Welcome to A10 play! It’s been a wild ride so far this season. With 6 teams in the top 102 in NET, the Atlantic 10 conference season is shaping up to be a exciting journey in the pursuit for three bids.
The A10 Talk staff is here with our previews for all 15 teams. New year, new season. Get hyped!
Davidson Wildcats (10-3)
| NET: 101 | Reed Bailey – 17.9 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 111.8 (76th) |
| KenPom: 108 | Reed Bailey – 6.9 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 106.2 (169th) |
| WAB: 71 | Reed Bailey – 3.5 AST | Adj. Tempo – 67.3 (240th) |
The Wildcats took care of business at home during non-conf play, going 8-0. Reed Bailey has taken his game to the next level, leading Davidson in pts, reb, ast. His development as a playmaker has been a huge reason why the Wildcats find themselves in the top half of our power rankings.
Losing Grant Huffman to graduation sparked questions as to how Davidson was going to handle lead guard production. Sophomore G Mike Loughnane has started every game for the Wildcats and has been extremely efficient (47.9 FG%, 48.5 3FG%) in 23.1 MPG, fitting in perfectly alongside Davidson’s other starting guards Connor Kochera (16.8 PPG) and Bobby Durkin (15.4 PPG).
Davidson’s offense has certainly looked much better in year 3 of HC Matt McKillop. The emergence of Bailey as a consistent low post scoring threat has balanced their scoring versatility with their talented outside shooting. Look for the Wildcats to start out strong in conference play, as this squad certainly has what it takes to surprise people early in the new year. It’s an important next few months for the program as Davidson looks to take the next step with this core, as very few A10 teams are able to keep quality players together for multiple seasons.
–Michael Bergman
Dayton Flyers (10-3)
| NET: 42 | Enoch Cheeks – 13.9 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 19th |
| KenPom: 31 | Enoch Cheeks – 7.4 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 63rd |
| WAB: 25 | Malachi Smith – 5.8 AST | Adj. Tempo – 303rd |
Coming off a 2nd round March Madness ride, the Flyers looked to carry the momentum into this season. The biggest question was how would they look without 2x A10 POY DaRon Holmes.
Despite two hearbreakers in Maui, Dayton was still able to pick up Q1/2 victories against Northwestern (48), UConn (18), and Marquette (12). The Flyers have put themselves in the drivers’ seat for an at-large, establishing themselves as the top team entering league play.
Dayton has prided themselves on ultra efficient play offensively, ranking in the top 25 in turnover % and top 40 in FG%. A10 Preseason 2nd teamer Posh Alexander (6.8/3.3/2.5) has only started 1 of 12 games for Dayton, but is thriving off the bench. Freshman Amael L’Etang has provided a huge spark in the frontcourt, as his development has been a huge catalyst to the Flyers sustained early season success. This team undoubtedly has the best 1 through 7 in their rotation in the conference, and will be a huge reason why the Flyers will be the team to beat in 2025.
–Michael Bergman
Duquesne Dukes (5-8)
| NET: 204 | Tre Dinkins – 11.1 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 232nd |
| KenPom: 169 | Jahsean Corbett – 5.5 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 122nd |
| WAB: 321 | Kareem Rozier – 3.5 AST | Adj. Tempo – 327th |
In non-conference play, it was a tale of two stories for the Duquesne Dukes. They lost their first six games, four of which by single digits, and for lack of better terms, looked bad. They dropped their season opener to Lipscomb in a shocking 77-72 final.
They followed that up with a good 30-minute performance against Princeton. The only problem is their play in the final 10 lost them the game. They ran out of the gym against DePaul and then dropped another winnable game to Milwaukee. Things got worse once they got to the Cayman Islands, where they dropped a game to South Dakota State. It looked like they hit their lowest point with a loss to Hampton, who KenPom had ranked at 300. But, since that point, Duquesne has been trending in the right direction.
They salvaged the Cayman Islands Classic with a key win over Old Dominion. Even though they dropped two close contests to Saint Peter’s and Maine in the month of December, the Dukes can still claim a 5-2 record this past month. Their signature win came at home on December 21 against UC Irvine. The game served as a preview of what Duquesne’s offense is capable of, as they shot 49% from the field and made 14 three-pointers.
As the Dukes look toward the start of conference play, they are fortunate to have a few bench players emerge as real contributors to the team in the last two months. Chabi Barre has finally taken the next step and has entered the starting lineup. He has dealt with injuries in his first two years with the Dukes, but this third year has proven to be the charm. He has put up double figures in 3 games (they were consecutive too) and has given more strength to an already strong backcourt for Duquesne.
