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.
- 14-9 (6-6) | 6th
- Last Week: W vs LAS, 79-66 | L at GMU, 60-59
- This Week: Tue. vs RICH | Sat. vs SJU
A week of ups and downs. We’re ever in search of that elusive quality of consistency. One thing that’s not elusive relative to consistency is the coaching in this league – it’s a league of not just very good players, but coaches who get their players to compete every night, no matter the record, and I think that’s an impressive aspect of the A-10.
– Bob McKillop | February 15, teleconference
🗒 During Atlantic 10 play, sophomore forward Peyton Aldridge has per game averages of 14.2 points (52.3 eFG%), 8.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
🎞 Forcing a timeout and capping a personal 10-2 run, Jack Gibbs leaves George Mason freshman Kameron Murrell hung up on a would-be ball screen. The Wildcats would come up just shy on the day, 60-59 as the Patriots hit a go-ahead basket in the waning seconds of the game.
- 21-3 (11-1) | 1st, AP #15
- Last Week: W vs DUQ, 76-74 | W at URI, 68-66
- This Week: Wed. at SJU | Sat. vs SBU
You can feel that our league has ratcheted up another level. There were some really tough moments in both games where you’re looking for your team to show what they’re made of. I thought last week was a great sign for our guys in terms of what it’s going to take to come down the home stretch and finish this season off the right way.
– Archie Miller | February 15, teleconference
🗒 Dayton can lay claim to the title of best defense in the Atlantic 10. The Flyers currently rank first in both adjusted defensive efficiency (91.3 points per 100 possessions) and defensive effective field goal percentage (46.0).
🎞 Player of the Year candidate Charles Cooke put on an all-around display during the Flyers thrilling 76-74 home victory over Duquesne on Tuesday night. The junior finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
- 15-10 (5-7) | 9th
- Last Week: L at DAY, 76-74 | L vs MASS, 108-99 (OT)
- This Week: Wed. vs GW | Sun. at URI
We’re actually playing pretty good basketball we just haven’t been able to finish at the level that we should be at this point, especially at this time of year. We’ve gotta take that next step, and it gets even harder because we have to play a George Washington team with a quick turnaround. We’ll have to grow up real quick.
– Jim Ferry | February 15, teleconference
🗒 In conference play, Duquesne is holding opponents to just 41.4% on 2-point field goal attempts – good for 1st in the league. From beyond the arc, however, opponents are making 37.8% of 3-point tries, a number that ranks last in the Atlantic 10.
🎞 Taking his “use it or lose it” timeout before halftime, Dukes coach Jim Ferry draws up a beautiful backdoor set to get L.G. Gill a wide open path to a two-handed jam. Duquesne came up just short on Tuesday to AP #19 Dayton, 76-74.
- 12-11 (3-9) | 11th
- Last Week: L vs SBU, 76-72 | L at RICH, 71-67
- This Week: Wed. vs MASS | Fri. at SLU
We’ve really struggled to compete in this league. The fact that we were able to get to two end of game situations (last week) – we really look at it as a positive. We were in position to win both of those games. We really do feel like we’ve improved to get to a point where we’ve been able to compete with very good teams.
– Jeff Neubauer | February 15, teleconference
🗒 Freshman Joseph Chartouny collected his fifth A-10 Rookie of the Week honor on Monday. The freshman has A-10 per game averages of 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals.
🎞 Senior Ryan Rhoomes draws a foul during a heartbreaking 71-67 loss at Richmond Saturday night. In addition to going 9-10 at the free throw line, Rhoomes finished the game with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds.
- 9-16 (3-9) | 12th
- Last Week: L at URI, 81-63 | W vs DAV, 60-59
- This Week: Wed. vs SLU | Sun. at MASS
We had a great win on Saturday – we had the largest crowd we’ve had all season. Our team really fed off the energy of the crowd, we got off to a great start. It was a great victory for our guys and we know we have a lot more work yet to do.
