Atlantic 10 Preview 2021
Our Atlantic 10 basketball preview 2021 - 2022 projects the top two teams in this conference to be Saint Bonaventure and Richmond. They really are a cut above the other dozen schools that comprise the Atlantic 10. However, there will be hefty competition from teams such as VCU and Saint Louis. Plus, Davidson, Dayton, and Rhode Island have the potential to be spoilers. Here’s our take on Atlantic 10 men’s basketball.
Atlantic 10 Basketball Preview and Projections
1. Saint Bonaventure Bonnies (16-5, 11-4)
Saint Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt (245-185 St. Bonaventure/14 years, 327-275 Overall/20 years) comes to this season with a team that is loaded. In 2020-21, the Bonnies took the Atlantic 10 title and made it into the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the past decade. The same can be expected this year. In front, defense is tight, as F/C Osun Osunniyi returns. Last season, he averaged 2.9 BPG as well as 10.7 PPG and 9.4 RPG. The massive two-way force will be joined by Pittsburgh transfer Abdoul Karim Coulibaly and incoming junior college big man Oluwasegun Durosinmi. In back, point guard senior Kyle Lofton commands the court. Last season, he averaged 14.4 PPG and 5.5 APG. Lofton is a two-time First-Team All-Atlantic 10 player. Also in back, two-way player Jaren Holmes and premium scorer Jalen Adaway offer instant offense. Holmes is a dead-on three-point shooter. In the Atlantic 10, the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies are the team to beat.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: 23
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 31
Postseason Tournament: NCAA Round of 32
2. Richmond Spiders (14-9, 6-5)
Since 2010, Richmond has been to the NIT three times and the Big Dance two. Our Atlantic 10 basketball preview 2021 - 2022 observes that in 2010 and 2011 the Spiders earned two successive NCAA berths. In 2011, they beat Vanderbilt and Morehead State before being eliminated by Kansas in the Sweet 16. Last season, in the NIT they made it to the Quarterfinals where Mississippi State knocked them out 68-67. Head coach Chris Mooney (288-231 Richmond/16 years, 306-243 Overall/17 years) sees four super seniors return. Three double-digit scorers return to the front with 6’10” forward Grant Golden (12.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.5 APG) being the anchor. In back, Jacob Gilyard (12.3 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.6 SPG) is a skilled and dominant two-way player. He’s a major setup man. Last season’s eighth-place conference finish will seem like a distant memory, as the Spiders battle the Bonnies for first place.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 68
Postseason Tournament: NCAA Round of 64
3. VCU Rams (19-7, 10-4)
Since the 2006—7 season, the Rams have been to the Big Dance 11 times. Last year, after finishing second in the Atlantic 10 and losing the conference tournament title game to Saint Bonaventure, VCU went to the NCAA Tournament where their first round game with Oregon was cancelled due to COVID. Coach Mike Rhoades (80-43 VCU/4 years, 127-95 Overall/7 years) would like to get back to March Madness. The Rams have a powerful duo in the backcourt, as senior Vince Williams (10.6 PPG, 5.2 APG) and junior Marcus Tsohonis (10.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG) return. Last season, Williams hit 41.3 percent of his threes. Although last season the Rams were dogged on D, they had issues rebounding. They will be competitive, but it’s unlikely they’ll be part of March Madness.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 42
Postseason Tournament: NIT
4. Saint Louis Billikens (14-7, 6-4)
Our Atlantic 10 basketball preview 2021 - 2022 notes that last season the Billikens finished fourth in the league and went to the NIT where Mississippi State beat them 74-68 in the initial round. In 2019, they made a NCAA Tournament appearance as the 13th seed, losing to the four-seed Virginia Tech 52-66. Senior forward/guard Javonte Perkins is back after averaging 17.1 PPG and 3.9 RPG. Guard Rashad Williams, who’s scored over 1,000 points in three seasons, will provide plenty of offense. Gibson Jimerson is an accurate three-point shooter while playmaking guard Yuri Collins offers massive two-way chops. Coach Travis Ford (89-65 St. Louis/5 years, 367-291 Overall/21 years) has a solid roster.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 52
Postseason Tournament: NIT
5. Davidson Wildcats (13-9, 7-4)
