Summit League Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 8, 2025 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of our Preseason Coverage, Including Interviews, Podcasts, and Conference Previews

SUMMIT LEAGUE MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:

  1. Saint Thomas
  2. Omaha
  3. South Dakota State
  4. North Dakota State
  5. South Dakota
  6. Kansas City
  7. Denver
  8. North Dakota
  9. Oral Roberts

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE 1ST TEAM:

-Carter Bjerke – JR, F – Saint Thomas
-Isaac Bruns – JR, G – South Dakota
-Kalen Garry – JR, G – South Dakota State
-Nolan Minessale – SO, F – Saint Thomas
-Tony Osburn – SR, G – Omaha
-Jayson Petty – JR, G – Kansas City

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE 2ND TEAM:

-Noah Feddersen – JR, F – North Dakota State
-Ja’Sean Glover – SR, G – Omaha
-Carson Johnson – SO, G – Denver
-Eli King – SR, G – North Dakota
-Markhi Strickland – SR, G North Dakota State

.

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-Due to the change in rules for transitioning up to D-1, Saint Thomas is now eligible for postseason play! As a transitional program they were incredibly successful and have managed 20+ wins the last two seasons despite being on probation. They are picked to finish first in the league this year, and while they are probably not my top choice, they are certainly in the discussion. Noah Minessale returns to the starting lineup, and Carter Bjerke also received preseason honors. They will need some other guys to step up if they want to finish atop the league, but they do have some very good pieces.

-Omaha was last year’s first-place team and went on to win the conference tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Three key starers are back including Tony Osburn, who is one of the best guards in the league and a very solid outside shooter as well. I think Omaha can repeat and win it again this year.

-Bryan Petersen takes over head coaching duties at South Dakota State after being on the staff for the last six years. Last year the Jackrabbits seemed to be going strong down the stretch, but they ended the season by losing back-to-back games to Denver and North Dakota, who are two teams you would expect them to easily beat. Still, three key starters are back from a 20-win team including Joe Sayler and Kalen Garry, who make up a very solid backcourt, so the expectations are high despite some of the changes.

-North Dakota State, like a lot of teams, is going through a roster overhaul. Just one starter returns from last year’s team and while they have some impressive-looking transfers it is hard to say what kind of team they are going to have. Markhi Strickland was a solid player at Western Michigan a year ago, and earned preseason conference honors this year, so he is someone the Bison will be depending on.

-The Yotes of South Dakota finished in the middle of the league last year and are expected to do about the same this year. Isaac Bruns is one of the best guards in the conference and is someone they will be relying heavily on. Jordan Crawford, a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, looks to be another solid roster addition. If some of the other players can step up then they may exceed expectations this year.

-Kansas City struggled last year and are faced with having to rebuild this year. Marvin Menzies is the coach, and he has had success throughout his career, but has not broken through with the Roos yet. Jayson Petty is the lone returning starter and they are looking to surround him with some solid JUCO players in the hopes of getting the program jumpstarted.

-Denver is seemingly always closer to the bottom than they are the top, and this year the expectations are no different. Just one starter is back, and it looks like they have a roster that consists largely of lower division transfers, although Julius Rollins was a solid player for Western Illinois last year.

-North Dakota struggled last year and is in reset mode this year with just one starter back in Eli King. Other than him it does not look like they have much in the way of players who have produced in a big way at the D-1 level.

-It was not that long ago when Oral Roberts won 30 games and was one of the top Under the Radar programs in the country. Last year they won just 7, and this year the expectations are not much better. None of their starters have returned and first-year coach Kory Barnett really has his work cut out for him.

Posted in Conference Preview, News and Notes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Summit League Media Day Recap and Response

CAA Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 4, 2025 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of our Preseason Coverage, Including Interviews, Podcasts, and Conference Previews

CAA MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:

  1. Towson
  2. UNC Wilmington
  3. Charleston
  4. William & Mary
  5. Hampton
  6. Monmouth
  7. Campbell
  8. Hofstra
  9. Northeastern
  10. Drexel
  11. Stony Brook
  12. Elon
  13. NC A&T

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-CAA 1ST TEAM:

-Tyler Tejada – JR, G, F – Towson
-Colby Duggan – JR. F – Charleston
-Cruz Davis – JR, G – Hofstra
-CJ Luster – SR, G – UNC Wilmington
-Dylan Williamson – JR, G – Towson

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-CAA 2ND TEAM:

