Rhode Island DOA

[XU-XHI]

Rhode Island just tossed dirt on their grave losing tonight to GW, 85-68. Not to mention gave GW hope for Saturday. A10 looking at 3 in the tourney if St. Joe & UMass can hold up their ends (not including St. Joe's vs. X). I hope they do. It would be a shame to see the A10 drop to a 1 or 2 bid league after such a strong start.

[muskieman]

Wasn't Barron coach of the year last year....what a difference a year makes. With that talent it is hard to believe. I guess there will be some hungry teams in AC. dayton has to be concerned that GW won.

[Mr. Neutral]

I still think that the A10 tourney is going to be wide open, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone other than X won it, which would be better for the league but worse for us.

[Mr. Neutral]

On a related/unrelated note, UK has now won 9 of 10, its RPI is up to #61, and it's got wins over #1 (for now) Tennessee and #7 Vanderbilt.

Billy Gillespie may sneak the Cats into the NCAA yet.

[xujoe]

I still think that the A10 tourney is going to be wide open, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone other than X won it, which would be better for the league but worse for us.

Exactly. I am not sure what has happened to Rhode Island here late in the season. But in the tournament, I would still have great respect for St. Joe, Umass, Temple, and Rhody. I have not seen Richmond.

[bluegrass]

This is another blow to the A10's chancces of getting multiple bids.We might be back to 2 bids.From the league's standpoint it would be better if St.Joe's beats X next week and someone other than X wins the tourney.Usually the non conference schedule hurts this league.Now after a great non conference, the league schedule is killing it.

[gym from delhi]

While the vastly overrated Big East gets at least 6 bids. I was afraid this would happen, that the A-10 bottom feeders in their high school gyms would hurt the league's overall status. In other leagues these upsets are part of a league's persona ("if you get to .500 in the Big East, then you're in the Big Dance"). The A-10 unfortunately has no room for error.

[muskieman]

This is another blow to the A10's chancces of getting multiple bids.We might be back to 2 bids.From the league's standpoint it would be better if St.Joe's beats X next week and someone other than X wins the tourney.Usually the non conference schedule hurts this league.Now after a great non conference, the league schedule is killing it.

While it might be better for the A-10 I don't see why we would want X to lose any of those games. X should not worry what others are not doing and worry about their own situation. Xavier should have the objective to lay waste to the league and make the league raise themselves to Xavier's level.

[muskienick]

gym from delhi,

Unfortunately, even if the A-10 had the same lofty appeal as the Big East, some of our most promising teams of 2007-2008 would not yet qualify with a .500 Conference record.
Duquesne is 16-10 on the season but only 6-7 in Conference.
Charlotte actually led the A-10 on a couple of occasions this season and has a couple of quality OOC wins but is only 15-12 overall and 6-7 in the A-10.
Rhode Island in 20-9 but only 6-8 in the A-10.
UD is 17-9 ond 5-8 in the A-10.
Fordham had their whole team back including a POY candidate but is currently a Fordham-like 10-14 overall and 5-8 in the A-10.
Defending A-10 champ GW is a pitiful 9-14 and 5-8!

And yet one must fear any team that makes the A-10 Tourney in Atlantic City. Only the Bonnies are staying home for sure.

If UD makes the cut, they may have Chris Wright back and, unless Brian Gregory continues to have a brain lock by insisting to play Jimmy Binnie for extended minutes, they could have a formidable lineup in Roberts, Wright, Little, Johnson, and anybody other than Binnie.

We know how good Lisch and Liddell can be for St. Louis.

Rhode Island, Duquesne, and Charlotte are capable of beating anybody in spite of their current A-10 losing records.

St. Joe's, Temple, Richmond, LaSalle, and UMass all have at least one win against teams with good records in the league, either overall or Conference. Even GW or Fordham (with UD, the other two prime candidates for the final team that will miss the Tourney) are capable of beating any team on any given day.

[muskienick]

muskieman is correct! It's high time we start thinking of ourselves (i.e. maximize our seeding power) and stop caring what might be the overall perception of the A-10. While the League has certainly been more interesting and competitive this year, it once again has so far managed to minimize its chances to displace one of the "Big 6" from its lofty RPI standing.

I can't wait until we are in a differently-configured A-10 or in a brand new basketball-driven conference with similar minded and intensely competitive programs!