What we learned this week: The A-10 is always considered one of the best conferences in the country outside of the Big Six. That will happen when you count the likes of Xavier and Dayton in your ranks.
But with Xavier expected to be down this season (and playing like it early on) and Dayton not looking as good as they were predicited to be, the A-10 looked for a while like a league that may get just one bid this season.
After this past week, that sentiment is bound to change.
It started last Saturday, as Charlotte, a team that had lost to Duke by 42 earlier in the season, went into Louisville and knocked off the Cardinals. The 49ers are now 8-1 on the year, and with Shamari Spears, Chris Braswell, and DiJuan Harris playing as well as they are, Bobby Lutz looks like he may finally have a team ready to compete for a conference title.
But what really put the A-10 on the map was their performance on Sunday.
First was Rhode Island, who went into BC and came out with an 80-69 win. The Rams are now 8-1 on the season, with their only loss coming to a good VCU team by two points on the road. Next was Xavier, who, as we will chronicle in the game of the week, beat Cincinnati at home in a double overtime thriller. But the explamation point was Temple, who knocked off then-undefeated and then-No. 3 Villanova in a Big 5 rivarly game.
Throw in teams like Richmond, Duquesne, La Salle, and even the surprising George Washington team, and we are looking at a league that is very deep and very balanced.
While these big early season wins are nice, having a balanced conference is not necessarily a good thing for the league as a whole. Yes, competitive games are always great, but that does not necessarily correlate to more teams getting into the tournament. The issue is league play. The eight teams I mentioned, and likely the six other I did not, are going to beat each other up during league play. There really is no favorite in the league this season. Let's say that there end up being four or five teams that are in the 12-4 to 10-6 range in conference play.
Will there be enough quality wins by the teams with a desirable number of acceptable losses to make this a multiple bid league?
GAME OF THE WEEK: Xavier 83, Cincinnati 79 2OT
The Crosstown Shootout is as vicious as any rivalry in the country, and we got an example of that on Sunday night. In the first half, two near brawls broke out, one of which resulted in the benches clearing and a riot very nearly breaking out. The second half was just as physical as the first, although both teams seemed to regain their composure.
There was nearly an all-out brawl during the Xavier-Cincinnati game.
(photo credit: SLAM)
Lost in the chest thumping and posturing was what turned into the best game of the young season. With Cinci up 55-51 with five minutes to play, Xavier used a 6-0 spurt to take a two point lead. The teams would trade baskets until Lance Stephenson tied the game with a jumper with 15 seconds left. Terrell Holloway would miss a jumper at the other end, and Dante Jackson followed that with a five footer in the lane, but after reviewing the shot it was clear it came after time had expired. In the OT, the Bearcats would take a five point lead with 55 seconds left, but Terrell Holloway scored seven straight points, including an and-one layup with 19 seconds left to tie it. Stephenson missed a pretty tough step back three at the end of the overtime that would have one the game.
In the second OT, Jason Love would score back-to-back layups, the second off of an assist from Holloway that gave Xavier an 81-79 lead, before grabbing his 19th rebound of the game and hitting a free throw to seal the win. This was a huge win for Xavier, not only because it came against arguably their biggest rival, but because it was the first win over a power conference team for a Xavier team that always as NCAA aspirations. Holloway had 26 points and innumerable big plays down the stretch, including locking up Lance Stephenson, who needed 19 shots to score 22 points, and Love added seven points and five blocks to his 19 boards.
They were also good:
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Monroe led the Hoyas to a 2-0 week as they knocked off their first two ranked teams of the season, going to NYC to beat Butler in Madison Square Garden and to Anaheim to beat Washington. What was most impressive about Monroe was how he led Georgetown. Against Butler, the Hoyas pounded the ball inside, and while he was far from as efficient as would be ideal, his 24 points (on 20 shots and 10 free throws) and 15 boards was the difference.
Greg Monroe showed why he is an all-american candidate in two wins this week.
(photo credit: AP)
It was a different story against Washington. Monroe still managed 15 points and 8 rebounds, but it was his 6 assists and ability to orchestrate the Georgetown offense that was the key in the Hoyas win. Monroe proved a lot to his doubters last week, and while he still has a way to go before he is a finished product, he put his versatility was on display.
They were also good:
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Temple Owls
Temple went 2-0 on the week, including notching a win over Big 5 opponent Villanova. It wasn't just a big win for the Owls, but for the Atlantic 10 as a whole. The league has a number of good teams this season, and a win over Villanova gives lends the league more credibility in the eyes of the selection committee. Temple is now 8-2 on the year, with their only two losses coming to Georgetown and St. John's. When you consider their wins over Virginia Tech, Siena, and Penn State, the Owls look like they have a good shot at earning themselves an at-large spot in the tournament should they fail to win the A-10's automatic bid.
They were also good:
MATCH-UPS OF THE WEEK:
Not a lot here, as this week is finals week.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
12/14 - College Hoops Week in Review: The A-10 can play |
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