2009-10 Result: 25-12 (8-8 in the Atlantic 10) beat North Carolina 79-68 for the NIT Championship
Coach: Brian Gregory 149-79 in eight seasons at Dayton.
Sixteen Flyers have graduated to the National Basketball Association.
Dayton has earned 14 invitations to the NCAA Tournament including an appearance in the 1967 National Championship game, an Elite Eight showing in 1984 and four times in the Sweet Sixteen.
Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/20 at Ole Miss, 11/27 at Cincinnati, 12/11 at Old Dominion, 12/22 at Seton Hall, 12/29 vs. George Mason, 1/1 vs. New Mexico
Stat of Identity: 39.3 field goal percentage defense (15th in the nation).
Key Returners:
Chris Wright 28.6 mpg, 13.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg
Chris Johnson 24.1 mpg, 11.9 ppg, 35.1 3Pt.%
Paul Williams 20.4 mpg, 5.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Luke Fabrizius 9.4 mpg, 4.9 ppg
Devin Searcy 14.1 mpg, 3.9 ppg
By Paul Casey Gotham
Dayton’s 2009-10 season was one measured by inches. The Flyers’ 12 losses all came by single digits. In the end, Brian Gregory’s crew proved their worth with an NIT Championship that included wins over UNC, Mississippi, Illinois and Cincinnati. Two years ago, Dayton trimmed West Virginia to open the NCAA Tournament. Chris Wright, Chris Johnson, Paul Williams, Luke Fabrizius and Devin Searcy all logged double digit minutes per game for the Flyers that year.
Now, the Flyers have a chance to put their lessons learned to work.
Any discussion about Dayton starts with Chris Wright. The 6’8″ forward was named to the Wooden Award Pre-Season Top 50 List. Wright’s game has gradually developed throughout his stay in Dayton. He will give opposing defenses fits if he establishes a mid-range game this year.
Chris Johnson’s perimeter game provides a perfect compliment to Wright. Johnson led the Flyers in threes taken (188) and made (66) last season.
But any discussion about the Flyers ultimately has to touch on defense. Gregory used wholesale substitutions throughout the season last year. His players came at opponents in waves, and the result created impressive trends on the defensive end of the floor. Dayton limited opponents to 62 points per game. This despite a schedule that saw the Flyers play ten games against NCAA tournament teams.
Dayton finished with a rebound margin just a touch under six. That number will improve.
Fabrizius was limited to 20 games because of injuries last season. He hit 37 percent from behind the arc as a freshman. A healthy Fabrizius will add to the Flyers output.
Red shirt sophmore, Josh Benson will add size inside.
Freshmen, Juwan Staten, Devin Oliver, Brandon Spearman, Ralph Hill and Mitch Asmus will vie for time in the Flyers rotation.
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