The Atlantic 10 Thread

[CM1847]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

So Rick Majerus is taking over at SLU. Gotta like having a coach like him in the league. Soderberg getting fired in the first place still caught me a little off guard.

Rumors are floating that one of the conditions of Majerus taking the job is that SLU does what it can to move into the MVC. The A10 needs to get rid of a few teams, but I'd rather not see SLU go, they have very solid athletic programs in general, and their basketball team will be on the rise with the new arena and Majerus in town.

[CM1847]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

PS. Is Xavier finished with their 07 class? It was looking pretty good but I haven't paid much attention to recruiting in a while, weren't they in a battle with somebody for some pretty big name player(may be in the '08 class, if I'm even thinking of the right team)??

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Rumors are floating that one of the conditions of Majerus taking the job is that SLU does what it can to move into the MVC. The A10 needs to get rid of a few teams, but I'd rather not see SLU go, they have very solid athletic programs in general, and their basketball team will be on the rise with the new arena and Majerus in town.

Wow...I had no idea. Yeah I'd hate to lose SLU. Most would see it as a good move on their part because the MVC has been up more lately than the A10. I still think they are both on the same level though. Makes sense for them from a regional standpoint. They certainly wouldn't have to travel far to play opponents. I'm trying to remember but weren't they a part of the MVC a long time ago before joining the MCC (now Horizon) in the 80's, which had Xavier, Butler, Loyola (IL), Dayton, Evansville, etc., at the time?

PS. Is Xavier finished with their 07 class? It was looking pretty good but I haven't paid much attention to recruiting in a while, weren't they in a battle with somebody for some pretty big name player(may be in the '08 class, if I'm even thinking of the right team)??

They were done with their '07 class but then Johnny Wolf left the program. Now they have an open scholarship. Rumors have it that Miller will probably try and grab a JuCo PG as Lavender's backup for next season. Their '08 class looks great but it could have been better. Steffphon Pettigrew, the reigning Mr. Basketball in KY, came and checked out the school and coaches this week, which his parents loved, but he supposedly told them to, "Shut up" about it. Nice. He is likely going to end up at Georgia or Western Kentucky. DJ Kennedy from Pittsburgh had XU high on his list but he apparently is going elsewhere. They did however get a stud PG, swingman, and Kenny Freese, who is about 7'0" tall and was also being recruited by Kentucky and Notre Dame. I'm excited about the future. The only thing that would screw things up is if Jamie Dixon leaves Pitt and they come after Sean Miller to replace him.

[CM1847]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Wow...I had no idea. Yeah I'd hate to lose SLU. Most would see it as a good move on their part because the MVC has been up more lately than the A10. I still think they are both on the same level though. Makes sense for them from a regional standpoint. They certainly wouldn't have to travel far to play opponents. I'm trying to remember but weren't they a part of the MVC a long time ago before joining the MCC (now Horizon) in the 80's, which had Xavier, Butler, Loyola (IL), Dayton, Evansville, etc., at the time?

I THINK SLU was in the MVC before the CUSA, I may be mistaken though. I wouldn't mind if they didn't follow Charlotte to the A10 two years ago, but losing them now with the new arena and Majerus would be a hit for the league I think. Plus their other sports are pretty good.

They were done with their '07 class but then Johnny Wolf left the program. Now they have an open scholarship. Rumors have it that Miller will probably try and grab a JuCo PG as Lavender's backup for next season. Their '08 class looks great but it could have been better. Steffphon Pettigrew, the reigning Mr. Basketball in KY, came and checked out the school and coaches this week, which his parents loved, but he supposedly told them to, "Shut up" about it. Nice. He is likely going to end up at Georgia or Western Kentucky. DJ Kennedy from Pittsburgh had XU high on his list but he apparently is going elsewhere. They did however get a stud PG, swingman, and Kenny Freese, who is about 7'0" tall and was also being recruited by Kentucky and Notre Dame. I'm excited about the future. The only thing that would screw things up is if Jamie Dixon leaves Pitt and they come after Sean Miller to replace him.

be careful with the JUCO PGs, Charlotte got the #1(by some sources) JUCO PG in the country last year and he was really bad and is actually leaving the school after one season(and most people believe it was the coaches wishes for him not to come back). I know every situation is different, but JUCO big men seem to be a lot more reliable than guards, based on experience. Cincinatti recruited that Mouhammed guy a few years ago who they wante dto start right away and he wasn't ready either. At lease XU will be looking for a backup not an immediate starter. Pettigrew is the guy I had heard about, that sucks he will end up at WKU or Georgia, doesn't make much sense, he must want PT more than anything. Its the life in the A10 worrying about coaches leaving when the chance comes, but X has had a pretty good track record of picking the right guy to replace their coaches.

Charlotte current has eight new players coming in next year, plus someone who took a medical redshirt last year as a freshman, and they have one scholarship left and are likely to use it to make it 10 new faces for next year. It should be interesting to watch.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Figure any A-10 fans can post offseason stuff in here. I'll go first, and it isn't good news for Xavier.



I'm disappointed Wolf is leaving. I guess he saw the writing on the wall with two stud PG's orally committing to XU for the 2008-09 season. Still, why leave now? He's going to play next year behind Lavender. Why not leave when those freshmen show up his senior year? Be interesting to see where he goes. I can see him transferring to Miami (OH) since they recruited him while at St. X.

