Reply To: Re: A-10 Opponents

Forum Forum Lehigh Sports Lehigh Men’s Basketball A-10 Opponents Reply To: Re: A-10 Opponents

#1024

LU65
Participant

LU’s Top Ranked A-10 Opponents
as determined by collegehoopsnet.com ……a service that previews "their’ Top 144 Division I programs

St. Joseph’s
Overall Rank: #95
Conference Rank: #7 Atlantic 10

2008-09: 17-15, 9-7
2008-09 postseason: none
Coach: Phil Martelli (278-167 at Saint Joseph’s, 278-167 overall)

Saint Joseph’s was looking like a possible Atlantic 10 contender heading into mid-February, but then Coach Phil Martelli’s team lost seven of their last ten games, including a conference tournament loss to Temple. The Hawks, who had four players who averaged over 34 minutes per game, simply ran out of gas at the end of the year. Without their two best players returning, this is a team that needs to find some depth and fast.

Final Projection:
This group may lack a superstar, but Williamson, Govens and Hilliard are not a bad trio to build around. The bigger question is how well can the inexperienced underclassmen play this year? As was shown last year, the Hawks need more than five players if they want to be fresh in February and March and that means the newcomers need to contribute and Prescott and Irwin need to be ready to play major minutes.

Projected Post-season Tournament: CBI/CIT

Projected Starting Five:
Garrett Williamson, Senior, Guard, 6.1 points per game
Chris Prescott, Sophomore, Guard, 2.8 points per game
Darrin Govens, Senior, Guard, 12.5 points per game
Idris Hilliard, Junior, Forward, 9.2 points per game
Bryant Irwin, Sophomore, Forward, 3.1 points per game

Richmond
Overall Rank: #61
Conference Rank: #4 Atlantic 10

2008-09: 20-16, 9-7
2008-09 postseason: CBI
Coach: Chris Mooney (57-70 at Richmond, 75-82 overall)

Richmond had high expectations heading into the 2008-2009 campaign, but those expectations were knocked down a bit when center Dan Geriot went out for the year with an injury. Still Coach Mooney managed to make the postseason and win 20 games. The absence of Geriot forced some younger frontcourt players into action and that will pay off big time this year.

Final Projection:
This should be a big year for Coach Mooney and his Richmond team, but the future looks just as bright. Even if the team cannot overcome teams like Dayton and Xavier, they could be on the cusp of the NCAA Tournament. But even a trip to the NIT is a step in the right direction and soon Richmond will be mentioned along with Xavier and Dayton as a perennial top team in the conference.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
Kevin Anderson, Junior, Guard, 16.6 points per game
David Gonzalvez, Senior, Guard, 16.0 points per game
Kevin Smith, Junior, Forward, 4.7 points per game
Justin Harper, Junior, Forward, 9.2 points per game
Dan Geriot, Junior, Center, DNP last season

Dayton Flyers

Overall Rank: #16
Conference Rank: #1 Atlantic 10 Conference

2008-09: 27-8, 11-5
2008-09 postseason: NCAA
Coach: Brian Gregory (125-68 at Dayton, 125-68 overall)

In the 2009 NCAA Tournament Coach Brian Gregory and his Dayton squad knocked off West Virginia in the first round before running into a tough Kansas team. With just one impact player gone, the Flyers will look towards the Sweet Sixteen or even better this time around. And they certainly have the weapons to make such a deep run in March.

Final Projection:
If there is a year that Dayton is going to beat out Xavier for the A-10 crown, this is it. The conference is good enough for both teams to make the NCAA Tournament, but the Flyers are the most experienced and deepest team in the conference and they want to show the nation that they are here to stay. A conference title and a run to the Sweet Sixteen should prove it.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA