Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Conference Tournament Preview

The Atlantic 10 conference tournament begins Wednesday, March 12 in Washington, D.C. The winner who emerges from the 15 school field at the conference tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. 

The Loyola men’s basketball team earned the fourth seed after defeating the University of Massachusetts Saturday, March 8, giving them a double-bye in the tournament to automatically advance to the quarterfinal round. 

Loyola’s first opponent will be determined by the winners of two earlier games. First, Davidson College plays the University of Richmond in the first round of the tournament, scheduled for an 11:30 a.m. tipoff Wednesday, March 12. 

The winner of that game will play Saint Louis University in the second round Thursday, March 13 at 2 p.m., with the winning team facing Loyola in the quarterfinal round. 

After receiving a double-bye last season, the Ramblers were immediately knocked out in their first game against St. Bonaventure. Associate head coach Sean Dwyer said the team is preparing the same way they normally would, despite a lack of road and neutral-site success this season.

“We’ve had some stinkers on the road, that’s for sure,” Dwyer said. “I don’t think we talk about it much, to be honest, we just focus on our preparation. These guys are pretty focused and when we’re right — home, away, or neutral — I think we have what it takes to play well and win.”

The Ramblers were predicted to finish fifth in the A10 Preseason poll, with fourth-year guard Des Watson and second-year center Miles Rubin being called to preseason All-Conference teams.

In the final awards, Rubin was named to the All-Defensive team and third-year guard Jayden Dawson received a Second Team shout. 

The Ramblers finished the regular season with a 12-6 record and topped the conference stat sheet in 3-point field goal percentage — 35.6% — and assists with a 16 average per game. 

Rubin leads the conference with a 69.6% field goal percentage and 2.3 blocks a game. Also appearing on the leaderboards are Dawson and graduate guard Sheldon Edwards Jr., ranking 12th and 13th in 3-point percentage. 

Loyola is yet to win a game at an A10 tournament, having suffered first round exits in their first two seasons in the league. Will the third time be the charm for Drew Valentine and the Ramblers, tune in March 9 to find out as Loyola’s post-season journey gets underway.

No. 1 Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU earned a share of the regular season title after finishing with a 15-3 conference record. The Rams handed the Ramblers their sole home loss in their only matchup this season with a 84-65 victory, while VCU dropped games to St. Bonaventure University, Saint Louis University and the University of Dayton. 

The Rams lead the conference in multiple metrics, including a 15.8 positive scoring margin, a 5.6 positive rebounding margin and a 2.8 positive turnover margin. 

VCU lived up to preseason predictions which forecasted they’d finish at the top of the conference. Fourth-year guard Max Shulga ranks 10th in the conference in scoring, averaging 15.47 points per game, and was named to the preseason First Team. Shulga was named A10 Player of the Year and headlines the All-Conference first team. 

Graduate guard Joe Bamisile — who received a preseason and all conference second team shout, and was named to the All-Academic team — is just two spots behind Shulga, averaging 15.2 points per game. Graduate guard Zeb Jackson also received Second Team and All-Defensive team honors, and he comes in second in the conference in free throw percentage with 89.2%. 

The Rams will play their first game of the tournament Friday, Mar 14 at 11:30 a.m., competing against the winner of the St. Bonaventure University and Duquesne University matchup. 

No. 2 George Mason University

George Mason won the other share of the regular season title after finishing conference play with a 15-3 record. Their only losses were to the University of Rhode Island, Virginia Commonwealth University and Duquesne University. The Patriots defeated the Ramblers in overtime 58-53 Jan. 29. 

The Patriots were originally predicted to finish in sixth place and received no first place votes in the preseason polling, with no team members being named to a preseason team. 

George Mason made one of the largest jumps from preseason to now, particularly shining on the defensive end. The Patriots have the best field goal and 3-point field goal percentage defense in the conference, with 37.8% and 30%, respectively. 

While they have no player in the top 20 scorers, fourth-year forward Jalen Haynes ranks sixth in rebounds, with seven per game, and seventh in field goal percentage, with 56.3%. A10 Defensive Player of the Year, fourth-year guard Jared Billups is ranked 13th in rebounds with an average of 6.2 per game. 

The Patriots will play their first game on Friday at 5 p.m., facing the winner of George Washington University against either the University of Rhode Island or Fordham University. 

