Dayton Flyers
2020-2021 Overall Rank: #65
Conference Rank: #4 Atlantic 10
Dayton was one of the best stories of the 2019-20 college basketball season as head coach Anthony Grant led the Flyers to 29 wins, including an 18-0 run through the Atlantic 10 conference during the regular season. Dayton was on track for a potential number one seed and, with Obi Toppin leading the way, the sky was going to be the limit for the Flyers. However, the NCAA Tournament was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Dayton was robbed of their opportunity to make a deep run to the Elite Eight or Final Four.
2019-20 Record: 29-2, 18-0
Coach: Anthony Grant
Coach Record: 64-31 at Dayton 257-141 overall
Key Departed Players:
One Toppin, Forward, 20.0 ppg
Trey Landers, Guard, 10.5 ppg
Ryan Mikesell, Forward, 8.5 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Jalen Crutcher, Senior, Guard, 15.1 ppg
Rodney Chatman, Redshirt Senior, Guard, 7.7 ppg
Ibi Watson, Redshirt Senior, Guard, 10.1 ppg
Chase Johnson, Redshirt Junior, Forward, 5.1 ppg
Jordy Tshimanga, Redshirt Senior, Center, 3.0 ppg
Dwayne Cohill, Junior, Guard, 2.6 ppg
Christian Wilson, Redshirt Junior, Guard, 0.7 ppg
Jared Becker, Sophomore, Guard, 0.4 ppg
Camron Greer, Senior, Guard, 0.3 ppg
Sean Loughran, Sophomore, Guard, 0.0 ppg
Drew Swerlein, Redshirt Sophomore, Guard, 0.0 ppg
Key New Players:
Luke Frazier, Freshman, Guard
Koby Bren, Freshman, Guard
R.J. Blakney, Freshman, Forward/Guard
Moulaye Sissoko, Redshirt Freshman, Center, DNP last season
Elijah Weaver, Junior, Guard
Zuni Nwokeji Redshirt Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Projection:
It’s going to be all about the backcourt for Dayton as far as setting the tone for the 2020-21 season. Jalen Crutcher is the leading returning scorer. He averaged 15.1 points per game and can stretch opposing defenses as he hit 42.4 percent of shots from three-point range. Rodney Chatman and Ibi Watson are a pair of redshirt senior guards that will round out the backcourt as these two guys combined to average 17.8 points per game last season for the Flyers. Watson was the more consistent shooter of the two during the 2019-20 season, making 49.8 percent of his shots. Chase Johnson and Jordy Tshimanga will provide some experience down low in the post. Johnson played in just eight games last year and averaged 5.1 points per game while shooting 79.2 percent from the field in limited action. It won’t be easy replacing the production of Obi Toppin as he averaged 20 points per game and was a matchup nightmare all year long. However, look for Dayton to respond by winning 20 plus games and hanging around the NCAA Tournament conversation.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 80.0 (12th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 64.5 (46, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 52.5 (1, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.1 (73, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game 8.0 (92, 3):
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.1 (27, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 72.0 (137, 4)
Rebound Margin: 3.4 (77, 3)
Assists Per Game: 17.6 (3, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.4 (104, 5)
