NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 8 teams in the 2021 ESPN Events Invitational

6. Dayton Flyers

The Flyers took a step back last season after losing the previous player of the year Obi Toppin. They never really seemed to get going due to some COVID pauses. Head coach Anthony Grant will have a mixture of young guys and newcomers heading into a season where Flyer fans have a little higher expectations.

Mustapha Amzil is the team’s returning leading scorer, he averaged 9.9 points and gave the Flyers 5.5 boards. The 6’10 big man, can score facing up and help stretches the floor from the outside. There really could be a big season brewing for him in 2021-2022.

Dayton is bringing in Toumani Camara from the exodus happening in Georgia. Another big man who was a force in the paint, 12.8 and 7.7 rebounds a night. Camara and Amzil will be one of the most feared frontcourts in the Atlantic Conference. Not to mention the 44th recruit in the nation, Daron Holmes, will be on campus next season. The 6’9 forward out of Arizona can play the 3-5 and will be the team’s most versatile guy on both ends of the court.

Really the big thing holding the Flyers back is their guard play. There really isn’t a guard on this roster with any kind of wow factor. Elijah Weaver was only five points per game scorer from a year ago and is the best guard they have coming back. Kobe Elvis comes over from DePaul who is still very young but would need some major improvements to really make a difference in this tournament.

The Flyers are really going to have to dominate down low if they want any kind of success in this tournament. Maybe an early matchup with Alabama, who doesn’t have a lot of bigs would be ideal. Although their guards would just ravish the Flyers off the dribble.