Dayton Flyers

Dayton is a passionate community that supports and loves college basketball. The Flyers have one of the top homecourt advantages in the game, and their fan base was rewarded with hosting the first games of the NCAA Tournament each year since 2011. Continue reading for more Dayton Flyers Stats.

The Flyers themselves have never won a National Championship but have 18 tournament berths and have been to the National Invitation Tournament 25 times, winning three.

This year’s Flyers team is heavy on underclassmen, and if they stick together could become one of the top teams in the country by the time they are juniors and seniors due to strong chemistry.

So far, they are 12-7, including wins over Miami, Kansas, Belmont, and Virginia Tech. Those won’t go unnoticed come March, but there are some tough losses against Lipscomb, UMass, and Austin Peay on the resume as well.

Their case for an at-large tournament berth if they don’t win the Atlantic-10 will be interesting.

Dayton Flyers Standings

The Dayton Flyers, established in 1904, boast a rich history in men’s college basketball. They have consistently ranked among the nation’s top teams, reaching the NCAA Tournament 24 times, including 3 Elite Eight appearances and 1 Final Four run in 1967. The Flyers have captured 17 conference championships, most recently winning the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2020. Throughout their journey, they’ve produced prominent NBA players like Oscar Robertson, a Hall of Famer, and more recent figures like Obi Toppin and Josh Cunningham. Known for their fast-paced offense and smothering defense, the Dayton Flyers remain a formidable force in college basketball, consistently contending for championships and developing future NBA talent.

Team History

The best team in Dayton history had their postseason wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2019-20 Flyers were 29-2 and projected to be a No. 1 seed in March Madness with eyes on their first Final Four run since 1967, a national runner-up finish. That what-if team will forever leave a stain on Flyers’ fans’ memories.

That team was led by Obi Toppin, the only National Player of the Year Award winner in program history. He averaged 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game.

The first season began in 1903-04 when the school was known as St. Mary’s Institute. Local media referred to the team as the Saints until they officially became the University of Dayton and the Flyers in 1920.

It’s a nickname that pays homage to the Wright brothers, American aviation pioneers from Dayton.

Championships

The lone title game appearance came in 1967, when the Flyers lost 79-64 to UCLA. Listed a forward at 6′-4″, Don May led the Flyers that year with averages of 22.2 points and 16.7 rebounds per game.

Dayton’s three NIT championships came in 1962, 1968, and 2010. May and Bob Hooper ended their career with the 1968 title. Chris Wright and Chris Johnson, who each had brief NBA stints, headlined the 2010 title team.

The Flyers have competed in the Atlantic-10 since the 1995-96 season.

They’ve won three regular-season conference titles in 2016, 2017, and 2020. They were league tournament champions in 2003 and 1990, when they were in the Midwest Collegiate Conference. They also spent two years as part of the Great Midwest. Prior to 1988, Dayton competed as an independent.

Important Team Events

Dayton’s passion for basketball helped the university land the opportunity to host the NCAA tournament’s First Four. “The road starts here … “as Dayton has tipped off the annual event in March since 2011.

When the field expanded to 68 teams, four games were needed to get the field to the original 64-team bracket. Typically two games between 16 seeds and two games between 12 seeds occur midweek before the 64-team field begins days later.

It’s become an event that also recognizes the military. Tickets are given out to those serving and veterans to allow them an opportunity to be recognized by others. It’s an initiative that impacts the Dayton region with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base nearby.

Top Players

Obi Toppin is the best player in Dayton history. Along with his consensus National Player of the Year recognition, he’s also the only Flyer to be a consensus first-team All-American pick. After two seasons at Dayton, he declared for the NBA Draft and was selected eighth overall by the New York Knicks.

There are seven other All-Americans in program history. Don May (1967, 1968) was a two-time consensus second-team All-American. Jim Paxson (1979), Bill Uhl (1956), and Don Meineke (1952) are the other consensus second-team All-American picks. Others to be recognized include Alphonse Schumacher (Helms 1912, 1913), Johnny Horan (1955, UPI third team), Hank Finkel (1966, multiple third-team picks).

Roosevelt Chapman is the lone 2,000-point scorer in program history. The all-time leading scorer finished with 2,233 points playing from 1981-84.

Jim Paxson had the best NBA career, playing 11 seasons and averaging 14.3 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game.

Growing up in nearby Kettering, he would continue his NBA career in front offices of Portland and Cleveland. He was a consultant for the Bulls, advising his son John Paxson, who served as general manager and later vice president of basketball operations after winning three NBA championships as a player in Chicago.

Top Coaches

Since 1947, Dayton basketball has been steadily good. Tom Blackburn coached from 1947 to 1964 and is the best coach in terms of win percentage. His teams went 352-141 for a .714 winning percentage.

Don Donoher took over from 1964-89 and became the all-time wins leader. His teams were 437-275 with eight NCAA Tournament appearances, the national runner-up, and coaching the all-time leading scorer.

Oliver Purnell’s teams were 155-116 from 1994 to 2003 and won the first two conference championships. Brian Gregory followed with a 172-94 record from 2003-11 with two more tournament appearances.

Then it was Archie Miller who compiled a 139-63 record with four tournament appearances from 2011-17 before he left to take the Indiana job.

Fifth-year coach Anthony Grant replaced him and is seeking his first tournament appearance, though he coached the 29-2 team in 2019-20.

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