Head coach Bob McKillop (607-373 Davidson/Overall/32 years) has a young, inexperienced but talent team. Of the three seniors on-hand, one, Luka Brajkovic, is a starter. Last season, the forward averaged 10.9 PPG and 6.0 RPG. Michigan State transfer guard Foster Loyer comes in the replace Davidson’s top scorer Kellan Grady, who went to Kentucky. Forwards Hyunjung Lee and Luka Brajkovic return to the front. Both started last season, averaging double-digits in points per game. From 2002-2018, the Wildcats made eight NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2008, they made it to the Elite Eight where the Wildcats were eliminated by Kansas 73-78. The last two tournament years, Davidson went to the NIT where they lost both times in the first round. We expect an NIT appearance this season too.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 77
Postseason Tournament: NIT
6. Dayton Flyers (14-10, 9-6)
The Flyers of Dayton, perennial NCAA and NIT participants, have been to one of those tournaments in 16 of the last 21 years. Head coach Anthony Grant (78-41 Dayton/4 years, 272-151 Overall/13 years) sees one senior, guard Elijah Weaver (5.4 PPG, 2.4 APG), return. He’s one of two returning starters. The other is sophomore forward Mustapha Amzil. Amzil, who scored in double figures in 13 of 19 games last season, averaged 9.9 RPG and 5.6 RPG. The 10 other Dayton players are either freshmen or sophomores. This team will especially miss guards Jalen Crutcher and Ibi Watson and their combined 33.3 PPG and 6.7 APG.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 90
Postseason Tournament: None
7. Rhode Island Rams (10-15, 7-10)
Last season, the Rams finished 10th in the conference. Our Atlantic 10 basketball preview 2021 - 2022 sees them moving up, as head coach David Cox (49-39 Rhode Island/Overall in 3 years) welcomes back four starters as well as three experienced sophomores, and sees four accomplished freshmen join the team. Rhode Island looks like it has all the elements necessary to succeed. Plus, there’s Ball State transfer Ishmael El-Amin. At Ball State, he scored more than 1,000 career points, averaging just over 16 PPG. Twins Makhi and Makhel Mitchell, sophomore centers, look ready to break out. Fifth-year senior guard and double-digit scorer Jeremy Sheppard will lead the charge.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 112
Postseason Tournament: None
8. Saint Joseph’s Hawks (9-9, 6-7)
The last time this team posted a winning record was the 2015-16 season when they went 28-8. Since then, the Hawks have won 52 and lost 96. In the midst of COVID, head coach Billy Lange (11-41 St. Joseph’s/2 years, 103-156 Overall/9 years) was brought in to turn the team around. With the pandemic possibly behind him, Lange may be able to show some progress. There’s no two ways to put it, going into the 2021-22 season, this team is light. However, they will be led by one of the conference’s top players, senior forward Taylor Funk (17.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG). Three other starters come back, including the versatile 6’7” Jordan Hall. Last year as a freshman, Hall averaged 10.6 PPG and 5.9 RPG. Junior guards Dahmir Bishop, Cameron Brown, and Jack Forrest will be essential to this team’s progress.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 222
Postseason Tournament: None
9. George Washington Colonials (5-12, 3-5)
Last year, the Colonials finished 11th in the Atlantic 10. It’s been eight years since this team has played in March Madness. Our Atlantic 10 basketball preview 2021 - 2022 notes that head coach Jamion Christian (17-32 George Washington/2 years, 135-143 Overall/9 years) tapped mightily into the transfer portal. That should help this team rise in the standings. Additions include Ira Lee (Arizona), Brendan Adams (UConn), and Joe Bamisile (Virginia Tech). The trio will be key to this team’s success. At forward, Lee shot 55 percent in the Pac-12 while playing 113 games. Guard Adams brings a whole lot of leadership experience to the court. Sophomore Bamisile, who was a top-75 recruit and is exceptionally athletic, will have an opportunity to utilize his skills. Although the Colonials are much improved, consistency will be tough to achieve.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 266
Postseason Tournament: None
10. Massachusetts Minutemen (8-7, 6-4)
