13-14 A-10 Early Predictions

[Littlebill]

Yes, It's July, but teams are basically set and we know who is going to be taking the floor for the most part. So how does everyone think the final A-10 standings will shake out? I think anyone whose top 2 doesn't consist of VCU and SLU needs to see a doctor. Anyways, here's what I think off the top of my head:

1. SLU

2. VCU

3. UMass

4. LaSalle

5. Dayton

6. St. Joe's

7. GW

8. Rhody

9. Richmond

10. George Mason

11. Bona

12. Fordham

13. Duq

Last year:

Atlantic 10 W-L GB PCT W-L PCT STRK

#16 Saint Louis 13-3 -- .813 27-6 .818 W4

#23 Virginia Commonwealth 12-4 1 .750 26-8 .765 L1

Butler 11-5 2 .688 26-8 .765 L1

Temple 11-5 2 .688 23-9 .719 L1

#24 La Salle 11-5 2 .688 21-9 .700 L2

Massachusetts 9-7 4 .563 21-11 .656 L1

Xavier 9-7 4 .563 17-14 .548 L2

Charlotte 8-8 5 .500 21-11 .656 L1

Saint Joseph's 8-8 5 .500 18-13 .581 L1

Richmond 8-8 5 .500 18-14 .563 L1

George Washington 7-9 6 .438 13-17 .433 L1

Dayton 7-9 6 .438 17-14 .548 L2

St. Bonaventure 7-9 6 .438 14-15 .483 L2

Fordham 3-13 10 .188 7-24 .226 W1

Rhode Island 3-13 10 .188 8-21 .276 L5

Duquesne 1-15 12 .063 8-22 .267 L6

Thoughts? What do the rest of you MBMs think?

[wgstl]

I agree on the rankings, but id switch rhody and st joes. and I think we will see those top four dancing

[Billikenboy]

I agree on the rankings, but id switch rhody and st joes. and I think we will see those top four dancing

+1 on URI and St. Joes. Would also switch Fordham and Bonnies.

[kwyjibo]

I think UMass could put it together and finish 3rd but there are WAY too many ifs. Jesse Morgan was kicked out and will try to play for Temple next year. Offseason reports (just talked to my UMass friend over the weekend) say that their new strength coach has done a lot with Lalanne and transfer guard Gordon has bulked up (Putney actually now has a muscle instead of none). However, this team lost their best shooters (Trey Davis is back but I am not sure if he will even get a lot of minutes) and there is no evidence yet any of the newcomers can shoot or that their returning players can shoot better. Also, they have a pretty difficult NC schedule; things could go south pretty quick although they could come together quick as well. Gordon should be a good defender but I am not convinced the other players will play good enough defense to win 11-12 conference games.

Chaz Williams could very well end up in the NBA but that does not mean that he will be an extraordinary college player (people forget that individual talent and making your team better are two different things).

I know LaSalle's run in the NCAA was a bit of a fluke but they have more proven players and more options (they were better after their center got hurt and could play 4 guards). Even though they lost R. Galloway they have 5 "starters" back with some beef coming in as freshman. SLU manhandled their interior last year but they will go back to 3 guards (Duren, Mills, Garland) and height/beef (6'9" 270lbs. frosh Davis will likely see time). I would think LaSalle will be better than UMass (though not as good as SLU or VCU) and could easily be the best team in the league in 2014-5.