Atlantic 10 Conference Notebook
by Nate Beardsley
While the rest of the Atlantic 10 continued to struggle in non-conference play, the George Washington Colonials scored two huge wins over ranked opponents last week. GW defeated then-No. 9 Michigan State and then-No. 12 Maryland on consecutive days to claim the BB&T Classic championship. Those wins have propelled the Colonials into the top 25 at No. 21, their first national ranking since 1998. It was also the first time in school history that GW had beaten ranked opponents on two straight days.
The Colonials’ potent offense, which was second in the A-10 in scoring last season with 75.0 points per game, has averaged an astounding 89.2 points this season, easily tops in the A-10. Five Colonials are averaging double digits in points, and junior Mike Hall is scoring nine points per game. The 2003-04 Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player, 6-foot-9 forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu, leads the attack with 17.5 points and also pulls down 6.3 rebounds per contest. Point guard and 2003-04 third team All-Atlantic 10 selection T.J. Thompson is scoring 16.5 points per game and sinking 61.8 percent of his three-point attempts. Forwards J.R. Pinnock (15.5), Omar Williams (10.5) and guard Carl Elliot (10.2) are the other Colonials in double figures.
GW entered the season as the clear favorite to win both the A-10 West and the A-10 championship, as all five Colonial starters from a year ago have returned. Add sophomores Ricky Lucas (18.7 mpg, 7.8 ppg) and Carl Elliot (27.8 mpg, 10.2 ppg) to the mix and GW may even be better than expected.
That’s especially true when you consider that perennial A-10 powers Dayton, St. Joseph’s and Xavier each were hit hard by graduation. These three teams, along with much of the conference, are currently experiencing a youth movement. With the recent injury of sophomore center James Cripe, the Flyers are starting two freshmen, forwards Chris Alvarez and Norman Plummer. Alvarez is averaging 1.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while Plummer is good for 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest.
The situation in Fordham is similar, as its roster contains just three upperclassmen (2 seniors and a junior) on scholarship. The younger Rams have been more than up to the challenge, as freshmen scored 33 of Fordham’s 64 points in a 64-59 victory over Iona on Dec. 2. For the season, Fordham’s fabulous freshmen are scoring nearly half of the team’s points (145 of 297). First-year forward Bryant Dunston is actually leading the Rams in scoring, with 13.4 points per game.
Another Dunston, St. Bonaventure junior swingman Wade Dunston, is also a strong contributor on a very young team. Dunston, a 6-foot-4 guard that transferred from Iowa Western Community College, is averaging 13 points per game and has scored in double figures in four consecutive games, including a 22-point effort against Iona. Those 22 points were almost half of the Bonnies’ total in their 73-49 loss.
Entering the season, Xavier believed that one of its strengths would be its frontcourt depth. That is hardly the case now, however, as two Musketeer frontcourt reserves have gone down to season-ending knee injuries. Brandon Cole, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, was hurt in the first half against Miami (OH) on Nov. 22 but hasn’t been scheduled for surgery yet. Boubacar Coly, a 6-foot-9 freshman, recently injured his knee in practice and has already had successful surgery. This should cause junior forward Brian Thornton, a transfer from Vanderbilt, to play more minutes, which may not be a bad thing for Xavier. Thornton leads the Musketeers in scoring (13.8 ppg) and rebounding (10 rpg).
A-10 West
Dayton Flyers (2-3)
Sophomore center James Cripe injured his lower back before the Dec. 4 game against Cincinnati. According to coach Brian Gregory, Cripe took a charge in the morning practice and landed awkwardly. During the team’s pre-game meal, it tightened up and didn’t respond to treatment, forcing him to miss the Cincinnati game, which the Flyers lost 65-55, and Tuesday’s win over Wyoming.