Well rumor has it, A-10 fans, that Wolf is going to UNC-Wilmington. I think if he gets a lot of playing time, anywhere he goes he'll do fine. He needs to be a little quicker on defense but he can score.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Preseason predictions and media day. The link provides a pdf with predictions for order of finish and awards.

http://atlantic10.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102407aaa.html

Xavier Tabbed To Capture A-10 Men's Basketball Title

Will Daniels, Bryant Dunston, Drew Lavender, Ahmad Nivins and Brian Roberts named to preseason first-team All-Conference team



Oct. 24, 2007

Preseason All-Conference Teams/Predicted Order of Finish

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - For the second consecutive year, Xavier is the overwhelming choice as the team to beat in the Atlantic 10 men's basketball race, according to a poll of the Atlantic 10's head coaches and media released at today's Media Day at Boardwalk Hall, the site of the 2008 A-10 Championship.

The Musketeers received 42 of the 59 first-place votes cast by the panel of coaches and media members. Xavier (25-9/13-3) returns three starters from last year's team which shared the regular season title with Massachusetts and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Leading XU will be senior guards Drew Lavender (11.2 ppg., 4.8 apg.) and Stanley Burrell (12.4 ppg., 2.4 apg.), who were named to the preseason All-Conference first- and second-teams, respectively. The Musketeers have won 20 or more games in ten of the last 11 seasons and have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in six of the past season years.

Rhode Island garnered five first-place votes and placed second in the preseason poll. The Rams (19-14/10-6) welcome back four starters and 95.5 percent of the team's scoring from a year ago, including first-team preseason All-Conference pick Will Daniels (17.4 ppg., 5.6 rpg.) and junior guard Jimmy Baron (14.6 ppg., 2.2 rpg.), who led the A-10 with 97 three-point field goals a year ago.

Saint Joseph's (18-14/9-7) was tabbed third and will be led by preseason first-team selection Ahmad Nivins (16.6 ppg., 7.6 rpg.), who led the Conference in field goal percentage (.631) last season. Fordham (18-12/10-6) earned a pair of first-place votes and was chosen fourth, the highest the Rams have been selected in the preseason since joining the Conference in 1995-96.

Led by first-year head coach Rick Majerus, Saint Louis (20-13/8-8) was selected fifth in the poll, while Dayton (19-12/8-8) garnered a pair of first-place votes and was tabbed for seventh. Defending A-10 champion George Washington (23-9/11-5) was picked seventh, while 2007 regular season co-champion Massachusetts (24-9/13-3) received a first-place vote and was selected eighth, followed by Temple (12-18/6-10), Charlotte (14-16/7-9), Duquesne (10-19/6-10), Richmond (8-22/4-12), La Salle (10-20/3-13) and St. Bonaventure (7-22/4-12).

In that same poll, the coaches and media selected the preseason All-Conference teams. The first-team is comprised of Daniels, Lavender, Nivins, Fordham's Bryant Dunston and Brian Roberts of Dayton. The second-team consists of Burrell, Temple's Dionte Christmas, the 2007 recipient of the Chris Daniels Most Improved Player Award and the league's leading scorer (20.0 ppg.), Maureece Rice of George Washington and teammates Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch of Saint Louis. On the third team are Pat Calathes of Saint Joseph's, Massachusetts' Gary Forbes, Leemire Goldwire of Charlotte, Stout and Temple's Mark Tyndale.

The preseason All-Defensive team consists of Lisch, Dunston, Stout and teammates Kieron Achara and Shawn James of Duquesne. The All-Rookie team is comprised of George Washington's Xavier Alexander, Lavoy Allen of Temple, Dante' Jackson of Xavier, Charlotte's Phil Jones and Chris Wright of Dayton.

The 2007-08 season tips off on Nov. 5 when Richmond faces Maine in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic in Memphis, Tenn., and culminates with the 32nd Annual Atlantic 10 Championship, Mar. 12-15, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

[MassNole]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Who the hell gave UMass a first place vote?

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Who the hell gave UMass a first place vote?

All they really have is Gary Forbes, right?

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

GO RHODY!

Yes, I am a Rhode Island fan who was born and raised in NE ohio...and have never even been to Rhode Island.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

GO RHODY!

Yes, I am a Rhode Island fan who was born and raised in NE ohio...and have never even been to Rhode Island.

Makes complete sense. Rhody is definitely one of the teams to watch out for this season. If XU slips up at all, they have the team to win this league.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Makes complete sense. Rhody is definitely one of the teams to watch out for this season. If XU slips up at all, they have the team to win this league.

Indeed, Will Daniels is one to watch, may even turn himself into an NBA prospect.

[P2K]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

I'm really excited about St. Joe's this season. They have three double digit scorers coming back in Nivins, Calathes and Rob Ferguson. Tasheed Carr is back in Philly and they have some more other talented players. And what is really different about the Hawks this time is it is a big team. The guards, for he most part, as big guards. The three main scorers are at least 6'9".

[boomhauertjs]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Don't sleep on the Dayton Flyers. They have A-10 Player of the Year candidate Brian Roberts, incoming freshman stud Chris Wright, and a host of solid role players.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Don't sleep on the Dayton Flyers. They have A-10 Player of the Year candidate Brian Roberts, incoming freshman stud Chris Wright, and a host of solid role players.

Yeah, UD should be a team to watch this year too. I love St. Joe's team, P2K. I hope this will be a big season for the conference. We all have to root for one another in OOC play. Success will benefit everybody!

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

First weekend of games...

GW-77, Mount St. Mary's-62
Dayton-78, East Tenn. St-74
St. Louis-91, Houston Baptist-56
UMass-102, Northern Illinois-87
Xavier-90, SE Missouri St.-59
Norfolk St-72, Richmond-69

Leave it to the Spiders to ruin everything.