What to expect: The Atlantic 10 Tournament

After 126 Atlantic 10 basketball games, fourteen teams are finally ready to descend upon Brooklyn and battle to be crowned Atlantic 10 Tournament Champion.

March 11, 2015; 11:41 AM • by Aaron Williams

Down Year

Despite the losses of Butler, Charlotte, Temple, and Xavier after the 2013 season, the Atlantic 10 thrived in 2014 while sending six teams to the NCAA Tournament. The success was no surprise to followers of the conference and Saint Louis (5 seed), VCU (5), GW (9), SJU (10), Dayton (11), and UMass (6) re-soldified the conference on the national stage. Then Dayton stormed to the Elite Eight. It was a statement year for a conference often overlooked because it lacks football.

By contrast, 2014-15 has been a “down year” in the Atlantic 10. Currently, VCU, Dayton, and Davidson are all projected to make the NCAA Tournament according to bracketologist Jerry Palm, but Rhode Island, Richmond, and GW, all capable of winning the conference tournament, will give the A-10 an extra bid. That’s an exciting prospect, and if this is a down year, I can’t wait to see an up year. Every team in the league is flawed, but high quality basketball is about to descend upon the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. Sit back and enjoy the main course of the fancy steak dinner that is college basketball: March.

The Season

Seed	Preseason Poll	Postseason Rankings	Change
1	VCU	Davidson	+11
2	GW	Dayton	+1
3	Dayton	Rhode Island	+3
4	UMass	Richmond	+1
5	Richmond	VCU	-4
6	URI	GW	-4
7	La Salle	SBU	+3
8	SJU	UMass	-4
9	SLU	La Salle	-2
10	SBU	SJU	-2
11	Duquesne	Duquesne	–
12	Davidson	Fordham	+2
13	GMU	GMU	–
14	Fordham	SLU	-5

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Team Previews

#1 Davidson

Preview, W 71-65 • Preview, L 55-82

Best Player: Tyler Kalinoski – 16.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.4 TOPG

With an offense like #Davidson, who needs defense? If the Wildcats avoid a frigid shooting night, then no one in the A10 can stop them.— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#2 Dayton

Preview, L 55-59

Best Player: Jordan Sibert – 16.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.7 TOPG

#Dayton has talent, coaching, and motivation. Will the short roster finally take its toll when playing 4 games in 3 days? #TrueTeam— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#3 Rhode Island

Preview, W 65-60

Best Player: E.C. Matthews – 16.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2 APG, 3.6 TOPG

#URI boasts the league's best defense (.927 PPP), but you have to score more pts than the opponent to win – and scoring has been a struggle.— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#4 Richmond

Preview, L 55-64 • Preview, L 63-67

Best Player: Kendall Anthony – 16.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.6 TOPG

#Richmond has won 6 straight heading into Brooklyn and has beaten VCU twice. Momentum and K. Anthony are valuable assets in a con. tourney.— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#5 VCU

#VCU struggled into the 5-seed, but Thursday offers an extra game to find HAVOC! b/4 trying to make the finals for the 3rd consecutive year.— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#6 George Washington

Preview, W 72-48 • Preview, L 79-66

Best Player: Patricio Garino – 12.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 2.6 TOPG

#GW has lost 7 of 11, but the Colonials are as talented as anyone. If frosh Yuta Watanabe can space the floor, then the title is the limit.— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#7 St. Bonaventure

Preview, L 71-73

Best Player: Youssou Ndoye – 11.9 RPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.6 BPG

#SBU was the only team to beat Davidson in NC this season. The Bonnies aren’t great, but they lack an Achilles Heel like other A10 teams.— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#8 Massachusetts

Preview, W 78-72

Best Player: Cady Lalanne – 11.4 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.9 BPG

#UMass started 9-3 in the A-10 and was a contender before losing 5 of 6 and becoming a pretender. Lalanne/Esho v. Zack/Wright should be epic— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#9 La Salle

Preview, L 69-74

Best Player: Jordan Price – 17.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 3.3 TOPG

#LaSalle boasts wins over Dayton, VCU (2OT in the Stu), GW, and UR but losses vs. SLU, Fordham, and GMU. Your guess is as good as anyone’s.— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#10 Saint Joseph’s

Preview, W 89-74

Best Player: DeAndre Bembry – 17.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, 2.9 TOPG

DeAndre Bembry averaged 17.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 1.9 SPG for #SJU. A couple of great games from him, and the Hawks could steal a few.— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#11 Duquesne

Preview, W 70-64

Best Player: Derrick Colter – 13.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.6 TOPG

When Derrick Colter and Micah Mason hit 3-pointers, #Duquesne can beat any team in the conference (like UD/GW) despite non-resistent defense— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#12 Fordham

Preview, W 75-58

Best Player: Mandell Thomas – 13.4 PPG, 4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.3 SPG, 2.1 TOPG

After starting 0-9 in the A10, #Fordham is starting to put together its young, talented squad. They’re equipped to beat GMU and threaten VCU— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#13 George Mason

Preview, W 72-60 • Preview, W 71-60

Best Player: Shevon Thompson – 12.8 PPG (), 11.5 RPG, 1.1 BPG

#GMU is one Shevon Thompson away from last place in the A-10. Still, the Pats outscored VCU in the 2H on Sat. and are pesky on the glass.— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

#14 Saint Louis

Preview, W 63-61 • Preview, W 74-54

Best Player: Milik Yarbrough – 10.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.1 TOPG

#SLU accomplished the rare feat of going from champs to last. Gaining experience and remaining competitive are Ws for the 3-15 Billikens.— RVA Ram News (@rvaRAMnews) March 11, 2015

The Prediction

Teams in the Atlantic 10 beat each other up this season–the conference tournament should be no different. Expect one low seed to make a significant upset and a few to threaten the semifinals or even finals. This is March after all.

Davidson, winners of nine straight and owners of a symphony-on-the-court offense, are the favorites, but any of the top five teams could win without much surprise. VCU has struggled recently, but the media has probably over-corrected on expectations and the Rams are under-ranked. Buy low, sell high. If teams are like stocks, then now is the time to buy VCU.

Entering Brooklyn, no team has greater than a 50% chance at earning the crown. In fact, no team probably has a greater than 33% chance to win the tournament. That’s a testament to the strength and parity of the nation’s premier, not-premier conference and it’s one heckuva reason to tune in to all thirteen games.

March 11, 2015 11:41 AM 0