We continue our recruit and return series with the Dayton Flyers, whose season ended Friday with a loss to Wichita State in the South Region. Here is a look at what the 2017-18 season could hold:
Possible 2017-18 starting five:
G: John Crosby
Who is lost: After four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, Archie Miller will bid farewell to four players who were key in the Flyers’ success. It starts with point guard Scoochie Smith, one of the best playmakers in the country the past couple years. He started the past three seasons and was clutch for Dayton late in games. Charles Cooke and Kendall Pollard, the team’s top two scorers, are also gone. Cooke averaged around 16 points the past two seasons after transferring from James Madison and giving Miller a consistent offensive weapon. Pollard has been hampered by injuries the past two seasons, but he played bigger than his 6-foot-6 size and continually came up big in key games. Chicago guard Kyle Davis rounds out the departing quartet after starting the past three seasons. He was one of the best on-ball defenders in the league and also brought passing and shooting to the backcourt.
Who is added: Dayton is bringing in a five-man class next season, plus the Flyers are redshirting Kostas Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo sat out this past season after being ruled a partial qualifier by the NCAA. The younger brother of Giannis is a very long wing player who brings a different dimension to Dayton. The best true freshman entering the program is Czech Republic native Matej Svoboda, who could step in immediately due to his size and ability to make shots from the perimeter. McKinley Wright is a solid point guard who could push for minutes, while Nahziah Carter -- Jay-Z’s nephew -- is athletic and can play in transition. Jordan Pierce and Jordan Davis round out the recruiting class.
What it means for next season: After Dayton’s success revolving around its versatile and talented perimeter group the past couple seasons, the focus could turn to the frontcourt. Svoboda and Antetokounmpo could play at the high-major level, while Miller also returns Xeyrius Williams and Josh Cunningham. Williams anchored the post this past season, and Cunningham is a former Bradley transfer who missed most of the season with a torn ligament in his left ankle. Those two should form a quality inside duo next season. The replacements in the backcourt are likely to be John Crosby and Darrell Davis. Crosby is a Baltimore native whose minutes dropped a bit in Atlantic 10 play, while Davis wasn’t much of an offensive threat but played starter minutes because he can do a little of everything, including shoot from 3. In-state forward Ryan Mikesell also returns; he’s a solid rebounder and stretches a defense.
Trending: Level. With the losses of Smith, Cooke, Pollard and Davis, the first thought is to drop the Flyers a couple notches. But as long as Archie Miller is on the sideline, Dayton will be a threat in the A-10. The incoming freshmen should keep this team competitive in the league.