No. 3 University of Dayton

Dayton and Loyola met twice this season, with the teams splitting the season series thus far. The Flyers emerged victorious on their home court, defeating the Ramblers in overtime 83-81, while the Ramblers pulled off a 76-72 win in Gentile. 

The Flyers ranked second in the preseason poll, with fourth-year forward Nate Santos being named to the preseason First Team. Redshirt fourth-year guard Posh Alexander received a Second Team and All-Defensive team shout and fourth-year guard Enoch Cheeks made the All-Defensive team. 

Dayton ranks in the top half of a majority of the stats but never comes in first. In their highest ranked stat, they sit just under the Ramblers in 3-point field goal percentage with 35.6%. 

Santos ranks 17th in scoring in the conference, averaging 14.2 points, and finished tied for fourth in 3-point field goal percentage and 12th in 3-point field goals made with 63.

Cheeks and third-year guard Javon Bennett also come in on the top 40 in 3-point field goal percentage at 22 and 23, while first-year forward Amael L’Etang — who was a three-time A10 Rookie of the Week — ranks 15th in blocked shots with 27. 

The Flyers play their first game on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and will take on the winner of Saint Joseph’s University and either the University of Massachusetts or La Salle University. 

No. 5 Saint Louis University

Saint Louis and Loyola met twice this season, with each team claiming one victory. In Gentile, the Ramblers defeated the Billikens 78-69, while Saint Louis took advantage on their home court coming away with a dominant 98-67 win. 

The Billikens earned the fifth seed after finishing the regular season with an 11-7 conference record. They placed just below where they were predicted to finish in preseason and had off-season transfer acquisition third-year center Robbie Avila and veteran redshirt fourth-year guard Gibson Jimerson called to the First Team. 

Saint Louis sits in the top spot in field goal percentage at 47.1% and is led in scoring by Jimerson and Avila who average 17.7 and 17.3 points per game, respectively. 

The Billikens also rank first in the conference for defensive rebounds, averaging 27.8 a game. Third-year forward Kalu Anya and Avila claim second and fourth in the defensive rebound leaderboard, clocking in a total of 179 and 154, while Anya sits in seventh in offensive rebounds with 66. 

Jimerson and fourth-year guard Isaiah Swope take the top two spots in 3-point field goals made, each averaging just above three per game. 

The Billikens have a chance to play the Ramblers a third time this season if they defeat the winners of Davidson College and the University of Richmond. Their first game is scheduled for Thursday, March 13 with a 2 p.m. tipoff.

No. 6 Saint Joseph’s University 

After finishing the regular season 11-7, Saint Joseph’s University nabbed the sixth seed in the conference tournament. Loyola faced off against the Hawks twice this season, with a 93-57 loss in Philadelphia and a 58-55 win in Gentile. 

The Hawks were projected to finish in third place in the preseason polls and had fourth-year guard Erik Reynolds II, second-year guard Xzayvier Brown and third-year forward Rasheer Fleming all named to preseason teams. 

Graduate center Justice Ajogbor is a standout for the Hawks, leading the conference alongside Rubin in blocks at 2.3 per game and helping place them at the top of the conference in blocked shots. 

Fleming takes the second spot in rebounding, averaging 8.7 per game, which has helped the Hawks gain a 2.8 positive rebounding margin. 

Reynolds II ranks first in the conference in free throw percentage, making shots 89.7% of the time. He’s also the eighth-leading scorer, averaging 16.4 points — just below Brown who is seventh and averages 17.1. 

Saint Joseph’s first game is Thursday with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. They face the winner of University of Massachusetts and La Salle University, and can advance to play the University of Dayton in the quarterfinal round.

No. 7 George Washington University

George Washington University finished the regular season with a 9-9 conference record. In their lone matchup against the Ramblers, the Revolutionaries suffered a 77-57 loss. 

The Revolutionaries climbed rankings after initially being projected to finish 13th in the preseason poll, and they only had redshirt second-year forward Darren Buchanan Jr. called to the Second Team. 

George Washington is led by redshirt third-year forward Rafael Castro, who shows up multiple times on the individual stats sheet. He ranks 20th in scoring, averaging 13.9 points per game, leads the conference in rebounding — with 3.4 offensive rebounds and 5.9 defensive rebounds per game — and has the second-best field goal percentage at 67.7%. 

