Auburn vs. Dayton: 2018-19 College Basketball game preview, TV schedule
Auburn looks to continue the positive momentum as a top-10 team. But could they be on upset alert against the Dayton Flyers?
TV Schedule: Saturday, November 8, 8:30 pm ET SEC Network
Arena: Auburn Arena in Auburn, Alabama
After finishing in 3rd place in the Maui Invitational. the Auburn Tigers (7-1) had a pair of easy victories against vastly inferior competition. They were able to handle St. Peters by 50 points before this week handling UNC Asheville, 67-41.
It was a balanced effort for the Tigers, with Austin Wiley leading the way with 14 points and five blocks. The defensive effort was good; allowing just 31% shooting from the field and forcing 25 turnovers. But Auburn was sloppy themselves, giving the ball up 19 times in the game.
They can’t afford to do that against their next opponent Dayton (5-3). The Flyers snapped a three-game losing streak this week with a win over Detroit Mercy. Even in those three defeats (Virginia, Oklahoma, and Mississippi State), Dayton was within striking distance at the very end each time.
Offensively, the Flyers have good scoring balance, with six players averaging at least 9.5 ppg. Sophomore Jalen Crutcher leads the way with 13.5 ppg and 5.9 apg. Freshman forward Obadiah Toppin has been a nice surprise to start the season, putting up 12.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg.
Auburn typically has the frontcourt advantage, with four quality players (Wiley, Chuma Okeke, Anfernee McLemore, and Horace Spencer) rotating the minutes. That’s all without starter Danjel Purifoy, who’s serving the last of his suspension to start the season. Although not as talented, Dayton does have the bodies to matchup with the Tigers, with Toppin, Josh Cunningham, and Ryan Mikesell all capable in their own right. That doesn’t even include guard Trey Landers, who leads the Flyers with 7.0 rpg.
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This is the toughest opponent left for Auburn in the non-conference, so a win here would likely bring the Tigers to 12-1 coming into SEC play. But Dayton won’t go down without a fight, keeping it close before the top-10 team flexes its muscles at the end.