The Flyer Mentality: How the University of Dayton men’s basketball team responds to adversity
DAYTON, Ohio (BVM) — In Dayton, Ohio, basketball is a way of life. Unlike many colleges across the country who look forward to college football and Saturday tailgates, the University of Dayton has a different approach. It is not necessarily the fall weekends that bring large crowds and sports fans into the local area, but rather the long winter months. Once the trees are bare and the cold temperatures hit, Dayton prepares for an exuberant and action-packed basketball season.
The Dayton Flyers have created a name for themselves in the collegiate basketball world starting back in the 1960s. Two consecutive visits to the Sweet Sixteen and a continuous NCAA Tournament invitation put the basketball team on a national pedestal. Although Dayton has had its ups and downs since the beginning of the program, they always find a way to come back and change the game.
In 2014, March Madness at the University of Dayton was an experience like no other. The Flyers had been having an exceptional season, finishing 23-10 and seeded eleventh upon entering the NCAA tournament. Their first opponent to battle was the big dog of Ohio, the Ohio State Buckeyes. After a thriller of a game, the Flyers topped the Buckeyes 60-59 and moved on to a second-round appearance against No. 3 Syracuse.
Syracuse was far from a close match, as Dayton just got away with a 55-53 win. Stunning the nation, the Flyers moved on to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in 30 years. As one could imagine, the excitement was unbearable to hand. Heading into the game against Stanford, the Flyers just had one more win to achieve before heading to the Elite Eight for the second time in program history.
An 82-72 win against Stanford made Dayton’s dream a reality. While the Flyers were making history, the entire Dayton basketball program was earning national recognition. The momentous run ended with a loss to No. 1 Florida, but the spirit of Dayton never truly left the college basketball scene after.
The 2019-20 season had an unfortunate end, but the entirety of the season was anything but unfortunate. Under Anthony Grant and Obi Toppin, the Dayton Flyers took their game to the next level, ending the season undefeated in the Atlantic 10 Conference and No. 3 in the country. Dayton had not been ranked that high since the 1951-52 season.
Although the thought of what could have been last season may continue to haunt Dayton, the basketball team has since prospered on in hopes of a brighter future. While superstar Obi Toppin has entered the NBA to play for the New York Knicks, the Flyers are still packed with talented athletes and a knowledgeable coaching staff.
Jalen Cructher and Ibi Watson lead the team in most points averaged per game this season, with Crutcher at 19.3 points and Watson with 15.2 points. Meanwhile, head coach Anthony Grant continues to seek top prospects to carry on the Flyer mentality.
Currently, Dayton is sixth in the Atlantic 10, with an overall record of 10-5. While hopes of a possible NCAA Tournament appearance might be slipping away, the Flyers are continuing to fight on and develop an improved team chemistry. Dayton still has seven games to go until the conclusion of the regular season, so there is plenty of time to change the mid-season doubts and end on a high note.
The resilience that Dayton has shown through program history proves that anything is possible with a good mindset and tough dedication. If one thing is for certain, no matter the year or the success, there will always be an adoration for the University of Dayton men’s basketball team.
