ATLANTIC TEN CONFERENCE

[EPJr]

Andy Katz's podcast from A-10 media day with Shaka Smart, Chris Mack, Fran Dunphy, Phil Martelli, and Brad Stevens

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=8462539" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TheDancinMonarch]

Thought I'd help out EPJr in case he was busy or missed this.


http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/20 ... r-2261845/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

Predicting the 2013 men's NCAA tournament
By Jerry Palm | Bracketology Expert

The A-10 would be tied with the SEC in that scenario and only behind the Big East (8), ACC (6), Big 12 (6), and Big 10 (7).

VCU wins the auto-bid, gets a 6-seed.
Saint Louis gets an at-large and a 7-seed.
Temple gets an at-large and a 9-seed.
Butler gets an at-large and an 11-seed.
UMass gets a play-in spot in the First Four and a 12-seed.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

Atlantic 10 race will run through Philly
Andy Katz - Senior Writer, ESPN.com

Saint Joseph's is the preseason pick to win the title, with five starters returning, potentially completing Phil Martelli's long, arduous climb back to the top after his glorious run to the Elite Eight in 2004.

Elsewhere in the City of Brotherly Love, La Salle was the overwhelming selection by the league's coaches when asked by ESPN.com which team will be a legitimate sleeper to be in the hunt deep into February.

Oh, and no one wants Temple to leave.

The Owls, who have been at the heart of the conference since its inception, are off to the Big East next season. Charlotte is leaving, too, as the 49ers head to Conference USA. But Charlotte is no Temple.


http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... basketball" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

Atlantic 10 preview:
Addition of VCU, Butler makes strong league even more formidable

Yahoo! Sports is breaking down each league for the upcoming college basketball season working backward from No. 31 to No. 1. Here's a look at our No. 8 league, the Atlantic 10.

If the ACC is basketball's biggest conference realignment winner because of the additions of Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame, then the revamped Atlantic 10 certainly isn't too far behind.

This season, the league welcomes newcomers VCU and Butler, two of the nation's glamor mid-major programs the past few years. Add those two to an already improving league that won't lose Temple to the Big East for one more season, and the result is a particularly formidable Atlantic 10 that lacks a truly elite team but appears to have at least a half dozen NCAA tournament contenders

Trying to pick a preseason Atlantic 10 favorite is a fool's errand this year because any of consensus the top six teams could make a legitimate case.



http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the ... ncaab.html

[EPJr]

Atlantic 10 preview:
Ranking the 15 most intriguing non-league games


The Dagger's two-day Atlantic 10 preview continues with a look at the conference's 15 most intriguing non-conference matchups next season.

1. Butler vs. Indiana, Dec. 15 (Indianapolis)

Comment: Since the formation of the Crossroads Classic pitting Indiana's top four teams against one-another, this has been the matchup many have wanted to see. Can a Butler team that has toppled so many high-profile programs take down a Hoosiers squad that may enter the season No. 1 in the nation? We'll find out in two months.

2. Xavier vs. Cincinnati, Nov. 19

Comment: Even though Xavier appears headed for a rebuilding season this year, the first post-brawl matchup between the Musketeers and Bearcats will still be fascinating to watch. Expect both teams to be on their best behavior, and expect Cincinnati to avenge last year's drubbing.

3. Temple vs. Duke, Dec. 8 (East Rutherford, N.J.)

Comment: In last year's matchup, Temple upset Duke 78-73 behind 22 points from guard Khalif Wyatt and 17 from forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson. The Blue Devils better find some answers for those two because the Owls have both of those guys back.

4. Gonzaga at Butler, Jan. 19

Comment: ESPN College GameDay will visit Hinkle Fieldhouse for this matchup between two of the nation's premier non-BCS programs. Gonzaga is loaded this season with a pair of sharp-shooting sophomore guards in Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell and one of the nation's deepest frontcourts.

