Atlantic 10 Conference 2007-08 Preview
The Atlantic 10 has had its ups and downs ever since it seemed on the verge of competing with the BCS conference back in the mid-1990s. Back then, Temple and UMass ruled the conference and formed a big rivalry, Xavier was a consistently good team and St. Bonaventure had several good teams while Jim Baron, who changed addresses but not conferences, was the head coach. But aside from the 2003-04 season, when the conference put four teams in the NCAA Tournament, it’s been a bit of a struggle to attain the kind of success the conference had a decade ago.
That could be changing if recent times are any indication. Entering 2007-08, most teams in the conference project to be better than last season, and many that don’t project favorably aren’t likely to drop off much. There is also some good coaching stability right now, as no coach can really be said to be on the hot seat and a number of coaches look to be in very good standing. That could later lead to some bolting for jobs elsewhere, but right now the stability is a very positive thing.
This season, the conference projects to be very competitive for the top spot. Even teams that contended last season and lost a lot don’t figure to drop off much, and they could certainly still knock off the top contenders in an individual matchup. Two of the teams picked in the top three return over 90 percent of their scoring from last season. Showing the experience that teams have this season, only two teams return less than half of their scoring. Conference-wide, 11 of the top 13 and 16 of the top 20 scorers from last season return, and the top nine three-point shooters return as well.
The conference also boasts good balance in where the talent is as far as positions go. It isn’t a guard-dominated conference, as important as they are to a team’s success, especially among the elite talents as the preseason first team All-Atlantic 10 has a traditional lineup of two guards, two forwards and a center. The projected top newcomers also include a good mix, from Duquesne’s Kojo Mensah and Shawn James (transfers) to Xavier’s C.J. Anderson (another transfer) and Dayton freshman Chris Wright.
Two teams changed coaches in the off-season, and each made its share of news for one reason or another. St. Bonaventure had a drawn-out search that saw Albany head coach Will Brown turn down an offer and several other candidates drop out of consideration before an offer could be made. They eventually hired former Robert Morris head coach Mark Schmidt. Saint Louis fired Brad Soderberg in a very questionable decision, not only because of the timing (right in the middle of the April live recruiting period) but also because he was fresh off a 20-win season and had led the program into a successful move into the Atlantic 10. Former Utah head coach Rick Majerus, who was most recently an analyst at ESPN, replaces him amid continuing questions about his health.
Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Brian Roberts, Dayton
Top Newcomer: Shawn James, Duquesne
Top Freshman: Chris Wright, Dayton
Defensive Player of the Year: Shawn James, Duquesne
Best NBA Prospect: Shawn James, Duquesne
All-Atlantic 10 Team
Will Daniels, Sr. F, Rhode Island
Bryant Dunston, Sr. F, Fordham
Drew Lavender, Sr. G, Xavier
Ahmad Nivins, Jr. C, Saint Joseph’s
Brian Roberts, Sr. G, Dayton
Xavier Musketeers (25-9, 13-3)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Drew Lavender (11.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.3 spg)
Sr. G Stanley Burrell (12.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.4 apg)
Jr. G-F C.J. Anderson (transfer from Manhattan)
So. F Derrick Brown (6.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
Sr. F Josh Duncan (9.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Musketeers play a very challenging non-conference schedule that includes nine home games. They will play in the Chicago Invitational Challenge against Kent State and either Indiana or Illinois State. Highlighting the home games are matchups with Summit League contender Oakland, Atlantic Sun contender Belmont, Creighton, Cincinnati, Tennessee and Virginia. They go on the road to play MAC contender Miami (Ohio), Arizona State, Kansas State and Auburn. In Atlantic 10 play, they get Dayton, Saint Joseph’s and George Washington twice, and they get Rhode Island and UMass on the road only.
Outlook: The Musketeers have a solid core of players with good experience, and they’ll be challenged a great deal in non-conference play. Lavender and Burrell form a terrific backcourt, though Burrell needs to be better with his accuracy as he shot just over 38 percent from the field. With them and Anderson, the perimeter is in good hands at both ends of the floor. Junior swingman B.J. Raymond will see good minutes off the bench and is a solid reserve. Duncan will take big men out to the perimeter with his ability to make shots from long range, while Brown has reportedly improved significantly in the off-season. The Musketeers don’t have great proven depth inside, although junior college transfer Charles Bronson played at East Carolina before going to junior college. The Musketeers shot nearly 48 percent from the field, which helped them rank third in the conference in scoring last season. They figure to be near the top in both categories again this season and will be tough to beat.
