“We just have to run him off the line and not let him get easy shots,” Dayton forward Xeyrius Williams said. “We want to keep an eye on him at all times.”
This season, Cline has the best all-around offensive numbers in the conference. He ranks ninth in scoring (17.8 points per game), third in rebounding (7.9) and second in assists (5.3). Through Tuesday, the Spiders led Dayton (13-4, 4-1), Virginia Commonwealth (14-4, 4-1) and La Salle (10-5, 4-1) by a game.
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PREVIEW:
Richmond Spiders at Dayton Flyers
In five A-10 games, Richmond has shot 51.6 percent from the field. No other A-10 team is shooting better than 50 percent.
“Obviously, Richmond is off to a terrific start,” Dayton coach Archie Miller said. “They’ve got three road wins under their belt already. Their playing as well as anybody in the conference offensively. T.J. Cline is playing at a player-of-the-year type of pace. They’re playing with a lot of confidence.
“We’re going to have to be locked in. It’s going to be a very hard-fought game. From a defensive standpoint, it’ll be the most challenged we’ve been since early in the season. Offensively, we’re going to have to go against their different defenses and try to be efficient and get the ball at the rim as much as possible to try to get fouled. That’s a big thing for our team right now, getting to the foul line.”
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Cline made 13 of 20 shots in the first game against Dayton last season and 8 of 17 in the second game. He’s shooting 49.3 percent from the field this season and has made 20 of 35 shots (57.1 percent) in the last three games.
Dayton counters with the league's best defense. Opponents are shooting 40.5 percent from the field against Dayton in A-10 play. That's right in line with what non-conference opponents shot against UD (40.4).
To stop Cline, Dayton will use a team approach, Miller said.
“You have to have some pride in certain details of where he wants the ball, where he catches the ball,” Miller said. “You have to make things as hard as you possibly can. He’s almost like a point guard out there. The offense really runs through him, whether he’s up at the top of the key or in the post. He’s making a lot of guys better, and he’s very difficult because their spacing is so good with the 3-point shooting. It’s a difficult challenge. We had a hard time with him last year both times. Down in Richmond, he put on a clinic in terms of how effective he could be within their offense. It’s going to take a lot of effort plays. You’re not going to be perfect, but you’ve got to pick your spots.”
THURSDAY’S GAME
Richmond at Dayton, 7 p.m., ESPNU, FM 95.7, AM 1290 WHIO
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