Welcome to the 1st installment of The War Room for 2019. As always, I'll begin this session with the ground rules for those that may be new. Everything that is reported in The War Room must stay in The War Room. Sometimes the info is sensitive enough that it simply doesn't need to be passed on beyond the doors of this message board thread.
This is a special feature for our subscribers only. The reason why it is posted on the premium board is because that's the only way to ensure that the info stays exclusive to Dayton Flyer fans. Thanks for your cooperation.
Without further ado, here it is.... The 1st edition of the War Room for 2019!
2019 TARGETS
As you are all well aware of, Dayton is in hot pursuit of Florida transfer Chase Johnson as well as Sinclair freshman Sean McNeil. The Flyers have hosted McNeil, a wing, multiple times, while forward Chase Johnson took in the Georgia Southern game this past Saturday.
I was told that the unofficial visit for Johnson did not come about until late Friday, early Saturday morning. Donnie Jones is tight with the staff at Huntington Prep and that’s how they were able to score the first visit. According to Evan Daniels, Johnson will visit Pittsburgh this weekend. From what I am told, Ohio State, Marquette, and Marshall are also involved.
According to a source, the timetable is somewhere in the 7-10 day range for him to make a decision. I was told he may also petition for a waiver that could possibly make him eligible immediate in the fall of 2019. While Dayton officially only has one scholarship remaining for 2019, it’s not out of the realm that the Flyers would accept commitments from both McNeil and Johnson, if they were so fortunate.
I am told they are sitting in a really good position right now for McNeil, who would greatly improve Dayton’s perimeter shooting. Sean’s mother and his dad’s mother took in the Georgia Southern game as well, which could mean he’s close to pulling the trigger.
BUILDING BRIDGES
If you’ll recall, Jalen Bridges was supposed to take an official visit to the University of Dayton when they hosted Mississippi State in the non-conference. Just a few days before, Dayton asked to reschedule because his father would not be able to attend the game.
On New Year’s Eve, Bridges tweeted out, “Can somebody make me an edit w a jersey swap????” The 2020 small forward told FlyerHoops that the jersey swap was not for a college decision, but rather where he would attend prep school next year.
He also let me know that his official visit has been rescheduled to the middle of February, when the Flyers host rival VCU. His mother and cousin were going to come in November, but it’s not known if it will be just his mother and father this time or the cousin will make the trip as well.
Bridges currently holds offers from Canisius, Charlotte, Dayton, Drake, Drexel, Duquesne, Hofstra, Howard, IUPUI, James Madison, Mercer, Northern Kentucky, Ohio, Old Dominion, Penn State, Robert Morris, Samford, Temple, Tulane, UT-Martin, West Virginia, Western Carolina, and Youngstown State.The Flyers and hometown West Virginia are the perceived leaders at this point.
2019 SEASON OPENER
From what I am told, Dayton is really trying to get a headliner opponent when they open the completed renovation of the University of Dayton Arena this coming fall. The Flyers, I’ve heard, would like to bring in one of their past rivals for the event, but having a hard time getting takers so far.
Obviously, Xavier has no interest or you wouldn’t have seen them put their Blackburn-McCafferty Trophy up for auction last month. I don’t think you’re going to see those two play each other during the regular season for a while unless it’s an exempt tournament or they’re both competing in the same conference (see next bullet).
I’ve heard they’ve also approached former rival Notre Dame to see if they would be open to traveling to UD Arena for the season opener. It appears that the Irish declined the offer that also included a decent payday. Anthony Grant’s connection to Bill Self this past summer for Team USA may open up the possibility of Kansas coming to UD Arena, but that remains to be seen if they want to go that route and Self would be up for it.
Much different mindset now than it was in 1969 when Bowling Green came in for the opening of UD Arena. It’s no longer let’s make sure we win that first game. Everyone at UD is excited about next year’s roster and I am looking for them to really try and build a solid resume in the non-conference.
BIG EAST OR BUST
For those that have been wondering, there has been very little talk about the AAC recently among sources I have spoke to. In fact, although feelings have been expressed strongly to Sullivan about getting out the Atlantic 10 by some big-time donors, someone close to the situation told FlyerHoops that Neil remains steadfast about the next jump being to the Big East only.
