Obadiah Toppin
FILE - Kansas guard Marcus Garrett (0) shoots over Kansas State guard Cartier Diarra (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Manhattan, Kan., in this Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, file photo. Garrett averaged 9.2 points last season. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner, File)
Iowa's Garza heads list of notable seniors in 2020-21 season

By Steve Megargee Nov. 18, 2020 04:14 AM EST
Iowa forward Luka Garza could have heard his name called in Wednesday night’s

FILE - Rhode Island's Jacob Toppin reacts as he runs the court during an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton, in Dayton, Ohio, in this Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, file photo. The No. 10 Wildcats lost five starters among nine departures from last season. The addition of former Rhode Island forward Jacob Toppin should provide some much needed experience. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)
No. 10 Kentucky once again welcomes cadre of new players

By Gary B. Graves Nov. 11, 2020 02:42 PM EST
Even for a program accustomed to roster turnover, Kentucky’s latest personnel

FILE - In this March 3, 2020, file photo, Iowa center Luka Garza shoots a free throw during an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue in Iowa City, Iowa. Seniors Garza of Iowa and Baylor's Jared Butler headline The Associated Press 2020-21 preseason All-America team, announced Wednesday, Nov. 11. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Garza, Butler headline AP preseason All-America team

By John Marshall And Aaron Beard Nov. 11, 2020 12:01 PM EST
The coronavirus pandemic initially clouded Luka Garza’s decision whether to

FILE - Virginia head coach Tony Bennett directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Virginia Tech in Charlottesville, Va., in this Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, file photo. Virginia will begin the college basketball season at No. 4 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll released Monday, Nov. 9, 2020.(AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
No. 1 Zags: Gonzaga begins season atop Top 25 for first time

By Dave Skretta Nov. 09, 2020 12:01 PM EST
Just about the only thing Gonzaga has left to accomplish under Mark Few is win

Rhode Island's Jacob Toppin reacts as he runs the court during an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton won 81-67. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Kentucky transfers Sarr, Toppin immediately eligible to play

Oct. 21, 2020 09:33 PM EDT
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky announced Wednesday that the NCAA and

Rhode Island's Jacob Toppin reacts as he runs the court during an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton won 81-67. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Kentucky adds Rhode Island guard Jacob Toppin as transfer

Apr. 20, 2020 08:14 PM EDT
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky has signed former Rhode Island forward Jacob

FILE - In this Feb. 20, 2020, file photo, Iowa center Luka Garza celebrates after making a basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State in Iowa City, Iowa. Garza was selected to The Associated Press All-America first team, Friday, March 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Iowa's Garza enters draft, keeps college eligibility for now

Apr. 10, 2020 01:15 PM EDT
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa All-America center Luka Garza announced he'll enter

Oregon guard Payton Pritchard (3) shoots against Stanford forward Lukas Kisunas (32) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, March 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Thomas Boyd)
Dayton's Obi Toppin wins Wooden Award as top hoops player

Apr. 07, 2020 03:24 PM EDT
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — Obi Toppin of Dayton won the John R. Wooden Award as the

FILE - In this April 8, 2013, file photo, Michigan guard Trey Burke (3) walks off the court as confetti falls on Louisville players, including Russ Smith (2), Luke Hancock (11), Stephan Van Treese (44) and Zach Price (25), after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game in Atlanta. Coronavirus stopped March Madness before it could begin, meaning there would be no men's national college basketball tournament and no championship game. The virus also silenced another long-standing tradition, but Max Goren refused to let that tradition die. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton, File)
College student fills void with 'One Shining Moment' video

By Tom Foreman Jr. Apr. 06, 2020 02:03 PM EDT
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — When it was apparent there would be no NCAA men's

FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2019, file photo, Dayton head coach Anthony Grant, left, speaks with Obi Toppin (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Drake, in Dayton, Ohio. Toppin and Grant have claimed top honors from The Associated Press after leading the Flyers to a No. 3 final ranking. Toppin was voted the AP men's college basketball player of the year. Grant is the AP coach of the year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Column: Remembering Final Four that never was in the A-T-L

Paul Newberry Apr. 03, 2020 05:11 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — It would’ve been a magnificent weekend.

