Dayton’s A-10 opponents announced for 2018-19 season

Dayton’s Josh Cunningham dunks against Duquesne on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, at UD Arena. David Jablonski/Staff

Dayton’s Josh Cunningham dunks against Duquesne on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, at UD Arena. David Jablonski/Staff
Sports
By Dave Jablonski
June 13, 2018
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The Dayton Flyers will play two games each against Duquesne, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Saint Louis and Virginia Commonwealth in the 2018-19 season, the Atlantic 10 announced Wednesday. It’s the same group of five teams Dayton played twice last season.

Here’s a complete glance at Dayton’s opponents:

Home: George Mason, La Salle, Richmond, Saint Joseph's, Duquesne, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Saint Louis and VCU.

Away: Davidson, Fordham, George Washington, St. Bonaventure, Duquesne, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Saint Louis and VCU.

This will be the third straight year Dayton has played VCU, which has turned into one of Dayton’s biggest rivals, twice in the regular season.

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This will be the fifth season the A-10 has played an 18-game schedule. Davidson (14-4) won the regular-season championship in 2015, its first season in the league, by one game over Dayton and Rhode Island. Dayton (14-4) shared the title in 2016 with St. Bonaventure and VCU.

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In 2017, Dayton (15-3) won the championship outright for the first time. Last season, Rhode Island (15-3) won its first A-10 regular-season championship. Rhode Island, second-place St. Bonaventure (14-4) and third-place Davidson (13-5), which won the A-10 tournament, all earned NCAA tournament invitations. Dayton (8-10) fell to ninth last season, one game back of four teams tied for fifth.

The Flyers, who were 14-17 overall in coach Anthony Grant's first season, lost one starter to graduation (Darrell Davis). Five other players left the program. Four starters return, including Josh Cunningham, who led the Flyers in scoring (15.6 points per game) and rebounding (8.4) and made the All-A-10 third team.

The exact dates of the A-10 games will be announced later this summer. Last year, the dates were announced on Sept. 6.

Dayton’s non-conference schedule has not been announced but some games are known:

• The Flyers will play three games Nov. 21-23 in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. The possible opponents are: Virginia, Middle Tennessee State, Butler, Florida, Oklahoma, Stanford and Wisconsin.

• Mississippi State will play at Dayton on Nov. 30.

• Dayton will play Tulsa on Dec. 16 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

• Dayton will also play a road game at Auburn. The date has not been announced.

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About the Author

Dave Jablonski