NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga, Toppin best non-conference mid-majors

NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga, Toppin best mid-major performers of the non-conference

By Logan Butts | Dec 31, 2019

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs huddles with his players during a timeout in the second half against the Eastern Washington Eagles at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 21, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeats Eastern Washington 112-77. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 26: Obi Toppin #1 of the Dayton Flyers (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

Best Player of the Non-Conference: Obi Toppin, Dayton

It must be said that I usually exclude the A10 from these articles, including in the previous section. I try to stick to teams from one(ish) bid leagues. But, Obi Toppin has been far and away the best player from any mid-major team.

If the season ended today, Toppin would be an All-American, and arguably a Wooden Award finalist. He has been the best player in the Atlantic 10 and is the reason Dayton has made the jump from solid NCAA Tournament team to Sweet 16 level squad.

The sophomore big man is averaging 18.8 points and 7.9 rebounds plus 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steals on defense. He is scoring efficiently too, with shooting splits of .618 from the field, .361 from three-point range, and .700 from the free throw line. If he can tick up his playmaking a little (2.2 assists per game) he would be one of the most well-rounded players in the country.

For the Flyers to not only survive but win a very competitive A10 (seven teams in the top 100 of the NET rankings), they will need Toppin to continue to play at a high level.

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