– Dave Paulsen | February 15, teleconference
🗒 Led by senior Shevon Thompson, Mason ranks 4th nationally in defensive rebound percentage, collecting 76.9% of missed shots by opponents. Individually, Thompson ranks first in both offensive and defensive rebound percentage in the Atlantic 10.
🎞 With time winding down, junior forward Jalen Jenkins collects the offensive board and gets the eventual game-winner to go, giving the Patriots a 60-59 win over Davidson on Saturday.
- 18-7 (7-5) | 5th
- Last Week: L vs SJU, 84-66 | L at SBU, 64-57
- This Week: Wed. at DUQ | Sun. vs LAS
It was a tough week for us. Saint Joe’s just kind of came in our gym and steamrolled us. And the Bonnies, we didn’t handle the atmosphere there. It added up to two losses – first time all season we’ve lost two in a row, and we have a tough game at Duquesne on Wednesday night.
– Mike Lonergan | February 15, teleconference
🗒 In conference play, junior transfer Tyler Cavanaugh is averaging 17.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
🎞 Always strong on the glass, senior guard Joe McDonald comes up with an offensive rebound and slips past all five Saint Joseph’s defenders to convert the second-chance opportunity.
- 5-18 (1-11) | 14th
- Last Week: L at DAV, 79-66 | L at SJU, 88-62
- This Week: Wed. vs SBU | Sun. at GW
Playing in this league, the beat goes on. Every week it seems like we’re facing a couple of killers.
– Dr. John Giannini | February 15, teleconference
🗒 The Explorers have three players – Jordan Price (6), Cleon Roberts (9), and Johnnie Shuler (11) – that rank in the top 12 nationally in percentage of possible minutes played.
🎞 La Salle junior Cleon Roberts battles for a loose ball during a 79-66 loss at Davidson on Wednesday.
- 11-13 (4-8) | 10th
- Last Week: W vs VCU, 69-63 | W at DUQ, 108-99 (OT)
- This Week: Wed. at FOR | Sun. vs GMU
People have to realize how tough this conference is. This conference can be unforgiving and if you get a chance to get on a roll, or a run, you have to take advantage of that because you never know what the next game may hold.
– Derek Kellogg on the momentum shift of winning 3 of 4 games, after dropping the previous 7 | February 15, teleconference
🗒 With the overtime shootout against Duquesne on Sunday, the Minutemen became the first team to score at least 108 points in an A-10 conference game since 2010 (Duquesne 111 points).
🎞 Off of a VCU turnover, Zach Coleman throws the ball ahead to teammate Donte Clark who finishes the fast break with a beautiful double-clutch dunk. The Minutemen upset VCU on Thursday, 69-63.
- 14-11 (6-6) | 8th
- Last Week: W vs GMU, 81-63 | L vs DAY, 68-66
- This Week: Tue. at VCU | Sat. vs DUQ
I’m really pleased with the way the guys played. Obviously Friday night, we just came up a play short. Another difficult, close loss – a little bit the story of the season.
– Dan Hurley | February 15, teleconference
🗒 During A-10 games, Rhode Island is playing at the slowest tempo in the league. Per kenpom.com, the Rams have an adjusted tempo of 64.5 possessions per 40 minutes.
🎞 Sophomore Jared Terrell slips past George Mason’s Otis Livingston II with a crafty behind the back dribble on this coast-to-coast jam.
- 14-10 (6-6) | 7th
- Last Week: W at SLU, 67-53 | W vs FOR, 71-67
- This Week: Wed. vs DAV | Fri. at VCU
We need to continue to have guys get in the game and give us quality minutes. Not just for their contribution, but also for the guys who are playing so many minutes, to get another break during the course of the game. That is important, and we’re working hard at it.
