INSIDE A-10 MEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA DAY

Enjoy this look at Mike Rhoades’ and Justin Tillman’s trip to Atlantic 10 Conference Media Day in Washington, D.C.

ATLANTIC 10 TOURNAMENT BRACKET

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A-10 RACE HEADED DOWN TO THE WIRE

It’s Feb. 27, and the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season title is, to say the least, undecided with three games remaining:

For the time being, we’ll ignore the unlikely event that UMass or Richmond, both 9-6, find an avenue to the top seed. Quite a conundrum we have here, eh? In the event of a two-way tie, the tiebreaker is simply head-to-head. After that, it gets…complicated. Per the A-10 (click to enlarge):

Let’s take a quick look at each of the four teams’ remaining schedules (results listed are Ken Pomeroy’s predictions).

VCU

The good news for VCU is that it still controls its own destiny at this point. The Rams own a head-to-head tiebreaker versus Rhode Island and can lock up the league title with wins against Dayton and Davidson (easier said than done). Combined A-10 record of remaining opponents: 25-20.

DAYTON

While Dayton does not control its own destiny – the Flyers lost at Davidson – they can prevent both VCU and Rhode Island from winning the league, then hope Davidson stumbles down the stretch. Combined A-10 record of remaining opponents: 29-16.

DAVIDSON

Davidson, a preseason afterthought in the league race, may be in the most advantageous position of the four contenders. The Wildcats two toughest games on paper are both at home, where they are 12-1 this year. The Wildcats also own wins over both Dayton and Rhode Island. The Wildcats did lose to VCU on Jan. 7.  Combined A-10 record of remaining opponents: 24-21.

RHODE ISLAND

Rhode Island likely has the most to lose from missing out on the regular season title and also may have the most uphill battle. The remaining schedule is tough, but negotiable, but the Rams have already lost to both VCU and Davidson and still have to play at Dayton, where the Flyers are unbeaten this season. Combined record of remaining A-10 opponents: 24-21.

At this stage VCU and Dayton (most likely) are in the NCAA Tournament, while Davidson has played itself onto the bubble. Rhode Island, however, really needs a strong finish to get into the bubble conversation.

Buckle up. It should be fun.

 

VIDEO: RAMS HALT DAVIDSON 71-65

HIGHLIGHTS

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B.A. WALKER HALF COURT THREE
Former Ram B.A. Walker buries a half court 3-pointer prior to the game to win everybody in attendance free Papa John’s.

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SHAKA SMART

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BOB MCKILLOP

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VCU PLAYERS

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A-10 MEDIA DAY

New VCU Women’s Basketball Coach Beth O’Boyle jumped into the fray Tuesday when she took part in the Atlantic 10 Conference’s annual media day. The Rams, picked 10th in the league following an NIT bid, will look to offset the loss of All-League performer Robyn Parks, who graduated and is playing professionally in Spain. Sophomore point guard Keira Robinson, who set a VCU freshman record for assists last season, was named to the A-10’s Preseason Third Team.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN: SHAKA SMART AT A-10 MEDIA DAY

Videographer Mike Voyack followed Shaka Smart around at Atlantic 10 Media Day in Brooklyn this week. He offers this behind the scenes report.

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Also, Shaka Smart’s knowledge of the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets is pretty impressive.

2014-15 A-10 PAIRINGS RELEASED

Here are VCU Men’s Basketball’s Atlantic 10 pairings for the 2014-15 season. The Rams will play home-and-home series with Davidson, George Mason, George Washington, Saint Louis and Richmond. I love that the league appears to have taken geography into account. VCU already enjoys a fantastic rivalry with Richmond, while the Rams also have strong recent history with Saint Louis and (as of last year) George Washington, and George Mason. Given Davidson’s history and location, VCU could have another budding rivalry on its hands there as well.

You will notice the league has officially shifted from a 16-game conference slate to an 18-game schedule. Given the 14-team makeup of the league, it was probably inevitable.

Fans should really enjoy (at least) the names coming to the Siegel Center in 2015. On paper, the Rams will have a really strong A-10 home schedule, not that VCU was having trouble moving tickets.

For league-wide pairings for next season, click here.

VIDEO: VCU UPENDS GEORGE MASON 71-57

FROM THE TELLY

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FROM THE MEDIA ROOM

MEN’S HOOPS: A-10 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

Just because some of the teams have changed, due to the revolving door of conference realignment, it doesn’t mean picking the A-10 this year has gotten any easier.

Although I felt very comfortable with my picks 1-4, spots 5-9 (and possibly 5-13) are sort of shrug picks. As in, I think this team will finish here, but *shrug*, who really knows? There’s a ton of depth in the A-10 this season, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see teams like George Mason, Richmond or Rhode Island (to name just a few) shock some folks. I think three NCAA bids is a reasonable goal for the A-10 this year, but five is certainly attainable.

1-VCU
2012-13 Record: 27-9 (12-4 A-10)
Comments: Although there are still questions about who will replace point guard Darius Theus, this is Shaka Smart’s deepest, most talented group in five seasons at VCU. The Rams will likely open the season ranked in the top 25 (already No. 15 in the Coaches Poll) behind potential NBA draft pick Juvonte Reddic and 2012-13 breakout star Treveon Graham. Human cannonball Briante Weber spearheads the Rams’ chaos-inducing Havoc defense that has led the country in turnover percentage two straight seasons.

And, should I bring up guys like Rob Brandenberg (a rock), Melvin Johnson (a sizzle video waiting to happen), the addition of ACC-quality big man Terrance Shannon (impressed at Black & Gold Game) or the Rams’ influx of a talent-rich freshman class. VCU fans are pretty amped about the coming season, and deservedly so.

Although the Rams have been a nearly-consensus media pick to win the A-10, and were ranked 15^th nationally in the USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll, it doesn’t appear that VCU will shy away from the high expectations.

“We’ve always had high expectations for ourselves within our program,” says VCU Coach Shaka Smart. “We want to be at a place where there are high expectations for us. That’s the way VCU is.”

2-Saint Louis
2012-13 Record: 28-7 (13-3)
Comments: Jim Crews masterfully directed Saint Louis in 2012-13 following the death of coach Rick Majerus, and he’s got the horses to do it again this year. Bruising forward Dwayne Evans (14.0 ppg, 7.7) along with guards Mike McCall Jr. (9.3 ppg) and Jordair Jett (9.0 ppg, 3.2 apg) offer a balanced offensive attack to compliment the Billikens’ stingy defensive-minded approach.

ICYMI: A-10 MEDIA DAY – ‘VCU IS THE PLACE TO BE’

The Atlantic 10 Conference held its annual media day Tuesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. As we all know, media day is all about getting hard-hitting stories and really getting to the heart and soul of college basketball. Observe:

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See? Your understanding of Shaka Smart, the man, has grown exponentially through that video. You’re welcome. There were plenty of other rumblings from Barclays. He’s some of the best stuff.

VCU Picked to Win A-10 Men’s Basketball; 21 Players Earn Preseason Honors: http://t.co/fzEDDmRo4B #A10MBB

— Atlantic10Conference (@atlantic10) October 8, 2013

From Atlantic 10 media day — League favorite VCU finally has a target on its back: http://t.co/xSnwPffafB

— Eye on College BBall (@EyeOnCBB) October 8, 2013

VCU fans will no doubt enjoy this interview. Here, Shaka Smart says he wants to “spread the word” about VCU.

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But there’s more…