-Mister Dean – SO, G – Charleston
-Jack Collins – SR, G – Monmouth
-LA Pratt – SR, G – Northeastern
-Collin O’Connor – SO, G – Stony Brook
-Chase Lowe – SR, G – William & Mary

COMMENTS FROMD DAVID:

-Towson was an impressive 16-2 in the league last year, which earned them a 1st-place finish, but they failed to win the conference tournament and advance to the NCAAs. Just two starters return, but they are two of the better players in the conference in Tyler Tejada and Dylan Williamson (who is a very good outside shooter). They also add two key players from the portal in Jack Doumbia (Wright State) and Tyler Schmidt (Valpo) who averaged double figures at the D-1 level a year ago. I think this Towson team will be good again, and I think Pat Skerry is a phenomenal coach who has done a great job with this program.

-UNC Wilmington had an amazing season last year with 27 total wins, which included winning the CAA Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Just one starter is back, which means they are in a bit of a rebuild mode, but they do have some key bench players who can step into bigger roles and some pertty impressive transfers in CJ Luster (Stony Brook), Jahnathan Lamothe (NC A&T), and Gavin Walsh (Binghamton). so they have guys who have been successsful D-1 players and who can step in to key roles for this year’s team.

-Charleston is starting completely over with all five starters gone from a year ago. Coach Chris Mack has his work cut out for him, but they have hit the portal and landed some proven guys who can step in right away. Colby Duggan (Campbell), Jlynn Counter (Middle Tennessee), and Mister Dean (USC Upstate) all averaged double figures a year ago and are expected to play key roles this year.

-William & Mary is coming off a 17-win season and a 4th-place finish, which is their best finish in quite some time. Just one starter is back for Coach Brian Earl, who had a great first year with the program last year, but the expectations are still high. They do return a couple of guys who saw key minutes last year, and add some players that fit into the tempo and style that they like to play.

-Expectations are high for Hampton this year. They were just 9th in the league a season ago, but they were playing better down the stretch, finished with 17 total wins for their first winning season in quite some time, and Coach Ivan Thomas has two key starters returning along with some pretty solid players out of the portal.

-Last year was a rough year for King Rice and Monmouth, but they were much better in the latter part of the season than they were in the beginning. They finished just 13-20, but won eight of their last eleven before losing in the conference tournament. Three key starters are back including Jack Collins, who brings a lot of experience to the team. Kavion McClain also transfers in from Texas Southern, who gives them experience and talent out on the perimeter. I think this Monmouth team can exceed expectations this year and be a bit of a dark horse.

-Campbell is caught in the same cycle that so many programs are now caught in, and that is retaining their key players from year to year. Just one starter is back from a team that had kind of a “meh” season overall, and with just two total returning players they are having to rebuild their roster. They do have some guys coming in that played key roles at D-1 programs a year ago, so all is not lost.

-Hofstra won just 15 games a year ago after winning 20+ in the previous three seasons. Coach Speedy Claxton has done a good job overall and is hoping to get things turned back around this year. Cruz Davis (who is one of the best guards in the conference) is back, and that is a huge plus. Biggie Patterson is also back from an injury, and they do return some guys who saw some quality bench minutes last year. I think Hofstra may be a little undervalued in the preseason poll.

-Northeastern has hit a bit of a rough stretch, but they won 17 games a year ago which was their best season in a while. Coach Bill Coen is entering his 20th season, and I am thinking this year’s team is being overlooked. They were plagued with injuries last year, yet still managed to win 17 games, and they have a lot of solid contributing players who are back and who are healthy. This is another team that I think could still be a real dark horse.

-Drexel had a respectable 18-win season a year ago, but just one starter is back and the expectations are not high for the Dragons this year. They do not have anyone that you would identify as a real go-to guy right now. It is certainly possible that someone will emerge, but it will likely be a long rebuilding year for the Dragons.

-Stony Brook won just eight total games last year and finished dead last in the league. Just one starter is back, and in some ways the roster overhaul may be what they need. They do have some decent-looking transfers coming in, which should result in some improvement, but I do not see them finishing in the top half of the league.

-Elon finished with their first winning season since 2017 last year, but with all five starters gone it looks like it may be a long rebuilding sesason for the Phoenix this year. They do have a solid point guard in Ja’Juan Carr, who is a transfer from UNCW, but they will need some other guys to step up if they want to repeat the success they had a year ago.

-NC A&T has only won seven games in each of the last two seasons, and all signs are pointing to them struggling again this year. Their roster seems to be completely lacking in guys that have been able to significantly produce at the D-1 level.

