Dayton is the underdog in the Maui Invitational first round matchup against North Carolina. Do they have what it takes to pull off the upset?
TV schedule: Monday, November 25th, 11:30 pm ET (approx). ESPN2
Arena: Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii
In a stacked Maui Invitational field, the Dayton Flyers (5-0) stand out as the lone non-high major. However, the Flyers have consistently been a team that can compete with the power conference programs, already having won over Northwestern in the first week of the season.
Dayton is led by Enoch Cheeks, who averages a team-leading 15.0 ppg and 8.3 rpg. Three others are in double figures, including sharpshooter Nate Santos, Zed Key, and Malachi Smith, who has returned after missing most of the last two years with injuries, now putting up 10.0 ppg and 5.6 apg as the starting point guard.
But without All-American DaRon Holmes around, the Flyers will have a tough time matching up against a team that has one in North Carolina (3-1). The Tar Heels have a top-10 scoring offense, led by last season's ACC Player of the Year, RJ Davis (17.8 ppg and 4.5 apg. Two other guards are having breakout campaigns in Seth Trimble (15).0 ppg) and Elliot Cadeau, who is producing 16.0 ppg and 6.8 apg in his sophomore campaign.
For the Flyers to have a shot at the upset, they will have to neutralize the backcourt of the Tar Heels. They have a former Big East Defensive Player of the Year on the roster in Butler transfer Posh Alexander, but he's struggled to open the season and is in the back of the guard rotation. They'll need his defense to slow UNC down while also needing to make some 3s. But even if that happens, UNC might just have too much in this game to fully take away.
Prediction: North Carolina 80, Dayton 65