For the first time since head coach Matt McCall (45-65 UMass/4 years, 94-83 Overall/6 years) took over this team, the Minutemen scored a winning mark. However, don’t count on that happening this season, as UMass will be without the premium play of Tre Mitchell, who transferred to Texas. Also gone to other teams are Carl Pierre (Rice) and Ronnie Degray (Missouri). That means the best returning players are junior Noah Fernandes and redshirt sophomore T.J. Weeks Jr. Both guards are potential double-digit scorers. Others will be asked to step up while transfers C.J. Kelly (Albany), Greg Jones (Southern Connecticut State), and Rich Kelly (Boston College) come ready to contribute. This team could be fun to watch.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 119
Postseason Tournament: None
11. Duquesne Dukes (9-9, 7-7)
We find that the Dukes may end up 11th or they could be a lower-rung team. The fact is once to get to somewhere around 10th place in the Atlantic 10, potential finishes become foggy. Head coach Keith Dambrot (65-47 Duquesne/4 years, 390-220 Overall/19 years) loses Marcus Weathers, Michael Hughes, Tavian Dunn-Martin, and Chad Baker. All of whom were important contributors. Guard Leon Ayers (Mercer) and center Tre Williams (Indiana State) arrive as proven performers and will be key components of this team. The roster includes 10 players who are either freshmen or sophomores.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 139
Postseason Tournament: None
12. George Mason Patriots (13-9, 8-6)
Our Atlantic 10 preview 2021 - 2022 notes Kim English (0-0 George Mason/Overall/first year) comes to what is his first head coaching job after serving as an assistant under Rick Barnes at Tennessee. English replaces Dave Paulsen who in five seasons failed to get the Patriots to the Big Dance. When English was hired, George Mason’s top five scorers transferred out. The new coach did work quickly, bringing in four Division I transfers, three of whom have 2021 NCAA Tournament experience. Of those arriving, forward D’Shawn Schwartz (Colorado) is the most impressive. Schwartz was a starter for three seasons with the Buffaloes. In the 2021 NCAA Tournament, he scored 18 points in a win over Georgetown. There is talent. But can first-time head coach English bring them all together quickly?
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 135
Postseason Tournament: None
13. La Salle Explorers (9-16, 6-11)
Our Atlantic 10 basketball preview 2021 - 2022 finds that head coach Ashley Howard (34-52 La Salle/Overall, 3 years) is still in the midst of rebuilding this team, which has not made an appearance at the Big Dance in eight years. There are some fine elements. The Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year, Sherif Kenney (9.6 PPG), returns to play guard. Also returning are hard-working guards Christian Ray (7.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG) and Jack Clark (9.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG). Louisville transfer Josh Nickelberry comes to the Explorers ready to play. This is a guard-centric team that needs to show improvement on defense and the boards.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 209
Postseason Tournament: None
14. Fordham Rams (2-12, 2-11)
First-time head coach Kyle Neptune (0-0 Fordham/Overall/first year) comes from a team that has a winning tradition, Villanova, where he served as an assistant. He’s coaching a team whose last NCAA Tournament appearance was 1992 and has a tradition of finishing last in the conference. There’s a whole lot of work to do. The first thing this team needs is scoring. Last season, the Rams averaged just 51.8 PPG while shooting 35.9 percent. Through the transfer portal, Neptune nabbed two experienced Division I shooting guards, Antonio Daye (FIU) and Darius Quisenberry (Youngstown). This is a guard-heavy team that’s likely to feature a rotation with four guards and one forward. Junior college transfer Antrell Charlton and returning senior guard Josh Navarro, along with Daye and Quisenberry, will likely start. Senior Chuba Ohams, who missed most of last season rehabbing his knee, will be in front.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 327
Postseason Tournament: None
Atlantic 10 Basketball Preview 2021 – Final Thoughts
The race for first place in this league will be between Saint Bonaventure, Richmond, and VCU. However, our Atlantic 10 basketball preview 2021 - 2022 also notes that Saint Louis and Davidson could provide additional competition. The tail end of the Atlantic 10 will be George Mason, La Salle, and Fordham. That leaves quite a bit of teams in-between. This conference is light at the top.