A10 top 4

[gospidersgo]

Oldie brought it up on another thread and I think it would be interesting to see the board's overall thoughts.

It would only let me do 10 choices so I chose to leave off Duquesne, Fordham, UMass and GW. I debated leaving us off of the poll but since this is a Spider message board I figured I should keep us as an option. If you think one of these is top 4 just say so (but I think you'd be wrong).

 

[urfan1]

good idea, but you could have done 9 plus other

 

[gospidersgo]

Good point, oh well

 

[VT4700]

Richmond, Mason, Davidson, SLU.

 

[plydogg]

No Fordham option? lol

 

[SpiderK]

We could have so easily been top 4 this year with our starting 5. This league is so weak top to bottom.

 

[VT4700]

We could have so easily been top 4 this year with our starting 5. This league is so weak top to bottom.

Just missed it last year. If Nick makes the late 3 against St. Joe's, we would have been, but I think we maxed out in the A-10 with that lineup last year. I like our chances with a new lineup this year.

 

[coachfezz]

Just missed it last year. If Nick makes the late 3 against St. Joe's, we would have been, but I think we maxed out in the A-10 with that lineup last year. I like our chances with a new lineup this year.

if we run out of bounds plays better or mix defense in half court i think we dont need that shot , that loss is on Coach not Nick

 

[Spider2020]

Surprised with how much love Davidson is getting considering their only strong contributors returning are Grady and Gudmundsson

 

[VT4700]

Surprised with how much love Davidson is getting considering their only strong contributors returning are Grady and Gudmundsson

But, those are 2 real good ones, and plenty of other teams do not return 2 guys as good as those 2. It is certainly not automatic that they will finish top 4, but it is not like 4 other teams are way more obvious choices.

 

[fan2011]

Surprised with how much love Davidson is getting considering their only strong contributors returning are Grady and Gudmundsson

There is a very strong recency bias in the votes, and not just for Davidson.

 

[SpiderK]

Yes, Davidson losing Aldridge is like us losing TJ. That kid did everything for Davidson. Grady is excellent but only a sophomore. A-10 will be even worse than last year. If we can put 4 decent players on the floor with the big 3, we are as good as any.

 

[Ulla1]

Kind of funny how some on this messageboard are ranking Davidson so high. We beat them twice last year and they lost their outstanding big guy. Guess what? We have our outstanding big guy for three more years. Give me Grant Golden and friends, and the Spiders will be in the hunt.

 

[gcarter52]

I'm with you all the way Ulla, we constantly harp on the fact that we have underperformed the last few years. It is high time that we fall in line and support the current team who will carry the torch this upcoming season. They deserve our total support, I for one will give it to them GO SPIDERS!!!

 

[fan2011]

Yes, Davidson losing Aldridge is like us losing TJ. That kid did everything for Davidson. Grady is excellent but only a sophomore. A-10 will be even worse than last year. If we can put 4 decent players on the floor with the big 3, we are as good as any.

They are losing a lot more than just Aldridge. They are losing 4 seniors who averaged over 16 minutes per game. They are losing their entire front court.

 

[97spiderfan]

There is a very strong recency bias in the votes, and not just for Davidson.

Completely agree. Davidson won the tourney finished strong and everyone knows Grady is probably the best talent in the league. I wonder if the loss of Aldridge will have a similar impact on Grady as TJ's departure had on Buck.

I couldn't even pick a Top 4 right now with all of the transition that has occurred across the league. I think the league is going to be a big jumbled mess with a lot of 11-7 10-8, 9-9 teams.

 

[Ulla1]

Completely agree. Davidson won the tourney finished strong and everyone knows Grady is probably the best talent in the league. I wonder if the loss of Aldridge will have a similar impact on Grady as TJ's departure had on Buck.

I couldn't even pick a Top 4 right now with all of the transition that has occurred across the league. I think the league is going to be a big jumbled mess with a lot of 11-7 10-8, 9-9 teams.

So you’re saying we have a chance?

 

[LongTimeSpiderFan]

Kind of funny how some on this messageboard are ranking Davidson so high. We beat them twice last year and they lost their outstanding big guy. Guess what? We have our outstanding big guy for three more years. Give me Grant Golden and friends, and the Spiders will be in the hunt.

+1

 

[Gospiders06]

Davidson won the A-10 tournament last year. A lot of new players next year. I just feel that George Mason and St.Louis are the teams to beat. With the amount of talent they have returning.

 

[Gospiders06]

Dayton might be a sleeper team next year. Anthony Grant seems to have our number.

 

[Spider B]

McKillop is a hell of a coach. He’s able to get the most out of the talent he has. With a talent like McGrady, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Davidson in the top 4 despite the loss of Aldridge and co.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

When in doubt, I look to the best three players on a team (and I'm not just saying that because we have basically three proven guys), and resolve in favor of experienced, older top threes where it is close.

Davidson: Grady, Gudmundsson, Pritchett?
Dayton: Cunningham, Landers, Crutcher
Duquesne: Lewis, Williams, a new guy
Fordham: Slanina, a new guy, a new guy (yuck)
Mason: Livingston, Grayer, Mar
GW: Nolan, Mazzula, Toro
LaSalle: Powell, Deas, a new guy
UMass: Pipkins, Holloway, McLean?
URI: Dowtin, Russell, Langevine
Richmond: Golden, Sherod, Gilyard
St. Joes: Kimble, Brown, Funk
St. Louis: Bess, French, Goodwin
St. Bonny: Griffen, Ayeni, Ikpeze (maybe new guy Poyser)
VCU: Jenkins, Vann, Mobley/Gilmore/Evans?


