Get Out and Run
There will be two contrasting styles in this game. Dayton runs efficient offense and does that using a great half-court offense. The Flyers keep the same pace on defense, forcing teams to get into their half-court offense and trying to stop teams from getting out in transition. Marquette is the complete opposite at least on the offensive side of the ball. The Golden Eagles love to get out in transition and are at their best when they are running. On the defensive end, Marquette slows teams way down and forces them to play in the half-court. They force a ton of turnovers and use those turnovers to get out in transition.
Marquette must get out in transition and play at their pace. When they are out running, they are almost impossible to beat. They run better than most teams do and if they get out in transition, they will get easy baskets. Dayton can run, but they are not built for it for the duration of the game and are not comfortable playing that style. There are times when Marquette gets out in transition that they can go on a large run without a lot of time coming off the clock and deliver a kill shot.
The Golden Eagles getting out and running and using their efficient offense is going to be a deciding factor in this game. Marquette isn’t great when they are playing slowly. They are not bad and can still win the game playing at Dayton’s pace, but they are going to so much better out in transition. If Marquette struggles getting out in transition this game could be close and will give Dayton a shot and will keep the crowd into it. Dayton is good enough to beat Marquette if the Golden Eagles don’t play their game. Kam Jones leads the offense, and he gets Marquette out in transition. Hence, he is extremely important to their success in this game.