Saint Mary’s vs. Dayton: 2019-20 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Neil Adler
A pair of one-loss outfits will descend upon Phoenix on Sunday afternoon, as Dayton gets set to collide with Saint Mary’s.
TV schedule: Sunday, December 8, 4:00 pm ET. ESPNU.
Arena: Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Ariz.
Nationally rated Dayton and a solid Saint Mary’s crew will do battle this Sunday afternoon as part of the Air Force Reserve Jerry Colangelo Classic. In addition to the No. 19 Flyers (6-1) versus the Gaels (9-1), this event features match-ups between Tulane and St. Louis, as well as Grand Canyon against Liberty.
Dayton, slotted at No. 3 in the Atlantic 10 Conference’s preseason poll following VCU and Davidson, is off to a strong start in the 2019-20 campaign. The Flyers’ sole loss in the current stanza is on a neutral court in overtime to Kansas, a top-five squad, and Dayton owns high-quality triumphs versus Georgia and Virginia Tech.
Saint Mary’s, meanwhile, has notched impressive conquests of then-No. 15 Utah State as well as Wisconsin at a neutral site in its 2019-20 term opener. The Gaels’ only blemish came at home to Winthrop by two points. In the West Coast Conference preseason ballot, Saint Mary’s checked in at No. 2, behind Gonzaga.
At this juncture in 2019-20, the Flyers are an explosive offensive unit, averaging 88.7 points per contest and giving up 70.1 points. The Gaels put up 75.3 points every 40 minutes while displaying a stingy defense that allows just 60.3 points.
Both of these teams shoot at an excellent clip. Dayton connects on a whopping 54.7 percent from the field, 69.2 percent from the charity stripe, and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc. Saint Mary’s, on the flip side, hits on 49.6 percent from the field as a whole, 74.1 percent from the free-throw line, and a stellar 44.4 percent from long range.
As it pertains to other statistical categories, rebounding, blocks and steals are fairly identical. The Flyers command a massive advantage in assists, and the Gaels hold a sizable edge in turnovers committed.
Dayton’s key player to watch is undoubtedly sophomore forward and All-American candidate Obi Toppin, who is generating 22.1 points and 8.6 boards per affair. Toppin is sensational, making a ridiculous 67.4 percent of his field-goal attempts, along with 76.5 percent from the charity stripe and 42.9 percent from deep.
For Saint Mary’s, keep an eye on this dynamic duo. Senior guard Jordan Ford tallies 20.2 points a game on shooting of 48.7 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from 3-point land, and junior forward Malik Fitts secures 13.8 points and 7.9 rebounds.
Bracketology winners and losers from Feast Week. dark. Next
I’m really excited for this encounter, which should prove extremely close throughout. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index says that each program possesses a 50 percent chance to prevail. Ultimately, I believe that the Flyers’ potent offense will out-muscle the Gaels’ fantastic defense, and the eight-duel success streak that Saint Mary’s has produced will arrive at a halt.
Prediction: Dayton 82 – Saint Mary’s 75