Rob Lowery News

Jacob Pullen had close relationships with Dayton coach Brian Gregory and assistant Billy Schmidt, and built friendships with current Flyers Chris Wright and Devin Searcy.

Dayton isn't wasting any time putting its No. 21 ranking and 20-game home winning streak on the line against a quality opponent.

In size, the 18th-ranked University of Dayton men's basketball team can hang with many BCS conference teams, as the Flyers boast four players who are 6-foot-9 or taller.

The Week Ahead: No. 21 Dayton vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech, 11:30 a.m. Thursday, in Puerto Rico Tip-off Classic; Dayton vs.

The University of Dayton's Mickey Perry blows by University of Toledo player Ian Salter during the first half of their game at Savage Arena on Friday, Jan.

The University of Dayton men's basketball team tended to wear down opponents last season with its hefty 12-man rotation, and coach Brian Gregory plans to leave foes with their tongues dangling and lungs heaving again this year.

This year's version of the Dayton Flyers is more than just a basketball team. With four returning starters, the Flyers are the preseason pick to win the Atlantic 10 and are ranked No.

One coach said at times he'll "give him a little extra leeway," but the other one went all out.

Exhibition games are normally a time for fans to kick back and enjoy a stress-free night while their team splatters an opponent, but that wasn't the case when Dayton faced Findlay two years ago.

He had just come from philosophy class - "we're studying Aristotle and his ideas of justice" - and he was feeling a bit sage, a bit reflective.

University of Dayton basketball fans serenaded Luke Fabrizius with choruses of "L-u-u-u-u-k-e" whenever he knocked down deep 3-pointers last season.

Injured for the final month of the 2009 season, senior Rob Lowery is perhaps hungrier than anyone to get back to the Big Dance.

For more photos, click here For the vast majority of Flyer fanatics, Wednesday, Feb., 11 2009, was a day filled with elation.

Devin Searcy took a battering on an overseas trip with Athletes in Action this past summer, playing against a professional New Zealand squad stocked with Olympians.

Dayton has been picked to win the Atlantic 10 in a poll of coaches and media - and UD got my vote for first place - but it wasn't exactly a slam dunk to put the Fly-boys at the top of my ballot.

When Beth Schreiner received a call last week about a printing malfunction with her Dayton Flyer Basketball season tickets, she was told that a student intern needing community service hours would be personally delivering her season tickets.

Coach: Brian Gregory . Last season's record: 27-8 overall, 11-5 in Atlantic 10 Postseason: Lost in NCAA tourney second round to Kansas Final regular-season RPI: 27th.

This group works amazingly well as a five-man unit on the court, no matter who is out there, and that should continue in 2009-10. Little was an integral piece to the Flyers' devastating defensive pressure, but freshman Paul Williams should be able to fill in nicely.

This group works amazingly well as a five-man unit on the court, no matter who is out there, and that should continue in 2009-10. Little was an integral piece to the Flyers' devastating defensive pressure, but freshman Paul Williams should be able to fill in nicely.

Mickey Perry knew something was wrong when he planted his foot while making a move in a pick-up game last month, and his right knee bent backward.