After being a projected one bid league entering the 17-18 season, the A-10 once again proved why it’s one conference that should never be slept on. Rhode Island and St Bonaventure went on a terror late in the season to ensure they would go dancing, while Davidson’s historic run to the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship made the conference a three team bid. This season, the A-10 came in with the same expectations of being a possible one or two bid league with usual suspects like Davidson picked to finish at the top of the standings, however, there are some dangerous teams that emerged as viable threats to cut the nets Sunday in Brooklyn.
Long time standard in the A-10 over the last decade or so VCU dominated all season long to earn the top seed, once again using their vaunted Havoc defense as the spark for their 16-2 conference record. Dayton, led by their lethal frontcourt of Josh Cunningham and redshirt freshman Obi Toppin made a huge turnaround by finishing 20-10 overall after finishing 14-17 last season. And last but not least is the super athletic Duquesne. The Dukes are led by high flying 6’6 sophomore Eric Williams Jr, 6’8 sophomore center Michael Hughes (11.3 points (59% FG), 6.6 rebounds) who is a walking double double and standout freshman point guard who is already one of the best at the position in the league in Sincere Carry. As you can see, it’s a number of hungry, talented teams looking to punch their ticket to the big dance.
Take a look at schedule, team season stats, along with a list of players to keep an eye on throughout the conference tournament.
#1 VCU (25-6/16-2) – 71.5 PPG / 44% FG / 30% 3FG / 69% FT / 36.8 RPG / 13.9 APG
Player Watch - Marcus Evans 14.2 ppg, 3.1 rebs, 3.3 apg / De’Riante Jenkins 11.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2 apg
#2 Davidson (23-8/ 14-4)- 71.4 PPG / 45.6% FG / 35.8% 3FG / 74.8% FT / 34.8 RPG / 14.5 APG
Player Watch - Kellan Grady 17.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg / Jon Axel Gudmunsson 17.2 ppg, 7.3 rebs, 4.7 ast
#3 Dayton (21-10/13-5) - 73.5 PPG / 50% FG / 33.4% 3FG / 69% FT / 35 RPG / 16.5 APG
Player Watch - Josh Cunningham 13.8 ppg, 6.5 rebs / Obi Toppin 14.3 ppg, 5.7 rebs
#4 St Bonaventure (16-15/ 12-6) – 66.5 PPG / 43.3 FG% / 32.2% 3FG / 72.9% FT / 34.5 RPG / 12.3 APG
Player Watch - Courtney Stockard 15.6 ppg, 5.8 rebs, 3.6 ast / Kyle Lofton 14.2 ppg, 3.6 assist, 2.5 rebs
#5 George Mason (16-14/ 11-7) – 71.1 PPG / 45% FG / 33.3% 3FG / 73.4% FT / 34.9 RPG / 12.1 APG
Player Watch - Justin Kier 14 ppg, 6.3 rebs/ Otis Livingston III 13.1 ppg, 4.3 assist/ Jordan Miller 11.7 ppg, 7.1 rebs
#6 St Louis (19-12/ 10-8) – 67.4 PPG / 41.6% FG / 30.5% 3FG / 59.9% FT / 39.7 RPG / 12.9 APG
Player Watch - Javon Bess 15.2 points, 6.7 rebs, 1.5 steals, 1.2 turnovers/ Tramaine Isabell Jr 13.3 points, 4.5 rebs, 3.4 ast
#7 Duquesne (19-12/ 10-8) – 73.1 PPG / 42.6% FG / 32% 3FG / 69% FT / 35.3 RPG / 13.8 APG
Player Watch - Eric Williams 13.7 ppg, 7.5 rebs/ Sincere Carry (Pictured Above) 12.3 points, 5.8 assist, 3.7 rebs
#8 Rhode Island (16-14/9-9) – 69.7 PPG / 43% FG / 27.5% 3FG / 67% FT / 36.2 RPG / 12.2 APG
Player Watch - Jeff Dowtin Jr 15.3 ppg, 3.9 ast, 3.5 rebs / Cyril Langevine 14.6 ppg, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks/ Fatt’s Russell 14.6 ppg, 3.7 assist, 1.9 steals
#9 Lasalle (10-20/ 8-10) – 67.8 PPG / 40.3% FG / 33.7% 3FG / 76.6% FT / 34.1 RPG / 12.6 APG
Player Watch - Pookie Powell 15.4 ppg, 3.7 rebs, 2.8 assist, 1.5 steals/ Isiah Deas 12.1 ppg, 2.7 rebs
#10 St Joseph (13-18/ 6-12) – 70.2 PPG / 40.7% FG / 33.1% 3FG / 74.9% FT / 34.3 RPG / 12.1 APG
Player Watch - Charlie Brown 18.8 ppg (leads A10), 5.8 rpg, 38% 3FG, 83% ft/ Lamarr Kimble 15.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.6 apg
#11 Richmond (12-19/ 6-12) – 70.8 PPG / 47.7% FG / 35.1% 3FG / 66.6% FT / 28.8 RPG / 15.7 APG
Player Watch - Grant Golden 17.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.5 apg / Jacob Gilyard 16.8 ppg, 5.1 apg, 2.9 rpg / Nathan Cayo 12.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg
#12 Massachusetts (11-20/4-14) – 70.9 PPG/ 44.4% FG / 35.2% 3FG / 69% FT / 34.6 RPG / 14.9 APG
Player Watch - Luwane Pipkins 16.3 ppg, 5.1 rebs, 5.3 ast/ Carl Pierre 11.5 points (39% 3FG), 2 rebs, 9 turnovers
#13 George Washington (8-22/4-13) – 63.9 PPG / 41.1% FG / 31.5% 3FG / 68.6% FT / 33.1 RPG / 11.4 APG
Player Watch - DJ Williams (Pictured below)14 ppg, 4.8 rebs/ Maceo Jack 11.6 ppg (37% 3FG/89% FT), 3.8 rebs/ Terry Nolan Jr 10.2 ppg, 4.6 rebs, 1.8 ast
#14 Fordham (12-19/3-15) – 66.3 PPG / 40.5% FG / 33.4% 3FG / 68.1% FT / 33.6 RPG / 11.4 APG
Player Watch – Nick Honor 15.1 ppg, 3.1 ast, 2.3 rebs/ Antwon Portley 11.2 ppg, 3.3 rebs, 2.8 ast
Schedule –
Wednesday, March 13
FIRST ROUND (BARCLAYS CENTER | BROOKLYN)
Thursday, March 14
SECOND ROUND (BARCLAYS CENTER | BROOKLYN)
Game 4: #5 George Mason vs. Game 1 Winner, 2:30 PM | NBCSN
Game 6: #6 Saint Louis vs. Game 2 Winner, 8:30 PM | NBCSN
Friday, March 15
QUARTERFINALS (BARCLAYS CENTER | BROOKLYN)
Game 7: #1 VCU vs. Game 3 Winner, Noon | NBCSN
Game 8: #4 St. Bonaventure vs. Game 4 Winner, 2:30 PM | NBCSN
Game 9: #2 Davidson vs. Game 5 Winner, 6:00 PM | NBCSN
Game 10: #3 Dayton vs. Game 6 Winner, 8:30 PM | NBCSN
VCU GUARD DE'RIANTE JENKINS
Saturday, March 16
SEMIFINALS (BARCLAYS CENTER | BROOKLYN)
Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 1:00 PM | CBSSN
Game 12: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 3:30 PM | CBSSN
Sunday, March 17
CHAMPIONSHIP (BARCLAYS CENTER | BROOKLYN)
Game 13: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 1:00 PM | CBS Sports
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