Remeber a few years ago when scheduling an A-10 opponent actually meant scheduling a win, cupcake, exibition…you get the point. Fast forward to the 07-08 season and the A-10 is among the most feared and fiercely competitive conferencecs in america. The conference had three teams ranked nationally last week, but #22 ranked Rhode Island lost and fell just outside the top 25. Dayton sits a #16 and Xavier at #23 in the current AP poll. The Atlantic 10 currently sits at #7 in the conference RPI poll. Let me summarize the strides that the A-10 has taken recently.
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UMass- Behind young firey Coach Travis Ford, UMass has begun its rise back to a conference contender and has had some nice wins
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Dayton- Signed highly touted wing forward Chris Wright who could have gone anywhere in the country, Roberts is also stud, Burned UofL for 20+ points in upset wins two cosecutive seasons.
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Rhode Island- has enjoyed its best start in the last 5 or 10 years
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Saint Louis – Hires a nationally prominent coach in Rick Majerus
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Xavier – is hands down the best story, Sean Miller has carried on what Thad Matta started, this team is for real and rightfully considers itself a high major program. Next to Gonzaga the best mid major over the last 6 or 7 seasons.
Your only as good as your players are (most of the time). Nine players on the ESPN Top 150 for the class of 08′ have committed to A-10 schools. Most notably 7’0 Center Kenny Frease who spurned the #2 school on his list UK and opted for in state school Xavier.
A-10 commits on the latest (August 30th) ESPN Top 150 list…
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#36 Kenny Frease – Xavier
#92 Paul Williams – Dayton
#106 Brett Thompson – Saint Louis
#112 David Gibbs – UMass
#114 Josh Benson – Dayton
#115 Brian Walsh – Xavier
#139 Brian Conklin – Saint Louis
#143 Jiovanny Fontan – Fordham
#150 Kwamain Mitchell – Saint Louis
2007 – 08 STANDINGS
| Conference | Overall | |||||
| W | L | PCT. | W | L | PCT. | |
| Xavier | 4 | 1 | .800 | 16 | 4 | .800 |
| Charlotte | 3 | 1 | .750 | 12 | 6 | .667 |
| Saint Joseph’s | 3 | 1 | .750 | 11 | 5 | .688 |
| Temple | 2 | 1 | .667 | 9 | 8 | .529 |
| Dayton | 2 | 2 | .500 | 14 | 3 | .824 |
| Duquesne | 2 | 2 | .500 | 12 | 5 | .706 |
| Fordham | 2 | 2 | .500 | 8 | 8 | .500 |
| La Salle | 2 | 2 | .500 | 7 | 10 | .412 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 2 | .500 | 13 | 5 | .722 |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 2 | .500 | 16 | 3 | .842 |
| Richmond | 2 | 2 | .500 | 9 | 8 | .529 |
| George Washington | 1 | 3 | .250 | 5 | 9 | .357 |
| Saint Louis | 1 | 3 | .250 | 10 | 8 | .556 |
| St. Bonaventure | 0 | 4 | .000 | 6 | 12 | .333 |
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http://atlantic10.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/atl10-m-baskbl-body.html - Standings complements of A-10 Athletics
