DAYTON -- The University of Dayton Flyers are back in action Tuesday, Dec. 17, when the North Texas Mean Green visit Tom Blackburn Court. Game time is 7 p.m. ET.
Dayton fell in overtime 90-84 to now-No. 1 Kansas in the Maui finals, after getting double-digit wins over Georgia (80-61) and Virginia Tech (89-62). Dayton's tournament run propelled them into the national rankings. The 8-1 Flyers are now 13th in the Associated Press poll, and 12th in the USA Today Coaches poll. UD defeated Drake 78-47 Saturday in its last game.
The game will be carried by WHIO Radio, televised on Spectrum News 1 and streamed on ESPN+. Streaming audio, streaming video and stats will be available at DaytonFlyers.com.
THE TRANSFORMED UD ARENA
The University of Dayton has completed a three-year, $76.2 million transformation project of UD Arena in time for the Arena's 50th anniversary season. The project transformed the 50-year-old facility into a state-of-the-art venue. The upgrade, the largest construction project in University history, modernizes the Arena without losing the "soul of the bowl" – the atmosphere that has made UD Arena one of the best places to watch college basketball.
#TRENDING
• This is Dayton's first national ranking in head coach
Anthony Grant's short tenure (two years and six games when the Flyers were first ranked) as the Flyer head coach. UD was last ranked this high in December of 1968, when the Flyers were ranked sixth.
•
Obi Toppin is on three national player of the year watch lists -- the USBWA's Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch Lis, the James Naismith Trophy and Lute Olson Award. The Preseason First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection is also on the Karl Malone Award Watch List, which goes to the top power forward. Jay Bilas listed him as his top breakout candidate this year.
• Toppin had his 100th career dunk during the Virginia Tech game in Maui, which was just his 20th start and 38th career game. He now has 112.
• Toppin is second in the A-10 in scoring (21.1) and second in FG% (.652, 73-112).
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Jalen Crutcher is third in the A-10 in assists (5.8).
Rodney Chatman is 10th (4.3).
• UD is first in D-I in FG% (.540, 288-533) and assists (20.1), and third in scoring (86.3).
• Dayton is the only team with two players in KenPom's effective FG% --
Trey Landers is 16th and
Obi Toppin is 19th.
• Seven different Flyers have already scored in double figures this season, and five different players have led UD in scoring over the last five games.
• In the win over Drake,
Ibi Watson led UD with 20 points.
Obi Toppin added 19, followed by
Trey Landers (12) and
Rodney Chatman (10). Landers had 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the year.
UP NEXT
•The Flyers will play in their second NBA Arena in three weeks, heading to the United Center to take on Colorado in the Chicago Legends event. Tip is 6:30 p.m. ET.
• UD is back home for its third game in seven days on Dec. 23 when Grambling State comes to town.
