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Dayton will get
its first real test of the season when it plays at Cincinnati on Tuesday in
a battle of unbeatens.
The 14th-ranked Flyers (9-0) are off to their best start since opening 11-0
in 1965-66. Dayton coach Brian Gregory said the 23rd-ranked Bearcats (6-0) will
be a litmus test for his Flyers.
``We're excited about it,'' Gregory said. ``Our guys wouldn't be human if they weren't thinking about it. We'll find out where we're at.''
On Saturday, Sean Finn shot 12-of-13 from the field and finished with 27 points, leading Dayton to a 78-65 victory over Prairie View.
Cincinnati also comes into this game off a big win as it dismantled Middle Tennessee State 89-54 on Saturday.
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Gregory said he expects the Bearcats to be as good as advertised.
``They're a talented team,'' he said. ``They're athletic. They hit the glass. They press. They'll try to get after us. If we're not ready to play, it's going to be a bad deal.''
Gregory thinks he has the ball-handling weapons in the backcourt to neutralize Cincinnati's trapping defense.
``The way I view it, I have Ramod Marshall and Mark Jones in the backcourt,'' Gregory said. ``I shouldn't have to worry too much about the press.''
Dayton didn't handle the ball particularly well against Prairie View, committing 18 turnovers.
Cincinnati leads the all-time series between the schools 56-29. Dayton beat Cincinnati 75-69 at home last November, snapping the Bearcats' 11-game winning streak in the series.
The Flyers are looking for their first win at Cincinnati since a 70-69 victory at the Armory Fieldhouse in 1971. The Bearcats have won the last 14 meetings in the Queen City.