Each week, A10 Talk’s staff ranks each team in the Atlantic 10 conference (1-14) based on where they believe each team places overall. Each team’s ranking is averaged, and A10 Talk creates a compiled ranking to represent the site. 11 different contributors vote in each week’s rankings. Be sure to check out last week’s power rankings post. Here are this week’s power rankings.
1. Rhode Island Rams (Avg: 1.00)
Rhode Island had a busy week, going 3-1 in the games it played. The Rams beat up on Marist, just slipped past Brown, got a great win over Cincinnati, and suffered a respectable loss to the #1 Duke Blue Devils. The Rams got 2nd in the Naismith Tip-Off. This week, they’ll face Belmont at home on Friday.
2. Dayton Flyers (Avg: 2.25)
Dayton had a tough week as it had to face two difficult opponents in Alabama and St. Mary’s. The Flyers won on the road against the Crimson Tide but suffered a home loss to the Gaels. Dayton will play in the Wooden Legacy Preseason Tournament this week and will face Nebraska in the first round on Thursday.
3. VCU Rams (Avg: 3.25)
VCU struggled on the road but managed to pull out a 64-59 road over Liberty. The Rams found their stride shortly after though, routing Binghamton 81-42 and moving to 3-0 on the season. The Rams will start to get some real tests this week in the Battle 4 Atlantis where they’ll face Baylor in the first round on Wednesday.
4. Davidson Wildcats (Avg: 3.50)
Davidson had quite a week, as it ended up finishing 2-1 in the Tire Pros Invitational. The Wildcats finished 5th place after losing to Clemson in the first round but beating Missouri and Arizona State in the following days. The Wildcats will face Charlotte at home on Saturday this coming week.
5. St. Bonaventure Bonnies (Avg: 5.50)
The Bonnies played one game this week: a tough road test against Florida where they almost pulled out a win but still fell just short. They move to 1-1 on the young season. St. Bonaventure will have Little Rock on Monday, Central Michigan on Tuesday, and Pepperdine on Wednesday.
6. Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Avg: 6.50)
Saint Joseph’s beat up on Columbia earlier in the week and went down to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam. They’d beat Loyola (IL) in the first round but then lose to Ole Miss in the second. They’ll play the final game of the tournament on Monday, and that will be the Hawks’ only game this week.
7. Massachusetts Minutemen (Avg: 7.25)
Massachusetts ended up having a very solid week after starting off with a close road loss to Ole Miss. Despite picking up the L, the Minutemen would respond with wins against Temple and Holy Cross. Massachusetts will have a tough home matchup against Harvard on Saturday.
8. George Washington Colonials (Avg: 7.75)
George Washington struggled but ended up narrowly beating Siena this week. In addition, they’d get a nice home win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Colonials will start to get tested this week when they take on Georgia on Monday and then Penn St. on Saturday.
9. Richmond Spiders (Avg: 8.25)
Richmond lost a home game against Old Dominion on Monday that it very easily could’ve won. The Spiders struggled a bit with Robert Morris but ended up getting the win regardless. They’ll take on Hampton on Tuesday and then get a very good test against Maryland on Friday.
10. La Salle Explorers (Avg: 9.75)
La Salle had a very tough week as it managed to just barely scrape out a home win over Delaware and then lost a buy-in game against Texas Southern. The Explorers will need to bounce back, and they’ll try to do so this week when they play at Drexel on Sunday.
11. Fordham Rams (Avg: 11.75)
Fordham bounced back this week, winning all 4 of its games this week. The Rams were able to get past NYIT, Fairleigh Dickinson, St. Peter’s, and Lipscomb with relatively few issues. Fordham will take on Rider this week on Wednesday and UT-Arlington on Saturday.
12. Duquesne Dukes (Avg: 12.00)
Duquesne had a tough week as it was unable to beat Canisius at home and then lost on the road to Kentucky. The Dukes move to 2-3 on the season but will have a chance to bounce back this week. They’ll have UT Martin on Wednesday and Cleveland State on Sunday, both games coming at home.
13. George Mason Patriots (Avg: 13.00)
George Mason struggled a bit but found its stride late to get a victory over Lebanon Valley, its first win of the season. It’d then turn around and lose an overtime game against Mt. St. Mary’s. The Patriots will start the Gulf Coast Showcase on Monday when they play a tough Houston team. They’ll face James Madison on Saturday.
14. Saint Louis Billikens (Avg: 13.25)
Saint Louis bounced back after an opening loss, winning its only two games this past week. The Billikens handled Southern Utah and Eastern Illinois at home. Things won’t be easy this week, though, as the Billikens will take on a tough BYU team on Monday.
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