Posted in Conference Preview, News and Notes | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on CAA Media Day Recap and Response

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Alabama F Essence Cody

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE For All of our Preseason Coverage, Including Interviews, Podcasts, and Conference Previews

We are less than 5 weeks away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Alabama F Essence Cody, who talked about making the NCAA tourney last March and her expectations for this season.

In 2023 you were named a McDonald’s All-American: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (MiLaysia Fulwiley/Hannah Hidalgo/JuJu Watkins/other)? Everybody! I played with MiLaysia before, but they are all very good players. It was a great experience to learn from them.

What made you choose Alabama for college? The family atmosphere/coaches/team chemistry. The coaches support us in everything we do.

You play for Coach Kristy Curry: what makes her such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? She has been amazing since Day 1 and had recruited me since I was in the 6th grade. She is here for us and I love how much she is into the game: she will fight for us, for sure.

You are 6’4”: how much of an advantage is your size on the court? It is getting better as I work both inside/outside the post.

In 2024 you started all 34 games as a freshman and were named to the SEC all-freshman team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I learned a lot from my teammates: they helped me so much by encouraging me every day at practice.

We all know that the SEC is the best conference in men’s basketball: do you think it is also the best in women’s basketball? Most definitely! It is very competitive because all the players are skilled.

Last season your FG%/FT% both increased dramatically: how were you able to improve your shooting so much from Year #1 to Year #2? Just getting into the gym every day and getting extra shots up before/after practice.

In the 2nd round of the 2025 NCAA tourney, you scored 18 PTS and your teammate Sarah Ashlee Barker set a school record with 45 PTS in a 3-PT 2-OT loss to Maryland (who overcame a 17-PT 3rd quarter deficit): what are your memories of such an incredible game? Everybody on the team stepped up and contributed because we were all into the game. I am so proud of how we came together and pushed through everything.

Your sister Jayla played basketball at Alabama A&M: who is the best athlete in the family? I have always looked up to her and we each pushed each other while playing 1-on-1. She is more of a defensive player, and I am more of an offensive player.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I want to get more shots and continue to expand my game outside the paint. I expect us to keep pushing/working together as a team with good communication and skill development.

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Alabama F Essence Cody

SoCon Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 1, 2025 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of our Preseason Coverage, Including Interviews, Podcasts, and Conference Previews

SOCON PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL:

  1. Chattanooga
  2. Furman
  3. Samford
  4. East Tennessee State
  5. UNC Greensboro
  6. VMI
  7. Western Carolina
  8. Mercer
  9. Wofford
  10. The Citadel

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SOCON TEAM:

-Jaylen Smith – JR, G – East Tennessee State
-Cooper Bowser – JR, F – Furman
-Tom House – SR, G – Furman
-Jadin Booth – SR, G – Samford
-Jikari Johnson – SR, G – Chattanooga
-Collin Mulholland – SO, G – Chattanooga
-Teddy Washington Jr. – SR, G – Chattanooga
-Rickey Bradley Jr. – SR, G – VMI
-Marcus Kell – JR, F – Western Carolina

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-Chattanooga had an incredible season last year. After a tough road trip to open things up where they started off 0-3, they went on to win 29 total games, finish in 1st place in the SoCon, and after falling in the SoCon Tournament went on to win the NIT. They were an amazing 17-1 in their last 18 games. The problem is that almost none of their starters are back. They do have some solid looking transfers in Billy Smith (Bellarmine), Teddy Washington Jr. (SEMO), and Brennan Watkins (North Dakota State) who all saw significant minutes and were key players at the D-1 level, so they may be able to reload.

-Furman is another team that is coming off a really good season. They had a few slip-ups in conference play last year but were very strong down the stretch, winning six straight before losing in the SoCon championship game to rival Wofford. They are losing their two best players, but three key starters are back. Guys that played key roles last year will have to step up more this year.

-The Bucky Ball Era at Samford is over, and they are now almost completely restarting. No starters return from last year’s team and new coach Lennie Acuff will have his work cut out for him. Dylan Faulkner was a solid player for Lipscomb a year ago and is someone they will rely heavily on this year. Jadin Booth averaged over 20ppg at D2 Florida Southern last year and could be a big contributor this year as well.

-East Tennessee State, like most teams, is looking to replace most of their starters. In fact just three players return from last year’s roster. They do have some key transfers in Jaylen Smith (North Florida), Brian Taylor II (SIUE), and Milton Matthews (FAMU) who all averaged double figures at the D-1 level a year ago, but they also came from leagues that were not quite as strong as the SoCon typically is.

