This series takes a weekly look at which teams in the A10 have the potential to be selected into the NCAA tournament. Updated every Tuesday morning, these projections are based off of non-conference and conference performances, as well as projections from the experts.
KEY: NR (not ranked), N/A (not updated)
All projections based on if the season ended today.
Locks
Dayton Flyers (14-3, 4-1 A10)
ESPN: 6 seed | CBS Sports: 5 seed | NBC Sports: 6 seed | SI.com: 6 seed
Dayton had an excellent week that included wins over Davidson and George Washington. As of right now, the Flyers appear to be locked in a battle with VCU for best team in the conference. All experts have Dayton as a lock at this point in the season, and the team seems to fit very well into the 5/6 seed placing. Dyshawn Pierre has provided a huge boost for the Flyers and could be an important asset down the stretch as this team makes a run for the A10 crown. However, they can’t drop either game this week to St. Bonaventure or Fordham without taking a couple-seed fall in next week’s rankings.
VCU Rams (13-5, 5-0 A10)
ESPN: 11 seed | CBS Sports: 12 seed | NBC Sports: 11 seed | SI.com: 11 seed
Is there a hotter team in the A10 than VCU? Wait, let me rephrase that. Is there a hotter team in the nation? The Rams are on a tear right now and are riding high off the energy of a 94-89 overtime victory over heated rival Richmond. Will Wade has his guys playing their best basketball of the season and consequently the experts are starting to give this team some respect. Should VCU finish with either of the above seeds, they would be a hot upset pick over nearly any 5/6 seed in the country. I see them taking care of business against Duquesne and St. Bonaventure this week (fingers crossed).
George Washington Colonials (14-4, 3-2 A10)
ESPN: 9 seed | CBS Sports: 10 seed | NBC Sports: 11 seed | SI.com: 8 seed
While a win over Dayton on the road would have been ideal, a loss doesn’t do much harm to the Colonials. George Washington still is a top three team in the league and should remain a tourney lock for the foreseeable future. A win over Rhode Island this week wouldn’t do too much, but Richmond would be a solid win for this team. Should GW fall to Rhody, they’re likely on the bubble next week, but a loss to Richmond would keep them just off the cusp of uncertainty.
On the Bubble
St. Joseph’s Hawks (14-3, 4-1 A10)
ESPN: First Four Out | CBS Sports: Last Four In | NBC Sports: Next Four Out | SI.com: NR
St. Joe’s did what they needed to do this week: maintain the status quo. Wins over George Mason and Fordham may not serve as resume boosters, but they keep the Hawks in the weekly bracketology conversation. This week is rivalry week as they face matchups against La Salle and Ivy League foe Penn. While moral victories may be at stake, neither pose that great of a challenge. The mission for St. Joe’s again this week: maintain the status quo.
St. Bonaventure Bonnies (12-4, 4-1 A10)
ESPN: NR | CBS Sports: NR | NBC Sports: NR | SI.com: NR
St. Bonaventure is hurting after an untimely loss to Duquesne this week. Put simply, it was a game to an inferior opponent that the Bonnies needed to win, and they dropped the ball. However this week will be the toughest week for St. Bona all season with matchups against Dayton and VCU. A win over either team would give the Bonnies some serious respect and likely would vault them onto the right side of the bubble.
Outside Looking In
Richmond Spiders (10-7, 2-3 A10)
ESPN: NR | CBS Sports: NR | NBC Sports: NR | SI.com: NR
It was a rough week for Richmond, who suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to heated rival VCU. This isn’t a bad loss per-se, but the Spiders needed that win to really get themselves back into the conversation. If they don’t beat both Davidson and George Washington this week, Richmond will all but be officially out of contention.
Davidson Wildcats (11-5, 3-2 A10)
ESPN: NR | CBS Sports: NR | NBC Sports: NR | SI.com: NR
It was an even week for Davidson, who dropped a game to Dayton but won one over UMass. Human scoring machine Jack Gibbs was named A10 Player of the Week again after 31 and 43 point performances the past two games. The Wildcats need wins over Saint Louis and Richmond to keep from completely falling off the radar.
Bon Voyage…
Sorry, Rhode Island. There’s always next year.
