NCAAB 2020 Atlantic 10 Conference Expert Analysis

NCAAB 2020 Atlantic 10 Conference Expert Analysis

Written by on November 11, 2020

Will the Dayton Flyers be able to overcome the loss of superstar forward Obi Toppin to remain among the nation’s top title contenders this coming season?  Could the Richmond Spiders take over the top spot in the conference after finishing the shortened 2019-20 campaign a few wins behind Dayton? With three other 20-win teams in the conference, who’s going to claim this coming season’s conference crown?

Okay MyBookie college basketball betting nation, with the start of the 2020-21 college basketball season just over a month away, now is a perfect time to find out what’s lies ahead in the Atlantic-10 conference so you can start preparing your bets and place them against our College Basketball odds.

College Basketball Betting Analysis | 2020 Atlantic 10 Conference

Dayton Flyers

  • Key Returners: Jalen Crutcher, Ibi Watson, Rodney Chatman
  • Key Losses: Obi Toppin, Trey Landers, Ryan Mikesell
  • Key Newcomers: Zimife Nwokeji

Dayton went a phenomenal 29-2 last season and reached as high as No. 3 in the nation last season before the 2019-20 campaign was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Flyers will be depending on returning starters Jalen Crutcher (15.1 ppg) and Ibi Watson (10.1 ppg), but losing a star like Obi Toppin (20.0 ppg) is a tough pill to swallow.

Richmond Spiders

  • Key Returners: Blake Francis, Jacob Gilyard, Grant Golden
  • Key Losses: None
  • Key Newcomers: None

Richmond went a fantastic 24-7 last season and will return the same team they had a year ago – except now, the Spiders will be more experienced. Expect Richmond to make a run at the conference crown in 2020-21 after ranking 12th in scoring nationally (77.6 ppg).

Rhode Island Rams

  • Key Returners: Fatts Russell, Jermaine Harris
  • Key Losses: Jeff Dowtin, Tyrese Martin, Cyril Langevine
  • Key Newcomers: Jalen Carey (Syracuse), Malik Martin (Charlotte), Makhel Mitchell (Maryland), Makhi Mitchell (Maryland)

Rhode Island went 21-9 last season and have a legitimate star in senior guard Fatts Russell (18.8 ppg) and two gifted incoming young players in the Mitchell twins.

Saint Louis Billikens

  • Key Returners: Jordan Goodwin, Hasahn French, Javonte Perkins
  • Key Losses: None
  • Key Newcomers: Marten Linssen (UNC Wilmington)

St. Louis went 23-8 last season and return their entire roster from last season while adding UNC Wilmington transfer Marten Linssen. Jordan Godwin put up a stellar double-double of 15.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game a year ago.

Duquesne Dukes

  • Key Returners: Marcus Weathers, Sincere Carry, Michael Hughes
  • Key Losses: None
  • Key Newcomers: Freshmen class of six who will get a development year

Duquesne went 21-9 last season and the Dukes return all five starters from last season’s squad, including their freshman class of six.  Still, a conference crown looks to be a bit too much to ask from such a young and inexperienced team heading into 2020-21.

Saint Bonaventure Bonnies

  • Key Returners: Kyle Lofton, Jaren English, Osun Osunniyi
  • Key Losses: Bobby Planutis
  • Key Newcomers: Jalen Adaway (Miami OH), Eddie Creal (JUCO), Jalen Shaw (JUCO)

Saint Bonaventure went 19-12 last season and they should be even better this coming season behind national Player of the Year candidate Kyle Lofton (14.1 ppg).

Davidson Wildcats

  • Key Returners: Kellan Grady, Luka Brajkovic, Hyunjung Lee
  • Key Losses: Jon Axel Gudmundsson
  • Key Newcomers: Grant Huffman, Sam Mennenga

Davidson went an uninspiring 16-14 last season and they return a real star in senior guard Kellan Grady (17.2 ppg). If the Wildcats can replace the contributions of Jon Axel Gudmundsson, Davidson could be a lot better than they were a year ago.

VCU Rams

  • Key Returners: Nah’Shon Hyland
  • Key Losses: Marcus Santos-Silva, De’Riante Jenkins, Marcus Evans
  • Key Newcomers: Mikeal Brown-Jones, Levi Stockard III (Kansas State)

VCU went 18-13 last season, but the Rams have a blossoming star in now, sophomore guard Nah’Shon Hyland (18.0 ppg). If K-State transfer Levi Stockard contributes like he’s expected, VCU could reach the 2-win mark, though I’m not expecting it to happen.

Massachusetts Minutemen

  • Key Returners: Tre Mitchell, T.J. Weeks, Carl Pierre
  • Key Losses: Sean East, Samba Diallo
  • Key Newcomers: Mark Gasperini (American), Dyondre Dominguez, Noah Fernandes (Wichita State)

UMass went 14-17 last season but return a possible NBA performer in A-10 Rookie of the Year Tre Mitchell (22.2 ppg). If T.J. Weeks and Wichita State transfer Noah Fernandes play up to expectations, the Minutemen could challenge for the A-10 title.

LaSalle Explorers

  • Key Returners: David Beatty, Scott Spencer
  • Key Losses: Ed Crosswell, Isiah Deas
  • Key Newcomers: Clifton Moore (Indiana), Tegra Izay

LaSalle went 15-15 last season, but my former school is really young and inexperienced. The Explorers will be expecting Indiana transfer Clifton Moore to become a big-time player, but that remains to be seen with the now, junior rarely getting off the bench for the Hoosiers in his two seasons at the school.

George Washington Colonials

  • Key Returners: Jamison Battle, Maceo Jack, Jameer Nelson Jr.
  • Key Losses: Armel Potter, Arnaldo Toro
  • Key Newcomers: Matt Moyer (Vanderbilt), Noel Brown, James Bishop (LSU)

George Washington went an uninspiring 12-19 last season, but have a blossoming backcourt in Maceo Jack (11.7 ppg) and Jameer Nelson Jr. (10.4 ppg). If Vanderbilt transfer Matt Moyer and LSU transfer James Bishop can play to the level of their capabilities, the Colonials could not only dramatically improve on their record from a year ago, but challenge for 20 victories.

George Mason Patriots

  • Key Returners: Javon Greene, A.J. Wilson, Jordan Miller
  • Key Losses: None
  • Key Newcomers: Malik Henry, Tyler Kolek

George Mason went 16-15 last season, but the Patriots have a pair of talented incoming freshmen in Malik Henry and Tyler Kolek. If senior guard Javon Greene can improve on his average of 13.8 points per game, the Patriots could approach the 20-win plateau.

Fordham Rams

  • Key Returners: Jalen Cobb, Chuba Ohams, Joel Soriano
  • Key Losses: Antwon Portley
  • Key Newcomers: Julian Dozier

Fordham went a pitiful 8-22 last season and the rams are basically short on talent. Junior Jalen Cobb will be expected to do a lot more after averaging a modest 10.3 points per game a year ago.  F=Incoming freshman Julian Dozier is talented, but stands just 5’9″. Fordham is expected to finish in either last place in the A-10 this coming season, or somewhere right around the cellar.

Saint Joseph’s Hawks

  • Key Returners: Ryan Daly, Cameron Brown, Taylor Funk
  • Key Losses: Lorenzo Edwards
  • Key Newcomers: Jadrian Tracey

The once, perennially-powerful Hawks finished dead last in the A10 last season (6-25). Still, Saint Joseph’s has a real star in senior guard Ryan Daly and another talented incoming freshman in Jadrian Tracey, though it won’t be nearly enough to help the Philly-based program challenge for anything close to a conference crown in 2020-21.


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