-UNC Greensboro is having to replace all their starters. They have had three straight 20+ win seasons, but may be in a bit of a rebuild mode this year. They have turned to some standout players from JUCO and lower divisions to try and quickly rebuild. The question is will they be able to play at this level?

-I do not recall the last time VMI was picked to finish this high. And, they may be a very fun team to watch this year! While most years most teams are able to beat them, they are usually not a fun team to play against. Last year they won 15 games after winning just 4 the year before, and with four starters back who know the system, VMI has the experience to build on that win total again this year. Rickey Bradley is one of the best guards in the conference…and he plays at VMI! Yunno, this is probably the team in the league that I am the most excited about!!

-Western Carolina also returns four starters, and I am always a believer that teams can improve with experience, but after just 8 total wins a year ago their expectations are not all that high despite that said experience. Marcus Kell and Cord Stansberry were both double-digit scorers a year ago, but they will need their teammates to step up if this team is going to show any significant improvement this year.

-It was a long year for Mercer and 1st-year coach Ryan Ridder a year ago, and after a 14-19 season he is tasked with rebuilding the roster. Expectations are not all that high for the Bears, and many of their transfers seem to have seen limited minutes at their previous schools.

-It is almost impossible to even write up Wofford. In case you missed it, their head coach was fired, or was not fired but left, or…I do not know. The story was not straight. The reason was due to players receiving extra benefits and being declared ineligible by the NCAA, or not by the NCAA but by someone else, or…I do not know. The story was not straight. Anyway, the players have been reinstated, but many indicated they only wanted to play for Coach Dwight Perry and would leave if he was not rehired, or…maybe they would stay. I do not know. The story was not straight. But, what IS clear is that things are not great at Wofford right now. Wofford has historically been an excellent program. They made the NCAA Tournament a year ago, which is something we are used to seeing them do. We are also used to seeing at or near the top of the SoCon. This year…who knows?? With all the questions surrounding whatever the hell has been going on there these past few weeks, I can see why the coaches picked them to finish so low.

-The Citadel was the unanimous last-place selection. All ten coaches voted them last. They won just five total games a year ago, none of which were in SoCon play, and finished 361st nationally in the NET. They may not be quite that bad this year, but they likely will not be good.

Posted in Conference Preview | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on SoCon Media Day Recap and Response

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE For All of our Preseason Coverage, Including Interviews, Podcasts, and Conference Previews

We are less than 5 weeks away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington, who talked about making the NCAA tourney last March and his expectations for this season.

As a senior at UNCW you were named 2nd-team all-conference as well as the all-conference defensive team: how good a player were you back in the day? It is tough to remember because I have been through a LOT of basketball since then. My senior year was both challenging/fun. I was coming back from a torn ACL in the final game of my junior year but it was the 1st time our program ever won 20 games. I would say that I was an average/above-average player.

You spent 7 years as Bobby Cremins’ top assistant at Charleston: what made him such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? The way he treats people/cares about them. He is known as an elite recruiter: he is 1 of the few coaches I have ever seen who can get someone to play hard without yelling at them. The players felt that they were letting him down if they did not play hard. He gave me more responsibility than most assistants get and leaned on me while guiding me along the way.

In the 2024 NCAA tourney as coach of #12-seed JMU you had a double-digit upset of Wisconsin before losing to Duke: what makes the 12-vs-5 game such an exciting matchup? In those kind of games you just erase the seed number. The funny thing I remember about that week was that every time I turned on the TV everyone was picking us to beat the Badgers: I had many people come up to me after the game to thank me because they picked us in their bracket. The NCAA tourney is the most exciting sports event in the world.

Last year was your 1st season at Vanderbilt: what is the biggest difference between coaching in a power conference vs. coaching in a non-power conference? What sticks out to me is more than the league/budget: it is about how the sport has changed. I walked into this job in the midst of the storm with the timing of everything changing. The game/prep/work is the same, but the main thing is the state of the union in college sports.

You had 5 wins over ranked teams (Kentucky/Mississippi/Missouri/Tennessee/Texas A&M): how important was it to show everyone that you could have success in the greatest conference in college basketball history? It was an important year for us as we tried to get the program going. You must get your players to believe, as well as recruits/students/alumni. We went 12-1 in non-conference play but it was still just wait-and-see as we entered conference play. After we got some of those big wins there was a different energy around campus and everyone began to believe.

