Based on one of the most efficient and valuable shots in the game, The Corner 3 is a weekly rundown of each team in the Atlantic 10. Here’s a quote, a note, and a little bit of showboat from around our favorite conference in college basketball.
- 16-9 (8-6) | 6th
- Last Week: W vs RICH, 83-79 | W vs SJU, 99-93
- This Week: Tue. vs URI | Sat. at FOR
It was a good week for us – a very good week actually. Two wins against superbly coached teams, talented teams, both with Player of the Year candidates. We had great crowds. We got inspired and motivated by that, and now we face the same kind of situation tomorrow night against Rhode Island.
– Bob McKillop | February 22, teleconference
🗒 On Tuesday, Peyton Aldridge had yet another big game against Richmond. In Davidson’s two wins over the Spiders this season, the sophomore has averaged 29 points, 7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2 blocks.
🎞 Sophomore Jordan Watkins snatches a pass out of the air and finds teammate Jack Gibbs leading the breakaway. Gibbs turns on the afterburners, getting to the rim for the hoop and the harm. Gibbs had a game high 35 points in the 99-93 upset over Saint Joseph’s on Saturday.
- 21-5 (11-3) | 3rd
- Last Week: L at SJU, 79-70 | L vs SBU, 79-72
- This Week: Tues. at SLU | Sat. vs URI
Last week was a tough week. I thought Saint Joe’s really took it to us, and then our response on Saturday was very disappointing. I thought for the first time in a long time, our effort level defensively just wasn’t what it’s supposed to be – especially at this time of year. We have to get back to that.
– Archie Miller | February 22, teleconference
🗒 With the two losses last week, Dayton dropped back-to-back games for the first time since January 29, 2014.
🎞 Junior Scoochie Smith collects a miss and flies down the floor in transition against St. Bonaventure. Check out the savvy dribble into the body of the Bonnies defender to create an angle for the tough left-handed finish.
- 15-12 (5-9) | 9th
- Last Week: L vs GW, 81-74 | L at URI, 77-74
- This Week: Wed. at SBU | Sat. vs RICH
Two hard fought games where we just came up one or two possessions short. We just have to finish games. We’re doing some really good things, we just have to do them for longer stretches of time.
– Jim Ferry | February 22, teleconference
🗒 Only 10 teams in the country use less shot clock on offensive possessions than Duquesne. An average possession for the Dukes is just 15.0 seconds.
🎞 Senior Micah Mason does an impressive job setting up the ball screen and then finding a driving lane. Keeping the defender on his hip, he finishes with the ball extended away from his body – avoiding the block attempt. Mason finished with a game high 26 points in a losing effort against George Washington on Wednesday.
- 13-12 (4-10) | 12th
- Last Week: W vs MASS, 76-66 | L at SLU, 76-68
- This Week: Wed. at LAS | Sat. vs DAV
We really felt good about our win against Massachusetts. Offensively we were very explosive in the first half. It was the best we’ve shot the ball in Atlantic 10 play, so that was really encouraging.
– Jeff Neubauer | February 22, teleconference
🗒 Senior Ryan Rhoomes continues to lead the league in effective field goal percentage by dominating the low blocks. Rhoomes’ 65.6 eFG% is also good for 14th best in the country.
🎞 In the waning seconds of the first half, freshman Joseph Chartouny pulls up and finds teammate Antwoine Anderson streaking along the baseline. Anderson sent in the two-handed jam to beat the halftime buzzer and give the Rams a 15 point lead over Massachusetts at the break.
- 9-18 (3-11) | 13th
- Last Week: L vs SLU, 79-77 (OT) | L at MASS, 70-64
- This Week: Wed. vs VCU | Sat. at LAS
Tough week for us. Disappointing that in both games we really got off to an awful start. We’ve allowed missing shots to impact our defensive focus.
– Dave Paulsen | February 22, teleconference
🗒 Freshman Otis Livingston II continues to be a reliable contributor for the Patriots. Livingston II has conference per 40 minutes averages of 13.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
🎞 Senior Shevon Thompson shows off some nice low post footwork leaving Billikens defender Reggie Agbeko with the spin and lay in. Thompson notched a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds in the overtime loss to Saint Louis on Wednesday.
- 20-7 (9-5) | 5th
- Last Week: W at DUQ, 81-74 | W vs LAS, 90-50
- This Week: Wed. at RICH | Sat. vs VCU
It was a good week for us. We got a much needed win at Duquesne. I think we had our best 40 minutes of the season against La Salle.
– Mike Lonergan | February 22, teleconference
🗒 In addition to being a two-time, A-10 All Defensive Team selection, senior Patricio Garino needs just five more baskets to reach 500 career field goals.
🎞 Stripping La Salle’s Jordan Price in the backcourt, Patricio Garino starts a transition opportunity – capped off by a no-look pass from Joe McDonald to Tyler Cavanaugh for the fast break basket. The Colonials dispatched the Explorers 90-50 at home on Sunday.
- 6-19 (2-12) | 14th
- Last Week: W vs SBU, 71-64 | L at GW, 90-50
- This Week: Wed. vs FOR | Sat. vs GMU
We really played very, very well against St. Bonaventure. It was one of our better games of the year – we played a complete game. And we followed that up with one of our poorest performances against GW.
– Dr. John Giannini | February 22, teleconference
🗒 At 54.9%, the Explorers have the lowest field goal percentage on attempts at the rim, among Atlantic 10 teams.