It goes back to what I’ve been told more than a few times about Neil’s feelings that the AAC is not an “institutional fit” for Dayton. With that being said, I do believe that the Big East is going to expand in the next couple of seasons. Remember it was said initially, that the Big East would get an additional 100M if they expand to 12.
In a recent article, it was stated that the Big East was interested in potentially expanding to 11 teams to enable a 20-game conference schedule to compete with the power five conferences. The problem is, because of their geographic location, Saint Louis would likely be the 11th team at this point. The fear is that Dayton and Xavier, although Dayton holds a strong television market on their own, is too close in proximity.
Dayton is trying to sell their recent NCAA success, the Arena renovations, history and tradition, and the two key words again—“institutional fit” as to why they should be the first school in line if, and when, the Big East expands. It’s very important that Dayton is at the top of the Atlantic 10 over the next two seasons and puts them into a position that it’s going to be very hard to be passed over. For where Dayton wants their lifeblood program to be in the future,
SCOUT TEAM
Just a couple tidbits I’ve heard about this year’s scout team that includes transfers Jordy Tshimanga, Ibi Watson, and Rodney Chatman. I was told that the staff is very excited about next year’s team. Ibi Watson is very skilled wing that is one of the team’s best shooters. Rodney Chatman is going to make up half of a dynamic backcourt which will also allow Jalen Crutcher to play more off the ball where he is a very skilled shooter and scorer as well. While Tshimanga has room to grow offensively, he takes up a lot of space in the paint and set screens that will be hard for anyone to fight through.
I believe this should be a Sweet 16 team next season as they’ll finally have the depth and length to play the style that Anthony Grant wants to play. When I mentioned to someone that this may be the best scout team in the country, the reply was “the staff thinks that too and it comes up often.”
It’s easy to get excited about the future, but in a VERY winnable A10, there’s still a lot of damage that can be done with this year’s squad. If they get back to the defense they played against Butler and Virginia in the Bahamas, they can grab the league’s championship and automatic berth in March.
CLOSING
That does it for this edition of the War Room… A formal welcome and thank you to the new subscribers, and as always thank you to all of you long-time, loyal subscribers! You guys are the reason this is the best place to talk Dayton hoops all year round! I want to wish every single of you a safe and Happy New Year and a very successful 2019! Hopefully the Flyers take the three-game winning streak into conference play and are able to keep the momentum rolling. Until next time, WE ARE…..
This is a special feature for our subscribers only. The reason why it is posted on the premium board is because that's the only way to ensure that the info stays exclusive to Dayton Flyer fans. Thanks for your cooperation.
Without further ado, here it is.... The 1st edition of the War Room for 2019!
2019 TARGETS
As you are all well aware of, Dayton is in hot pursuit of Florida transfer Chase Johnson as well as Sinclair freshman Sean McNeil. The Flyers have hosted McNeil, a wing, multiple times, while forward Chase Johnson took in the Georgia Southern game this past Saturday.
I was told that the unofficial visit for Johnson did not come about until late Friday, early Saturday morning. Donnie Jones is tight with the staff at Huntington Prep and that’s how they were able to score the first visit. According to Evan Daniels, Johnson will visit Pittsburgh this weekend. From what I am told, Ohio State, Marquette, and Marshall are also involved.
According to a source, the timetable is somewhere in the 7-10 day range for him to make a decision. I was told he may also petition for a waiver that could possibly make him eligible immediate in the fall of 2019. While Dayton officially only has one scholarship remaining for 2019, it’s not out of the realm that the Flyers would accept commitments from both McNeil and Johnson, if they were so fortunate.
I am told they are sitting in a really good position right now for McNeil, who would greatly improve Dayton’s perimeter shooting. Sean’s mother and his dad’s mother took in the Georgia Southern game as well, which could mean he’s close to pulling the trigger.
BUILDING BRIDGES
If you’ll recall, Jalen Bridges was supposed to take an official visit to the University of Dayton when they hosted Mississippi State in the non-conference. Just a few days before, Dayton asked to reschedule because his father would not be able to attend the game.
On New Year’s Eve, Bridges tweeted out, “Can somebody make me an edit w a jersey swap????” The 2020 small forward told FlyerHoops that the jersey swap was not for a college decision, but rather where he would attend prep school next year.
He also let me know that his official visit has been rescheduled to the middle of February, when the Flyers host rival VCU. His mother and cousin were going to come in November, but it’s not known if it will be just his mother and father this time or the cousin will make the trip as well.
