Welcome to The Sports Bank’s fourth annual college basketball season preview series where we break 111 teams in the 111 days leading up to the opening tip-off of the 2013-2014 season. We will rank the 84 power conference teams (including the new Big East and American Athletic Conferences) and top 27 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order. We’ll break down rosters, transfers, incoming freshmen, non-conference schedules, and pick a player to watch for each team.
After back-to-back average seasons, Archie Miller is hoping his third year as Dayton Flyers head coach will lead to a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
DAYTON FLYERS
Last Season: T-11th, 7-9 in A-10, 17-14 overall
Predicted A-10 Finish: 4th
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Jalen Robinson (So)/Alex Gavrilovic (Jr)
PF: Dean Oliver (Sr)/Devin Scott (So)
SF: Dyshawn Pierre (So)/Kendall Pollard (Fr)
SG: Vee Sanford (Sr)/Jordan Sibert (Jr)
PG: Khari Price (So) or Dayshon Smith (Fr)/Kyle Davis (Fr)
Gone: PG-Kevin Dillard, F/C-Josh Benson, SF-Matt Derenbecker (transfer-New Orleans)
2013-2014 Outlook:
The Dayton Flyers will rely heavily on their wing play this season and returning starters Vee Sanford and Dyshawn Pierre. A combo guard, Sanford is the team’s top returning scorer while Pierre was Dayton’s most efficient three-point shooter last year as a freshman and is also aggressive on the glass. Add in Ohio State transfer Jordan Sibert and this trio could end up accounting for near half of the Flyers’ offensive production this year. Freshman Kendall Pollard adds even more depth on the wing.
The graduation of Kevin Dillard leaves the point guard position up in the air a bit. Sophomore Khari Price brings the most experience to the floor but is expected to pushed by newcomer Dayshon Smith for the starting spot. At 6-3, Smith has good size for a one and has a more well-rounded game than Price. Another freshman, Kyle Davis will also compete for playing time.
Inside, Dayton returns their leading rebounder in Devin Oliver. Though undersized at 6-7, his athleticism allows him to be effective on the boards and he also possesses a capable inside/outside game. Jalen Robinson was a key reserve a year ago as a freshman and figures to replace Josh Benson in the middle. Robinson is a physical player who should complement the athletic Oliver. Devin Scott and Alex Gavrilovic both played sparingly last season but will battle for reserve minutes inside.
There is a clear cut top three in the Atlantic 10 this season; VCU, St. Louis, and La Salle. Dayton figures to be the next best of the second tier teams in the conference but I’m not sure they have enough talent to earn a trip to the Big Dance.
Player to Watch: Jordan Sibert
The 6-4 shooting guard was lost in the shuffle at Ohio State so chose to transfer a bit west to Dayton. After sitting out last season, Sibert starts anew with the Flyers and could be an x-factor for Archie Miller. Even if he ends up coming off the bench, his ability might be the push Dayton needs to get over the hump and into the Field of 68.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/20 at Georgia Tech
11/25 vs. Gonzaga (Maui Invitational)
11/26 vs. Baylor/Chaminade (Maui Invitational)
11/27 vs. Syracuse/Minnesota/California/Arkansas (Maui Invitational)
12/19 vs. Iona
12/22 vs. USC
12/29 vs, Murray State
1/4 at Ole Miss
OTHER 111 IN 111’S:
#70 Miami FL
#71 SMU
#72 Texas A&M
#73 Long Beach State
#74 UMass
#75 Northwestern
#76 Indiana State
#77 Georgia Tech
#78 Oklahoma
#79 Richmond
#80 Manhattan
#81 Belmont
#82 Texas
#83 Houston
#84 Washington State
#85 Iona
#86 Oregon State
#87 Louisiana Tech
#88 Towson
#89 Wake Forest
#90 Central Florida
#91 Rutgers
#92 Drexel
#93 USC
#94 Charleston
#95 Seton Hall
#96 Vanderbilt
#97 George Mason
#98 Clemson
#99 Penn State
#100 Nebraska
#101 West Virginia
#102 South Florida
#103 Mississippi State
#104 DePaul
#105 South Carolina
#106 Texas Tech
#107 TCU
#108 Virginia Tech
#109 Georgia
#110 Utah
#111 Auburn
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu to Milwaukee. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet , AND the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft. (Yup, nearly 3peat champ… #humblebrag.)
You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.