Rhode Island Rams (19-14, 10-6 A-10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Parfait Bitee (7.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Jr. G Jimmy Baron (14.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Sr. F Will Daniels (17.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.5 apg)
Jr. F Kaheim Seawright (11.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Jr. C Jason Francis (junior college transfer)
Schedule Highlights: The Rams’ non-conference slate features seven home games, highlighted by visits from Toledo, in-state rival Providence and Hofstra. Away from home, they play three games in the Glenn Wilkes Classic in Daytona Beach (the first game is their season opener at home against Florida Atlantic), where they will take on USF and UAB in two games. Other road highlights are Boston College and Syracuse. In Atlantic 10 play, they get Dayton, George Washington and UMass twice.
Outlook: The Rams almost reached the NCAA Tournament last season, and have a chance to get there this season. They have good depth with plenty of energy and athleticism, as well as a bevy of upperclassmen. They also have good balance between backcourt and frontcourt production. Bitee and Baron will form a quietly solid backcourt, with Baron being one of the best shooters in the country and constantly trying to improve his game off the dribble to keep defenses honest. Sophomore Keith Cothran will get plenty of minutes off the bench as the third guard and fits with their style, and Marquis Jones gives them more depth. Daniels will play both forward spots and looks primed to close out his college career on a good note, while Seawright battles inside and has a multitude of skills. Sophomore Lamonte Ulmer might be the first guy off the bench, and he gives them plenty of energy and athleticism that includes some high-flying dunks. Francis looks to start at center and will give them the inside presence they need, and he runs the floor very well for a 285-pound man and won’t slow them down. With the Rams’ style, defense and turnovers are often a concern, and they didn’t post the best numbers in field goal percentage defense (opponents shot over 45 percent from the field) or in turnovers (only three teams turned it over more). They will need some improvement in both areas to break through as a title contender.
Fordham Rams (18-12, 10-6 A-10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Kevin Anderson (3.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.4 spg)
Sr. G Marcus Stout (15.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.6 spg)
Sr. F Sebastian Greene (9.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.2 spg)
Sr. F Bryant Dunston (14.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 2.4 bpg)
Sr. F Michael Binns (5.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Rams don’t have a home game until after Thanksgiving, when they host the College of Charleston. In December, they have five straight at home, highlighted by a visit from Hofstra. After they open the season at Ivy League contender Columbia, they go to Missouri for the College Basketball Experience Classic, and they later travel to Georgetown. Atlantic 10 play begins with two road tests at Duquesne and Xavier. The teams they get twice are Charlotte, Duquesne and Temple.
Outlook: This is potentially the big year for the Rams, as Dereck Whittenburg’s first recruiting class enters their senior year and all five starters are in that class. No team returns more of its scoring than the Rams, who lose less than three percent. Anderson has quietly run the show and Stout is a capable passer as well as scorer from the shooting guard spot, giving the Rams a solid but underrated backcourt. Add in sophomores Brenton Butler and Herb Tanner off the bench, and the Rams’ backcourt is in good shape and only gets better with freshman wing Mike Moore, who should get minutes this season. Dunston has been a star from day one and remains a double-double machine with an expanding offensive game. Binns is a tough inside player who won’t put up big numbers, but makes plays, and Greene improved nicely last season. Junior Chris Bethel plays bigger than his size and is the most experienced frontcourt reserve. An area for improvement up front is rebounding, as the Rams were out-rebounded last season. The Rams are already a good defensive team, but they’ll need to improve on their 43 percent shooting to take the next step with this team.
Dayton Flyers (19-12, 8-8 A-10)
Projected Starters:
So. G London Warren (2.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.6 apg)
Sr. G Brian Roberts (18.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.7 apg)
So. G Marcus Johnson (6.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Jr. F Charles Little (10.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.2 apg)
So. C Kurt Huelsman (3.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Flyers will play nine non-conference home games, including five in a row to close out the slate. Included are matchups with Atlantic Sun favorite East Tennessee State, Toledo, Big South favorite High Point, MAAC contender Loyola (Md.), Pittsburgh and MAC contender Akron. They have several challenging road games as well: George Mason, Miami (Ohio), Patriot League favorite Holy Cross and Louisville. In Atlantic 10 play, they get Rhode Island, Saint Louis and Xavier twice.
