The leader of the 2014 Flyers, Devin Oliver wrote, “Flyers win!!!!”
Ryan Mikesell, who spent five years with the program, wrote, “Proud Alum! But I’ll say playing as a player was a lot easier on the nerves than watching as a fan.”
Jordan Sibert, the star of the 2015 Flyers, lent his voice to a video shared by UD’s social media team before the start of the NCAA tournament.
“Moments,” Sibert said. “A minute or a brief point in time. It’s here, gone, here, gone, again and again. Every single day is filled with millions of moments. You can blink, and a moment is gone. And then sometimes ... sometimes there are moments that are different, special, memorable. Believe me, I know.”
Until last week, Sibert owned the latest, greatest moment in Dayton’s NCAA tournament history. He made a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of a First Four victory against Boise State in 2015 at UD Arena. That led to a victory against Providence later that week in Columbus.
Nine years later, a number of Flyers delivered baskets of equal importance in a 17-point comeback — tied for the fifth largest in NCAA tournament history — in the first round against Nevada. Nate Santos scored the last four points in a 63-60 victory in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday. Two days later, No. 7 seed Dayton’s season ended with a 78-68 loss to No. 2 seed Arizona.
It’s fitting this team ended the program’s NCAA tournament drought after seven years and won the program’s first NCAA tournament game in nine years because it was a season marked by record-breaking performances and historical milestones.
Here’s a breakdown of how the 2023-24 Flyers reshaped the record book:
DaRon Holmes II: The junior forward became Dayton’s second unanimous All-American in a five-season stretch. Prior to the performances by Holmes and Obi Toppin, Dayton hadn’t produced an Associated Press All-American since the 1950s and 1960s: Don May (second team in 1968); Bill Uhl (second team in 1956); and Don “Monk” Meineke (second team in 1952).
Holmes averaged 20.4 points. He has 1,745 points in three seasons. That leaves him in 11th place on the all-time scoring list. He’s eight behind John Horan. He’s 488 points behind UD’s all-time leading scorer Roosevelt Chapman (2,233).
Holmes broke Dayton career records for blocks and dunks earlier this season. He ended his junior year with 215 blocks and 242 dunks.
Credit: David Jablonski
Credit: David Jablonski
Koby Brea: Brea became the first Flyer to lead the nation in 3-point shooting percentage. He nearly made almost exactly half of his attempts (100 of 201, 49.8).
Brea is the third Flyer to make 100 or more 3s in a season. Tony Stanley made 102 of 272 (37.5%) in the 2000-01 season. Brian Roberts made 100 of 220 (45.5) in the 2007-08 season.
The official UD record book lists players who attempted at least 30 3-pointers in a season. Coby Turner maintains the school record (61 of 118, 51.7%). Among players who attempted at least 150 3s, Brea has the record percentage.
Javon Bennett: The sophomore point guard set a school record for assist-to-turnover ration (3.29). Larry Schellenberg set the previous mark (3.04) in 1984-85. Bennett averaged 3.3 assists and 1.0 turnover per game.
Team 3-point shooting: Dayton set a school record by making 39.9% of its 3-point attempts. The previous record of 39.2 was set by the 1989-90 Flyers.
Dayton ranked third in the country in 3-point shooting percentage behind Purdue and Kentucky (both 40.9).
Dayton also set a school record from 3s made and attempted (310 of 777). The 1989-90 Flyers owned the previous record for made 3s (261 of 666), while the 2011-12 Flyers attempted the most (257 of 750).
About the Author
