It is time.

The anticipation and excitement built up throughout the fall can only by stymied partially by volleyball, soccer and football. UD basketball is king on campus, and it is finally ready to start the 2009-2010 season.

This year's team has more excitement surrounding it than any other in recent memory. Coming off a strong 27-8 performance last season including a first-round win over West Virginia in the NCAA Tournament, the Flyers return everyone from last year's team except for Charles Little and Stephen Thomas.

With such a successful season nationally, the expectations are as high as they have been in a long time for this year's squad. The Flyers were picked by a panel of Atlantic 10 coaches and writers to win the A-10 this season. They also have been popping up in various preseason Top 25 lists around the nation. Even with all the hype, the team has stayed grounded and continued to work in the offseason.

"We challenged [the team] immediately after losing to Kansas. The next step for this program is for the guys to take great responsibility in their development as a player," head coach Brian Gregory said. "The guys have done an unbelievable job during the summer and now during the fall and the most important thing is that we keep sticking to the things that have got us successful to this point."

One aspect of the game that made UD successful last season was a fast-paced style of play featuring a constant high tempo, plenty of substitutions to keep players' legs fresh and tough defense. Flyers opponents averaged just 61.4 points per game last season.

Gregory believes the pace of the game will continue to be important in 2010. "I felt one of the things that really set us apart was the pace we played at," he said. "That high intensity pace was what gave us the best opportunity to be successful. That has to continue, I think we can get even better at that."

UD returns four of five starters and 11 of its top 12 scorers from last season. That means the Flyers seem to have every piece to the puzzle. One thing they will definitely not be short on is leadership. The team boasts seven seniors-Kurt Huelsman, Marcus Johnson (A-10 Honorable Mention), London Warren, Rob Lowery, Mickey Perry, Dan Fox and Luke Kendrick. With juniors Chris Wright (Second Team All A-10) and Devin Searcy having played significant minutes in each of their first two season, the Flyers will bring a wealth of experience to every game.

Next in line figuring to play important roles are the sophomores: Luke Fabrizius, Chris Johnson and Paul Williams. Gregory believes that these players in particular are important for the Flyers' success.

"One thing you look for is freshman to make a big jump between their freshmen and sophomore year, in particular in the areas that are most difficult in that transition from high school to college," Gregory said. "The challenge for all players is no matter what year you were last year, you have to become a better player."

Chris Johnson, an A-10 All Rookie team selection, averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last year, and he is ready to transition into an even better season as a sophomore.

"I feel that we will be better than last year," he said. "We know we just push each other to get better each day."

Rounding out the players who figure to contribute big minutes this season are two new faces. Redshirt freshman Josh Benson and freshman Matt Kavanaugh will bring more size and athleticism to a team that is not short on either.

With the two newcomers on the roster, the Flyers look like a team without many holes. If the team's three point shooting improves (32.8 percent in 2009), Dayton's offense will give opponents nightmares all year long.

With all the talent coming back and being a preseason favorite in the conference, the Flyers will have a target on their backs all season, and they will not be overlooked by bigger opponents. Appearing in some preseason polls is an honor for the Flyers, but they plan on staying grounded.

"For the program its tremendous," Gregory said. "The rankings are nice, nice to see your name on the Web sites and all those different things, but the rankings, as I said last year, won't make one basket for you. More importantly for us, those rankings don't get you in the defensive stance. You have to go out there and prove it."

Marcus Johnson echoes his coach's sentiments.

"Yeah, you do [appreciate being ranked]," he said. "But then again, that's not going to get us a stop on D or get us another basket."

The Flyers boast a schedule with some good games in the nonconference. They open the regular season at home against Creighton from the Missouri Valley Conference. Last year the Blue Jays drummed the Flyers 77-59 at Creighton. UD will be looking for revenge from a game that they never really had a chance to win.

Next UD heads to Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. They have three guaranteed games, the first of which will be against Georgia Tech from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Other possible opponents are Boston University, George Mason, Indiana, Kansas State, Ole Miss and Villanova.

Other potential good non-conference games include Dayton playing at Miami of Ohio on Dec. 2 and at George Mason Dec. 8.

In conference play, Xavier and Richmond figure to be the Flyers' biggest contenders for the regular season crown. UD split two games with Xavier last season and beat Richmond twice, once at UD Arena and once at the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

One thing will be on the Flyers' minds all season long: getting back to the NCAA Tournament. After a successful bout in the tournament last March, the team now knows what they want.

"[Losing in the tournament] was bad because I don't think we ended on a good note, the way we wanted to, but also it gave us a taste of things we wanted and what we need to accomplish this year," Huelsman said.

Gregory has been through the tournament before as an assistant coach at Michigan State, and he is ready to make a run with Dayton as a head coach.

"When you have that type of success and then you win [the first round game], you get a taste of what it's like," he said. "There is nothing like it."