FILE - In this Feb. 20, 2020, file photo, Iowa center Luka Garza celebrates after making a basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State in Iowa City, Iowa. Garza was selected the Associated Press Big Ten Player of the Year Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Toppin, Howard, Powell among finalists for Wooden Award

Apr. 01, 2020 07:21 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Udoka Azubuike of Kansas, Luka Garza of Iowa, Markus Howard

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2020, file photo, Dayton's Obi Toppin, left, celebrates scoring his 1,000th career point with head coach Anthony Grant after an NCAA college basketball game against Duquesne, in Dayton, Ohio. Toppin and Grant have claimed top honors from The Associated Press after leading the Flyers to a No. 3 final ranking. Toppin was voted the AP men's college basketball player of the year, Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Grant is the AP coach of the year. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)
Dayton's Obi Toppin -- AP player of year -- heading to NBA

By Joe Kay Mar. 25, 2020 04:31 PM EDT
Dayton's Obi Toppin is headed to the NBA after leading the Flyers to a 29-2

FILE - In this Feb 1, 2020, file photo, Dayton's Obi Toppin (1) drives to the basket against St. Louis forward Jimmy Bell Jr. (32) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Dayton, Ohio. Toppin was voted the AP men's college basketball player of the year, Tuesday, March 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble, File)
Dayton double: Flyers' Toppin, Grant claim AP top honors

By Aaron Beard Mar. 24, 2020 12:01 PM EDT
Obi Toppin and Anthony Grant spent the season transforming Dayton from an

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2020, file photo, Dayton's Obi Toppin (1) reacts in the first half in an NCAA college basketball game against Rhode Island in Dayton, Ohio. Toppin was selected to The Associated Press All-America first team, Friday, March 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)
Top Flyer: Dayton's Obi Toppin leads AP All-American team

By John Marshall Mar. 20, 2020 12:02 PM EDT
The college basketball season came to an emphatic, dramatic end with the

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2020, file photo, Dayton's Obi Toppin (1) reacts in the first half in an NCAA college basketball game against Rhode Island in Dayton, Ohio. Toppin was selected to The Associated Press All-America first team, Friday, March 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)
Rhode Island Rams at Dayton Flyers 2/11/2020

Mar. 19, 2020 07:54 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 27, 2019, file photo, Dayton forward Obi Toppin (1) knocks the ball away from Kansas center Udoka Azubuike (35) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lahaina, Hawaii. Kansas and Dayton were headed toward earning No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament, so any meeting would have to be in the Final Four or national championship game. What a rematch it would be. The Jayhawks and Flyers played a high-level game at the Maui Invitational, won 90-84 in overtime by Kansas. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia, File)
The marquee NCAA Tournament matchups that could have been

By John Marshall Mar. 19, 2020 02:14 AM EDT
Seton Hall's Myles Powell and Marquette's Markus Howard went head to head

FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2019, file photo, Dayton's Obi Toppin (1) dunks as North Texas' Javion Hamlet (3) looks on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Dayton, Ohio. Kansas finished the season No. 1 in The Associated Press college basketball poll, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Dayton was third behind breakout stars Jalen Crutcher and Obi Toppin, the leading candidate for national player of the year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Kansas finishes No. 1 in final AP poll; Gonzaga, Dayton next

By Dave Skretta Mar. 18, 2020 12:01 PM EDT
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self has spent much of the past week

FILE - In this Feb. Feb. 28, 2020, file photo, Dayton coach Anthony Grant, center, gives a hug to players Trey Landers, left, and Ryan Mikesell following the team's 82-67 win over Davidson in an NCAA college basketball game in Dayton, Ohio. The coronavirus outbreak has abruptly roused the University of Dayton from its dream of a basketball season. The 29-2 Flyers were rolling into tournament play on a 20-game winning streak that had lifted spirits in an Ohio city battered in the past year by violent deaths and devastation. The NCAA decision to cancel March Madness ended hopes for the small Roman Catholic school’s first Final Four appearance in 53 years. (AP Photo/Gary Landers, File)
Dream denied: Virus dashes Dayton's magical hoops season

By Dan Sewell Mar. 13, 2020 10:41 AM EDT
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — The coronavirus outbreak has abruptly roused the University

Kansas' Udoka Azubuike (35) blocks a shot by Texas Tech's Chris Clarke (44) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)
League tournaments set to impact who gets high NCAA seeds

By Aaron Beard Mar. 10, 2020 02:51 AM EDT
Conference tournaments are likely to carry significant implications when it

Dayton forward Obi Toppin interacts with fans following the team's 82-67 win over Davidson in an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, in Dayton, Ohio.(AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Best player? In college basketball, that's still unclear

By Aaron Beard Mar. 09, 2020 02:25 PM EDT
The unpredictability of the college basketball season has led to uncertainty as