NCDS: Jon Borovich, Asst. Coach - Dayton

Hustle plays have often times been the difference between winning and losing.  As coaches we prepare our guys by giving them all the knowledge and information we can to help our players on game night.  Scouting reports, keys to winning, opposing teams go to sets plays, baseline and sideline out of bounds plays, offensive game plan, etc.  As coaches it is our responsibility to give our guys everything we can in preparation for the challenges that lie ahead.  At the end of the day, all the scouting, game planning and strategizing can only get you so far.  We all know that more times than not, the team that is willing to sacrifice more, play harder and is willing to do whatever it takes to win usually comes out on top.  It’s about wanting to win more than your opponent and one of the best ways to measure that will to win is hustle plays. 

When that ball is loose, both teams have an equal chance of getting it.  Hence the term 50/50 ball.  These little battles throughout the course of the game usually determine who is going to claim victory that day.  Guys that are willing to never give up on a play, willing to put their chin on the wood, willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the group… those kind of guys help teams win a lot of games.

Recently we had a hustle play that really helped define one of the greatest players that the University of Dayton has ever had.  It took place the other night at Charlotte.  The play began as just another play.  We were pushing the ball up the floor in transition after forcing a steal on a baseline out of bounds play.  It was an advantage break for us that led to a drive in the paint and a drop off pass that got knocked away by Charlotte.  The Charlotte player picked up the ball on the baseline and began to race the ball back up the floor for what appeared to be a breakaway layup.  

Then it happened.

As the Charlotte player began to accelerate across half court and separate himself from the pack or so it appeared, a Red streaking jersey began to close the gap.  As the Charlotte player (who’s name will remain anonymous out of respect) laid the ball off the glass, that individual in a Dayton jersey took flight, taking off from the free throw line to block the layup off the back board so hard that it bounced off a trailing Charlotte teammate at the top of the key and went out of bounds.  Dayton ball. 

A play that very few players in all of basketball could make.  A play that even fewer would be willing to attempt.  It defined heart.  It defined will.  It defined hustle.  #33 Chris Wright is one of the hardest playing guys in college basketball.  The play, although it showed up as a “1” in the block category on the stat sheet, was so much more than that.  Just about every player in college basketball couldn’t make that play or wouldn’t be willing to do so.  For Chris, it was a play that helped his team secure victory.  For Chris, there was never another option.

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