Outlook: With four starters returning along with two key reserves and the addition of a couple of good freshmen, the Flyers are a solid dark horse. Warren looks ready to move into the starting point guard spot, though Roberts can handle the ball and isn’t a selfish scorer. They team with Johnson, who has plenty of potential, in a solid perimeter unit. Little moved into the starting lineup without a hitch, and Huelsman started right away and should continue to play his role well inside. Senior Andres Sandoval provides good depth in the backcourt as he can play both guard spots, and classmate Jimmy Binnie is a good role player at the forward spot. Freshman Chris Wright, an excellent athlete, should get plenty of minutes right away, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he starts before the season is over, and Devin Searcy adds size up front but must get stronger. Junior college transfer Thiago Cordeiro will probably be the first post player off the bench. The Flyers will need to improve on the road if they are to contend, as they tied two other teams in the conference for the fewest road wins with just two.
Massachusetts Minutemen (24-9, 13-3 A-10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Chris Lowe (7.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.1 spg)
Sr. G Gary Forbes (13.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.5 apg)
So. G Ricky Harris (4.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
Sr. F Etienne Brower (2.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Sr. F Dante Milligan (3.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference schedule isn’t that of last season, but it still has some challenges and includes six home games. They open the season at Northern Iowa in the BTI Tip-Off Tournament, where they will also play Big West contender Cal Poly. Highlighting the home games are dates with Ivy League favorite Yale, Horizon contender Wisconsin-Green Bay, Toledo, Northeast favorite Central Connecticut State, America East favorite Boston University and Houston. They head on the road for challenges against Syracuse, Summit League favorite IUPUI and Vanderbilt. The Minutemen also have a neutral site game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut against Marist. In Atlantic 10 play, they get Rhode Island, Saint Joseph’s and Saint Louis twice.
Outlook: The Minutemen lost their two big guns in Stephan Lasme and Rashaun Freeman, but don’t count them out just yet. This year’s team still has several seniors and will be better suited to playing the way Travis Ford wants to. Forbes figures to be the star on this team, as he is primed to have a big senior year. Lowe has improved ever since he set foot on campus, and now he has the point guard spot all to himself. Harris is the most experienced wing, but don’t be surprised if a freshman like 6’7″ shooter Matt Glass snags that spot. Two more freshmen, combo guard Gary Correia and Max Groebe, will also see minutes, with Correia known for his shooting. Brower and Milligan are the incumbents up front, with Milligan having had his moments, but they should be pushed by freshmen Trey Lang and Papa Lo. Junior Tony Gaffney, who transferred in from Boston University, has always had the potential but not the consistency. It will be tough for the Minutemen to lead the conference in rebounding margin again, so they’ll need to play tough defense like last year and cut down on turnovers, which they led the conference in last season.
George Washington Colonials (23-9, 11-5 A-10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Maureece Rice (15.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.4 spg)
So. G Travis King (5.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.5 spg)
Jr. G-F Cheyenne Moore (4.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg in 16 games)
So. G-F Damian Hollis (5.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Jr. F Rob Diggs (10. 5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.9 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Colonials have boosted the non-conference schedule the past couple of seasons, and this one is no different. Their four home games include a visit from America East favorite Boston University, and they will also play Auburn across town in the BB&T Classic. They will travel to play UCLA, Virginia Tech and Alabama. Atlantic 10 play opens with a challenging stretch in January: Saint Louis at home, at Fordham, Xavier at home, then at Rhode Island and Duquesne before a home date with Saint Joseph’s. They play Rhode Island, Saint Louis and Xavier twice.
Outlook: With Rice and little-used Dominic Green being the only seniors, the Colonials don’t have experience on their side, and they lost key players in Carl Elliott, Regis Koundkia and Dokun Akingbade. But with Rice and improving Rob Diggs leading the holdovers, they can’t be counted out, especially after Rice was the conference tournament Most Outstanding Player last season. Moore should flourish with a larger role in this up-tempo system if he can stay healthy, while King is the top sniper from long range. Junior Noel Wilmore has played relatively limited minutes thus far in his career, but he’ll be pressed into a larger role as the most experienced reserve guard. Diggs anchors a frontcourt that will get a boost from Virginia Tech transfer Wynton Witherspoon, and it’s a needed one as after those two and Hollis are players who played limited minutes and raw freshman Jabari Edwards. The Colonials are an excellent defensive team, and that will help them try to contend again despite the personnel losses.
