NCAAB: Dayton odds-on favorite to win Atlantic 10 Tournament
Dayton forward Obi Toppin (righ) brings the ball up the court against Saint Louis. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)
February 17th, 2020
The No. 5 Dayton Flyers are on pace to achieve one of the best seasons in program history. With just six games remaining until the Atlantic 10 Tournament, the 23-2 Flyers are the odds-on favorite to claim the conference championship trophy and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
| Team | Odds to win A10 tournament |
|---|
Dayton Flyers | -140 |
Rhode Island Rams | +350 |
VCU Rams | +450 |
Richmond Spiders | +1600 |
Duquesne Dukes | +1800 |
George Mason Patriots | +2500 |
Saint Louis Billikens | +3000 |
Head coach Anthony Grant’s squad is undefeated in conference play so far. The team’s only two losses on the season came to then-No. 4 Kansas and Colorado, both in overtime on neutral courts.
Since the defeat to the Buffaloes in late December, the Flyers have put together a 14-win streak. The team hasn’t faced much of a challenge in conference play, though Saint Louis nearly edged Dayton in overtime at Chaifetz Arena, and Duquesne suffered a close, 73-69 defeat in Pittsburgh.
GOING TO OT!
— Cold Blooded Sports (@ColdBloodedChat) November 28, 2019
- #4 Kansas is on Upset Watch as Dayton hits a Buzzer Beater to Force OT!! #Kansas #Jayhawks pic.twitter.com/iDWSxbLkuX
It’s difficult to find an opponent in the A10 capable of taking down the Flyers, but history isn’t on Dayton's side.
The Flyers have won the A10 championship just once, in 2003, and have been one-and-done in the tournament for the past three years.
In 2019 Dayton scored a bye as a No. 3 seed but fell to eventual A10 champion St. Louis, 64-55, in the quarterfinals.
While VCU is in the middle of the pack in the conference, with a 7-5 record, the Rams (+450) are another team to watch out for. Since 2013 VCU has made the finals of the tournament five times and won it all in 2015.
However, in 2020, the most dangerous Rams hail from Rhode Island (+350). The second-place team in the A10 earned the conference tournament title in 2017 and was runner-up to Davidson in 2018.
Fatts Russell has taken his game to another level for Rhode Island. He plays with extra spring/bounce in his step, consistently winning in iso situations. The JR. has great shake-ability & has improved his %’s as a shooter as well. 2nite he scored a game high 30 in a W over VCU. pic.twitter.com/jglWQjGP80
— Nxt1sColin (@Nxt1sColinBrown) February 1, 2020
Rhode Island visited Dayton in mid-February for an 81-67 thumping, but the story may be different when the Rams host the Flyers on March 4. Junior guard Fatts Russell is averaging 20.2 points per game and could give Wooden Award candidate Obi Toppin (19.7 points, 7.8 rebounds) a run for his money.
The 19-6 Richmond Spiders (+1600) are a longshot to consider. They played Dayton to an eight-point decision at home. Richmond last hoisted the A10 trophy in 2011, when they downed the Flyers, 67-54, in the championship game.
Since Temple’s three-peat from 2008-2010, no team has dominated in the Atlantic 10 Tournament, and an unsuspecting champion may emerge in 2020. But based on Dayton’s superiority in the conference thus far, it’s the Flyers’ time to shine in the A10 and beyond.
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