Cam Crawford and Tre Dinkins III are two transfers that have stepped up big time for the Dukes. Tre Dinkins III leads them in scoring with 11.1 PPG and Cam Crawford is averaging 10.2 PPG in his last 5 games. Aside from Jake DeMichele’s injury, they have stayed healthy as well. But that injury to DeMichele could prove to haunt Duquesne even more as conference play begins.
Duquesne was 15-6 with DeMichele in the starting lineup last year, and he made his first appearance in the starting lineup against Richmond on January 16. There is still no specific timeline for his return, so it is unclear how long they will be without him. The Dukes hope they won’t have to wait too long. Duquesne will get the chance to play each team in the A-10 at least once, but there are three teams they get to play twice in a home-and-home series. Those teams are Saint Joseph’s, Dayton and St. Bonaventure.
–Jack Morgan
Fordham Rams (8-5)
| NET: 191 | Jackie Johnson – 18.5 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 215th |
| KenPom: 193 | Romad Dean- 5.6 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 172nd |
| WAB: 146 | Japhet Medor – 3.5 AST | Adj. Tempo – 45th |
On Tuesday afternoon, the Fordham Rams begin their 2024-25 Atlantic 10 campaign at home against the Saint Louis Billikens. Through a non-conference slate that saw Fordham go 8-5, the Rams have made plenty of adjustments that should help them succeed in the second act of this season.
A major key for the Rams this season has been their depth and flexibility. Following Fordham’s December 1st win over New Hampshire, Coach Urgo stated in the post game presser that junior guard Will Richardson had taken a leave of absence from the team, with no concrete timetable on a return. Taking his place in the starting lineup in the win over UNH and every game since has been sophomore guard Jahmere Tripp. A dynamic guard who can muscle his way through the post, Tripp has averaged 10.4 points and 1.6 steals per game as a starter.
Graduate forward Matt Zona has seen slight jumps in scoring (4.5 ppg to 6.1 ppg), rebounding (3.0 to 3.1 rpg), and steals (1.1 to 0.8 spg) since coming off the bench for Fordham’s last 8 games. Down the bench, two Fordham freshmen, Jaden Smith and Ryan Pettis, have been key reserve pieces for the Rams. Smith has been a valuable reserve forward for Fordham, recording a double-double in a D-II win against Georgian Court, while Pettis has frequently been called upon for his speed and defensive tenacity.
Amidst all of these adjustments, a key constant for the Rams has been senior guard Jackie Johnson III. Averaging 18.5 ppg off of 44.8% shooting, Johnson’s dynamic scoring has become the key piece of a starting backcourt aided by Japhet Medor, who has also seen key jumps in shooting efficiency and scoring in comparison to last season.
–Sam Basel
George Mason Patriots (9-4)
| NET: 90 | Darius Maddox – 14.1 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 169th |
| KenPom: 87 | Jalen Haynes- 7.2 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 30th |
| WAB: 96 | Brayden O’Connor – 2.8 AST | Adj. Tempo – 243rd |
It’s that time of year for College Basketball fans in Fairfax! George Mason is entering conference play with a New Years eve clash against 10-3 Davidson. The Patriots have currently won the last seven of their eight games, their loss being nationally ranked Duke in Durham. Additionally, the Patriots have been playing well at home, they are currently 8-1 at home this season. Under second year head coach Tony Skinn, the green and gold ranks third nationally in FG defense (.352) while ranking in the top-20 in 2pt defense (4th, .413), effective FG defense (6th, .418) and 3pt defense (17th, .283). The Patriots are also 18th overall in scoring defense (62.2 ppg allowed).
The Patriots are being led by veterans’ guard Darius Maddox and forward Jaylen Haynes with the latter being a defensive anchor for this new look Patriots squad in Fairfax. Haynes is currently averaging 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and shooting 60.5 percent (46-76) from the floor. The senior also just came off his eighth-straight game in double figures and his fourth double-double in the past five contests in a victory against Mount St. Mary’s. Additionally, Darius Maddox has been playing stellar along Jaylen Haynes, Maddox has been averaging 4.0 assists over his past two games and currently a few points away from 1000.
