Flyers keep relaxed attitude
March 21, 2009
Posted on March 21, 2009 4:10 p.m.
By Cory Griffin
cory.griffin@gmail.com
MINNEAPOLIS -- "Attitude is everything" seems to be a slogan thrown at just about everything in life, but attitude is always something scrutinized in the world of athletics.
Here at the press conference before tomorrow's second-round game between Dayton and defending national champion Kansas, the Flyers' attitude seems to be that of confidence and looseness.
Sophomore forward Chris Wright, junior guard Marcus Johnson and senior forward Charles Little addressed the media, and the three members of the "Flyght Club" were calm, relaxed and unfazed by the media frenzy of journalists from across the nation bombarding them with questions about being the small school in the matchup.
The Flyers have nothing to lose given that the team won the school's first NCAA Tournament game since 1990, and has put together one of the best seasons in school history, but they aren't satisfied. They want more, and they believe that they belong with the "big boys."
"We don't consider ourselves the underdog," Johnson said. "In the world maybe, but we know what we need to do to win games. We have a really special team this year, and we just have proven it last night's game and maybe tomorrow."
Wright and Little echoed similar statements, saying that they believe the team can win any task ahead of it.
"We never feel like we're an underdog going into any game," Little said.
Maybe it sounds cocky, but believing they belong and believing they can be successful throughout this tournament is an important step in turning the program into a nationally prominent team.
Kansas really isn't just any other task though, they're a program steeped in tradition. Dr. Naismith, the inventor of the game coached there, and the school has won its share of national championships over the years. The thought of Kansas basketball rings up images of Wilt Chamberlain and Paul Pierce, great players of past decades and great teams that have put the state on the map.
For some reason, that doesn't make the University of Dayton Flyers shutter - which is a good thing. The Flyers haven't been a group to back down this year.
"It's just exciting to play these guys," Johnson said of the Jayhawks. "They don't have the same team that they had last year, but they still have a great team. So it's just exciting to be able to play against them."
So although the odds are stacked against them and although national journalists believe this team isn't ready for the limelight, the Flyers believe otherwise.
In 24 hours, we'll be able to see just how well the attitude worked for UD. If the Flyers can pull out another upset tomorrow, this run could become a huge boost in confidence and swagger for the future of the program.
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