We at A10 Talk decided to try and do a more comprehensive “power rankings” with our beloved conference. I took the average of our voters’ polls and put them all together to make a better rankings system, kind of like the AP Poll that comes out every Monday. Without further ado, here is the first weekly “AT Poll” (pun intended).
1. Dayton
No surprise here as the #7 team in the land just came off a big road win at Richmond. Dayton probably won’t get off the top line even with a loss; that’s how good the Flyers are the year. They take their 8-0 record into Pittsburgh to face a reeling Duquesne team. They will end the week at home against Fordham on Saturday. This was a unanimous choice for all of our voters.
2. Rhode Island
An almost unanimous choice, the Kingston Rams are leading the charge to second place in the conference by racking up impressive wins on the road against VCU last week and at St. Bona this week. They also won impressively against Duquesne earlier in the week. They will look to keep things churning at George Mason and at home against VCU this week.
3. VCU
VCU edged Richmond by one vote in this week’s poll. That’s what makes this weekly Richmond Rumble a big one. Winner gets bragging rights and most likely third place in the A10. VCU then gets a revenge game in Rhode Island on Friday. Tough week ahead for the Rams.
4. Richmond
The Spiders dropped a tough loss at home to Dayton this week, but the upcoming week is even bigger with an away game at VCU. The battle of Richmond should be a good one on Tuesday. They will also host George Washington on Saturday.
5. Saint Louis
SLU has had a tough go of it as of late, but came back home to beat up their frustrations on a bad Fordham team. They head to Philly this week for their turn in the La Salle/St. Joseph’s challenge to right the ship back toward the top 4 of the conference.
6. Duquesne
The Dukes had a chance to get their first quad 1 win this season at Rhody and could not get it done. Then they carried that bad mojo over to Amherst to drop a stinker against UMass. They still hold good wins over SLU and Davidson, which is what’s keeping them in the top half of the polls. They host Dayton on Wednesday and then La Salle on Sunday.
7. Davidson
Davidson has quietly started their trek to try and get back in this thing by beating Saint Louis on Wednesday and then against George Mason on Saturday. The Wildcats are 4-3 and back into the race for the top 4. They travel to DC on Wednesday to face a pesky GW squad and then come back home to face UMass. Two chances this week to win two more games. Not many of us saw Davidson possibly getting to 6-3 after the start they had.
8. St. Bonaventure
The Bonnies are starting to look like they are in desperation mode without their star center Osun Osunniyi. This team is just so much better when he is on the court, and they are hurting when he is not. Bona understandably lost at Dayton and then lost a winnable game to Rhode Island. The Bonnies shouldn’t need him against Fordham on Wednesday but really need him against AJ Wilson and George Mason on Saturday.
9. George Mason
Mason lost Justin Kier for the year, which is a huge blow to this team. Luckly, Javon Greene has emerged into an elite scorer for the Patriots and helped them to a win at home against UMass. The Patriots did lose to Davidson on the road, but Greene still looked great then as well. They are going to need more of Greene on Wednesday when Rhody comes to Fairfax. Mason then travels to Olean on Saturday.
10. Massachusetts
UMass edged GW by one vote this week. The Minutemen got a HUGE win at home against Duquesne, which could be the turning point for Matt McCall’s young bunch. They host St. Joseph’s on Wednesday before traveling to Davidson on Saturday.
11. George Washington
GW laid an egg on the road at Fordham before coming home to beat up on St. Joe’s. The Colonials are suprisingly 3-4 with wins against UMass and Mason to stand at 9th in the A10 standings, even though they are 11th in our poll. They host Davidson on Wednesday before traveling to Richmond to face the Spiders on Saturday. This is one of those teams that are just ok enough to upset a good team on any given night, so beware of the Colonials.
12. La Salle
Ashley Howard and Co. have played well, but not well enough to win games. They played hard but lost at home to VCU and got drubbed at Richmond the game before. This team is going to compete hard but are still a few years away from being relevant again. They host Saint Louis on Wednesday and travel to Duquesne on Sunday.
13. Fordham
Hot diggity dog! Fordham got a confidence boosting win against GW at home this week. They got smacked down by Saint Louis on Sunday, but this team got a win. They are struggling but Jalen Cobb is playing really well for the Bronx Rams. Fordham hosts St. Bonaventure on Wednesday and travels to….Dayton….on Saturday.
14. St. Joseph’s
The Hawk is at the bottom this week largely in part to not winning a league game yet. Ryan Daly is trying to do it all for the young Hawks, but it is not enough against some tough teams. It’s a rough year, but hopefully this team can capture a win somewhere down the line. They have two chances to do just that this week, at UMass on Wednesday and at home against Saint Louis on Saturday. The Hawk will hopefully not die.
