Archie Miller: ‘I think we’ll hear our name called’ on Selection Sunday

Dayton Flyers coach is anxious but confident of team’s chances
Dayton's Kyle Davis, center, covers his face as he leaves the court following a loss to Davidson on March 10, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

Credit: David Jablonski - Staff Writer

Credit: David Jablonski - Staff Writer

Dayton's Kyle Davis, center, covers his face as he leaves the court following a loss to Davidson on March 10, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

The next 48 hours for the Dayton Flyers will feel like 48 days. The wait until Sunday Sunday got a lot longer when the No. 1 seed Flyers lost 73-67 to No. 9 seed Davidson in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament on Friday at PPG Paints Arena.

Archie Miller has to plan a watch party for the selection show while figuring out how to get his team to regroup after an early exit in Pittsburgh.

“I’m not sure how we’ll do it,” Miller said. “We’ve got to get back in town and get organized. The show will be at 5:30 on Sunday. We’ll have our group together to watch it at some point. I’m anxious to hopefully hear our name called. I want our name to be called. I think that would be a special thing for our senior group.”

In ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s latest bracket, updated before Friday’s games, he had Dayton as a No. 8 seed playing No. 9 seed Michigan in Greenville, S.C. Even with the loss, Dayton (24-7) should be safe, but there’s always an ounce of doubt in Miller’s mind. Dayton has never made the NCAA tournament four years in a row.

“I’m always anxious,” he said. “I always have high anxiety. I think the committee has shown that sometimes they don’t respect the league as much as they should, but I think our individual resume as it stacks up to the field is good enough to be in, and I think we’ll hear our name called.”

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