Oct. 22, 2009

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PHILADELPHIA - With four starters and 10 of its top 11 scorers returning from last year's 27-8 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the University of Dayton Flyers have been selected as the team to beat in the Atlantic 10 this season, according to a poll of the conference's head men's basketball coaches and selected media released Thursday during the A-10's Men's Basketball Media Day.

The Flyers (27-8/11-5) received 33 of the 57 first-place votes cast. Second-place Xavier had 19 first-place votes, third-place Richmond received four and fourth-place La Salle had two.

"This is another recognition of where the University of Dayton basketball program is progressing to," Dayton head coach Brian Gregory said. "It is a great thing to be predicted to win by those who know the Atlantic 10 Conference inside and out - the A-10 coaches and the people who cover the league on a daily basis. But it is recognition, not accomplishment. It's not in the character of our guys or our program to be satisfied with recognition. We have a very humble group of players who are at the same time very hungry. They feel that they have a lot to prove every time we step on the court."

Leading UD will be preseason first-team all-conference selection Chris Wright, who averaged a team-high 13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds a year ago. The junior forward is among 50 preseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award and Dayton boasts a 41-10 record with Wright in the lineup. Senior guard Marcus Johnson (11.8 ppg.) is a preseason second-team selection, while senior guard London Warren (4.1 ppg.) is on the preseason All-Defensive Team.

Wright was First Team All-NABC All-District and the MVP of the Chicago Invitational Challenge in 2008-09, his first full season in a Dayton uniform. After missing 19 games with a fractured ankle as a freshman, Wright not only came back to lead UD in scoring and rebounding, he also led the team in free throws made (121), dunks (a school-record 54), double-doubles (6) and SportsCenter Top Ten Plays (3).

The proud owner of a 43.5 inch vertical leap, the high-flying Wright seemed to save his best efforts for the best competition. Three of his six double-doubles came against BCS schools, including 13 & 13 in November against No. 15 Marquette to lead UD to the Chicago Invitational Challenge championship, and a career-high 27 & 10 in the Flyer win over West Virginia in the NCAA tournament.

Just as athletic in the backcourt, Johnson led the team in minutes played (28.3) and double-figure games (25), and was second in scoring (11.8), three-point FG% (.360, 45-125), free throws made (66), steals (30, tied with Wright) and SportsCenter Top Ten Plays (1).

While Warren is likely to be the first UD player to lead the Flyers in steals four straight seasons, his value to the Dayton defense is far greater than what he does in one statistical category. Much like a great pass rush takes a football team out of its offense, the on-ball pressure Warren applies every trip down the court is the catalyst for the defensive effort Brian Gregory's teams have become known for. Last year, UD held its opponents to just 39.7% shooting from the field, the school's best effort in 40 years. Offensively, Warren was 30th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.33), but in the last 11 games against 10 teams that played in the post season, he came through with a 3.76 A/T ratio.

UD will open the 2009-10 regular season at home against the Creighton Bluejays on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. ET. The Atlantic 10 opener will be on Saturday, Jan. 9 at home against Duquesne. Prior to the season opener, Dayton will host two exhibition games - Nov. 3 against Ferris State and Nov. 9 against Northern Kentucky. Both exhibition games will tipoff at 7 p.m. ET.

The Flyer Faithful will get its first look at the 2009-10 UD basketball teams this Saturday, Oct. 24, when the annual Red & Blue scrimmage is held at the University of Dayton Arena. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. ET. The morning will begin with an autograph session at 9:00 a.m. ET. The Dayton women's team will play at 9:40 a.m. ET, followed by the men's team's scrimmage at 10:30 a.m. ET. Admission is free.