Dayton Basketball Began Preseason Practices
The Flyers started their preparations for the upcoming 2026-27 season with a roster featuring nine newcomers.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Basketball
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The University of Dayton basketball team opened its preseason practice sessions as the program looks to end a two-year absence from the NCAA tournament. Head coach and staff are integrating a group of 14 scholarship players that includes nine new additions.
Why it matters
The team is seeking to return to the national tournament and secure its first Atlantic 10 regular-season championship since 2020. Successfully rebuilding the squad with a high volume of new personnel is essential to reversing the program's recent postseason drought.
The roster features 14 total scholarship players, nine of whom are newcomers to the program. The squad enters the year aiming to improve upon a two-year stretch where they missed the NCAA tournament despite accumulating 48 total wins.
The players
University of Dayton
This private Catholic research university operates a prominent NCAA Division I basketball program in the Atlantic 10.
Jaiun Simon
The forward is entering his fourth season as a member of the Dayton basketball program.
Jalen Haynes
The forward is a member of the roster currently working through recovery from a knee injury.
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Xavier
This university operates an NCAA Division I basketball program that will face Dayton in a preseason exhibition.
The details
Practices feature transition-based scrimmage play as the team prepares for an upcoming exhibition schedule. Forward Jalen Haynes remains sidelined while recovering from a knee injury that caused him to miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season.
Timeline
Preseason practices began on September 24, 2026.
The first media session was held on September 30, 2026.
An exhibition game against Xavier takes place on October 7, 2026.
The official Atlantic 10 preseason poll will be released on October 19, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Dayton is attempting to reclaim its status as a top-tier contender in the Atlantic 10 following two consecutive seasons without an NCAA tournament berth. Securing a strong start is critical to building momentum before conference play begins and the league landscape solidifies.
Jalen Haynes is expected to miss the October 7 exhibition game against Xavier, impacting the team's frontcourt rotation early in the schedule. Fans should monitor his medical test results next week to determine if he will be available for the remainder of the non-conference slate.
The takeaway
The Flyers are counting on a large group of newcomers to provide the depth necessary to end their two-year tournament drought. Success this season will likely depend on how quickly these nine players adapt to the team's transition-heavy practice style.
What happens next
Jalen Haynes will undergo a medical test next week to determine his eligibility for early-season competition. The team will play an exhibition game against Xavier on October 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Further reading
For additional updates on the team's progress, visit the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dayton Daily News.
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