5. Saint Louis at Washington, Nov. 28

Comment: Saint Louis embarrassed Washington last season in Lorenzo Romar's return to the Arch City, building a 20-point first-half lead and never letting the Huskies come close to getting back into it. The loss of Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten suggests Washington won't contend in the Pac-12 this season, but the Huskies still have firepower and they're far better at home than on the road.

6. VCU at Battle 4 Atlantis (Nov. 22-24)

Comment: VCU is guaranteed three challenging games in the nation's best preseason tournament this season. First up for the Rams is Memphis, another up-tempo team that will try to run with Shaka Smart's team. Duke, Louisville, Missouri, Minnesota, Stanford and Northern Iowa round out the loaded field.

7. Temple vs. Syracuse, Dec. 22 (New York City)

Comment: Who plays Duke, Kansas and Syracuse out of conference in the same season? Temple, that's who. The Owls will have to overcome a partisan Syracuse crowd and shoot well against the Orange's trademark zone to have a chance at the upset.

8. UMass at Harvard, Nov. 13

Comment: Unless Boston College surprises or one of these two teams disappoints, this is a matchup to determine the state of Massachusetts' best team. Harvard may be an underdog because of the season-long suspensions of senior captains Kyle Casey and Brandyn Curry, but the Crimson have enough young talent to still pose a challenge for the Minutemen.

9. Alabama at VCU, Dec. 15

Comment: When Anthony Grant coached at VCU from 2006 to 2009, his contract stipulated that the school that someday hired him away would have to schedule a home-and-home series against the Rams as penance. As a result, Alabama hosted VCU last November, a 72-64 Crimson Tide win, and will visit the Rams in Richmond this season.

10. Saint Joseph's at Drexel, Dec. 31

Comment: The best team in Philadelphia this season? Believe it or not, it may not be a member of the Big Five. CAA favorite Drexel will look to strengthen its case against a Saint Joseph's team that appears to be the most talented Phil Martelli has had since the days of Jameer Nelson and Delonte West.

11. Richmond at Kansas, Dec. 18

Comment: Richmond has forged a giant-killing reputation thanks to its history of NCAA tournament upsets against marquee programs. The Spiders probably have too many frontcourt questions to contend in this year's loaded A-10, but they'll still be dangerous when they take aim at a Kansas team that knocked them out of the NCAA tournament in the Sweet 16 two years ago.

12. Butler at Xavier, Nov. 13

Comment: This is not a misprint. Butler at Xavier is really a non-conference game even though both programs will be in the Atlantic 10 this year. The programs scheduled the game as part of ESPN's 24-hour marathon before Butler joined the league and decided to play anyway rather than find new opponents.

13. Butler at Maui Invitational, Nov. 19-21

Comment: Butler will be as battle-tested as anyone in the preseason thanks to a brutal non-league schedule meant to vault the Bulldogs into at-large contention in the Horizon League rather than the tougher Atlantic 10. Up first for Butler in Maui is Marquette, followed perhaps by North Carolina in the semifinals.

14. Saint Joseph's at Villanova, Dec. 11

Comment: The Holy War may be a mismatch this season, but in a new twist, it won't be because Villanova is the favorite. Although the Wildcats are the home team, they have a lot to prove after a disastrous 2011-12 season and the unexpected departures of starting guards Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek and forward Markus Kennedy.

15A. Dayton at Charleston Classic, Nov. 15-18

Comment: How much has Dayton improved? Could the Flyers be an Atlantic 10 sleeper? This early-season tournament should provide a barometer. A Dayton team led by point guard Kevin Dillard and a deep frontcourt could face Baylor in the semifinals if it springs a mild upset against Colorado in the opening round.

15B VCU at Old Dominion, Dec. 7

Comment: A reader correctly noted this was omitted from the list, so it's being added here. What has traditionally been one of the CAA's premier rivalry games is now a compelling non-league matchup between one team that has already left the CAA and another that is Conference USA bound in 2013.