Conference Outlook: The A-10 is always a tough conference with teams like Dayton and VCU. This year won’t be any different. Luckily the Patriots’ defense has improved tremendously and slowly showing that is this one of the best defensive teams in the country. If the green & gold can stay consistent defensively especially in the key matchups with high powered offense like Dayton, then they have a chance possibly contend for a top 5 spot in the league. However, as the old saying goes “you can’t have your cake and eat it too” The Patriots have struggled with turnovers despite causing them this year for other teams.
Currently, the Patriots are 6-1 when committing less than 15 turnovers and averages just 11.8 miscues in wins. So far in this current win streak they haven’t committed over 15 but its loss against Duke showed the right amount pressure can force them to make lengthy and costly mistakes.
The Skinny: Overall, George Mason should be competitive in the A-10, aiming for a solid finish in the conference. I believe that Conference opener Davidson will be a good test to see if they compete with the rest of the field. The Wildcats are currently 10-3 with a top-75 offense (1.121 points/possession) and ranks second in the A-10 in 3-point field goal percentage (.365). Despite being picked 12th in the conference in the preseason Davidson has shattered exceptions just like George Mason has the last couple of years with its recent coaching changes. Hopefully the Patriots can pounce on the Wildcats early and send an early statement in conference play.
George Washington Revolutionaries (11-2)
| NET: 130 | Darren Buchanan – 15.5 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 138th |
| KenPom: 130 | Rafael Castro- 8.9 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 154th |
| WAB: 91 | Jacoi Hutchinson – 3.1 AST | Adj. Tempo – 142nd |
Yes, you read that correctly. Chris Caputo’s GW squad boasts a 11-2 record heading into conference play. Perfect on homecourt, GW has been a fun bunch to watch with their aggressive offensive approach (FT rate – 9th) and high steal rate defensively (18th).
A10 preseason 2nd teamer Darren Buchanan has taken the scoring load, as GW has seamlessly transitioned with life after James Bishop.
The Revolutionaries have gotten great production out of their transfers too, with Delaware transfer Gerald Drumgoole (12.8 PPG) and Providence transfer Rafael Castro (8.9 REB) handling their expanded roles very well.
La Salle Explorers (8-5)
| NET: 152 | Corey McKeithan – 16.7 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 182nd |
| KenPom: 162 | Demetrius Lilley – 7.2 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 161st |
| WAB: 159 | Eric Acker – 3.7 AST | Adj. Tempo – 62nd |
The Explorers entered this season with tons of excitement with a revamped roster highlighted by several standout transfers. Fran Dunphy’s squad got off to a great 4-0 start. La Salle still enters conference play 6-0 at home, still one of eight teams in the league undefeated on their homecourt.
La Salle has been led by Rider transfer Corey McKeithan (16.7 PPG), who’s scoring prowess is amongst the top in the conference. Fran’s squad boasts the best depth the Explorers have had in years, with 5 players currently averaging 10+ PPG.
This team will be a tough out every night in A10 play, Fran’s team will certainly have their share of upsets throughout 2025. Lots to be excited about, as the new Jon Glazer Arena welcomes in A10 foes for the first time.
—Michael Bergman
Loyola Chicago Ramblers (9-4)
| NET: 138 | Sheldon Edwards – 12.1 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 173rd |
| KenPom: 117 | Francis Nwaokorie – 6.4 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 99th |
| WAB: 152 | Justin Moore – 5.3 AST | Adj. Tempo – 146th |
The Maroon and Gold did finish 9-4, though not with a resume that was turning heads. The reigning regular-season champions struggled late in their non-conference stretch against quality mid-major teams, losing all three of their contests at Diamond Head ahead of conference play. Many teams in the Atlantic 10 have had “signature wins” in their non-conference schedule, namely St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island, and Dayton. The Ramblers seemingly haven’t had one yet, leaving some fans with more questions than answers about how the team will do in their last 17 games.
At times, they have played quality team basketball. Shooting splits have been relatively good, but what has improved is their basketball IQ. They’re currently a top-75 team in assists per game and top 100 in assist-to-turnover ratio. The defensive ability is still there, as Drew Valentine’s squad still remains just inside the top 100 of KenPom defensive efficiency. Most people have heard the name “Miles Rubin” by now, and he will be giving a lot of teams headaches when trying to navigate the paint.