Bridges currently holds offers from Canisius, Charlotte, Dayton, Drake, Drexel, Duquesne, Hofstra, Howard, IUPUI, James Madison, Mercer, Northern Kentucky, Ohio, Old Dominion, Penn State, Robert Morris, Samford, Temple, Tulane, UT-Martin, West Virginia, Western Carolina, and Youngstown State.The Flyers and hometown West Virginia are the perceived leaders at this point.
2019 SEASON OPENER
From what I am told, Dayton is really trying to get a headliner opponent when they open the completed renovation of the University of Dayton Arena this coming fall. The Flyers, I’ve heard, would like to bring in one of their past rivals for the event, but having a hard time getting takers so far.
Obviously, Xavier has no interest or you wouldn’t have seen them put their Blackburn-McCafferty Trophy up for auction last month. I don’t think you’re going to see those two play each other during the regular season for a while unless it’s an exempt tournament or they’re both competing in the same conference (see next bullet).
I’ve heard they’ve also approached former rival Notre Dame to see if they would be open to traveling to UD Arena for the season opener. It appears that the Irish declined the offer that also included a decent payday. Anthony Grant’s connection to Bill Self this past summer for Team USA may open up the possibility of Kansas coming to UD Arena, but that remains to be seen if they want to go that route and Self would be up for it.
Much different mindset now than it was in 1969 when Bowling Green came in for the opening of UD Arena. It’s no longer let’s make sure we win that first game. Everyone at UD is excited about next year’s roster and I am looking for them to really try and build a solid resume in the non-conference.
BIG EAST OR BUST
For those that have been wondering, there has been very little talk about the AAC recently among sources I have spoke to. In fact, although feelings have been expressed strongly to Sullivan about getting out the Atlantic 10 by some big-time donors, someone close to the situation told FlyerHoops that Neil remains steadfast about the next jump being to the Big East only.
It goes back to what I’ve been told more than a few times about Neil’s feelings that the AAC is not an “institutional fit” for Dayton. With that being said, I do believe that the Big East is going to expand in the next couple of seasons. Remember it was said initially, that the Big East would get an additional 100M if they expand to 12.
In a recent article, it was stated that the Big East was interested in potentially expanding to 11 teams to enable a 20-game conference schedule to compete with the power five conferences. The problem is, because of their geographic location, Saint Louis would likely be the 11th team at this point. The fear is that Dayton and Xavier, although Dayton holds a strong television market on their own, is too close in proximity.
Dayton is trying to sell their recent NCAA success, the Arena renovations, history and tradition, and the two key words again—“institutional fit” as to why they should be the first school in line if, and when, the Big East expands. It’s very important that Dayton is at the top of the Atlantic 10 over the next two seasons and puts them into a position that it’s going to be very hard to be passed over. For where Dayton wants their lifeblood program to be in the future,
SCOUT TEAM
Just a couple tidbits I’ve heard about this year’s scout team that includes transfers Jordy Tshimanga, Ibi Watson, and Rodney Chatman. I was told that the staff is very excited about next year’s team. Ibi Watson is very skilled wing that is one of the team’s best shooters. Rodney Chatman is going to make up half of a dynamic backcourt which will also allow Jalen Crutcher to play more off the ball where he is a very skilled shooter and scorer as well. While Tshimanga has room to grow offensively, he takes up a lot of space in the paint and set screens that will be hard for anyone to fight through.
I believe this should be a Sweet 16 team next season as they’ll finally have the depth and length to play the style that Anthony Grant wants to play. When I mentioned to someone that this may be the best scout team in the country, the reply was “the staff thinks that too and it comes up often.”
It’s easy to get excited about the future, but in a VERY winnable A10, there’s still a lot of damage that can be done with this year’s squad. If they get back to the defense they played against Butler and Virginia in the Bahamas, they can grab the league’s championship and automatic berth in March.
CLOSING
That does it for this edition of the War Room… A formal welcome and thank you to the new subscribers, and as always thank you to all of you long-time, loyal subscribers! You guys are the reason this is the best place to talk Dayton hoops all year round! I want to wish every single of you a safe and Happy New Year and a very successful 2019! Hopefully the Flyers take the three-game winning streak into conference play and are able to keep the momentum rolling. Until next time, WE ARE…..