[EPJr]

http://www.cardchronicle.com/2012/10/26 ... -ap-top-25" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1. Indiana(43) 27-9 1,592 16
2. Louisville(20)30-10 1,568 17
3. Kentucky(2) 38-2 1,453 1
4. Ohio St. 31-8 1,292 7
5. Michigan 24-10 1,290 13
6. NC State 24-13 1,270 —
7. Kansas 32-7 1,210 6
8. Duke 27-7 1,094 8
9. Syracuse 34-3 1,062 2
10.Florida 26-11 936 25
11.UNC 32-6 904 4
12.Arizona 23-12 902 —
13.UCLA 19-14 840 —
14.Michigan St. 29-8 789 5
15.Missouri 30-5 664 3
16.Creighton 29-6 622 19
17.Memphis 26-9 539 —
18.UNLV 26-9 488 23
19.Baylor 30-8 486 9
20.San Diego St. 26-8 463 22
21.Gonzaga 26-7 384 —
22.Notre Dame 22-12 297 —
23.Wisconsin 26-10 285 14
24.Cincinnati 26-11 120 —
25.Florida St. 25-10 101 10

Others receiving votes: Murray St. 59, VCU 58, Saint Louis 46, Texas 46, Minnesota 40, Butler 33, Pittsburgh 32, Saint Joseph’s 25, Marquette 23, Tennessee 15, Oklahoma St. 14, Kansas St. 12, Georgetown 9, New Mexico 9, Ohio 9, Miami 8, Saint Mary’s (Cal) 6, West Virginia 6, Davidson 5, Drexel 5, N. Iowa 5, Valparaiso 3, Lehigh 2, Stanford 2, Colorado St. 1, Oral Roberts 1.

[EPJr]

Basketball Prospectus Preseason Rankings 1 to 345


Editor's note: Dan's preseason rankings will be appearing in both the soon to be released College Basketball Prospectus 2012-13, and in the issue of ESPN The Magazine that hits streets this Friday. Support Dan's indefatigable analytical efforts by purchasing several copies of both.

Earlier this month, I revealed my my new methodology for ranking Division I teams. Using 10 years of historical trends, I projected the performance of every D-I player, and then projected lineups for all 345 teams. (Sorry, Northern Kentucky and New Orleans. Get some D-I results I can use, then we'll talk.) Today I share the results, which I think are fun for a number of reasons. Most notably they sometimes depart from conventional thinking. It is also interesting to see how the model evaluates teams that may otherwise fly under the radar.

The Atlantic 10
32 St. Louis
36 Butler
37 Saint Joseph's
39 Temple
48 VCU
75 Massachusetts
96 Richmond
109 Dayton
117 Xavier
118 La Salle
121 St. Bonaventure
148 George Washington
208 Duquesne
223 Fordham
229 Charlotte
254 Rhode Island

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/art ... cleid=2426" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

Top 30 breakout players


28. KHYLE MARSHALL, 6-6, 215, F, JR., BUTLER
More was expected from Marshall as a sophomore, but he didn't quite deliver, averaging 9.6 points per contest. His work ethic has improved and without Chrishawn Hopkins, Marshall has no choice but to take a leap.


30. TRAVIS TAYLOR, 6-7, 220, PF, SR., XAVIER
I thought he'd make an impact last season for the Musketeers, but it didn't happen and Chris Mack used him as a reserve who didn't produce much at all (4.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg). Now Mack has no choice, with a lack of frontline guys, and Taylor should deliver. Remember, this is a guy who put up numbers in his time at Monmouth.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketb ... y/20737545" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

Ken Pomeroy is one of the foremost basketball statisticians in the country and his rankings throughout the year are well-regarded.

http://kenpom.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

SLU 25
VCU 31
SJU 42
UMass 55
Richmond 60
Temple 61
Butler 64

Here's his formula:
http://kenpom.com/blog/index.php/weblog ... _overlords" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

