DAYTON -- The University of Dayton Flyers travel to the Windy City on Saturday, Dec. 21, when they square off against Colorado at the United Center in the Chicago Legends. Flyer all-time leading scorer Roosevelt Chapman is UD's Legend at the event. Game time is 6:30 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 9-1 Flyers are now 13th in the Associated Press poll, and 12th in the USA Today Coaches poll. UD defeated North Texas 71-58 Tuesday in its last game.
The game will be carried by WHIO Radio, televised by the CBS Sports Network and streamed on at CBSSports.com. Streaming audio, 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 114.
• Toppin is second in the A-10 in scoring (20.1) and second in FG% (.639, 78-122).
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Jalen Crutcher is fourth in the A-10 in assists (5.5).
Rodney Chatman is 10th (4.0).
• UD is first in D-I in FG% (.537, 312-581) and assists (20.1), and sixth in scoring (84.8).
• Entering the week, Dayton was the only team with two players in the Top 25 of 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 six games.
• In the North Texas win,
Jalen Crutcher and
Ryan Mikesell led Dayton with 16 points apiece.
Obi Toppin had a season-low 11, but match
Trey Landers with a season-high in assists (6).
UP NEXT
• Dayton returns home to a sold-out UD Arena to face Grambling State on Monday. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
• UD will then close out the non-conference schedule with North Florida on Dec. 30.
