Conference Notes

Atlantic 10 2002-03 Season Recap



Atlantic Ten 2002-03 Season Recap

by David Francis

The 2002-2003 Atlantic 10 season will not be remembered for David West, or Dayton’s home-court win of the A-10 conference tournament, or having three teams in the tournament. Everyone will remember this as the year where St. Bonaventure’s forfeited 6 games and almost got kicked out of the conference for rules violations. And it’s a shame, because this was one of the better A-10 seasons in recent memory.

Xavier’s early exit opened the door for Dayton to win the conference tournament on their home floor, beating an upstart Temple team in the finals. The tournament was overshadowed by the Bonaventure controversy, but managed to provide some great games.

NCAA Tournament:

3rd-seed Xavier lost to Maryland in the second round
4th-seed Dayton lost in the first round to Tulsa
7th-seed St. Joseph’s lost to Auburn in the first round

All Conference Team:
Marques Green – St. Bonaventure – junior guard
Chris Monroe – George Washington – senior guard
Jameer Nelson – Saint Joseph’s – junior guard
Romain Sato – Xavier – junior guard
David West – Xavier – senior forward
Delonte West – Saint Joseph’s sophomore guard

Player of the Year:

David West, Xavier, Senior Forward

The A-10 player of the year was one of many awards this senior won. West, in his four years with the Musketeers, helped to transform the program from perennially loser to national powerhouse.

Freshman of the Year:

Gary Neal, LaSalle

Defensive Players of the Year:

Tony Dobbins, Richmond

Coach of the Year:

Jim Baron, Rhode Island

It was like Jim Harrick was back in town, except without the sexual haraassement. Brown turned Rhode Island into an A-10 contender this year, coming just a few wins shy of an NCAA birth. Look for big things from the Rams in years to come, as Baron was just granted a contract extension.

A-10 East

St. Joseph’s Hawks 22-5, 12-4

Starting Five:
Pat Carroll
Dave Mallon
Alexandre Sazonov
Jameer Nelson
Delmonte West

Key losses: Alexandre Sazonov, graduation

Statistical Leaders:
Jameer Nelson, 19.7 pts/game
Dwayne Jones, 6.3 rebounds/game
Jameer Nelson, 4.7 rebounds/game

Temple Owls 18-16, 10-6

Starting Five:
Alex Wesby
David Hawkins
Kevin Lyde
Lynn Greer
Quincy Wadley

Key losses: Quincy Wadley

Statistical Leaders:
David Hawkins, 16.9 points/game
Alex Wesby, 5.8 rebounds/game
David Hawkins, 2.8 assists/game

Rhode Island Rams 17-10, 10-6

Starting Five:
Lazare Adnigono
Brian Woodward
Jon Clark
Howard Smith
Dustin Hellenga

Key losses: Lazare Adingono, Howard Smith, Dustin Hellenga

Statistical Leaders:
Brian Woodward, 14.1 pts/game
Brain Woodward, 6 rebounds/game
Howard Smith, 4.1 assists/game

Massachusetts Minutemen 11-17, 6-10

Starting Five:
Jackie Rogers
Raheim Lamb
Micah Brand
Anthony Anderson
Marcus Cox

Key losses: Micah Brand and Jackie Rogers

Statistical Leaders:
Jackie Rodgers, 12.9 points/game
Jackie Rodgers, 5.5 rebounds/game
Anthony Anderson, 3.7 assists/game

Fordham Rams 3-26, 3-13

Starting Five:
Michael Haynes
Glen Batemon
John Blackgrove
Mark Jerrell Wright
Anthonique Wilson

Returning all starters

Statistical Leaders:
Michael Haynes, 15.2 points/game
Michael Haynes, 8 rebounds/game
Jermaine Anderson, 2.5 assists/game

St. Bonaventure Bonnies 13-14, 1-15

Starting Five:
Marques Greene
Vidal Massiah
Peter Van Paassen
J.R. Bremer
Mike Gansy

Returning five starters

Statistical Leaders:
Marques Greene, 21.6 points/game
Mike Gansy, 5.0 rebounds/game
Marques Greene, 8 assists/game

The Bonnies were forced to forfeit their 6 A-10 wins for NCAA rule violations. They then forfeited the remainder of their season in the midst of much controversy. The A-10 recently ruled that the Bonnies would not be expelled from the conference.

A-10 West

Xavier Musketeers 26-6, 15-2

Starting Five:
Keith Jackson
David West
Anthony Miles
Romaine Sato
Dedrick Finn

Key Losses: David West

Statistical Leaders:
David West, 20.1 points/game
David West, 11.8 rebounds/game
Dedrich Finn, 4.3 assists/game

Dayton Flyers 24-6, 14-2

Starting Five:
Brooks Hall
Keith Waleskowski
Sean Finn
Ramod Marshall
Mark Jones

Key Losses: Brooks Hall

Statistical Leaders:
Brooks Hall, 12.8 points/game
Keith Waleskowski, 8.2 rebounds/game
Romad Marshall, 4.8 assists/game

Richmond Spiders 15-12, 10-6

Starting Five:
Mike Skrocki
Jermaine Bucknor
Jonathan Collins
Tony Dobbins
Jeff Myers

Key losses – Jeff Meyers and Jonathan Collins

Statistical Leaders:
Mike Skorcki, 11.2 points/game
Tony Dobbins, 5.9 rebounds/game
Jeff Myers, 4.1 assists/game

LaSalle Explorers 11-16, 6-10

Starting Five:
Gary Neal
Steven Smith
Daalfo Larkai
Jermain Thomas
Mike Cleaves

Returning all five starters

Statistical Leaders:
Gary Neal, 18.6 points/game
Steven Smith, 8.1 rebounds/game
Jermaine Thomas, 4.3 assists/game

George Washington Colonials 11-16, 5-11

Starting Five:
Chris Monroe
T.J. Thompson
Greg Collucci
Darnell Miller
Carl Elliott

Key Losses: Chris Monroe

Statistical Leaders
Chris Monroe, 20.3 points/game
Mike Hall, 8.2 rebounds/game
T.J. Thompson, 6.1 assists/game

Duquesne University 9-21, 4-12

Starting Five:
Elijah Palmer
Simplice Njoya
Ron Dokes
Bryant McAllister
Jimmy Tricco

Returning all five starters

Statistical Leaders:
Kevin Forney, 13.4 points/game
Elijah Palmer, 5.5 rebounds/game
Bryan McAllister, 2.6 assists/game

     

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