The team to watch in the A-10 isn't necessarily on the bubble

There has been a lot of talk over the last few weeks about the Atlantic 10 conference and the possibility of six teams from the league making the NCAA Tournament.

Xavier, Richmond, Charlotte, Dayton, Rhode Island, and Temple all could be dancing come Selection Sunday. That said, they each have some work left to do (some more than others) to lock up a bid. While it is much more likely that four or five teams end up making the dance, its not out of the realm of possibility that things break right and all six get a bid. (By things breaking right, I mean teams like Louisville getting smoked by teams like St. John's.)

That list does not include one of the most important teams in the A-10 race.

There are seven teams within one game of first place in the loss column in the A-10. The six listed above, and St. Louis.

St. Louis is 16-8 overall and 6-3 in the A-10. But their most important record is their 12-1 mark at home, which includes wins over Richmond and Nebraska.

You see, the Billikens could end up being the team that decides the league championship, and maybe even determines some tournament destinies, almost by default. They play seven more games this season. Five of them come against the six teams sitting above them in the standings, with four of those games coming at home - Dayton, Rhode Island, Xavier, and Temple while traveling to play Dayton to close the season.

Could a win over URI or Dayton keep the Rams or the Flyers out of the tournament?


Another note on the A-10 - I know that Charlotte was blown out by Dayton last night. I also know that Richmond won at Rhode Island last night. But it is still way, way too early to claim that Richmond is a lock, or that Charlotte may have cost themselves a bid.

Richmond closes the season at Xavier, at home for Dayton, and at Charlotte over the span of seven days. Charlotte still has to play Xavier, at Rhode Island, and at home for Charlotte.

That's a lot of basketball to be played against some good competition.

You don't think Richmond could lose all three of those games, fall into sixth in the A-10, and lose in the first round of the conference tournament?

You don't think Charlotte could win five or six games down the stretch and win the A-10 regular season outright?

If the tournament were to start today, Richmond would be in, and Charlotte would be one of the last few teams to be decided upon.

Beyond that, there's not much you can say.