The great thing about the NCAA Event is that you find yourself with so many matchups, particularly early on, between groups that may by no means in any other case play. Throw within the brief turnaround between the primary and second rounds and each Arizona and Dayton are heading into Saturday’s morning conflict with solely probably the most rudimentary data of one another.
We determined to go one step additional and attain out as soon as once more to Mid-Main Insanity’ Nick Lorensen for some perception on the Seventh-seeded Flyers, who’re 25-7 total and superior to the second spherical by rallying from down 17 with 7:39 to beat No. 10 Nevada. Listed here are Nick’s gripping solutions to our uneventful questions:
AZ Desert Swarm: Dayton started the 2023-24 season 16-2 and was ranked as excessive as sixteenth in mid-February, however ended up ending third in what would have been a 1-bid league earlier than the Flyers misplaced to Duquesne within the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals. How did that each one quantity to a No. 7 seed, and do you suppose that was correct?
Nick Lorensen: “Personally, I feel Dayton is an 8 or 9 seed talent-wise however had such a powerful power of schedule that it pushed them over. The Flyers didn’t have a loss exterior of the KenPom Prime 100, with 11 wins contained in the Prime 100. They beat Duquesne (which upset BYU within the first spherical) twice.”
The Flyers outscored Nevada 24-4 over the ultimate 7-plus minutes to outlive the primary spherical, and did so by urgent and making an attempt to hurry up their opponent. How a lot of that’s of their DNA, or do the general tempo numbers (64.3 possessions per 40 minutes) higher describe this crew’s strategy?
“Dayton likes maintaining its sport below 70 possessions however have been taking part in (quicker) lots during the last month. Clearly a whole lot of urgency being down a lot, so late to Nevada, however they need longer possessions. 336th within the nation in possession size.”
Dayton shoots higher than 40 % from 3 and is superb contained in the arc as nicely. Apart from DaRon Holmes II, who’s a beast, who else does Arizona want to fret about?
“Dayton is one other a type of groups that would have many individuals go off. Nate Santos and Kobe Elvis are superior from deep. Whereas Enoch Cheeks is a superb downhill guard.”
The Flyers don’t appear to place a lot inventory in rebounding, which could possibly be problematic in opposition to a crew that’s high 20 on each the offensive and defensive glass. How do they stop this from being a problem?
“I absolutely agree. Don’t consider they’ve the scale to match with Arizona. You need to win the offensive rebounding benefit to get an opportunity in opposition to a crew like Arizona. Guards should crash and play their nuts off on the boards to have an actual likelihood.”
Prediction time. Can Dayton make its first Candy 16 since reaching the Elite Eight in 2014 (below former Arizona assistant Archie Miller) or will the Wildcats maintain serve and transfer on to Los Angeles? Give us a rating decide.
“I feel Arizona strikes on to the Candy 16. Dayton simply doesn’t have the scale and rebounding prowess to match them. I say, 86-64 Wildcats.”