely finished 8th in the Big East this year behind the six teams who made the NCAAs and Seton Hall. Dunn and Henton will prove to be too much for them.

Here's the big thing now with Dayton. If Weber doesn't get injured from VCU- Dayton doesn't beat VCU on 2/28, and Dayton is out of the tourney.

[Doge McDermott]

More Deadspin love for the Big East, though the G-town one was more sarcastic.

I love when Regressing breaks down a team. They looked at Creighton last year, and it was a fantastic article.