2012-2013 A10 pre-season thread

[Flyer75]

Post any preseason rankings, predictions, articles, ect here. Found this one just now. It's more of a resource then anything...no predictions or rankings. Lists, transfers, coaching changes, pre season tourny for every team in the A10, alphabetical order.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...season-rundown

[stophorseabuse]

I don't take prediction stabs too often, but here we go.

1. SLU. NCAA
2. UMass. Ncaa
3. X. NCAA
4. Temple NCAA
5. VCU. NCAA
6. Butler. NIT
7. SJU. NIT
8. Richmond. NIT
9. LaSalle Alt. tourney
10. Dayton alt. tourney
11.Charlotte
12. Bonnie's
13. GW
14. Fordham
15. RI
16. Duquesne.

What a freaking league we have. I really think VCU is better than 5, but all these brand new road conference venues will be tough on them. Temple and X don't bring a ton back, but how often do perennial league elites slip from 1 to bottom. The new talent tends to be on par with seasoned talent around rest of league. I think 6 bids could be a real possibility.

[SpiderDave19]

I think any of your Top 13 could have really good seasons, some more likely than others obviously.

The depth of the league will lead to a lot of cannibalism, which will be a big problem if we don't perform in the non-conference schedule. This could be a special year if we kick some ass in the early season and knock off the BCS teams we should knock off. If we don't, we'll be disappointed.....we need to perform against the big names so our 9-7 teams will get in. Otherwise, it will be the same-old same-old.....We'll get 3 or 4 in and another 4 in the NIT. We need 6 bids and 2-3 NIT bids, not the other way around....and it will come down to non-con, because we're going to kick the crap out of each other.

[FlyingElvis]

Originally Posted by stophorseabuse

I don't take prediction stabs too often, but here we go.

1. SLU. NCAA
2. UMass. Ncaa
3. X. NCAA
4. Temple NCAA
5. VCU. NCAA
6. Butler. NIT
7. SJU. NIT
8. Richmond. NIT
9. LaSalle Alt. tourney
10. Dayton alt. tourney
11.Charlotte
12. Bonnie's
13. GW
14. Fordham
15. RI
16. Duquesne.

What a freaking league we have. I really think VCU is better than 5, but all these brand new road conference venues will be tough on them. Temple and X don't bring a ton back, but how often do perennial league elites slip from 1 to bottom. The new talent tends to be on par with seasoned talent around rest of league. I think 6 bids could be a real possibility.

I don't see UD missing both the NIT and NCAA. We've made it into one or the other the last 5 years, and I don't think we will take a step back this year with Dillard leading the way.

[SpiderDave19]

I don't think Dayton fans should expect a step back at all....but most of the league feels the same way about their team. Obviously SJU, UMass, SLU feel good about their prospects. Xavier and Temple have the confidence of sustained success. Dayton, Lasalle had decent years last year and lost little. GW, Richmond have reasons to think they're on the rise.

Someone will be disappointed....and if you are going to put together a prediction list, someone has to go in that 7-8-9 area, and it will be a team that has higher aspirations and decent reasons for them.

[stophorseabuse]

About right s.d. Dayton may be improved as a team, and still be sub .500 in conference there defense was just miserableI have SJU lower, simply because someone has to be, and i think their talent is just slightly lower ceiling imo.Xavier and Temple are so strong at home I see 7 wins there minimum, and then stealing a couple on the road. The names on those jerseys earn a couple wins. I see the newbies really struggling on the road. Richmond and SLU's style translate into lots of road wins. UMass I see struggling with the target on their back, but most talented (like UD 2010). Butler is going to be very improved with a huge infusion of offense.

This league is GOOD.

[SpiderDave19]

This a crossroads for the A10. Never before has the league been nearly this deep. It was going to be somewhat like that even before the 2 strong additions. And the additions just make it incredibly deep. You could have a team finish 9th at 6-10....and that same team would have been a contender just a couple years ago. Get the wrong injury and you're dead. The returning talent at SJU, SLU, Umass just means they'll have a chance to compete. It doesn't guarantee a thing in this league. I think those are my top 3, however....because I love Majerus, I love having a heart and soul leader like Chaz Williams, and I love a game changing defensive player like Aiken. Those assets can get you road wins, and whoever can find a way to win 4 or 5 road games will win the league.

[stophorseabuse]

Exactly how I see it spider, though 3 road wins could ice it. SLU has the schedule for that. Having road games at fordham, ri, and/or Duquesne would give a team a HUGE edge this year.

[stophorseabuse]

And also I think Richmond is equally tough at any venue, so I would just assume play them in Richmond and not risk the home loss.

[Bona Wolf for Pope]

I thought this was going to be a catch-all place to bitch and moan about insignificant things, since that's the way most threads go in the preseason.

This season more than most I just feel like there are too many variables to even take a reliable stab at it. Will Butler and/or VCU transition well to the league? Will Temple and/or Xavier reload? Will Charlotte care? Were Hurley/Ferry good enough hires to do anything with bad teams? Will UMass win the whole thing resulting in z8 transcending his body into a state of pure energy?

[z8-Minutemen]

Originally Posted by SpiderDave19

This a crossroads for the A10. Never before has the league been nearly this deep. It was going to be somewhat like that even before the 2 strong additions. And the additions just make it incredibly deep. You could have a team finish 9th at 6-10....and that same team would have been a contender just a couple years ago. Get the wrong injury and you're dead. The returning talent at SJU, SLU, Umass just means they'll have a chance to compete. It doesn't guarantee a thing in this league. I think those are my top 3, however....because I love Majerus, I love having a heart and soul leader like Chaz Williams, and I love a game changing defensive player like Aiken. Those assets can get you road wins, and whoever can find a way to win 4 or 5 road games will win the league.

All very good points SpiderDave.

UMass I see struggling with the target on their back, but most talented (like UD 2010).

Stophorseabuse, this is where I lose you. This simply isn't a valid reason for UMass struggling. If I can find one posted by someone then I will give them credit and agree. We do have the most talented team in the league, besides possibly St. Joes. There is no denying that. But where do you get this target on their backs thing from? We finished 5th last year and went to the NIT final 4. That isn't enough success to merit a target being put upon us next season. We have a passionate, hard-working, team with sportsmanship and intangibles that go off the charts. It's not like we are some dirty team that everyone despises. And unlike Temple, this isn't our last year in the conference. There is no vendetta out to get UMass right now. I don't know where you got that from. Is it because of Twister and I's "outrageous" predictions that gave you this idea? Because unless every A-10 player reads the board, then that is simply false.

We as fans have to understand that this is from a player's perspective, not a fan's perspective. And even from a fan's perspective, we have to realize that this board is such a small sample size, and really has no impact or effect on the bigger picture at all.

[Flyer75]

Really no way to accurately predict this upcoming season but like in all seasons...someone (or two) will disappoint, someone (or two) will surprise.

[stophorseabuse]

G8, struggle I say relatively. Playing when the other team knows you are a perceived power is different. Wait until all the road games are 'insert color' outs. I still pick them 2, but they have a target now. Just like X and Temple every year.

[stophorseabuse]

G8, struggle I say relatively. Playing when the other team knows you are a perceived power is different. Wait until all the road games are 'insert color' outs. I still pick them 2, but they have a target now. Just like X and Temple every year.

[SpiderDave19]

No reason Umass should struggle, except the fact that there are about 8other teams that have no reason why they should struggle. And that's who Umass will be playing most nights.

Umass should have a very good team and maybe the best player in the league. But it won't be even remotely surprising if they lose a game to anyone other than maybe Duquesne, Charlotte, or Fordham - especially on the road.