🎞 Sophomore Yevgen Sakhniuk collects a deflected pass and is rewarded for running the floor as he slams home the finish.
- 12-14 (5-9) | 10th
- Last Week: L at FOR, 76-66 | W vs GMU, 70-64
- This Week: Wed. vs SJU | Sat. at SBU
We’ve got a good, tough stretch ahead of us with Saint Joe’s coming in on Wednesday. Our guys are still fighting and playing pretty hard, so we’re looking forward to this next run.
– Derek Kellogg | February 22, teleconference
🗒 Atlantic 10 competitors are living at the free throw line against Massachusetts. Their 47.0% defensive free throw rate ranks 14th in the league.
🎞 Sophomore Donte Clark spots teammate Tyler Bergantino hiding behind the Fordham defense for an easy basket. Clark finished the game with 13 points and 5 assists, but the Minutemen failed to find success on the road, dropping this one 76-66.
- 15-12 (7-7) | 7th
- Last Week: L at VCU, 83-67 | W vs DUQ, 77-74
- This Week: Tue. at DAV | Sat. at DAY
Really came away impressed with the job Will (Wade) has done over there – they’ve really got it cookin’. We were thrilled to get the win over a good Duquesne team. For us, Terrell, Martin, and Garrett continue to kind of carry us. We’re still searching for – and developing – support around them.
– Dan Hurley | February 22, teleconference
🗒 Led by defensive stalwart Hassan Martin, Rhode Island ranks 10th in the nation at percentage of opponents’ attempts blocked at the rim. The Rams reject 17.0% of shots taken in that area.
🎞 Sophomore Jared Terrell draws the foul and hammers home a fast break dunk in a road contest at VCU on Tuesday. Although Rhode Island came up short 83-67, Terrell would finish with a game high 22 points.
- 14-12 (6-8) | 8th
- Last Week: L at DAV, 83-79 | L at VCU, 87-74
- This Week: Wed. vs GW | Sat. at DUQ
We’re looking forward to Wednesday’s game versus GW. We had two really tough games last week – we wish we had done a little bit better.
– Chris Mooney | February 22, teleconference
🗒 Shying away from offensive rebounds, no team in the country gives up fewer attempts in transition than Richmond. Only 15.9% of all field goal attempts against the Spiders have come in the transition game.
🎞 Closing the deficit to 4 points, T.J. Cline hits a deep 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer against VCU on Saturday night. Cline tied the game high with 22 points, but the Spiders once again fell short in the Capital City Classic, 87-74.
- 22-5 (11-3) | 2nd
- Last Week: W vs DAY, 79-70 | L at DAV , 99-93
- This Week: Wed. at MASS | Sun. vs SLU
Last week was everything great about the Atlantic 10. I’d asked my team to think of themselves as not normal – because normal teams lose on the road. Unfortunately, we reacted like normal college guys on Saturday.
– Phil Martelli | February 22, teleconference
🗒 On Saturday, Davidson handed the Hawks their first away loss of the season. Prior to the 99-93 defeat, Saint Joseph’s had been a perfect 8-0 in true road games.
🎞 Wednesday, in a major win for the Hawks, DeAndre’ Bembry splits the defense and cruises through the lane for a high-flying finish. Bembry tied the game high with 16 points in a 79-70 home victory over No. 15 Dayton.
- 10-16 (5-9) | 11th
- Last Week: W at GMU, 79-77 (OT) | W vs FOR, 76-68
- This Week: Tue. vs DAY | Sun. at SJU
George Mason really fought us hard. Our game against Fordham was really challenging. It’s been a struggle this season, but we keep fighting and competing.
– Jim Crews | February 22, teleconference
🗒 For his performance last week, freshman Jermaine Bishop earned his third Rookie of the Week honors. Bishop has conference per 40 minutes averages of 19 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists.
🎞 Jermaine Bishop hits the game winner in overtime to give the Billikens a 79-77 road victory over George Mason on Wednesday. Bishop scored a game high 20 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 6 helpers along the way.
- 18-7 (10-4) | 4th
- Last Week: L at LAS, 71-64 | W at DAY, 79-72
- This Week: Wed. vs DUQ | Sat. vs MASS
Jaylen Adams controlled that one from tip to finish.
– Mark Schmidt on the play of the sophomore guard during the win at Dayton | February 22, teleconference
🗒 The Bonnies are winners of 6 of their last 7 games. In those contests, sophomore Jaylen Adams is averaging 20.1 points and has made 23 of 45 (51.1%) 3-pointers.
🎞 With under a minute to play, Jaylen Adams hits the go-ahead 3-pointer over the outstretched arms of Dayton’s Dyshawn Pierre. Adams led all scorers in the victory with 31 points, adding 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. The Flyers had not lost a conference home game since January 29, 2014.
- 20-7 (12-2) | 1st
- Last Week: W vs URI, 83-67 | W vs RICH, 87-74
- This Week: Wed. at GMU | Sat. at GW
It was a good week for us – we needed to recover from a rough week, last week. We played with really good energy, now we need to carry that through to the road.
– Will Wade | February 22, teleconference
🗒 In their second victory over Richmond this season, VCU assisted on a season high 24 of 35 (68.6%) made field goals. It was the highest number of assists the Rams have had since tallying 26 against Illinois State on November 18, 2013.
🎞 During a first half possession, all five VCU players touch the ball with junior guard JeQuan Lewis eventually finding teammate Justin Tillman along the baseline for the easy put-away. The Rams won the Saturday night showdown in convincing fashion, 87-74.
