Conference Tournament Preview: The Atlantic 10

Where: Campus sites, Boardwalk Hall - Atlantic City

When: March 9th, March 12-14th

Final: 1:00 pm CBS




Favorite: Temple Owls

I don't necessarily think that the Owls are the best team in the A-10, but they definitely earned the best draw. Temple, the 1 seed, will get the winner of St. Bonaventure and Duquesne before likely playing either URI or St. Louis in the semis. The other side of the A-10 bracket is much more difficult, meaning that the Owls may head into the final relatively untested.

Lavoy Allen is a double-double machine.
(photo credit: Bodog)

Having said all that, Temple is without a doubt an excellent basketball team. They beat Villanova earlier this season, and took Georgetown down to their final possession on the road. This is a very good defensive team with just enough offensive firepower. They aren't great at forcing turnovers which means that Temple needs to rebound the ball at the defensive end if they are too win.


And if they lose?: Xavier Musketeers and the Richmond Spiders

I may be in the minority here, but I think that the Muskies are the best team in the conference. I know that there has been a lot of turnover at Xavier, but they are still the best program in the A-10 right now. But with a new head coach and the amount of talent they lost from last season, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Xavier. Safe to say, it wasn't, as they finished the season tied for the A-10 title with Temple. Xavier is the most balanced team in the conference. They have the best front line with Jamel McClean, Jason Love, and Kenny Frease. They have a quality point guard in Terrell Holloway, and they have a standout scorer in Jordan Crawford. Even on the strong side of the bracket, where Xavier will likely have to face Dayton in the second round, this is a team that can do some damage.

Xavier and Richmond played an OT classic a few weeks ago.
(photo credit: Bradenton.com)

Richmond must be in the conversation as well. The thing to like about Richmond is that they spread the floor and play a very methodical, almost Princeton-like offense, led by one of the best backcourts in the country with Kevin Anderson and David Gonzalvez. The Spiders aren't sneaking up on anyone anymore, but this is a team that will definitely be a factor in the A-10.


Don't count out: Dayton Flyers

Dayton has a very tough path to the title, as it will mean they have to beat the top three teams in the league if the seeds hold. But there are two reason to like Dayton. For starters, the Flyers are, according to John Gasaway, the unluckiest team in college basketball. They have lost as many close games as anyone in the country. Along those same lines, it should be noted that Dayton was the preseason favorite in the A-10. This team has as much raw talent as anyone in the A-10. If they are able to execute better down the stretch, this is a team with a lot of athletes that plays very hard.

It also should be noted that both URI and Charlotte have spent quite a bit of time on the bubble this season, but late season collapses by both have cost them dearly. If the Rams and the 49ers can win a couple games -- which they proved themselves more than capable of early in the season -- these are two teams that can really get on a roll.


Sleeper: Duquesne Dukes

The Dukes have a lot of talent on their roster, especially in the starting line-up. There are some weapons on this team, as all five average double figures. The problem if that there is not much beyond those five starters. For the Dukes to win, they will have to ride big man Damian Saunders.

Names you need to know

• Lavoy Allen, Temple: So much of Temple's ability to be effective on the defensive end relies on their ability to clean up the defensive glass. Allen, who nearly averages 11 rpg, is the best rebounder on the Owls. In a league with a surprising number of good big men, Allen is going to be counted upon very heavily.


• Delroy James, URI and Derrio Green, Charlotte: Neither are the leading scorers for their respective teams, but both are extremely important to what their teams want to do. James' is a multi-talented 6'8" forward, while Green is more of a scoring two guard off the bench. Regardless, neither Charlotte nor URI is going to get very far in the A-10 tournament without a night from these guys.
  


• Damian Saunders, Duquesne: Saunders, as we mentioned above, is a force in the paint. He's an exceptional rebounder and may be the most underrated player in the A-10.