Jeff Sagarin NCAA Basketball Ratings

Atlantic 10 (#7 Conference)
36 Saint Louis
40 VCU
43 Saint Joseph's
44 Temple
59 Butler
72 Xavier
73 Massachusetts
81 Dayton
87 La Salle
95 Richmond
106 St. Bonaventure
132 Charlotte
147 George Washington
172 Rhode Island
182 Duquesne
199 Fordham

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/s ... kc1213.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

Full A-10 TV Schedule
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/atl ... hedule.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

Smart, Stevens to be featured in CBS Special


The Atlantic 10 recently became home to two of the hottest young coaches in the business, and this Wednesday evening both will be featured in a half-hour “One2One” special that will highlight a day in the life of VCU coach Shaka Smart and Butler head honcho Brad Stevens.

The special will air nationwide at 9PM EST.

To find CBS Sports Network in your area, click here: CBS Sports Network Finder (http://www.cbssportsnetwork.com/node/838" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).

http://www.a10talk.com/2012/11/smart-st ... s-special/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

Dayton over Boston College and Auburn
Butler over Marquette and #9 North Carolina
St. Joseph's over #20 Notre Dame
VCU over #19 Memphis
La Salle over Villanova
Rhode Island over Auburn
UMass over Providence
Saint Louis over Texas A&M

[EPJr]

Here are a few important trends:
•12 of 16 A-10 are projected to have their SOS increase
•7 of 11 CAA teams are projected to have their SOS decrease
•13 A-10 teams have top-100 projected SOS
•The highest projected SOS in the CAA is #151 for Old Dominion

Head to Head
•11/10 • La Salle over Delaware, 73-66
•11/13 • UR over UNCW, 101-58
•11/19 • Duquesne over JMU, 90-88
•11/23 • Xavier over Drexel, 69-65
•11/24 • Charlotte over Northeastern, 67-59
•11/24 • George Washington over Hofstra, 80-56
•11/25 • Temple over Delaware, 80-75
•11/28 • George Washington over JMU, 54-53
•11/28 • George Mason over Rhode Island, 55-52
•11/28 • Richmond over W&M, 6-78
•12/4 • Richmond over Old Dominion, 80-53
•12/4 • Massachusetts over Northeastern, 72-66
•A-10 leads 11-1 over CAA

Key wins for the A-10
•11/15 • Massachusetts over Providence, 77-75
•11/16 • Saint Joseph’s over #20 Notre Dame, 79-70
•11/19 • Butler over Marquette, 72-71
•11/20 • Butler over #9 UNC, 82-71
•11/22 • VCU over #19 Memphis, 78-65
•11/25 • La Salle over Villanova, 77-74 OT
•12/1 • VCU over Belmont, 75-65
•12/1 • Xavier over Purdue, 63-57

Key wins for the CAA
•11/9 • George Mason over UVA, 63-59
•11/13 • Delaware over UVA, 59-53
•11/23 • Northeastern over Belmont, 74-71

http://rvanews.com/sports/caa-conferenc ... uble/76796" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bluehenbillk]

Here are a few important trends:
•12 of 16 A-10 are projected to have their SOS increase
•7 of 11 CAA teams are projected to have their SOS decrease
•13 A-10 teams have top-100 projected SOS
•The highest projected SOS in the CAA is #151 for Old Dominion

FYI - Thru 12/5 Delaware has the #15 SOS nationally, hard to believe they'd plummet past 151.

[EPJr]

Presidents of the Atlantic 10 conference have scheduled a meeting for next Thursday with the intent of solidifying commitments from its membership, The Post has learned

According to a person with direct knowledge of the meeting, the A-10, aware of the impending Big East split, is concerned that St. Louis, Dayton and Xavier have “one foot out the door.”


