Dayton Flyers vs. UMass: Everything you need to know about Saturday’s game

UD swept the season series a year ago

Who: Massachusetts (7-8, 1-1) at No. 15 Dayton (13-2, 2-0)

When: 12:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: UD Arena

TV/Radio: NBC Sports Network; 1290 and 95.7 WHIO

» RECRUITING: Dayton offers scholarship to four-star player

Probable Dayton starters

Obi Toppin, 6-9, R-So., F, 19.5

Jalen Crutcher, 6-1, Jr., G, 12.9

Trey Landers, 6-5, Sr., G, 10.6

Ryan Mikesell, 6-7, R-Sr., F, 10.6

Rodney Chatman, 6-1, R-Jr., G, 8.9

Probable UMass starters

Tre Mitchell, 6-9, Fr., C, 14.7

Sean East, 6-3, Fr., G, 12.0

Carl Pierre, 6-4, Jr., G, 14.5

Sambo Diallo, 6-7, So., F, 6.5

Keon Clergeot, 6-1, R-Jr., G, 6.4

» DAYTON COVERAGE: Comparing current teams to great UD teams of recent past

Last game: Dayton won 80-67 at Saint Joseph's on Sunday. UMass beat La Salle 77-69 on Wednesday in Amherst, Mass.

Series history: It's tied 14-14. UMass swept two games in the 2017-18 season. Dayton swept two games last season, winning 72-67 at UD Arena and 72-48 at UMass. The teams meet again Feb. 15 in Amherst, Mass.

Coaches: Anthony Grant is 48-31 in his third season at Dayton. Matt McCall is 31-49 in his third season at UMass.

About Dayton: Dayton has an 96 percent chance of winning this game, according to KenPom.com, which predicts an 84-64 score. … The Flyers had eight turnovers in their last game. It was the first time they had fewer than 10 in a game this season. … Dayton has made 89 percent (34 of 38) of its free throws in the last two games after making 62.5 percent (30 of 48) in the previous two games. Dayton is shooting 67.1 percent at the line in home games and 78.9 percent away from UD Arena. … Toppin was added to the watch list for the Wooden Award, one of the nation's top honors, this week. He was not on the preseason watch list.

» MARCH FORECAST: Where Dayton stands in NCAA tournament picture

About UMass: East has won the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week award twice. He averaged 22 points last week in losses to Akron and Saint Louis. … Pierre reached the 1,000-point milestone Wednesday. He made his first seven shots from the field, including five 3-pointers. Diallo had his second straight double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. … UMass was picked to finish 11th in the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason poll. It tied for 12th last season and finished 13th out of 14 teams two years ago.

Hall of Fame ceremony: The University of Dayton Athletic Hall of Fame will add three members Saturday when 2011 graduate Chris Wright, 1974 graduate Tim Wabler and 2011 graduate Kristin Daugherty Ronai are honored at halftime.

Looking ahead: Dayton plays VCU at 8 p.m. Tuesday at UD Arena.

About the Author