The Atlantic 10 Thread

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

They might be a team that won't be playing great basketball until January. That's all fine and good if they can get a bid to the dance come March and didn't do too much damage to their resume in early season struggles. Regardless, they aren't at that point yet. I'm sure Lutz will be working to make them better before that.

I posted something in the Puerto Rico thread about the XU game today. I thought Mizzou was going to beat them because of the way they force turnovers. They certainly forced them today against X. Still a little surprised X ended up winning. When I turned it off and went back to work at lunch, there was 9 min to go and X looked like they were heading towards a double-digit loss. I need to read about what happened those last 9 mins.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

While only 3 games into the season, I can already see that URI is going to sucker me in again with a great start then fall flat when they go into A-10 play.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Scores & Schedule

Fri. 11/21
Xavier-63, Va Tech-62 (OT) (Puerto Rico)
UConn-89, La Salle-81
Delaware-85, St. Bona-81 (New Jersey)
Temple-71, Lafayette-55

Sat. 11/22
GW @ Auburn 2 PM ET
BC @ St. Louis 2 PM ET
VCU @ Rhody 7 PM ET
Manhattan @ Fordham 7 PM ET
Clemson @ Charlotte 7 PM ET

Sun. 11/23
St. Bona @ Rutgers 2 PM ET (New Jersey)
Bethune-Cookman @ Dayton 2 PM ET
Furman @ Duquesne 2 PM ET
Xavier vs Memphis 7:30 PM ET (Puerto Rico)

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Xavier with a big win over Memphis to help themselves and the conference.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

A-10 has made a little noise this year with almost and real upsets.

Keep that going, the A-10 needs more exposure.

[CM1847]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Glad to see Xaiver pick up the W over Memphis. Glad to see anybody beat Memphis, but an A10 team is even better.

Charlotte lost by 1 to Clemson, so they're now 1-3 with the 3 losses by a combined 5 points. Ouch.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

...Charlotte lost by 1 to Clemson, so they're now 1-3 with the 3 losses by a combined 5 points. Ouch.

I saw that. If they keep that up, things will have to start falling their way eventually. They really need to win one though for a confidence booster. Losing close games like that can be maddening.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

****.

Holloway out 2-4 weeks

By Dustin Dow • November 25, 2008

Xavier was dealt a setback in the wake of its Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship on Sunday.

Point guard Terrell Holloway, whose poised performance led the Musketeers to three wins in Puerto Rico, suffered a low-grade stress fracture in his left foot and is expected to miss two to four weeks according to Xavier athletic trainer Michael Mulcahey.

Team doctor Robert Burger of Beacon Orthopedics made the diagnosis.

That kind of a timeline would mean Holloway might be healthy enough in time to play when Xavier, ranked 16th, travels to New Jersey for a neutral-court matchup against No. 7 Duke, a nationally televised game on CBS.

If Holloway heals quickly, he could play in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout against the University of Cincinnati on Dec. 13. Xavier plays three home games against Miami University, Auburn and Ohio University before the Crosstown Shootout.

A freshman, Holloway’s emergence in Puerto Rico as a point guard with a knack for late-game playmaking and composure was a boon for Xavier’s confidence as it returned to Cincinnati undefeated and excited about the rest of the regular season.

Holloway figured to be a major part of the Musketeers immediate future. Indeed, he is likely still going to be the main point guard for most of the season, but missing several games so early in his career will require a reintroduction of sorts to the Musketeers’ offense and defense when Holloway resumes playing health.

In the meantime, Xavier’s offense will have to adjust to playing without its most capable ball handler and its best free-throw shooter to date. Holloway has made 27-of-28 free throws and was the most reliable floor leader in the backcourt during the first five games. Without him, Xavier’s offensive development, which lags behind its defense right now, could stall.

Despite an offense that has been less than ideal so far, Xavier (5-0) has won tough games with a resilient attitude and fierce defense. Holloway, however, played a significant role in those attributes, particularly in helping to establish Xavier’s end-of-game mentality. Holloway was not the starting point guard, but he was frequently on the court at the most important moments, the player who Miller trusted the most with running the offense during intense situations.

Sophomore Dante Jackson, the current starting point guard, is likely to remain in that spot and play even more minutes strictly at point guard. Freshman Brad Redford, known for his 3-point shooting, is also likely to play extended minutes at point guard.

The NCAA still has not issued a decision on whether or not Jordan Crawford, a shooting guard, will be spared having to sit out a year as a transfer player. If he is cleared to play this season, he would also be able to play substantial minutes at point guard.