Looking at this, I'm most bullish on St. Joe's, St. Louis, URI, and Mason. UR, Dayton, VCU, Davidson (McKillop effect), Duquesne in the next tier. UMass and Bonny after that, and LaSalle, GW after that, and Fordham way, way, way after that.

 

[Ulla1]

When in doubt, I look to the best three players on a team (and I'm not just saying that because we have basically three proven guys), and resolve in favor of experienced, older top threes where it is close.

Davidson: Grady, Gudmundsson, Pritchett?
Dayton: Cunningham, Landers, Crutcher
Duquesne: Lewis, Williams, a new guy
Fordham: Slanina, a new guy, a new guy (yuck)
Mason: Livingston, Grayer, Mar
GW: Nolan, Mazzula, Toro
LaSalle: Powell, Deas, a new guy
UMass: Pipkins, Holloway, McLean?
URI: Dowtin, Russell, Langevine
Richmond: Golden, Sherod, Gilyard
St. Joes: Kimble, Brown, Funk
St. Louis: Bess, French, Goodwin
St. Bonny: Griffen, Ayeni, Ikpeze (maybe new guy Poyser)
VCU: Jenkins, Vann, Mobley/Gilmore/Evans?


Looking at this, I'm most bullish on St. Joe's, St. Louis, URI, and Mason. UR, Dayton, VCU, Davidson (McKillop effect), Duquesne in the next tier. UMass and Bonny after that, and LaSalle, GW after that, and Fordham way, way, way after that.

knee, you might have listed those teams you are not bullish on; the list might have been shorter.

 

[urmite]

knee, you might have listed those teams you are not bullish on; the list might have been shorter.

He listed the entire conference...
Top 4 - St. Joe's, St. Louis, URI, and Mason
Next 5 - UR, Dayton, VCU, Davidson (McKillop effect), Duquesne
Next 2 - UMass and Bonny
Next 2 - LaSalle, GW
Finally - Fordham

 

[97spiderfan]

When in doubt, I look to the best three players on a team (and I'm not just saying that because we have basically three proven guys), and resolve in favor of experienced, older top threes where it is close.

Davidson: Grady, Gudmundsson, Pritchett?
Dayton: Cunningham, Landers, Crutcher
Duquesne: Lewis, Williams, a new guy
Fordham: Slanina, a new guy, a new guy (yuck)
Mason: Livingston, Grayer, Mar
GW: Nolan, Mazzula, Toro
LaSalle: Powell, Deas, a new guy
UMass: Pipkins, Holloway, McLean?
URI: Dowtin, Russell, Langevine
Richmond: Golden, Sherod, Gilyard
St. Joes: Kimble, Brown, Funk
St. Louis: Bess, French, Goodwin
St. Bonny: Griffen, Ayeni, Ikpeze (maybe new guy Poyser)
VCU: Jenkins, Vann, Mobley/Gilmore/Evans?


Looking at this, I'm most bullish on St. Joe's, St. Louis, URI, and Mason. UR, Dayton, VCU, Davidson (McKillop effect), Duquesne in the next tier. UMass and Bonny after that, and LaSalle, GW after that, and Fordham way, way, way after that.

Nice list of top players in the league. It is wide open this year, in my opinion.

 

[Gospiders06]

Umass might be a sneaky team as well. Considering the amount of talent coming back.

 

[urmite]

Latest update to the overall player list

Direct link not posting. Link in post #121 here

http://www.basketballforum.com/atlantic-10-conference/426071-scholarship-tree-9.html

 

[kneepadmckinney]

Umass might be a sneaky team as well. Considering the amount of talent coming back.

Huh? What talent is coming back besides Pipkins?

 

[SpiderDaMan]

When in doubt, I look to the best three players on a team (and I'm not just saying that because we have basically three proven guys), and resolve in favor of experienced, older top threes where it is close.

Davidson: Grady, Gudmundsson, Pritchett?
Dayton: Cunningham, Landers, Crutcher
Duquesne: Lewis, Williams, a new guy
Fordham: Slanina, a new guy, a new guy (yuck)
Mason: Livingston, Grayer, Mar
GW: Nolan, Mazzula, Toro
LaSalle: Powell, Deas, a new guy
UMass: Pipkins, Holloway, McLean?
URI: Dowtin, Russell, Langevine
Richmond: Golden, Sherod, Gilyard
St. Joes: Kimble, Brown, Funk
St. Louis: Bess, French, Goodwin
St. Bonny: Griffen, Ayeni, Ikpeze (maybe new guy Poyser)
VCU: Jenkins, Vann, Mobley/Gilmore/Evans?


Looking at this, I'm most bullish on St. Joe's, St. Louis, URI, and Mason. UR, Dayton, VCU, Davidson (McKillop effect), Duquesne in the next tier. UMass and Bonny after that, and LaSalle, GW after that, and Fordham way, way, way after that.

One team there has 7 experienced guys that could start on any given night. 3 aren't even listed and one that will not start is. No freshmen in their staring lineup. 4 double digit guys...sheesh. That's a top 4 team easily.


Dayton, UR, VCU, Davidson (or St Louis). Not difficult to pick 5 that could win the A10. There are two other teams there that if we see a surprise great PG emerge can be top 4. St Louis is a popular pick, but they're a year away. UR with Buck would have been the absolute favorite with the great big guy knocking down 15 a night. .

Yes this is going to be a wide open and very entertaining BB season in the A10. I for one am very excited to see how it shakes out.