Read more: Atlantic 10 calls meeting in fear that teams could bolt in wake of Big East split - NYPOST.com http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/collegesp ... z2F4R7Tiw2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

http://www.atlantic10.com/about/atl10-holidays12.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

2012-13 Atlantic 10 Conference
Men’s Basketball Composite Schedule

Wednesday, January 9
Butler at Saint Joseph’s* 7:00 pm The Comcast Network (Pa.)
Duquesne at Fordham* 7:00 pm YES Network
St. Bonaventure at George Washington* 7:00 pm
Rhode Island at Richmond* 7:00 pm
Dayton at VCU* 7:00 pm WHIO
La Salle at Charlotte* 7:30 pm

Thursday, January 10
Temple at Xavier* 7:00 pm TW Cable Sports (Ohio)
Massachusetts at Saint Louis*

Saturday, January 12
Butler at Dayton* 2:00 pm NBC Sports Network
Charlotte at Rhode Island* 2:00 pm Ocean State Networks
Richmond at La Salle* 2:00 pm
George Washington at Xavier* 4:00 pm CBS Sports Network
VCU at St. Bonaventure* 4:00 pm TW Cable Sports (Upstate NY)/CBS 6.3
Saint Louis at Temple* 6:00 pm ESPNU
Saint Joseph’s at Duquesne* 7:00 pm

Sunday, January 13
Massachusetts at Fordham* 1:00 pm YES Network

[EPJr]

After all, it was the latest wave of conference realignment that caused the Big East to go hunting for Temple, and thus caused the A-10 to go out and get Butler and Virginia Commonwealth. When the Horizon League and Colonial Athletic Association told both teams they wouldn't be allowed to participate in their respective 2013 conference tournaments, they jumped a year early -- in time to join a 16-team league that still featured the frequently favored Owls.

Before the season, that possibility was tantalizing. After two months of nonconference play, VCU looks like the league's clear favorite, and Butler one of its top contenders. Temple and St. Louis are, for all intents and purposes, co-favorites. It's safe to say the overall league hasn't quite panned out the way we expected -- Saint Joe's has struggled, Xavier is young, and a handful of mid-table sleeper teams have missed early nonconference opportunities -- but the fact remains that this brief 16-team edition of the Atlantic 10 could provide one of its most entertaining seasons in league history.

Wins to brag about:
VCU over Memphis; VCU over Belmont; St. Louis over New Mexico; Butler over Marquette; Butler over North Carolina; Butler over Indiana; Saint Joseph's over Notre Dame; Dayton at Alabama; Charlotte at Davidson; Xavier over Butler; UMass over Ohio

Losses that sting:
Santa Clara at St. Louis; Washington over St. Louis; Canisius at Temple; Fairfield at Saint Joseph's; Central Connecticut at La Salle; Weber State at Dayton; George Mason over Richmond; Pacific over Xavier; Vanderbilt at Xavier; Wofford at Xavier; Wake Forest over Xavier

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... basketball" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CoachL]

#14 (AP) Butler defeats St. Joseph's 72-66 tonight in Philly!



GO DAWGS!

[EPJr]

#14 (AP) Butler defeats St. Joseph's 72-66 tonight in Philly!



GO DAWGS!

Butler 72:66 Saint Joseph's
Duquesne 75:82 Fordham
St. Bonaventure 59:78 George Washington
Rhode Island 61:64 Richmond
Dayton 62:74 VCU
La Salle 53:63 Charlotte

[EPJr]

College Basketball AP Poll

JANUARY 14, 2013

#13 Butler
#22 VCU
#35 Temple

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EPJr]

Butler 79:73 Dayton
Charlotte 58:50 Rhode Island
Richmond 59:71 La Salle
George Washington 56:71 Xavier
VCU 72:65 St. Bonaventure
Saint Louis 54:64 Temple
Saint Joseph’s 74:66 Duquesne
Massachusetts 77:73 Fordham

[EPJr]

Butler 79:73 Dayton
Charlotte 58:50 Rhode Island
Richmond 59:71 La Salle
George Washington 56:71 Xavier
VCU 72:65 St. Bonaventure
Saint Louis 54:64 Temple
Saint Joseph’s 74:66 Duquesne
Massachusetts 77:73 Fordham