Xavier hasn't won at Dayton since the 1993-94 season, when Pete Gillen was the Musketeers' coach. Dayton hasn't won at XU since 1980-81, when Don Donoher was still the Flyers' coach.

LINEUPS

XAVIER   Player-Ht-Yr-PPG   Dave Young-6-5-Jr.-7.5   Kevin Frey-6-8-Sr.-11.3   David West-6-9-Jr.-19.9   Romain Sato-6-5-So.-11.6   Lionel Chalmers-6-0-Jr.-11.2   Coach: Thad Matta (8-3, first season; 32-11, second overall).   DAYTON   Player-Ht-Yr-PPG   Brooks Hall-6-6-Jr.-11.6   K. Waleskowski-6-8-So.-9.3   Sean Finn-6-11-So.-7.8   Ramod Marshall-6-2-So.-13.7   David Morris-5-10-Sr.-4.6   Coach: Oliver Purnell (108-102, eighth season; 219-177, 14th overall).

        Yet in the latest installment of this rivalry, the history to note goes back further. Today's Atlantic 10 opener at UD Arena matches defensive statistics not seen since the days of set shots.

        “I looked at the same thing you did,” XU coach Thad Matta said Friday, “and thought, man, maybe nobody will score tomorrow.”

        These are the top two teams in the league in all defensive statistics.

        UD (8-3) allows just 37.2 percent shooting, on pace to be its best total since its 1960-61 team allowed just 36.5 percent. XU (8-3) allows 38.9 percent, the best since its 38.5 percent total in '61-62. UD's scoring defense, at 59.5 points a game, hasn't been matched since '57-58 (56.6 ppg), and XU's 61.2 average is the lowest since it gave up 55.5 points in '49-50.

        XU's 29.7 percent 3-point defense is identical with the school record set last season, and UD's 29.8 percent mark barely trails the school record of 29.1 percent in the '97-98 season.

        “I don't anticipate a 40-35 game,” UD coach Oliver Purnell said. “But it sure could be a defensive struggle.”

        Matta emphasizes defense, and his team at Butler last season ranked ninth nationally with a 60.8 defensive scoring average. He had a lot to build on here, as XU last season allowed just 40.6 percent shooting and 65.9 points, second-best in the A-10.

        UD is the surprise. Its defensive numbers last season of 44.1 percent shooting and 67.5 points gave no hint of this improvement. The

        key statistic: Eight of UD's top nine scorers returned.

        “I thought we could be a good defensive team because of our experience,” Purnell said. “When players come into a program out of high school, defense is not something on the top of their minds, because they've been asked to score, been told to try not to get in foul trouble. That transition sometimes takes a year or two.”

        Three of UD's top five scorers — Ramod Marshall (13.7 ppg), Keith Waleskowski (9.3) and Sean Finn (7.8) — are sophomores, fitting Purnell's theory. Another couple of key players are juniors: Brooks Hall (11.6) and Nate Green (4.4).

        UD is coming off what Purnell calls the finest defensive showing of his career, a 60-23 beating of Miami in which the RedHawks hit just 13 percent of their shots.

        The key in a potentially close game, one likely to be played at a deliberate pace, could be the decision-making of the point guards. UD senior David Morris (4.6 ppg) has hit the ideal 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, averaging 5.0 assists and 2.5 turnovers. The pressure to keep pace falls on XU junior Lionel Chalmers (11.2 ppg), who averages 3.7 assists and 3.5 turnovers for a 1.05-to-1 ratio.

        “We've done a lot with Lionel this week in terms of film and skill workouts,” Matta said. “I think he has practiced well.”

        Chalmers has had some big games, and his 40.4 percent shooting is respectable. But he's in a mini-slump, shooting just 17.9 percent (5-for-28) the past three games. He was 0-for-7 Monday against Siena and was replaced by Jaison Williams much of the second half.

        “I struggled a little bit with my shot,” Chalmers said. “But my confidence isn't going anywhere. And I'm trying to (limit) my turnovers. We've talked about how every possession is important. If we focus for 40 minutes, we'll be fine.”

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