Saint Joseph’s Hawks (18-14, 9-7 A-10)
Projected Starters:
So. G Darrin Govens (7.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 2.5 apg)
Jr. G Tasheed Carr (transfer from Iowa State)
Sr. G-F Pat Calathes (13.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.6 apg)
Sr. F Rob Ferguson (11.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Jr. C Ahmad Nivins (16.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 1.0 spg)
Schedule Highlights: The Hawks will be challenged in non-conference play, where they have six home games, three of which will be played at the Palestra. Home games of note are against Gonzaga, Penn State (Palestra), Patriot League favorite Holy Cross, Drexel and Villanova (Big Five, Palestra). They open the season at Syracuse in the NIT Season Tip-Off, where they will play either Siena or Syracuse in the second game. Other road games of note include America East favorite Boston University, Creighton, MAAC favorite Siena and Penn (Big Five). In Atlantic 10 play, they take on UMass, Temple and Xavier twice.
Outlook: The Hawks had some ups and downs last season, but should be better this time around with more experience and depth. Their strength will be in the frontcourt, where they’ll have great size with Calathes on the wing and steady senior Ferguson and improving junior Nivins inside. Nivins has all the tools to be the conference’s best post player and anchors the inside defense. The reserves who return didn’t play much last season, so there’s not much proven depth and freshman Idris Hilliard could emerge as one of the key reserves there. In the backcourt, Carr give them a nice boost as he is eligible and playing close to home, while sophomores Govens and Garrett Williamson assure that the point guard spot is in good hands. Their depth will take a slight hit early as D.J. Rivera is academically ineligible for the first semester, meaning freshman Charoy Bentley could get a chance early on. The Hawks will need to cut down on their nearly 15 turnovers per game from last season, which is one thing that more backcourt experience could lead to.
Saint Louis Billikens (20-13, 8-8 A-10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Dwayne Polk (5.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.4 apg)
Jr. G Tommie Liddell (15.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.6 apg)
Jr. G Kevin Lisch (14.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.0 spg)
Sr. G-F Luke Meyer (9.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.0 spg)
Sr. C Bryce Husak (2.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Billikens have eight home games in a quietly challenging non-conference slate. They will open the season on the road in the Hispanic College Fund Classic at Pittsburgh, and later go on the road to play at Missouri State, Kent State and Boston College. Highlighting the home games are visits from Big West contender Pacific, Southland contender Sam Houston State, Southern Illinois and Summit League favorite IUPUI. Among Atlantic 10 opponents, they play Dayton, George Washington and UMass twice. Early on in Atlantic 10 play, they have three straight at home.
Outlook: New head coach Rick Majerus inherits a team with some good experience, especially in the backcourt as juniors Liddell and Lisch lead the way and Polk is the senior leader. Liddell should continue to get double-doubles and will be a candidate for first team All-Atlantic 10 honors. Senior Danny Brown is a capable reserve, and freshman Paul Eckerle was a big scorer in high school. The frontcourt takes a big hit with the graduation of Ian Vouyoukas, as Husak and Meyer will be pressed into significantly larger roles this season unless junior college transfer Barry Eberhardt or freshman Marcus Relpohrde take most of the minutes. How quickly this team adapts to Majerus will be a big factor in how well they do, as they have the talent and experience to be a sleeper team.
Duquesne Dukes (10-19, 6-10 A-10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Kojo Mensah (transfer from Siena)
Jr. G Aaron Jackson (11.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.4 spg)
Fr. G-F Bill Clark
Jr. F-C Sean James (transfer from Northeastern)
Sr. F-C Kieron Achara (15.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.6 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference schedule has plenty of winnable games, although there are some opponents who will be tougher than some will think. The Dukes have seven home games, highlighted by a visit from cross-town rival Pittsburgh and one from MAAC contender Niagara and Northeast contender Robert Morris. They go on the road for games at Summit League contender Oakland and West Virginia, and they head to Iowa for the Iowa Realty Drake Tournament. In Atlantic 10 play, they get a break in who they play twice save for Fordham, as they play La Salle and St. Bonaventure twice as well.