Second-year guard Trey Autry appears on the top 3-point field goal percentage list, shooting 37.5% from beyond the arc, and has the ninth best free throw percentage in the conference with 82.2%. 

The Revolutionaries lead the A10 in steals, averaging 9.1 per game and have a 5.9 positive scoring margin, good enough for fourth in the conference. 

George Washington will play their first game against the winner of the University of Rhode Island and Fordham University on Thursday with a 5 p.m. tipoff. They have the chance to play George Mason University in the quarterfinal round after winning this game. 

No. 8 St. Bonaventure University 

St. Bonaventure University earned the eighth seed for the conference tournament after finishing the regular season 9-9 in conference play, having defeated the regular season conference champions, Virginia Commonwealth University earlier in the season. The Ramblers defeated the Bonnies in their lone matchup 77-53 Feb. 4. 

The Bonnies climbed two places from their preseason ranking and currently hold the top ranking in rebounding defense with a 31.9 average per game and have the second best turnover margin with a positive 1.8.

In the majority of the other stats categories, St. Bonaventure ranks in the middle-to-low end, finishing in the last spot in assists with an average of just 11.1 per game. 

Fourth-year guard Melvin Council Jr. ranks 15th on the leading scorers list, averaging 14.6 points per game, and third-year guard Lajae Jones sits third in 3-point field goal percentage at 43.6%. 

St. Bonaventure gets a first-round bye with the eighth seed placement and will take on Duquesne University Thursday at 11:30 a.m. If they advance, they’ll face Virginia Commonwealth University in the quarterfinal round. 

No. 9 Duquesne University 

After winning the conference tournament last season, Duquesne University finished the regular season with an 8-10 conference record and dropped one spot from their preseason ranking. The Dukes were victorious in their lone matchup against the Ramblers, coming away with a 69-56 win on their home court.

Overall, Duquesne ranks on the lower end of the stat sheet, sitting at last in the conference with a 65% free throw percentage, a 35.6% 3-point field goal percentage defence and and an average of 22.3 defensive rebounds per game.

Third-year guard Kareem Rozier and fourth-year guard Tre Dinkins III sit in 12th and 14th on the assists leaderboard, with 3.4 and 3.0, respectively. Rozier has the best assist to turnover ratio in the conference at 3.3. 

Redshirt third-year guard Cameron Crawford has the second-best 3-point percentage, making 43.8% of shots. Dinkins sits 10th on the same list and places ninth in 3-point field goals made at 74. 

Duquesne plays their first game against St. Bonaventure Thursday with an 11:30 a.m. tipoff. The winner will then go on to play Virginia Commonwealth University in the quarterfinal round. 

No. 10 University of Rhode Island 

The University of Rhode Island finished conference play with a 7-11 record, placing them in the 10th seed ahead of the conference tournament. In their single matchup against the Ramblers, Rhode Island suffered a 81-77 loss. 

The Rams ended the regular season a spot above where they were projected in the preseason poll. Rhode Island is below-average on the stats sheet but ranks first in scoring offense with 78.1 points per game and second in field goal percentage at 46.7%. 

Fourth-year guard Sebastian Thomas ranks fourth in the conference in scoring, averaging 17.5 points per game. He also leads the conference in assists and steals, averaging 6.1 and 2.1 a game. 

Fourth-year forward David Green has the highest 3-point field goal percentage in the conference with 43.9%. Below him in 11th is third-year guard Jamarques Lawrence at 39.2%. They both are strong in 3-point field goals made sitting at 11th and 15th with averages of 2.2 and 2.0. 

The Rams play their first game on Wednesday against Fordham University with a 2 p.m. tipoff. The winner will then face George Washington University in the second round. 

No. 11 University of Massachusetts 

The University of Massachusetts ended their regular season with a 74-51 loss against Loyola  to set a 7-11 conference record. The Minutemen finished two spots below their projected place on the preseason poll and only had third-year guard Rahsool Diggins named to a preseason team. 

UMass has the highest rebounding offense and rebounds per game, with averages of 39.7 and 14.1. Beyond that, they fall on the middle or low ends of the stats sheet. 

Diggins ranks sixth in the conference in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game, and has the sixth-best free throw percentage with 83.3%. He also is fifth in 3-point field goals made, shooting 31.9% from beyond the arc. 