Nov. 27 vs. Coppin State, W 55-42
Dec. 1 at DePaul, L 70-59
Dec. 4 vs. Cincinnati, L 65-55
Dec. 7 vs. Wyoming, W 62-57
Upcoming games:
Dec. 11 vs. Texas Southern
Dec. 18 at St. Louis
Dec. 20 vs. Northwestern State
Duquesne Dukes (1-7)
Entering the season, junior guard Jack Higgins was supposed to be one of the most potent shooters in the conference. Higgins, who finished second in the A-10 in three-point percentage to Saint Joseph’s Pat Carroll last season, struggled to find his shooting touch early on. Through the season’s first six games, Higgins had connected on just 27.4 percent of his field goal attempts and 28 percent of his three point attempts. He snapped out of it on Dec. 4 in a 87-57 loss to No. 13 Pittsburgh, however, and scored a game-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
Nov. 27 at George Mason, L 79-58
Dec. 1 vs. Akron, L 77-65
Dec. at Pittsburgh, L 87-57
Upcoming games:
Dec. 11 at MD-Baltimore County
Dec. 18 at Ohio
Dec. 22 at Boston College
No. 21 George Washington Colonials (5-1)
GW has lived up to its billing as the A-10 favorite entering the season. The wins against Maryland and Michigan State will certainly look good on an NCAA Tournament resume, and the rest of the conference had better look out.
Dec. 1 vs. Mt. St. Mary’s, W 81-58
Dec. 4 vs. No. 9 Michigan State, W 96-83
Dec. 5 vs. No. 12 Maryland, W 101-92
Upcoming games:
Dec. 11 at St. Francis (Pa.)
Dec. 18 vs. Towson
Dec. 23 at Florida International
LaSalle Explorers (1-3)
After their turbulent off-season that caused the loss of three players and the resigning of their coach, no one expected much from the Explorers this year. La Salle has done little to make anyone think differently, losing to the likes of James Madison, Hofstra and Central Connecticut. One bright spot has been junior forward Steven Smith, who has averaged 23.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Nov. 30 vs. USC, W 71-62
Dec. 4 at Pennsylvania, L 78-67
Dec. 8 vs. Central Connecticut, L 60-48
Upcoming games:
Dec. 11 at Villanova
Dec. 18 at VA Commonwealth
Dec. 20 at No. 20 Cincinnati
Richmond Spiders (3-2)
The Spiders, much like most other A-10 teams, lost a key scorer from last season. Graduated guard Mike Skrocki and his 16-plus points per game are gone, but sophomore Daon Merritt is doing his best to pick up the slack. The quick and surprisingly strong 5-9, 180 pound point guard is averaging 15.8 points and a league-best 6.0 assists per game through Richmond’s first five games. Forward Kevin Steenberge is also contributing, averaging 15.2 points and 5.4 boards per game.
Nov. 28 at Virginia, L 85-58
Dec. 1 vs. South Florida, W 78-72
Dec. 4 at No. 1 Wake Forest, L 90-73
Upcoming games:
Dec. 11 at VA Commonwealth
Dec. 17 vs. UAB
Dec. 23 at No. 12 Pittsburgh
Xavier Musketeers (2-2)
Xavier may be down because of greaduation losses and injuries, but don’t count the Musketeers out. They always find a way to finish near the top of the Atlantic 10. In addition to Brian Thornton, freshman Stanley Burrell has been solid, averaging 9.8 points in 25.8 minutes per game.
Nov. 27 at Miami, W 83-70, OT
Nov. 30 vs. Creighton, L 73-72
Upcoming games:
Dec. 11 at Tennessee
Dec. 18 vs. No. 23 Mississippi State
Dec. 21 vs. Lehigh
A-10 East
Fordham Rams (2-3)
Fordham has only three upperclassmen on scholarship (2 seniors and 1 junior) but the youngest Rams been more than up to the challenge, as freshmen scored 33 of Fordham’s 64 points in a 64-59 victory over Iona Dec. 2. For the season, Fordham’s fabulous freshmen are scoring nearly half of the team’s points (145 of 297). First-year forward Bryant Dunston is actually leading the Rams in scoring, with 13.4 points per game. Senior big man Mushon Ya’akosi is averaging 11.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, which is up from just 6.5 points and 7.2 rebounds a year ago.