In the 2025 NCAA tourney you had a 3-PT loss to St. Mary’s: what did you team learn from that loss (the school’s 1st tourney appearance since 2017) that you think will help them this year? The tough thing now is that you wish you had a bunch of returning guys, but we only have 3. 1 of the 1st things we discussed at a team meeting this summer was about having bigger goals. We outplayed St. Mary’s for most of the game but they made more big plays at the end. We went around the room and talked about winning games in the NCAA tourney: once you get there and know what the environment is like, that experience is extremely valuable.

Last April you were named the Skip Prosser Man of the Year: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? I felt very proud: I push off a lot of recognition I get and keep moving but I knew Skip and worked for Pete Gillen. It made me feel like I am doing things the right way: I was caught off-guard by how much it meant to me.

1 of your incoming freshmen is named Chandler Bing: could you BE more excited to have a player who shares the same name as 1 of the main characters on the TV show “Friends”?! It has been amazing to see how many jokes there were in text messages/social media. He is actually named after 1 of his relatives but I was a big “Friends” fan going up. He is a remarkable person who arrived here with 5 AP credits: he is smart and comes from a great family.

Your son Chase plays for his high school team: who is the best athlete in the family? I am scared of getting hurt by moving too fast so I will give it to him, but it is a constant conversation we have during dinner. 2 years ago I played him 1-on-1 and won the game…but have not played him since then because I was sore for a week afterward!

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? To get the most out of the team and see how good we can get. When your program has success you want to take steps forward, but in this league we could do better yet finish worse. What we learned along the way is to get ready for the next game, and we have a lot of guys who are motivated.

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington

Atlantic 10 Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on September 30, 2025 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of our Preseason Coverage, Including Interviews, Podcasts, and Conference Previews

ATLANTIC 10 PRESEASON POLL:

  1. VCU
  2. Saint Louis
  3. Dayton
  4. George Washington
  5. Loyola Chicago
  6. George Mason
  7. Saint Joseph’s
  8. Saint Bonaventure
  9. Duquesne
  10. Richmond
  11. Davidson
  12. Rhode Island
  13. La Salle
  14. Fordham

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-A10 1ST TEAM:

-Javon Bennett – SR, G – Dayton
-Brayden O’Connor – SR, G – George Mason
-Rafael Castro – SR, F – George Washington
-Miles Rubin – JR, C – Loyola Chicago
-Deuce Jones II – SO, G – Saint Joseph’s
-Robbie Avila – SR, C – Saint Louis

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL A-10 2ND TEAM:

-Amael L’Etang – SO, F – Dayton
-Tre Dinkins III – SR, G – George Washington
-Dasonte Bowen – SR, G – Saint Bonaventure
-Barry Evans – SR, F – VCU
-Jadrian Tracey – SR, G – VCU
-Tyrell Ward – JR, G – VCU

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-10 3RD TEAM:

-Keonte Jones – SR, F – Dayton
-Dejour Reaves – SR, G – Fordham
-Trey Autry – JR, G – George Washington
-Christian Jones – SO, G – George Washington
-Mike Walz – SR, C – Richmond
-Ahmad Nowell – SO, G – VCU

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-Overall, from top to bottom, I feel this league should be better. With so many basketball-centric schools to be in the markets that they are in, with the budgets and resources that they have, and having the buy-in from the fanbases that they do, there is no way in hell this should be a one-bid league. There is no way in hell that the 1st-place team should not be seeded in the top-half of the bracket. Part of the problem was that I do not think the better teams in this league play the OOC schedules they need to in order to establish themselves. That was definitely the case last year. This league really should be better.

-VCU had a strong season a year ago before bringing in first-year coach Phil Martelli Jr. This may be a strange thing to say about a team that won 28 games and made the NCAA Tournament, but they really should have been better. I feel a lack of overall schedule strength kept them from receiving a better seed. They have their work cut out for them this year as all five starters are gone. While they do have some impressive-looking transfers, including guys like Tyrell Ward and Jadrian Tracey (who saw key minutes at P4 programs), I am not sold that they will be quite as good as they were a year ago. At least I am not convinced of that yet.

-Saint Louis saw improvement from the season before last year and while I think they will continue to improve this year, I am unsure I would have picked them to finish as high as 2nd. Having said that, they have one of the best big men in the league in Robbie Avila, and with some solid-looking transfers I do think the Billikens will be better this year than they were a year ago.