Also standing out on paper is second-year guard Jaylen Curry, who sits in second in assist to turnover ratio at 2.9. Third-year center and forward Shahid Muhammad ranks sixth in blocked shots, averaging 1.5 per game. Fourth-year forward Daniel Rivera and third-year forward Daniel Hankins-Sanford both place in the top 10 in rebounding, averaging 7.2 and 7.0 rebounds per game. 

The Minutemen will take on La Salle University in the first round of the tournament Wednesday with a 4:30 p.m. tipoff. The winner will then go on to play Saint Joseph’s University in the second round. 

No. 12 Davidson College 

After losing to the Ramblers twice, 77-69 in one game and 82-72 in the other, Davidson College finished the regular season with a 6-12 record, giving them the 12th seed. 

The Wildcats finish just where they were predicted to and are led by preseason Third Team player and current leading scorer of the A10, third-year forward Reed Bailey, who averages 19.0 points per game.

Bailey is joined by fifth-year guards Conner Kochera and Zach Laput in the top 15 of field goal percentages, and second-year forward Bobby Durkin in rebounds. 

Durkin’s 15th place on the 3-point field goals percentage — 37% — places him in third place with 85 field goals made. Durkin and second-year guard Mike Loughnane have the third and fourth best assist/turnover ratio in the conference, with 2.8 and 2.7, respectively. 

The Wildcats’ first game is against the University of Richmond Wednesday with a scheduled tipoff at 11:30 a.m. The winner of this matchup will face off against Saint Louis University in the second round. 

No. 13 University of Richmond

After winning a share of the regular season and claiming the No. 1 seed last season, the University of Richmond dropped to 13th in the conference with a 5-13 conference record. One of those losses was against the Ramblers in a 87-80 overtime defeat.

The Spiders dropped six places from their preseason ranking of seventh and had no players named to any preseason teams. 

Richmond has the worst scoring offense in the conference, averaging only 67.0 points per game with a negative 5.2 scoring margin. They place in the middle-to-low end in all other categories — besides free throw percentage where they hold the top spot at 78.8%. 

Graduate forward Dusan Neskovic is the leading scorer for the Spiders and sits 19th in the conference with a 13.9 average points per game. Neskovic also has an 88.2% free throw percentage. 

Fourth-year guard Jason Roche takes eighth in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 40.8% from beyond the arc. Graduate guard B. Artis White and third-year center Mike Walz place 13th and 17th in assist to turnover ratio, with 2.0 and 1.9, respectively. 

The Spiders take on Davidson College in the first round of the tournament with a 11:30 a.m. tipoff Wednesday. If victorious, they’ll play Saint Louis University in the second round. 

No. 14 La Salle University 

La Salle University grabbed the 14th seed after maintaining a 5-13 conference record. In their singular meeting with the Ramblers, La Salle fell 79-68. 

The Explorers climbed one spot from where they were projected to finish in the preseason polls, and had no players called to any preseason team. 

La Salle sits in the bottom half on the stats sheet, with their highest ranking in offensive rebounds per game at fourth, averaging 12.0. 

Graduate guard Corey McKeithan is the leading scorer for the Explorers, averaging 14.9 points per game, which places him 13th in the conference. Graduate guard and forward Jahlil White and third-year forward Demetrius Lilley sit at 15th and 19th in rebounding with 6.0 and 5.9 per game, respectively. 

The Explorers play their first game on Wednesday against the University of Massachusetts, with a scheduled tipoff time at 4:30 p.m. 

No. 15 Fordham University 

Filling in the last seed of the tournament is Fordham University, who finished the regular season with a 3-15 conference record. The Ramblers won the lone meetup between the sides this season 70-66. 

The Rams fell one space below their original preseason ranking and only had graduate forward Abdou Tsimbila named to the All-Defensive team. 

Fordham ranks below the half mark in just about every stat, except for offensive rebounds per game, 12.1 and steals, 7.7 per game. 

Fourth-year guard Jackie Johnson III is the second-highest scorer in the conference, averaging 18.6 points per game. He also sits in 10th in steals with 1.5 and sixth in free throws made with 76. 

Fordham will play their first game against the University of Rhode Island Wednesday at 2 p.m. If they win, the Rams can go on to play George Washington University in the second round.