For a team that has previously prided itself on depth, Drew Valentine has had to work with some limitations down the stretch. At Diamond Head, three starters were injured: Jayden Dawson, Kymany Houinsou and Justin Moore. Per reports, Jayden Dawson will be set to return for conference play but The ‘Blers will still be without two starters for considerable stretches: Houinsou will have his lower-leg injury re-evaluted in mid-January, while Moore may have a chance to play his junior season again after tearing an ACL in Milwaukee in mid-December.
Freshmen like Seif Hendawy and Daniil Glazkov have not looked as impressive in a small sample size and some may wonder if the pressure is too much when it comes to conference opponents. The rotation will likely be 8 or 9-deep most nights for Valentine, depending on how much he trusts these players.
Without a strong resume in non-conference play, the ‘Blers will likely have to automatically qualify in Brooklyn to have a prayer at the Big Dance. Their goals need to be simple: Play a defensive game of basketball and limit fouls (24% of possession cannot end with a foul). The adage is old, but applies heavily to the Atlantic 10: defense wins championships.
UMass Minutemen (5-8)
| NET: 243 | Jaylen Curry – 13.3 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 223rd |
| KenPom: 211 | Daniel Rivera – 7.4 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 188th |
| WAB: 290 | Jaylen Curry – 4.5 AST | Adj. Tempo – 37th |
The UMass A10 retirement tour is underway. The start of the season, was not fully what people were expecting from the Massachusetts Minutemen through the non-conference slate. A lack of scoring threats for the Minutemen has impacted their style of play, and how teams have guarded UMass.
The Minutemen have not seen Rahsool Diggins playing the way he played last season after being named Co-Most Improved Player of the Year. Diggins tied the program record for the most three-pointers in a game with 8 three-pointers in the season opener against New Hampshire but had fallen cold from behind the arc up until the last non-conference game for the Minutemen against Arizona State. “Some of his issues were self-inflicted wounds, and since the Harvard game, he has recentered himself on what matters, and now he’s coming in every day with the mindset that made him a really good player for us,” said Coach Frank Martin on Diggins regaining confidence. UMass will need Diggins to be a hot hand entering their final season of the Atlantic 10.
The Minutemen have been able to find other players to help in the scoring column besides looking at Diggins. Sophomore point guards Jaylen Curry and Marqui Worthy have been able to step up and score for UMass in key stretches of close games. Sophomore guard Jayden Ndjigue started the season off the bench but has since moved back into a starting position. “[Jayden] too good of a kid, but we’re in a difficult time as a team right now, because we’re fighting for an identity and we’re trying to fight – all of us [are],” said Coach Martin on how Ndjigue’s impact of the team. “We’re fighting together to create an identity, and Jayden gives us the identity that we need as a team.” As sophomores, Ndjigue, Curry, and Worthy all have been pushing to help create the identity of this team, whether it has been through their defensive plays, fastbreak points, or making the extra pass for someone else to score.
UMass saw a backcourt turnover with Matt Cross and Josh Cohen – Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team selections – entering the portal during the offseason. Retaining junior forward Daniel Hankins-Sanford during the offseason was a key piece to having someone who could guard ball screens and protect the rim. Hankins-Sanford is having his best year of play through eight games with the Minutemen before having missed the last five games due to injuring his right hand, he was averaging 10.3 points and 6.9 rebounds. It is still unclear whether or not Hankins-Sanford will return for the conference opener, but there are good chances that he could be available for their game against Saint Joseph’s. “[Daniel’s] going to be cleared to go through an individual instruction that means catching, shooting, passing, dribbling, that kind of stuff,” Coach Martin mentioned on Hankins-Sanford’s return for the team. “And if there’s no swelling, then he’s going to be limited in our practice on the [December] 27th and if there’s still no swelling, then they’re gonna let him integrate to be ready to go on the [December] 31st.”
Once Hankins-Sanford returns for UMass in conference play, the Minutemen will have a crucial piece of the puzzle back in their lineup, especially having spent last season with Coach Martin and UMass. The Minutemen did pick up more players for the backcourt from the transfer portal to help Hankins-Sanford. Bryant transfer Daniel Rivera has been able to provide post-presence in the absence of Hankins-Sanford, protecting the rim, Murray State transfer Malek Abdelgowad has put up multiple double-doubles through non-conference play, College of Southern Idaho transfer Shahid Muhammad has blocked shots from going in during key times of the game, and Arizona State transfer Akil Watson has tried to help out on the defensive end and also provide some three-point shooting for the team.
