Oct. 29, 2009

College Basketball Polls

DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton men's basketball team is ranked in both major college basketball polls that were released today. The Flyers are ranked 21st by the Associated Press, and 22nd in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. It is the first time since the 1967-68 season Dayton has been ranked in a major poll in the preseason.

Kansas, Michigan State and Texas were ranked 1-2-3 in both polls.

With UD being ranked at some point in each of the last two seasons, it is also the first time in 49 years the Flyers have been ranked in three consecutive seasons. The last time that happened was the 1958-59, 1959-60 and 1960-61 seasons.

"Being ranked nationally in the preseason is another indication that we are being looked at as a Top 25 program," Dayton head coach Brian Gregory said. "This is the third straight season we have been ranked, but the first time going into the season. Our seniors deserve all the credit in building our program to this level, but with that comes the responsibility of making sure this team performs in practice and in games like a Top 25 program."

"I have confidence that they will do that because that is ingrained in their character. Like I've said before, this is great recognition for our program, but what matters to our team is what we do everytime we step on the court. Our players and staff need to be focused on accomplishments, not compliments."

The preseason favorite in the Atlantic 10 Conference, Dayton returns four starters and 10 of its top 11 scorers from last year's 27-8 team that reached the NCAA Second Round. The Flyer returnees include all four players who earned Atlantic 10 postseason honors in 2008-09: Chris Wright, Marcus Johnson, London Warren and Chris Johnson. Chris Wright was also named Preseason First Team All-Atlantic 10, Marcus Johnson to the A-10 preseason second team, and Warren to the preseason All-Defensive Team.

Wright, who is on the prestigious John Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 and Naismith Trophy Watch Lists, was also First Team NABC All-District, led UD in scoring (13.3) and rebounding (6.6), and set a school single-season record for dunks (54) last year as a sophomore.

Dayton begins its exhibition schedule Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET at UD Arena with Ferris State. The Flyers open the regular season against Creighton, who received votes in both polls, on Saturday, November 14. Dayton travels to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic, where they will open the tournament with No. 22/20 Georgia Tech. No. 5/6 Villanova is also in the tournament.