Outlook: Ever since Everhart took over last season, fans in Pittsburgh have looked forward to this season as the Dukes have two key transfers eligible. Last season’s team overachieved, leading to even higher expectations of this team as three starters return, one of whom will likely be pushed to the bench. Mensah should run the show right away, although Jackson will probably handle the ball often since Mensah can score. Clark should make an immediate impact on the wing, as he’s athletic, tough and can shoot it from long range. Reggie Jackson, one of just two seniors on the team, now becomes the first guard off the bench, while classmate Gary Tucker and junior Philip Fayne should figure into the mix as well after each started 11 games last season. James led the nation in blocked shots two years ago and had a developing offensive game, and could win his third Defensive Player of the Year award in as many conferences, and alongside Achara should ensure that the Dukes will be tough to score on inside. There isn’t great depth up front, as newcomers Ricky Jackson (sophomore) and Brandon Harris and David Theis (freshmen) are the next in line. Expectations are high, and if the newcomers mesh well with the holdovers and players adapt to roles, the Dukes could certainly finish higher.
Temple Owls (12-18, 6-10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Dionte Christmas (20.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.4 spg)
Jr. G Semaj Inge (4.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.3 spg)
Sr. G Mark Tyndale (19.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.5 spg)
Fr. F-C Michael Eric
Jr. C Sergio Olmos (2.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Like his predecessor, Fran Dunphy will challenge his team in non-conference play, and this season lives up to that. They open at Tennessee before going to Puerto Rico for three games, starting with Providence, and later road games are at MAC contender Akron, Drexel and Florida at a neutral site in Florida. Their six non-conference home games are full of challenges: MAC contender Ohio, Villanova (Big Five), Duke and Penn (Big Five). In Atlantic 10 play, they have Charlotte, Fordham and Saint Joseph’s twice.
Outlook: Year two of Dunphy’s process will revolve again around the top two scorers from last season, as Christmas and Tyndale will carry this team as far as they will go. Tyndale was also second on the team in rebounding and could lead them in that category this season. Inge and senior Chris Clark are capable reserves, with Clark posting a 3:1 assist/turnover ratio last season. The frontcourt, meanwhile, is hurting in terms of experience but not in size. With Olmos being the most experienced holdover, freshmen Eric, Lavoy Allen and Craig Williams are sure to get plenty of minutes right away. Eric has the talent to be a good big man in this conference, while both Allen and Williams stand at least 6’8″. Only two teams were out-rebounded worse than the Owls were last season, and the frontcourt has less experience this time around, making that a big area of concern.
Charlotte 49ers (14-16, 7-9 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
So. G DiJuan Harris (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Leemire Goldwire (14.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.3 spg)
So. G Ian Andersen (4.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg)
Jr. F Charlie Coley (junior college transfer)
So. C Phil Jones (Prop 48)
Schedule Highlights: Eight home games are on tap in a challenging non-conference schedule, which features an appearance in the Paradise Jam starting with Georgia Tech. Highlighting the home games are Big South contender High Point, Wake Forest, Southern Conference favorite Davidson, Southern Illinois and Maryland. They go on the road to play Hofstra, Tulsa and Clemson. In Atlantic 10 play, they get Fordham, Richmond and Temple twice.
Outlook: This year is a bit of a rebuilding year for the 49ers, who return just five players from last season’s team and have four freshmen. Goldwire is a good starting point as their go-to guy, and he should see most of his time off the ball with Harris as the likely starter at the point. Anderson is one possible starter on the wing, with freshman An’Juan Wilderness also being a potential starter and giving them someone who plays bigger. The frontcourt is where the change is even more apparent, as senior Sean Phaler is the only holdover. Jones sat out last season due to academics, but should start right away, while Coley and fellow junior college transfer Lamont Mack give them more college experience although not at the Division I level. The 49ers struggled to make shots last season, as they were last in the conference in field goal percentage, and that exacerbated the fact that opponents shot over 46 percent from the field against them last season.
Richmond Spiders (8-22, 4-12 A-10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G David Gonzalvez (9.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)
So. G Ryan Butler (6.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Sr. F Oumar Sylla (6.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 apg in 16 games)
So. C Dan Geriot (11.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.5 apg)
Jr. C Drew Crank (5.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Spiders have seven non-conference home games, highlighted by visits from South Florida, Old Dominion and Virginia Tech. They open the season in Memphis at the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic, and the toughest road game later is across town at VCU. In Atlantic 10 play, they take on Charlotte, La Salle and St. Bonaventure twice. Early on, they have a three-game homestand.