As long as UMass can meet those expectations, the Minutemen should be able to get a few wins in their final season being in the Atlantic 10. Things could start to look up for UMass especially if they can meet all these expectations especially if they can have a balanced scoring effort. Diggins has a history of going off against the Philadelphia schools in the Atlantic 10, and it will be interesting to see if he can pull something off this season in their meetings.
—Kaily “KG” Godek
Rhode Island Rams (11-1)
| NET: 68 | Sebastian Thomas – 17.6 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 98th |
| KenPom: 90 | David Fuchs – 7.3 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 102nd |
| WAB: 56 | Sebastian Thomas – 7.0 AST | Adj. Tempo – 20th |
The seat under Archie Miller was certainly getting hot heading into year 3 in Kingston. The Rams had failed to build any success throughout Archie’s tenure so far. But as we head into 2025, things could not be going any better right now for Rhody. Archie Miller is the early front runner for A10 coach of the year, as his Rams squad has surprised many.
Boomerang transfer Sebastian Thomas (17.6 PPG) has dazzled in the clutch for Rhody, sinking several game winners in the closing moments of games. This team has truly been a revelation, as they play with tremendous spirit and an edge that the best of Archie’s teams play with.
Rhody has established themselves as a legit threat for a double-bye, heading into conference play with a stellar 11-1 record, with their only loss easily could have been a win in double OT at Brown.
—Michael Bergman
Richmond Spiders (5-8)
| NET: 283 | DeLonnie Hunt – 17.5 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 231st |
| KenPom: 296 | Michael Walz – 5.7 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 236th |
| WAB: 306 | Jonathan Beagle – 2.7 AST | Adj. Tempo – 226th |
The reigning A10 regular season champs have undoubtedly been the biggest disappointment so far this season. The Spiders have struggled mighty offensively, with their shooting numbers rankings towards the bottom of the country (29.2 3FG% – 341st).
Chris Mooney’s has been unable to recapture the rhythm and identity of last year’s team that was such a force defensively. On the bight side, retuning G DeLonnie Hunt (17.5 PPG) has taken the next step up in his development, leading the Spiders in scoring and steals.
The best part about conference play though is everyone starts out 0-0. Certainly the best time for a fresh beginning is now as Richmond enters league play with a -3 PPG differential, worst in the A10, and is 3-3 at home. New year, new me hopefully, right?
—Michael Bergman
Saint Joseph’s Hawks (9-4)
| NET: 95 | Erik Reynolds – 16.5 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 124th |
| KenPom: 89 | Rasheer Fleming – 9.2 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 66th |
| WAB: 111 | Derek Simpson – 4.5 AST | Adj. Tempo – 95th |
Saint Joseph’s had a few really good wins in their non-conference schedule, and a couple losses that really made you scratch your head.
We’ll start with the wins though. They impressed in an 83-76 win over Big 5 rival Villanova at Hagan Arena. The Hawks had four players in double figures and Hawk Hill bouncing. They followed that up two weeks later with a nail-biting 78-77 win over Texas Tech in the Legends Classic. Their next important win came in the Big 5 Championship Game against La Salle, and they controlled that game to the tune of an 82-68 victory.
The common theme in those three games? Xzayvier Brown, Rasheer Flemming and/or Erik Reynolds II performed well in each of them. Against Villanova, Flemming was the best of the trio with 19, but Brown was close behind with 18. Erik Reynolds took charge against Texas Tech with 26 points and also was the leading scorer against La Salle with 24 points. Brown was still very present in those two as well, putting up 20 against Texas Tech and 21 against La Salle.
They have had a few hiccups, which granted, is not unusual. But it is still worth mentioning. Their loss to lowly Central Connecticut State sent Hawk Hill into a state of chaos. An explanation for the Hawks losing this game would probably start with Reynolds shooting 2/14 and the 37-27 lead they let the Blue Devils get out to in the first half. There isn’t a glaring flaw in the stat sheet that tells you more, they were just simply outplayed. And that might happen some nights in the A-10.
While the loss to the College of Charleston is tough to complain about given they’re ranked 125 in the latest NET rankings, the Hawks also led that game by 9 with 10:30 to go in the second half. It felt like a game they should have pulled out with a lead like that at that stage of the game.
But don’t let those two losses fool you. Billy Lange and the Hawks are ready to make some noise in the A-10. With talented guard play from Brown and Reynolds, and a strong interior presence with Justice Ajogbar and Flemming, they have the potential to finish atop the A-10 standings and make a run in the A-10 Tournament.
