Dayton (9-2) earned its highest ranking since 1967 last week and went 1-1 with a 71-58 victory against North Texas at UD Arena on Tuesday and a 78-76 overtime loss to Colorado at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday.
Dayton entered the poll at No. 19 on Dec. 2 and then climbed to No. 14 and No. 13 in the following weeks. This is the first time since the 2007-08 season it has ranked in the top 25 in four straight weeks and the first time it has accomplished that in December since the 1955-56 season.
This week, one voter had Dayton as high as eighth: Seth Davis, of The Athletic. Three other voters had them in the top 10. Two voters ranked them 25th.
Dayton ranks 14th in the NCAA Evaluation Tool and 12th in the Ken Pomeroy ratings.
Gonzaga (13-1) is the new No. 1 in the AP poll. It's the sixth team to earn the top spot this season, following Kansas, Louisville, Duke, Kentucky and the preseason No. 1 Michigan State. Ohio State (11-1) moved from No. 5 to No. 2 after beating Southeast Missouri State and Kentucky last week.
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Dayton (9-2) remains undefeated in regulation time. Its only losses are to No. 5 Kansas and Colorado, which is two spots out of the top 25, in overtime. Saint Mary's is the only other Dayton opponent receiving votes in the poll.
The Flyers play Grambling State at 7 p.m. Monday and North Florida at 7 p.m. Dec. 30 in its last two non-conference games. Both games are at UD Arena. Dayton opens Atlantic 10 Conference play Jan. 2 and Jan. 5 with games at La Salle and St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia.
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