NCAA Basketball: 3 teams underrated in way-too-early 2022-23 polls

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 26: Keshad Johnson #0 and Trey Pulliam #4 of the San Diego State Aztecs celebrate as they walk off the court following their 71-67 victory over the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 26, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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NCAA Basketball Kobe Elvis Dayton Flyers (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Dayton

National Media Rankings:

ESPN: 18

Sports Illustrated: 18

CBS Sports (Updated): 22

Bleacher Report: 16

Every year, there are a few mid-major teams that bring back a ton of key players and they always start the year in preseason polls in the late teens or 20s. Dayton isn’t going to be an exception to that rule, but they should be. The Flyers don’t have an NCAA tournament appearance to follow up, but their expectations should still be sky-high.

Dayton started last season with one of the most confusing stretches that college basketball has ever seen. The Flyers began 1-3, dropping games to UMass Lowell, Austin Peay, and Lipscomb. They then took a trip to Orlando for Feast Week and beat Miami, Kansas, and Belmont to win the ESPN Invitational. People took notice, but their 1-3 start was enough to keep them out of the NCAA Tournament.

We saw last year how high Dayton’s ceiling was as well as how low their floor was. This season, their floor should be much higher. The Flyers’ top five scorers were all underclassmen and four of them were freshmen.

There isn’t a huge name to watch out for with this group, but Da’Ron Holmes ll was certainly the featured player. The freshman big man averaged nearly 13 a game on almost 65% from the field. Holmes playing alongside two 40% three-point shooters in Malachi Smith and Koby Brea made for a dangerous offense at times.

Toumani Camara and Kobe Elvis were also solid offensive threats from both two and three and Camara was the team’s best rebounder last season. The team defense from Dayton last year was good enough for a top 40 unit and that was led by R.J. Blakney. Blakney should start for the Flyers next season on a much improved defensive team as a whole.

Altogether, the Flyers’ development curve, a ridiculous upside, and a really good coach in Anthony Grant make for a team that isn’t getting nearly enough hype right now. Dayton should be the favorites in the Atlantic 10 next season and in the top 15 in the first AP Poll.

Current Ranking: 12

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