Dayton Flyers
2021-2022 Overall Rank: #102
Conference Rank: #6 A-10
One still feels bad for Dayton and the timing of the cancellation of the 2019-2020 season. The Flyers were 29-2 overall and a perfect 18-0 in A-10 play and had the potential to make an historic NCAA Tournament run. A season later and the Flyers fell to 14-10 and 9-6 in conference play. That was still enough to get them to the NIT. Once again Dayton is going to have to rebuild after losing four starters from last season. However, Coach Anthony Grant has talent on the roster. It is young talent, but if everything comes together, the Flyers could be playing great basketball by March.
2020-21 Record: 14-10, 9-6
2020-21 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Anthony Grant
Coach Record: 78-41 at Dayton, 271-151 overall
Key Departed Players:
Jalen Crutcher, Guard, 17.6 ppg
Ibi Watson, Guard, 15.7 ppg
Rodney Chatman, Guard, 7.9 ppg
Jordy Tshimanga, Center, 6.7 ppg
Chase Johnson, Forward, 12.2 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Mustapha Amzil, Freshman, Forward, 9.9 ppg
Zimi Nwokeji, RS Freshman, Forward, 5.9 ppg
Elijah Weaver, Junior, Guard, 5.4 ppg
R.J. Blakney, Freshman, Forward/Guard, 4.8 ppg
Koby Brea, Freshman, Guard. 2.9 ppg
Moulaye Sissoko, RS Freshman, Center, 1.4 ppg
Christian Wilson, Junior, Guard
Key New Players:
Richard Amaefule, Freshman, Forward, Transfer from ETSU
Toumani Camara, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Georgia
Kobe Elvis RS Freshman, Transfer from DePaul
Malachi Smith, Freshman, Guard
Kaleb Washington, Freshman, Forward
DaRon Holmes II, Freshman, Forward
Projection:
Mustapha Amzil is the only starter back from last season. As a freshman last year, the 6-10 forward from Helsinki averaged 9.9 points and 5.6 rebounds. Amzil is a dynamic scorer who can use his size in the paint and shoot over smaller defenders from beyond the arc. Zimi Nwokeii, R.J. Blakney and Koby Brea also earned some quality minutes as freshmen and are ready for larger roles. The Flyers will hope to get more out of USC transfer Elijah Weaver as well. The 6-6 guard missed the first semester last season and averaged 5.4 points and 2.4 assists in 18 appearances. Three Division I transfers will help add some experience to the roster, although only Toumani Camara has more than one year of collegiate basketball under his belt. The former Georgia Bulldog averaged 12.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 1.2 steals last season and could emerge as a star at Dayton. Kobe Elvis can provide a nice offensive spark off the bench just as he did at DePaul last season and Richard Amaefule saw limited action during his lone season at East Tennessee State. Dayton will also look to their incoming freshmen for immediate production. DaRon Holmes II, a 6-8 forward, is expected to make the biggest impact right away. Most rosters in conferences like the A-10 do not have a ton of turnover this year. Most teams across the country are loaded with seniors. That is not the case with Dayton and it will be interesting to see if their lack of experience keeps the Flyers from reaching their full potential.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 69.8 (210th in nation, 10th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.8 (99, 7)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.7 (26, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.4 (128, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.0 (105, 4)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.2 (35, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 71.3 (162, 6)
Rebound Margin: -0.2 (186, 7)
Assists Per Game: 13.5 (141, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.4 (258, 12)
Madness 2021 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#41 Daron Holmes Jr
#120 Kaleb Washington
#140 Malachi Smith