Nov. 27 vs. Manhattan, L 76-60
Dec. at Iona, W 64-59
Dec. 6 vs. Holy Cross, L 53-39
Upcoming games:
Dec. 11 vs. Fairfield
Dec. 14 at Villanova
Dec. 23 vs. Siena
Massachusetts Minutemen (2-2)
UMass received some pre-season first place votes in the A-10 East, but has struggled in the early going. A-10 Player of the Year candidate Rashaun Freeman isn’t among those struggling, averaging 15.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Those averages could be higher if Freeman hadn’t fouled out of two of Massachusetts’ four games.
Nov. 28 vs. Yale, W 70-56
Dec. 1 vs. Northeastern, L 84-68
Dec. 4 at Gonzaga, L 68-57
Upcoming games:
Dec. 9 vs. No. 6 Connecticut
Dec. 12 at Miami
Dec. 19 vs. Davidson
Rhode Island Rams (2-5)
The Rams actually received three pre-season first-place votes in the wide-open A-10 East, but have hardly played like they deserved it. Their struggles have occurred despite the efforts of senior forward Scott Hazelton, who has averaged 17.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Junior point guard Dawan Robinson has not played in a game this season after being selected to the pre-season First Team All-Conference. The reason for Robinson’s absence is not known at this time.
Nov. 30 vs. Boston U, L 73-68
Dec. 4 at Providence, L 65-58
Dec. 8 vs. Stony Brook, W 62-56
Upcoming games:
Dec. 11 at Rutgers
Dec. 27 at Iona
Dec. 30 at DePaul
Saint Joseph’s Hawks (2-2)
The Hawks have been less than impressive in the early going, but that was expected by some. Although SJU was chosen as the pre-season winner of the East by A-10 media, I had them ranked third. It is possible that the Hawks can turn things around and begin playing better, but it may take 10 or 15 games to learn how to play without Jameer Nelson and Delonte West. Either way, they will need forward and last season’s top three-point shooter Pat Carroll to regain his shooting touch. The senior has shot just 15 percent from beyond the arc and 26.5 percent from the field while recuperating from a shoulder injury.
Nov. 27 vs. Davidson, W 76-61
Dec. 4 vs. Drexel, L 57-49
Dec. 7 vs. Fairfield, W 59-51
Upcoming games:
Dec. 10 at UC Davis
Dec. 22 at Old Dominion
Dec. 28 vs. Bucknell
St. Bonaventure Bonnies (0-6)
There haven’t been many positives for the Bonnies so far this year, but junior forward Patrick Lottin (15.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and junior guard Wade Dunston (13.0 ppg, 1.2 spg) are signs that maybe next year won’t start as roughly.
Nov. 27 at Canisius, L 67-61
Dec. 1 at No. 5 Syracuse, L 91-67
Dec. 4 vs. Cornell, L 58-54
Upcoming games:
Dec. 7 at West Virginia
Dec. 17 at Arkansas Little-Rock
Dec. 20 vs. Niagara
Temple Owls (3-3)
Junior point guard Mardy Collins was supposed to be the Owls’ leader on offense, and has been just that up to this point. Although his scoring has dropped to 13.6 ppg, he is averaging 5.8 assists and 3 steals per game. Freshman forward Mark Tyndale has also stepped up, scoring 13.4 points and 4.8 boards per game. To have a shot at making the NCAA Tournament, the Owls will have to emerge from their brutal non-conference schedule at or near .500.
Nov. 30 vs. Arizona St., L 65-62
Dec. 4 vs. Villanova, W 53-52
Dec. 8 vs. Pennsylvania, W 52-51
Upcoming games:
Dec. 11 at No. 18 Alabama
Dec. 13 vs. No. 7 Wake Forest
Dec. 20 vs. Princeton