—Jack Morgan
Saint Louis Billikens (7-6)
| NET: 181 | Isaiah Swope – 17.9 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 95th |
| KenPom: 150 | Kalu Anya – 9.9 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 264th |
| WAB: 222 | Isaiah Swope – 5.4 AST | Adj. Tempo – 187th |
The Josh Schertz era has been off to a bit of a bumpy start, marked by countless injuries and an extremely slow start. SLU is only 7-6 on the year and lost their last three games against DI opponents. However, the Billikens have shown an increased understanding of Schertz’s system and boast 3 of the A10’s top 5 scorers in Robbie Avila, Isaiah Swope and Gibson Jimerson.
As SLU continues to learn and improve, they’ll be a much tougher out than the metrics so far indicate — a dangerous thing in a conference with so little room for error in its quest for at-large bids. This might not be the season of SLU fans’ dreams, but the Billikens could turn into the team of Bernadette McGlade’s nightmares, and that can be a lot of fun in and of itself.
—Jack Godar
St. Bonaventure Bonnies (12-1)
| NET: 52 | Chance Moore – 15.8 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 136th |
| KenPom: 78 | Chance Moore – 7.3 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 34th |
| WAB: 31 | Dasonte Brown – 4.5 AST | Adj. Tempo – 290th |
It has been another successful non-conference performance for the Bonnies, and it starts with their senior guard Chance Moore. A transfer from Missouri State, Moore has put up double figures in all but one game this season. He put up a season-high 27 in their road win against Canisius on Nov. 9 and averages 15.2 PPG. He is joined in the front court by senior Melvin Council Jr. from Wagner. Council is averaging 13.2 a game, with his signature performance coming in a win against Providence where he put up 24 points on 10-19 shooting.
On the subject of that Providence win, that was disputably their best win of the season so far. Heading into the second half, the Bonnies led by 9. The Friars cut it to a one score lead on three different occasions, but every time they came that close, the Bonnies would stretch the lead out further. They also put up an impressive win over Utah State in the NIT Season Tip-Off, edging out a 72-67 victory. The top two scorers in that game were Noel Brown and Dasonte Bowen, who both registered 15 points. Brown also plays a big role on the team. He started his career with George Washington for three years then transferred to SBU last season. His minutes have been increased minutes by 15 on average per game from last year to this year.
The Bonnies have scoring depth, that’s for sure. Any guy that gets minutes for them is capable of being a force in any given game. The record looks attractive at 13-1, but also consider that their non-con schedule was not as difficult as other top A-10 teams. Still, don’t use that to disqualify their potential in the A-10, they have the pieces to put together a March Madness bid.
–Jack Morgan
VCU Rams (10-3)
| NET: 68 | Joe Bamisile – 17.0 PPG | Off Adj. Efficiency – 113th |
| KenPom: 47 | Jack Clark – 6.8 REB | Def Adj. Efficiency – 10th |
| WAB: 102 | Max Shulga – 3.6 AST | Adj. Tempo – 204th |
The preseason favorite to win the Atlantic 10, the VCU Rams enter conference play with a 10-3 record – and are honestly just a couple of plays at the Charleston Classic away from a 12-1 record.
The Rams have been strong on the offensive end, capped with some dominant recent wins in the non-conference slate and the first 100-point game for VCU in 10 years. VCU has been helped by experienced players in Joe Bamisile, Max Shulga and Zeb Jackson – veteran guards who are the top three scorers for the team so far this year.
Shulga, who followed head coach Ryan Odom to VCU from Utah State after Odom’s hiring in 2023, also leads the Rams in assists and minutes played. VCU has also been helped by a series of new additions. Fifth-year senior transfer Phillip Russell joins Bamisile, Shulga and Jackson as double-digit scorers, while Richmond native and true freshman Brandon Jennings has dazzled in limited playtime off the bench.
Perhaps the most impressive freshman so far is London native Luke Bambogye. Boasting a 7-foot-2 wingspan, the forward is already among the best shot-blockers in the conference, with 30 blocks in non-conference play.
Bambogye’s success has not fully solved the most glaring flaw of this VCU team – the lack of a reliable center and paint defender. Christian Fermin has had some struggles, and Odom has played with rotations early to try to hit on the right combination.
As conference play tips off, VCU needs to solve its issues in the paint and its penchant for playing good opponents close if it wants to take home the automatic bid from Washington, D.C. in March.
–Jason Boleman
Posted In: General Discussion