I hope he's back by the Duke game on 12/20. Looks like the Crosstown Shootout against Cincinnati on 12/13 might be iffy for him. That sucks. Plus, Jordan Crawford likely isn't going to be allowed to play this year because Indiana wasn't given a post-season ban for the Sampson BS. I bet that will be a big reason. I guess more PG minutes for Dante Jackson and Brad Redford.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Hiring Bernadette McGlade as commish is starting to pay dividends. This is BIG news. I'm assuming it's going to air nationally on CBS as opposed to it's CBS College sports network.

Per A-10's website

A-10 Men's Basketball Championship To Be Aired On CBS Sports Beginning In 2010; New Championship Format Unveiled

Nov. 25, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Atlantic 10 Conference and CBS Sports today announced a multi-year agreement for CBS to air the league's men's basketball championship final, beginning in 2010.

"We are extremely excited to partner with CBS Sports for our men's basketball championship," says A-10 commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. "To have our champion crowned on the most exciting day of the college basketball season - Selection Sunday - speaks volumes to the respect that the Atlantic 10 has on a national level. Our student-athletes, coaches, and administrators will benefit greatly."

"We are delighted to welcome the Atlantic 10 to the outstanding CBS Sports collection of championship games," says Mike Aresco, executive vice president, programming for CBS Sports. "The conference has a long tradition of excellence and now our viewers will be able to see the game that sends the winner to the NCAA Championship."

The Atlantic 10 also announced a new format for the men's basketball championship to coincide with the 2010 title game being moved to Sunday on CBS Sports. The new format will continue to see the top 12 teams participate with seeds 1 through 4 receiving an opening round bye; however, the four opening round games will move to the campuses of the higher remaining seeded teams. Winners of each game will advance to the quarterfinals at a site scheduled to be announced later this winter for 2010 and beyond.

"Allowing four institutions to host an opening round championship game will generate enthusiasm throughout the footprint of the Atlantic 10," says McGlade. "This hybrid format presents the best of all worlds: allowing teams to host mid-week opening round games, which are always an attendance challenge, and subsequently advancing all to a common championship site on a traditional weekend schedule of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It has the potential to benefit the teams, the fans, the media opportunities, and the overall excitement surrounding the event."

The 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship will begin on Tuesday, March 9, with opening round play and will continue on Friday, March 12 with four quarterfinal round games. The semifinals will be played the afternoon of Saturday, March 13, with the final tipping off at 1:00pm on Sunday, March 14, on CBS Sports.

The 2009 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship will commence on Wednesday, March 11, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. and conclude with the title game on Saturday, March 14, on ESPN2 at 6:00pm. Tickets can be purchased in person or by phone at the Boardwalk Hall ticket office (609-348-7021), any Atlantic 10 institution's ticket office, and on-line at www.atlantic10.org, www.atlanticcitynj.com and www.ticketmaster.com.

[CM1847]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

That's great news about the A10 tournament. I like the on-campus first round games too. Maybe Charlotte will be good enough to make the A10 tournament next year...

[R1zzo23]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

CBS picking up the A10 tourney is huge for the conference's exposure and I'm also a fan of the 1st round games being played at the top teams' campus.

[elicoleman]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

So basically the 5-8 seeds will get to host a tournament game before going to a neutral site.

Very interesting. You normally only see that kind of site movement in smaller conferences.

Would that mean play opening round games on Tuesday, take Wednesday off, and play the rest of the tournament Thursday (Quarterfinals), Friday (Semis) and Saturday (Championship)?

[R1zzo23]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

The championship game, if I'm not mistaken, will be held on Selection Sunday. Pretty sure that I read that here. This is a quote from that article:

This hybrid format presents the best of all worlds: allowing teams to host midweek opening-round games, which are always an attendance challenge, and subsequently advancing all to a common championship site on a traditional weekend schedule of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.”

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Props to the UD Flyers for their 14-point victory over #15 Marquette in Chicago on Saturday evening. Well done, fellas.

[ColProd]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

I didn't realize this, but SIU plays 3 A10 teams this year.

We beat UMass in 2k tourny. We have SLU Tuesday and Charlotte Saturday. From a fan (student section) stand point, these are going to be very intersting. SLU's Brett Thompson's mom has been talking trash to SIU students and alum for the past year. Charlotte's coach Lutz gave the student section the finger last time he came to the Arena. You know what they say about payback.

How are SLU and Charlotte looking this year? I know SLU has a lot of young guys and aren't expected to do much this year. I don't know much about Charlotte's squad though.