Busting Brackets
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Dayton vs. VCU: 2019-20 key storylines for heavyweight A-10 clash

By Jason Burgess

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 27: The Dayton Flyers bench celebrates during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 27, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 27: The Dayton Flyers bench celebrates during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 27, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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DAYTON, OHIO – DECEMBER 30: Trey Landers #3 of the Dayton Flyers (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OHIO – DECEMBER 30: Trey Landers #3 of the Dayton Flyers (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

2. Dayton likes to share the ball

Toppin might be Dayton’s most important player but one thing that makes Anthony Grant’s team so strong this season is that the Flyers are one of the best teams in the country at distributing the basketball. Entering this important game with VCU, the Flyers are the 2nd best team in the sport in assists per game, they rank 6th in total assists and 5th in assist-to-turnover ratio.

But when looking at the roster it isn’t just the starters that contribute in this area, it is a trait that the entire roster possesses and a team that moves the ball and isn’t afraid to make the extra pass makes them difficult to defend and that is a big reason why they are currently ranked No. 13 in the country.

The backcourt is led by a pair of 6’1 juniors, Jalen Crutcher and Rodney Chatman, who combine to dish out 9.5 dimes per game, but the other starters, Toppin, Ryan Mikesell, and Trey Landers all add at least 1.8, and reserve guard Ibi Watson contributes 1.2 more. That’s what makes the Flyers so hard to deal with, they have six players averaging at least nine points per game, they all have taken at least 113 shots and they aren’t afraid to share the ball with each other.