What's for lunch? Basketball
Last year, the University of Alabama men's basketball team had a lunch date with Dayton.
The main course was a 32-point drubbing (80-48), the Crimson Tide's most one-sided defeat in 15 years. Now, the Flyers are in Tuscaloosa on ESPN's invitation – and Alabama is figuring out if it can make things a bit more palatable.
"Dayton took it to us last year," Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said. "We were not quite ready to play against a team like that last year but we needed to play that game, if that makes sense. The level of intensity they played with, we were not at that level. We had it tied at 18-18 early on and they took it another level that we couldn't match. Hopefully this year, with more experience and a few more bodies, we will be closer."
There won't be a drop-off for this year's Flyer team. Coach Archie Miller's squad is the first team on the cusp of this week's AP Top 25, three votes behind No. 25 Cal. Dayton routed Austin Peay, 96-68, in its season opener last Saturday behind a 31-point performance by senior guard Charles Cooke.
Alabama also had a season-opening win on Friday, coming back from a halftime deficit to defeat Coastal Carolina, 70-53. On Monday, Johnson indicated that he might alter his initial starting lineup based on that second half.
"I liked Bola (Olaniyan) starting the second half. We had a problem rebounding and Bola came in and immediately gave us some help,” the coach said. "You might see different starting lineups for the first five games. Sometimes, our best defensive team is our best offensive team because they can create things. They play the right way.
"I would not call this game a measuring stick (based on last year's game)," Johnson added. "Every game is a measuring stick. If we play like we practiced yesterday, we'll have a chance."
Because of the odd, television-mandated 12:15 p.m. tipoff time, Alabama is sponsoring a number of promotions. The first 1,200 students in the door will get a free T-shirt, and 100 pizzas have been ordered and will be passed out to the student section prior to the game.