NCAA Basketball: Preseason top-25 mid-major power rankings for 2021-22 season

25. Dayton Flyers

The roster for the Flyers this season is going to be one of the youngest of any team on this list. Not only did leading scorers and seniors Jalen Crutcher and Ibi Watson move on, but big man Jordy Tshimanga graduated, Chase Johnson left the team and Rodney Chatman transferred to Vanderbilt.

Yet while the new core of Dayton Basketball is fairly young, there’s still plenty of promise and potential. That starts with Mustapha Amzil, who joined the team at the end of the calendar year last season and started out strong, with 22 points against La Salle in his debut and six straight games in double figures overall. With a full offseason and relatively normal overall schedule, look for the 6’10 forward to become a breakout star in the Atlantic 10.

Amzil, Georgia transfer Toumani Camara, and Zimife Nwokeji create Dayton’s frontcourt, which has plenty of skill, size, and depth compared to last season. And look for Da’Ron Holmes, the highest-rated ever commit out of high school for the program to have a major impact as well. The 6’8 combo forward could very well start at the three-spot but if that’s an issue, he’ll be a top-tier 6th man for the Flyers.

The backcourt is in solid shape but has more questions without Crutcher around. USC transfer Elijah Weaver will move over to the lead guard role as the PG, while DePaul transfer Kobe Elvis comes into the rotation as well. Freshmen Malachi Smith and Lynn Greer flew under the radar once Holmes committed but these three-star guards are going to see playing time and could even start ahead of the transfers.

The frontcourt is going to be good but we have to see how the guards look before believing they can be true contenders at the top of the A-10. But with just two upperclassmen and no true seniors on the roster, look for Dayton to climb up next year’s mid-major basketball rankings a year from now.