SUNDAY’S GAME
Dayton at Fordham, 4 p.m., CBS Sports Network, 95.7, 1290
One third of the way through the Atlantic 10 Conference schedule, the Dayton Flyers find themselves a game out of first place but still the favorite to win the regular-season championship for the first time since the A-10 did away with divisional play after the 2004-05 season.
The Flyers (15-3, 5-1) trail Virginia Commonwealth (14-5, 6-0). St. Joseph’s (15-3, 4-1) sits a half game back of Dayton. The eleven other teams have at least two losses.
Dayton does not play VCU until the regular-season finale March 5 at UD Arena. That game could decide everything. Of course, there are 11 games between now and then — including a 4 p.m. game for the Flyers at Fordham (12-6, 2-4) on Sunday — and too many scenarios to count.
Potential upsets dot the schedule. Dayton knows that as well as any team. It has three victories over teams in the top seven in the standings: Davidson, George Washington and St. Bonaventure. It also has the worst loss of any team in the top half of the standings: 61-57 at La Salle.
“There’s no doubt about it, this league is as good as any,” Dayton coach Archie Miller said. “It’s always very underrated. This league, from top to bottom, will go down to the last week.”
The Flyers were the preseason pick to win the A-10 title. They earned that status before anyone knew whether senior forward Dyshawn Pierre would return to the team when his suspension ended. Here are four ways Dayton can make those preseason voters look smart:
1. Keep winning at home: The Flyers play three of the best teams in the A-10 at home and don't play them on the road. They've already beaten Davidson (11-6, 3-3) and George Washington (14-4, 3-2). They play VCU at home but not in Richmond. They beat St. Bonaventure 85-79 on the road Tuesday and play them at home Feb. 20.
Dayton has won 17 straight A-10 home games. By the time it returns to UD Arena on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game at La Salle, the Flyers will have gone two days short of two years since their last home loss in conference play: 60-57 to St. Joseph’s on Jan. 29, 2014.
2. Avoid the bad loss: The La Salle loss looks worse by the day. The Explorers have lost three straight games to Richmond, Rhode Island and Temple by double digits since beating Dayton and have dropped to No. 240 in the RPI.
Dayton has five more games versus teams that rank below No. 150 in the RPI, including that rematch with La Salle, two games with No. 201 Saint Louis and road games at George Mason and Fordham, who are tied at No. 164.
3. Keep improving: The Flyers looked in peak form in the first half Tuesday at St. Bonaventure, building a 45-18 lead, but they have yet to play a complete game.
There are still reasons to think their best days lie ahead. Guard Charles Cooke and forward Dyshawn Pierre are turning into one of the top scoring duos in the conference. Center Steve McElvene has played three straight games without getting into foul trouble.
The Flyers showed better ball movement during their dominant first half Tuesday than they’ve shown all season.
“Everyone understands that’s what we try to do,” Miller said. “We constantly preach: share the ball, drive to pass, make the extra pass. We had it all going. Thirteen assisted field goals in the first half was probably the best we’ve had all season.”
4. Get some help: First-place VCU survived one of its toughest road challenges Jan. 16, beating crosstown rival Richmond 94-89 in overtime. Its next biggest test comes Jan. 29 at Davidson.
VCU also plays at George Washington on Feb. 27. Those are the games most likely to trip up the Rams before they play at Dayton.
St. Joseph’s looks like a strong contender, too. It hosts the Flyers on Feb. 17. Dayton has lost five straight at St. Joseph’s.
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