Atlantic 10 Power Rankings: Butler, VCU still riding 1-2
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
A week in, here’s where we stand: four unbeatens, seven winning records and four winless teams. Conference play in the Atlantic 10 has already produced one ultra-entertaining classic (VCU-St. Joe’s), a photo finish (Xavier-St. Bonaventure) and a brilliant individual line (Chaz Williams’ 22 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals). Surely much more lies ahead.
Below is your weekly fix of the IndySportsLegends.com A-10 Power Rankings.
1. Butler (15-2)
No Rotnei? No problem. The Bulldogs shot an astonishing 58 percent from the field at Dayton, then pounded Richmond inside. Butler is the ultimate intangibles program. None of these players chase individual accolades. Even spotting Clarke a few more games, they shouldn’t slip too far. Teamwork is a given, and dips in talent are always met with an even greater outpouring of effort.
2. Virginia Commonwealth (15-3)
The winning streak hit 12 after a Houdini-like escape against St. Joe’s. VCU’s debut at No. 22 in the AP Top 25 means happy days in the spotlight are just beginning. The significance? It’s the program’s first national ranking since the mid-1980s.
3. Temple (12-4)
The Owls had to move up after a weekend highlight triumph over Saint Louis. A light fare consisting of home dates with St. Bonaventure and Pennsylvania awaits this week.
4. Saint Louis (12-4)
Jim Crews confirmed that Kwamain Mitchell won’t be donning the Dwyane Wade cape any time soon, but the Billikens’ offense-by-committee approach turned into Rob-Loe-and-pray-for-an-offensive-rebound against Temple. Not that concern is called for. Saint Louis is a heck of a team, even if the nation at large has yet to notice.
5. Charlotte (15-2)
Since last Friday’s rankings, the 49ers took care of business against Rhode Island and Fordham. Their next win clinches a winning record in the regular season, but Alan Major’s team has its sights set on so much more, and rightfully so. Charlotte is the A-10’s most pleasant surprise.
6. La Salle (12-4)
The four teams to which La Salle has lost are a combined 50-17. In this week’s wins over Richmond and Dayton, the Explorers started 6-foot-8 Jerrell Wright at center in a super-small lineup. That’s a fun grouping capable of causing major breakdowns in opposing defenses. And it’s easy on the eyes. Click on the highlights below for evidence:
7. Massachusetts (12-4)
Heads up: UMass has lost once since Dec. 1, and the next five games are all winnable, too. But the excitement crashed with the terrible news that Jesse Morgan (13.4 points per game) will miss the rest of the season because of a torn right ACL.
8. Saint Joseph’s (9-6)
For two games, at least, the Hawks belonged with the elite. St. Joe’s took Butler and VCU down to the wire but fell each time, discarding its best remaining shock-the-masses opportunities. The Hawks had VCU beat yesterday, but Darius Theus zoomed past Chris Wilson and C.J. Aiken to tie it on a last-second layup. The Rams then routed the spent Hawks in overtime. On paper, St. Joe’s starting lineup might be the league’s second-best, but its depth is a drag. Phil Martelli could barely give his guys a breather last night; Shaka Smart got twice as many minutes from his bench as Martelli did, and it showed up in the final minute of regulation, when the Hawks committed two travels, allowed a steal, missed two free throws and gave up two critical offensive rebounds. Fatigue-induced errors cost them a huge victory.
9. Xavier (10-6)
With an impressive young nucleus – did you enjoy Semaj Christon’s game-winner at St. Bonaventure? – the Musketeers tempt writers to ponder sentences such as, Things are coming together! But a 3-0 start in conference play convinces only the naïve that Xavier won’t still have their problems this year. The Musketeers look like they’ll be stuck in the vast middle – good enough to beat some teams at the top of the conference, inconsistent enough to lose to schools at the bottom.
10. Dayton (10-7)
One can’t shake the feeling that Dayton is less than the sum of its parts. And while that is not meant as a knock on coach Archie Miller, Miller certainly must be responsible for shoring up several problem areas: namely, a turnover percentage of 22.3, constant fouling on defense and Kevin Dillard’s season-long inefficiency on shots inside the arc. The good news is, after an 0-3 start in the A-10, Dayton’s next two are at home against Fordham and Duquesne.
11. Richmond (11-7)
The Spiders have offensive weapons. They have wing scoring. But the latest overall results are especially meek, and most of a 2-5 slump coincides with the loss of Derrick Williams. Alonzo Nelson-Ododa’s lack of experience is obviously an issue. Greg Robbins can be easily pushed around inside. Based on the resume, this is a team that shouldn’t be expected to do much.
12. George Washington (7-9)
The Colonials must still be kicking themselves over that 55-53 loss to Temple. They are tied for dead last in the conference in offensive efficiency. The interior defense will put pressure on opponents who rely heavily on shots around the basket.
13. St. Bonaventure (7-9)
This is not a young bunch, and the Bonnies are a faltering team on a six-game losing streak. By the numbers, St. Bonaventure has a league-average offense. But the mojo is all wrong, and given the upcoming schedule, its season could go off the rails.
14. Fordham (5-13)
Fordham was within a basket inside of 2 minutes remaining against both Massachusetts and Charlotte, two of the league’s hottest teams. The Rams have several reasonably solid players. That still won’t equate to many wins because of a defense that is far below par.
15. Duquesne (7-10)
A five-game losing streak ahead of contests with VCU and Saint Louis means the Dukes will need to rally late to secure a bid to the conference tournament. Regardless of how the season turns out, an optimist could argue Duquesne is positioned well for the future, with 11 of its 14 players currently in their freshman or sophomore season.
16. Rhode Island (5-10)
Had Charlotte not bottled up the usually reliable Xavier Munford, the Rams might have pulled an upset. What has to bother coach Dan Hurley is that nobody on this team can shoot. About the only thing they do well is avoid turnovers.
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