The Atlantic 10 Thread

[boomhauertjs]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

My impressions from UD's win over Akron last night:

Chris Wright has really improved his game over the summer. He'll probably never have a reliable jumper, but he's developed more of an offensive game than dunking.
The new point guards, Staten and Parker, are such a huge offensive upgrade over last year's duo of Warren and Lowery. Staten had a very good 1st half, but played like a frosh in the second. Hopefully, he'll be fully adjusted to the college game when conference play starts.
Devin Searcy has improved offensively from last year and looks like he'll be a solid center this season.
While the offense has improved thanks to the new PG's, the defense is not what it was last year. Part of it was Akron being unconscious from 3, but the Flyers' ball pressure was not as effective as last season. Hopefully, that will improve.
These are only based on the last 30 minutes of the game, as the first 10 were pre-empted on FSN by the conclusion of the Xavier-IUPFW game, which inexplicably went to overtime. Kibbles, care to comment on the state of your Muskies?

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

My impressions from UD's win over Akron last night:

Chris Wright has really improved his game over the summer. He'll probably never have a reliable jumper, but he's developed more of an offensive game than dunking.
The new point guards, Staten and Parker, are such a huge offensive upgrade over last year's duo of Warren and Lowery. Staten had a very good 1st half, but played like a frosh in the second. Hopefully, he'll be fully adjusted to the college game when conference play starts.
Devin Searcy has improved offensively from last year and looks like he'll be a solid center this season.
While the offense has improved thanks to the new PG's, the defense is not what it was last year. Part of it was Akron being unconscious from 3, but the Flyers' ball pressure was not as effective as last season. Hopefully, that will improve.
These are only based on the last 30 minutes of the game, as the first 10 were pre-empted on FSN by the conclusion of the Xavier-IUPFW game, which inexplicably went to overtime. Kibbles, care to comment on the state of your Muskies?

Well, they aren't a very good team right now. Chris Mack will tell you that as he did on the radio post-game. He was pretty ticked off. The upperclassmen aren't leading and their offense sucks at the moment. Really, last night, they wouldn't guard anyone on the perimeter, which was amazing considering all IPFW was doing offensively was from beyond the arc. Last season they at least had a go-to guy in Jordan Crawford when they were trying to find themselves as a team early on and as the season went on. They don't have that guy right now. Whether it's Tu Holloway, Dante Jackson, or someone else, they haven't stepped up despite Holloway averaging 25 PPG. The positive thing is they are at least winning. They really need to improve though. I'm keeping my expectations low.

[boomhauertjs]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

What was with that guy on IPFW wearing a boxing helmet while he was playing? I'm guessing it had to do with concussions, but it's got to be tough to play wearing one of those.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

What was with that guy on IPFW wearing a boxing helmet while he was playing? I'm guessing it had to do with concussions, but it's got to be tough to play wearing one of those.

That was pretty funny. He was actually rather fearless when going after rebounds or driving the lane. I would be too if I was wearing that. When he was at the free-throw line, the XU student section started chanting something but I couldn't hear what it was (I sit in the opposite end of the arena). IPFW also had a guy that looked like he was Amish. So the Mastadons had an amateur boxer and an Amish dude playing for them. Luckily X escaped with a victory.

[Marino]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

I think Charlotte will be down for a few years until coach Major gets his players in, but still, last night was pathetic. Too many people are use to the 3 happy offense that Lutz ran that this could be a 10 win or less season unfortunately.

[boomhauertjs]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Big win for the Flyers, coming back from 16 down to beat Ole Miss on the road. 3 games this week (Savannah St., Florida A&M, and Cincy), so it's going to be a busy week.

[kodiak]

Charlotte continues to struggle. X had a nice win over Seton Hall, granted their top scorer is out, but a win over a Big East team is always welcomed. Richmond also plays Seton Hall later this season.

As for UR, they lost their first road game Thurs in 2OT thanks to an inability to make FT's. 13-26. KA had a chance to put them up 4 with 1 made ft and he missed it and Iona nailed a 3 to send it to OT. They rebounded with a win yesterday and have 3 games this week. Tomorrow against a scrub, then Fri vs Wright St and Sat vs S Illinois/Purdue. The weekend games are part of the Chicago Invitational


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[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

X is playing Old Dominion tonight at 9:30, I think, on Fox Sports Net in the Paradise Jam championship game. Yeah that W over Seton Hall wasn't pretty, apparently, but a win is a win. I do worry about the minutes Holloway has been playing though. He's averaging 25 PPG, at least, but playing about 38 minutes a game. He is all X has right now and the kid is going to get worn down at this rate. Someone else on that team needs to step up and give him a break from carrying the team.

[boomhauertjs]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

UD escapes with a narrow win over Savannah State. Hopefully, it's just a hangover from the Ole Miss win. With games on Wednesday and Saturday, I hope they're over it.

[kodiak]

Richmond just got another huge win for the A-10, taking down #8 Purdue 65-54. Actually got to watch this game on BigTen network. KA had 27 and should get MVP of the tourney. The other amazing thing is they outrebounded the Boliers and held them 31 pts under the season avg. They also held Purdue to under 30% shooting.


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[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Richmond just got another huge win for the A-10, taking down #8 Purdue 65-54. Actually got to watch this game on BigTen network. KA had 27 and should get MVP of the tourney. The other amazing thing is they outrebounded the Boliers and held them 31 pts under the season avg. They also held Purdue to under 30% shooting.

Nice. I'm interested to see what Richmond will do this year. That's a great win for them and the conference. I was at the 3OT thriller between Xavier and Wofford. Luckily X pulled it out. They never should have won that game but I'll take it. Little disappointed Dayton was manhandled by Cincy. There were a lot of shocked XU fans whenever that score would appear on the board.

[kodiak]

They have a difficult schedule leading up to conf play ahead. @ODU, @AZ St, @ Seton Hall, home against VCU and Wake, and a neutral site game against Georgia Tech.

My impressions from tonight, losing Gonzalvez means KA is going to draw the opposing teams top defender every game. Free throws are going to be an Achilles heel unless they get that fixed. D is still going to be good. Justin Harper must stay out of foul trouble and assert himself every game like he did tonight.(16 and 11 or 12 boards) Going into tonights game, UR was shooting 44% from 3, with KA, Harper, Brothers, and Lindsey all capable if knocking them down.

The A-10 has a legitimate shot at 4-5 teams in the dance this year provided X and Dayton iron some things out. Temple, X, Dayton, and UR were all preseason tourney picks. UMass has a good record, although I don't know who they played so far. Slu's detections due to the sexual assault allegations have hurt them. Not sure how the rest of the league is doing so far.


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[boomhauertjs]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Ugh for the Flyers on Saturday. I think the 4 games in 7 days caught up to them. Hopefully, it's a wakeup call to the players to get their defensive focus up.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Crappy night for the A-10...

- Dayton loses (at home) to East Tennessee State
- Xavier loses a rivalry game at Miami (OH) - I hate when X plays up there. Always a tough game
- Old Dominion beat Richmond
- East Carolina beat Charlotte
- Harvard beat Fordham - A shocker
- Drexel beat St. Joe's
- George Mason beat GW

Looks like UMass and Temple are carrying the flag right now, especially the former. They are 7-0 after beating Quinnipiac. They really haven't played anyone though. That changes against BC next.

[phenom1990]

Re: The Atlantic 10 Thread

Temple has played very good defense so far, they just need their offense to come around. The rims that were used at the Old Spice classic were so tight, that it was hard for any team there to make a shot if it wasn't nothing but net.