Joe Boozell of NCAA.com recently wrote an article listing the top point guard/coach combinations in college basketball. The Dayton Flyer’s very own Scoochie Smith and head coach Archie Miller made the cut, receiving some of the national recognition they deserve. As a junior last season, Smith averaged 11.7 points per game to go along with 4.3 assists. In the article, Boozell describes Smith as “a scrappy defender that is underrated as a floor general.” A great description of the 6’2″ point guard out of the Bronx, New York. In the 2015-16 campaign, Smith saved his best performances for last. In the second to last regular season game at Richmond, Smith dropped 26 points and dished out 5 assists. He helped lead Dayton to a tight 85-84 win over the Spiders. Smith followed that performance up, however, with something even more special. At home on senior night against VCU, the junior leader had a career night. He scored 29 points, dropped 5 dimes, and absolutely took over towards the end of the game. His gutsy performance carried the Flyers to a 68-67 overtime win against the Rams, giving them a share of the conference regular season title. Now entering his senior season, Scooch, as Flyer fans call him, will look to create more magic and lead Dayton further than ever.
No doubt about @scoochstackin & @Archie_Miller on this list. #TrueTeam https://t.co/63XLnSjGq5
— Dayton Basketball (@DaytonMBB) August 15, 2016
The 2nd half of this prolific player/coach combo is Dayton head coach Archie Miller. Entering his 6th season at the helm of the Flyers, Miller has taken the basketball program to new heights. Boozell calls Miller a “rising star” who has done “outstanding work in his time at Dayton.” After making a remarkable run to the Elite Eight in the 2013-14 season, Miller started the True Team mantra. Since then, the Flyers have gone on to make three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and have won five tournament games in that time. This success won’t satisfy Dayton though. Miller will have arguably his most talented roster yet this year and is as hungry as anyone in the country to compete for a national championship.
While it’s an honor for the A-10 to have one point guard/coach combo make this list, they arguably should’ve had two. Davidson’s Jack Gibbs and Bob McKillop certainly deserved high consideration to be named one of the top combos in the country. Last season Gibbs averaged a monstrous 23.5 points per game to go along with 4.9 assists and 4.1 rebounds. Now entering his senior year, Gibbs looks to carry Davidson to more wins and also compete for A-10 Player of the Year. Add in his outstanding long-time head coach Bob McKillop, and it’s a wonder how the Gibbs/McKillop duo did not find themselves on this list.