-Dayton had a solid year with 23 total wins last year, which was their fourth straight season of winning 20 games or more, but it still felt like they really should have been better. They failed to make the NCAA Tournament, which was an underachievement given the pieces they had a year ago. They have a very solid backcourt led by Javon Bennett and Rutgers transfer Jordan Derkack. They also have a solid-looking frontcourt, with guys like Keonte Jones and Amael L’Etang. They should also be a tough defensive team. They are my pick to win the league.

-Expectations are high for George Washington this year after a rather “meh” season last year. 21 total wins was solid, but they were still just 9-9 in conference play. Three starters are back, including Rafael Castro (who is a solid frontcourt player) and Tre Dinkins (who averaged just under 13 ppg out of the backcourt last year). I expect the former Colonials/current Revolutionaries to be fairly strong this year and I agree with where they are in the preseason poll.

-Loyola Chicago has three starters back including Miles Rubin, who is one of the best big men in the league. This is a team to watch for. They won 25 games a year ago and were fairly strong down the stretch with a solid showing in the NIT. Their experience will be an asset, and the addition of CofC transfer Deywilk Tavarez will give them some experience in the backcourt. I think the preseason pollsters have them a little low. I could see them finishing as high as 2nd, or even 1st.

-George Mason had a great season a year ago where they won 27 total games and just missed making the NCAA Tournament. Having said that, for them to win 25 regular season D-1 games and not get in is probably a sign that they need to play a tougher OOC schedule. Just one starter returns from last year’s team so it will likely be a rebuilding year for the Patriots, which is why they are picked to finish toward the middle of the standings. Tony Skinn has done a phenomenal job as head coach and I think he will get them rolling again soon. Their roster does have some impressive-looking transfers, so they may end up exceeding expectations.

-After back-to-back 20+ win seasons for Saint Joseph’s, things are not off to the best of starts for the Hawks this year. They had a coaching change very late in the offseason when Billy Lange left to take a job with the New York Knicks and Steve Donahue (who is a solid coach) took over, but it was such a late transition that you wonder what kind of impact it will have. Just two starters are back, so they will be relying on guys without a whole lot of experience to step into much bigger roles.

-Saint Bonaventure is another 20+ win team that lost most of its roster. They were just 9-9 in A-10 play a year ago, but I think they can be even better this year considering some of the additions they have made. Amar’e Marshall (Buffalo) and Darryl Simmons II (Gardner-Webb) were both prolific scorers at the D-1 level and should be great additions for the Bonnies this year.

-Duquesne won just 13 games last year. This followed back-to-back 20+ win seasons that actually saw them win a game in the NCAA Tournament. Now the Dukes appear to be back to finishing in the bottom half of the conference. They do appear to have a fair amount of experience, but it is hard to say whether or not that will translate into wins.

-So, on to Richmond. Every year I pick the Spiders as a dark horse, and every year they sort of let me down. I love how they play. Having said that, their system requires guys who have experience playing that style. With college basketball being so transfer-heavy right now, it is hard to play the way Richmond does and build success because right as the players are starting to get it, they often jump into the transfer portal and it is back to square one for the Spiders. They lost DeLonnie Hunt to an injury last year and were never the same after that…but he is back this year. They have enough guys returning who were a part of their rotation that should give them the experience they need to be better this year. I have NOT learned my lesson: I think Richmond will be the surprise team this year!!

-Coach Matt McKillop just cannot get the motor going at Davidson. He’s 48-49 in his three years there, and the days of being an A-10 frontrunner feel like they were a long time ago. They finished just 12th in the standings last year, and with just one starter back expectations for this year are once again…well…not great. They face the same issues that many programs are facing. Key players chose to transfer rather than return, and every year it feels like they are starting from scratch.

-Rhode Island managed a winning record for the first time since 2020 last year, but with all 5 starters gone the Rams are having to rebuild from scratch, and it could be a very long season for them. It has been a frustrating stretch for Coach Archie Miller.

-La Salle and Fordham. Both were terrible last year, neither return any starters, and neither are expected to be good this year. A short time ago Fordham was near the top of the A-10 standings, and WOW was it fun! La Salle has also managed to build some decent teams, but more often than not these two teams are just atrocious. I do not see how. Given where they are located and how much buy-in the universities have from their alumni base, it seems that even just by accident they would be good every once in a while. If these two teams played in the Patriot League, or the Metro Atlantic, or even the NEC, I do not think they would finish in the top half the majority of the time: that is RIDICULOUS!!

Posted in Conference Preview, News and Notes | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Atlantic 10 Media Day Recap and Response