Anthony Grant focusing on returning players, recruits

ESPN's Joe Lunardi didn't include the Dayton Flyers in his way-too-early first Bracketology of the 2017-18 season.

The Flyers have played in four straight NCAA tournaments but lost four senior starters. They also have a new head coach, Anthony Grant, who is working on building a staff and convincing four signed recruits to stay with UD despite the departure of Archie Miller to Indiana.

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Lunardi’s first bracket prediction had two Atlantic 10 teams in it: No. 11 seeds Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure.

Dayton does return seven letterwinners and adds 6-foot-10 redshirt freshman Kostas Antetokounmpo, who sat out last season as a NCAA partial qualifier.

“I don’t have any preconceived notions of anybody,” Grant said Saturday at his introductory press conference at UD Arena. “I’m coming from the NBA. Fortunately or unfortunately, however you want to look at it, I really have to learn these guys. I have to learn the league. My expectation immediately is for us to make these guys the best version of these guys they can be. I think that’ll be enough to make sure we’re more than competitive in this league.

“My first priority will be take care of these guys on campus and make sure they are where they need to be and then the recruiting class, go out and meet with those families and reassure them this is the right place for their son and whatever family member it is that is involved in the process and get them here. There’s a lot to do in terms of getting everything in place.”

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About the Author

Dave Jablonski