A-10
Atlantic-10's teams, coaches and style of play.
Let’s play a little game.
Raise your hand if Evan Turner and Manny Harris were on your preseason All-America team (both turned in triple-doubles last week). Just a few?
Now, what about Da’Sean Butler (26 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) and Greivis Vasquez (13 assists topped all players last weekend)? Hardly any?
OK then, what about Chris Wright? Did anyone foresee the 6-8 Dayton junior opening with such an efficient, impressive performance like he did against Creighton?
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This is when the writer’s strike really hurts. In less than two weeks, we’ve seen three new records for scoring futility. [Insert raunchy joke here.]
First, it was Pennsylvania setting a record for fewest points in a half (6) during a 60-30 loss to Florida Gulf Coast.
Nine days later, Savannah State to put on a real (ugly) show.
But wait, it gets even worse.
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In a season where few teams have been actual surprises to start the year – Ole Miss, Miami (Fla.), Saint Mary’s, Drake, among the most notable – the most impressive group start has to be from the Atlantic 10, where the conference is off to its best start since St. Joseph’s stole the hoops spotlight in 2003-04.
Huh. Has Jameer Nelson really been in the NBA four years? Doesn’t seem that long ago when Nelson was leading St. Joe’s to a 30-2 season and just missing out on the Final Four. His Hawks and Xavier, which also reached the Elite Eight that season, helped make the A-10 one of that season’s big stars.
That hasn’t been the case for the A-10 the last few years.
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