Dayton Flyers building chemistry as preparation for season continues

All the coaches wore masks at practice. Everyone in the media observing the practice from a distance wore masks. UD even handed out small bottles of hand sanitizer to reporters as they entered the building.

This is a new team, but it was easy to tell the returners from the newcomers. Jalen Crutcher, Rodney Chatman, Ibi Watson, Jordy Tshimanga, Chase Johnson and walk-ons Camron Greer and Christian Wilson all wore red practice jerseys. The players who have never appeared in a game for Dayton wore blue: Zimi Nwokeji; Moulaye Sissoko; Lukas Frazier; Koby Brea; R.J. Blakney; and Elijah Weaver.

Dwayne Cohill, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear in October, watched from the sideline, laying down as trainer Mike Mulcahey worked on him.

Dayton started official practice for the 2020-21 season on Oct. 14 and has been moving between the Cronin Center and UD Arena.

“Practices have been going great so far,” Watson said. “We’re just trying to build chemistry and also helping the young guys.”

“I like the talent on this team,” Tshimanga said. “I like the team. I like the guys. I like the coaches.”

Prior to the practice, the four returning seniors and coach Anthony Grant spoke to media via a Zoom call. Here are four highlights from those interviews:

1. Season opener: Grant said Dayton is still planning to play in the Crossover Classic despite the news that broke Thursday of the Ohio State Buckeyes becoming the second team to withdraw from the event.

“Our preparation hasn’t changed at all,” Grant said. “(Athletic Director) Neil (Sullivan) and our medical staff are the ones that will be in charge. To my knowledge, we’re moving ahead like we normally would.”

According to multiple reports, Ohio State withdrew from the event in Sioux Falls because of the COVID-19 situation in South Dakota and the Ohio requirement of a 14-day quarantine upon return from the state.

Saint Mary’s will replace Ohio State in the eight-team field, according to a report by Adam Zagoria.

The Flyers are scheduled to play Wichita State in the opening round on Nov. 25, the first day of the 2020-21 college basketball season.

Last week, Utah became the first team to withdraw from the Crossover Classic. South Dakota State replaced it in the field.

2. Roster update: Dayton will have only two walk-ons this year instead of the five it had last year. The fewer players will decrease the chances of COVID-19 affecting the team.

Assistant coaches are filling in as bodies in practice if Thursday’s practice was any indication. Andy Farrell, a special assistant to the head coach and recruiting coordinator, worked with the team as did graduate assistant Sean Damaska and director of player development Brett Comer.

3. Transfer news: Weaver, a transfer from Southern California, was expected to sit out the season under transfer rules. Grant said UD has talked about applying for a waiver to make Weaver immediately eligible but that no decision has been made on whether it will do that.

The NCAA is allowing almost everyone who applies for a waiver to play this season. Weaver wouldn’t lose a year of eligibility. He could play this year and two more seasons if he gets a waiver because the NCAA is not counting this season against anyone’s eligibility because of the looming threat of the coronavirus disrupting everything.

4. Season of uncertainty: A team that was prevented from playing a single postseason game in March because of the pandemic knows anything can happen this season. Several teams across the country, including at least one Atlantic 10 Conference team, Fordham, have had to pause practices because of positive COVID-19 tests.

“It’s pretty weird,” Crutcher said. “We talk about it. We still don’t know. They say we’re playing Nov. 25, but we never know what may happen.”