– Chris Mooney on the role of bench players | February 15, teleconference
🗒 In A-10 games, the Spiders own both the league’s top effective field goal percentage (54.8) and the best conversion rate on 2-point attempts (57.2), but rank last in free throw percentage (67.1).
🎞 Putting the Spiders up by three with under a minute to go, redshirt freshman Khwan Fore finishes off the steal with an acrobatic layup. After trailing by as many as nine with five minutes to go in the game, Fore’s clutch play in the waning moments helped cap off a dramatic home victory against Fordham on Saturday night.
- 21-4 (10-2) | 2nd
- Last Week: W at GW, 84-66 | W vs LAS, 88-62
- This Week: Wed. vs DAY | Sat. at DAV
I think it’s just a fascinating league. We’re proud to be part of the league. We’ve done a lot so far, we haven’t accomplished anything yet, but we’ve done a lot. We’ve put ourselves in position to be talked about at the top of one of the best basketball leagues in America.
– Phil Martelli | February 15, teleconference
🗒 Senior Isaiah Miles continues a special season, shooting 60.6% on 2-pointers, 40.4% on 3-pointers, and a league best 88.6% on free throws.
🎞 On the first possession out of the halftime break, sophomore Shavar Newkirk catches George Washington’s Yuta Watanabe cheating, and finds teammate DeAndre’ Bembry along the baseline for an easy backdoor slam. The Hawks picked up a big 84-66 road victory at Foggy Bottom on Wednesday.
- 8-16 (3-9) | 13th
- Last Week: L vs RICH, 67-53 | L at VCU, 85-52
- This Week: Wed. at GMU | Sat. vs FOR
George Mason is a very physical team – a physical group with great length. Dave (Paulsen) does a good job in terms of teaching them angles, in terms of driving the ball – they’re very good at driving the basketball and putting pressure on you. They just really, really hurt us inside last game.
– Jim Crews on the Wednesday matchup with George Mason | February 15, teleconference
🗒 Saint Louis is 1st in the A-10 and 3rd nationally in assisted 3-point rate. The Billikens are assisting on 97.8% of 3-point makes.
🎞 Star freshman Jermaine Bishop puts his impressive passing skills on display, finding fellow first year player Matt Neufeld on the low block for the easy two.
- 17-6 (9-3) | 4th
- Last Week: W at FOR, 76-72 (OT) | W vs GW, 64-57
- This Week: Wed. at LAS | Sat. at DAY
I don’t think we can get caught up in that. We just have to continue to play hard, and hopefully continue to get better, and block out the noise. We can’t be satisfied. The only thing that’s guaranteed right now is 17 victories, and that’s not enough.
– Mark Schmidt on the prospects of an NCAA at-large bid | February 15, teleconference
🗒 In two wins last week, sophomore Jaylen Adams averaged 15 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
🎞 During a 76-72 overtime road victory, Dion Wright elevates over Fordham’s David Pekarek to drop the hammer. Wright finished the game with 21points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
- 18-7 (10-2) | 3rd
- Last Week: L at MASS, 69-63 | W vs SLU, 85-52
- This Week: Tue. vs URI | Fri. vs RICH
JeQuan, numerically, he’s been our most efficient guy in league (play). It’s harder to get shots for a point guard, so if you can move him off the ball you can just get him cleaner looks, you can set him in certain spots and get him some better looks. To Johnny’s credit, he’s developed to a point where he was able to come in and help us in extended minutes.
– Will Wade on the role of Jonathan Williams in getting JeQuan Lewis more efficient field goal attempts | February 15, teleconference
🗒 In conference games, VCU is currently ranked 1st and 2nd respectively in adjusted offensive and adjusted defensive efficiency. Per kenpom.com, the Rams are scoring 113.9 points per 100 possessions and only giving up 93.9 points per 100 possessions.
🎞 Sophomores Jonathan Williams and Justin Tillman connect for an easy score at the rim against Saint Louis. The Rams cruised to an 85-52 home victory over the Billikens on Saturday.