Outlook: In Chris Mooney’s third season, the Spiders hope to see improvement in his system after struggling the past two seasons. They were a young team last season, so youth was part of their struggles, but they have six freshmen and just two seniors this season, so they aren’t much older as a whole. They aren’t lacking in size, as they don’t figure to start a player shorter than the 6’4″ Gonzalvez, who teams with Butler and sophomore Kevin Hovde as the most experienced perimeter players. Sylla is versatile offensively and is their best defensive player, while the frontcourt could start all-rookie selection Geriot and Crank for some size or replace Crank with Gaston Moliva, who redshirted last season. Junior Jarhon Giddings and freshman Justin Harper figure to be in the mix as well. The Spiders need to improve defensively if they are to improve, as they allowed opponents to shoot over 47 percent from the field last season. They were also badly out-rebounded last season, something they must improve upon with the size they have.
La Salle Explorers (10-20, 3-13 A-10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Darnell Harris (14.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.6 apg)
So. G Rodney Green (12.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.1 spg)
So. G Ruben Guillandeaux (8.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.6 apg)
So. F Kimmani Barrett (8.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
So. F Yves Mekongo Mbala (8.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Schedule Highlights: John Giannini is known for going light on the schedule when he doesn’t have his best teams, and he’s done that this season although there are a few challenges mixed in. Additionally, there are just four home games in the non-conference slate, highlighted by Northeast favorite Central Connecticut State. The toughest road games look to be at Bucknell, Penn, Villanova and Florida State, and they will also play Mississippi in the San Juan Shootout. In Atlantic 10 play, they take on Duquesne, Richmond and St. Bonaventure twice.
Outlook: The youth movement continues this season for the Explorers as just two seniors and two juniors are on the roster. The sophomore core of Green, Guillandeaux, Barrett and Mbala showed a lot of promise last season, helping the Explorers rank second in the conference in rebounding margin despite not having great size. Green is a good scorer, while Harris can run the team and shoot it well from long range, the latter of which is also Guillandeaux’s specialty. Freshmen Darryl Partin and Kyle Griffin add depth, while senior Sherman Diaz will see minutes on the wing. Junior Paul Johnson adds depth at the forward spot, which also gets a boost from freshmen twins Terrell and Jerrell Williams, while 7’3″ late signee Jameson Keefe adds size but isn’t the most mobile or skilled inside player. The Explorers will need to take better care of the ball after only one Atlantic 10 team turned it over more last season.
St. Bonaventure Bonnies (7-22, 4-12 A-10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Tyler Relph (9.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Sr. G Zarryon Fereti (12.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Fr. F Hillary Hailey
Jr. G-F Tyler Benson (3.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
Sr. F Michael Lee (12.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Schedule Highlights: The Bonnies’ non-conference schedule has an oddity: save for three games in a row at the BTI Invitational in New Mexico, they alternate home and road games throughout the slate. The six home games include visits from America East contender Albany and Patriot League contender Bucknell. Challenging road games are at America East favorite Boston University, MAC contender Ohio and MEAC favorite Hampton. They also have an in-season home-and-home with Binghamton. In Atlantic 10 play, they take on Duquesne, La Salle and Richmond twice.
Outlook: Although the Bonnies have some experience on their roster, they are from teams that have struggled mightily in recent years and they have to adapt to new coach Mark Schmidt. Fereti is a good starting point in the backcourt, as he returns after being dismissed from the team by the previous coaching staff. Relph can score from the point guard spot, and there isn’t much experience behind them save for Benson, so freshman Malcolm Eleby could get minutes right away. The frontcourt has Lee as the only holdover, so newcomers like Hailey, classmate Matt Morgan and junior college transfer D’Lancy Carter should see plenty of minutes right away. It’s just the beginning of Schmidt’s rebuilding, so the Bonnies won’t be contenders just yet.
Conference Outlook
While Xavier looks like the favorite, and potentially the one who could have the best chance at an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament if they don’t win in Atlantic City, they aren’t prohibitive favorites. Rhode Island has good depth and can run, while Fordham has a solid senior starting lineup. Dayton and UMass are dark horses, and while George Washington may have lost too much to be seen as a serious contender, Karl Hobbs has done some excellent coaching and is certainly capable of leading his club back to the NCAA Tournament. There is plenty of reason to think Saint Joseph’s will be better as well.
Additionally, look for several teams not picked high to make a jump from last year, although in a couple of cases that might not mean many more wins than last season. Duquesne has its transfers eligible, while Temple will have a nice offensive backcourt, Richmond’s players have another year in Chris Mooney’s system and La Salle’s four sophomores continue to grow.
