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Dayton vs Virginia Tech: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Dave Ascoli

Nov 28, 2021; Orlando, FL, USA; Dayton Flyers guard Malachi Smith (11) dribbles the ball against the Belmont Bruins in the second half at HP Field House. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2021; Orlando, FL, USA; Dayton Flyers guard Malachi Smith (11) dribbles the ball against the Belmont Bruins in the second half at HP Field House. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dayton Flyers already have a couple of big-time victories so far this season. Can they grab another one against Virginia Tech?

Game time: Sunday, December 12, 2:00 p.m. ET
TV schedule: ESPN2
Location: UD Arena, Dayton, OH

If you had told college basketball fans back on November 20th that Dayton vs Virginia Tech was going to be a riveting game, they probably would have laughed. The Flyers were sitting at 1-3 on that date and staring a disappointing season square in the face. But five wins (including some huge ones) later, and UD is seemingly back on track. So Sunday’s game against Virginia Tech? It should be a tough one for both squads. Here’s a look.

Dayton’s up-and-down start to 2021 has included losses to UMass Lowell, Lipscomb, and Austin Peay. Not great! But they’ve bounced back with wins over Miami, Belmont, and a massive ‘W’ over Kansas. Their five-game win streak came to an end with a loss at SMU this week, but the Flyers have shown they can beat good teams. If the team from that win streak shows up, Dayton will be in great shape as they look to pick up their third straight home win.

The Flyers are led by a pair of transfers in Elijah Weaver and Toumani Camara. Weaver, a USC transfer, is averaging 11.2 points per game on 53 percent shooting in his second year in Dayton. Camara checks in with an even 10.0 per game after coming to Daytib from the University of Georgia. He’s also the team’s leading rebounder at 6.4 per contest.

True freshman Daron Holmes II rounds out the double-figure scorers with 10.4. Dayton’s issues this season have stemmed from turnovers… they’re giving it up on 20.4 percent of their possessions. Needless to say, that won’t work against a team like the Hokies.

Speaking of Virginia Tech, they’re the inverse of the Flyers in this respect: they’ve beaten up on bad teams but struggled against some of their quality opponents. The one exception is a 62-58 win over Maryland… and the ‘quality’ of the Terps is certainly up for debate. The Hokies sit at 7-3 overall, with their losses coming to Memphis, Xavier, and Wake Forest. And aside from the MD win, Tech hasn’t had any resume builders. Unless you think a road win at Navy moves the needle.

Much like Dayton, the Hokies have their share of transfers making an impact as well. Wofford product Keve Aluma leads Virginia Tech with 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Justyn Mutts — a Delaware transfer — checks in with 10.3 and 7.2, while Nahiem Alleyne (not a transfer!) has tallied 12.0 points per game over his first 10.

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The key for the Hokies is pace. They’re one of the most deliberate teams in the country, so slowing things down will be key for them in terms of controlling the flow.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 70 – Dayton 62