Best rivalries in the league - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

WH · 10-09-2012, 05:22 PM

We all know that Dayton and Xavier has been the league’s best ongoing rivalry, but now they are going to have some competition, especially with X not as dominant as usual.

Games I am most excited to see are … Richmond vs. VCU. Trash talking between fans of the two Richmond schools is already hot. This pairing has the potential to take a place besides X and Dayton – if the Spiders can rival the VCU home crowds.

No 2 on the list is Butler vs. St. Louis, who play twice this year. Not sure if this will be a great long-term rivalry, but it will be for the next year or two. The two further schools west. Darn shame RM is not coaching. Majerus vs Stevens … darn.

Longer term, Butler and Xavier stand to have a great rivalry. These two teams have played enough recently that things are kind of hot being the two schools.

No 3 on the list is Butler and VCU. These teams will always be linked because of the Final 4 and this game WILL get national attention.

The Philly teams are all good this year – and I bet SJU and LaSalle would love to give Temple a kick out the A-10 door!

I actually am looking more toward the SJU-LaSalle matchup than to either school’s game with the Owls. That’s No. 4 on my list. I just wish the league had paired these two schools together this year to feature the two remaining Philly teams (after this year).

Dayton and SLU have a long history and these games are almost always tight. There’s No. 5. (BTW, smart to see the league paired Temple and Charlotte as home and homes in their last season in the A-10

In the future, GW and VCU have good rivalry potential. UMass and Rhody take a hiatus for a year until Hurley gets URI back up to speed. That’s going to happen fast.

Rhody-Bona loses allure with Baron’s firing, but if Fordham ever gets good the two New York teams will naturally be compared.

Duquesne is the one team that doesn’t seem to have a natural rival, at least not since the school has been in the A-10. I’d be curious to know which team Dukes fans view as their nearest rival.

One rivalry that will be lost is GW-Charlotte. This one flew under most people's radar, but these two teams have had some fierce battles going back to the last years of Charlotte's time in the old C-USA. Temple and UMass will no longer be an item, but that rivalry faded years ago.

**BigE** · 10-09-2012, 05:28 PM

Quote:

...if the Spiders can rival the VCU home crowds.

they will
we will see to that

In the future, GW vs. VCU have good rivalry potential? I don't see that anymore than UR vs. GW.

DukesDan · 10-09-2012, 05:29 PM

Duquesne has been paired with St. Bonaventure for some time. The games are always hotly contested, but since our fans are the nicest and well mannered in the conference the rivalry between fan bases isn't all that exciting. Just my opinion. This is a pretty natural rivalry.

Bill Russell · 10-09-2012, 05:39 PM

The Bonnies and Dukes have played quite a few times over the years. The two have probably matched up more than most A10 rivals.

UD40 · 10-09-2012, 05:46 PM

Rhody vs. Zoomass-Amherst.

A nice little New England rivalry with an A10 spin.

z8-Minutemen · 10-09-2012, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukesDan

Duquesne has been paired with St. Bonaventure for some time. The games are always hotly contested, but since our fans are the nicest and well mannered in the conference the rivalry between fan bases isn't all that exciting. Just my opinion. This is a pretty natural rivalry.

This is what I'm talking about. Two lower tier teams that don't matter, this is irrelevant. This is not a quality rivalry, if even a rivalry at all.

However, it seems the UMass-Duquesne rivalry is heating up.

Steve81 · 10-09-2012, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UD40

Rhody vs. Zoomass-Amherst.

A nice little New England rivalry with an A10 spin.

WTF with the hyphen. We are the flagship in the university system. There is no hyphen period. Charlotte doesn't like to be UNC-Charlotte and they are not even the flagship campus.

Call us UMass, call us Massachusetts. I don't like Zoomass and we are no longer a top party school and don't ever give us the hyphen Amherst crap.

Aldo · 10-09-2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WH

The Philly teams are all good this year – and I bet SJU and LaSalle would love to give Temple a kick out the A-10 door!

I actually am looking more toward the SJU-LaSalle matchup than to either school’s game with the Owls. That’s No. 4 on my list. I just wish the league had paired these two schools together this year to feature the two remaining Philly teams (after this year).

.

Temple will continue to play St Joe's and LaSalle as part of the Big 5 city series.

z8-Minutemen · 10-09-2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve81

WTF with the hyphen. We are the flagship in the university system. There is no hyphen period. Charlotte doesn't like to be UNC-Charlotte and they are not even the flagship campus.

Call us UMass, call us Massachusetts. I don't like Zoomass and we are no longer a top party school and don't ever give us the hyphen Amherst crap.

Calm down Steve81.

I dont like the Amherst either. But, Zoomass is fine by me. Face it, we are a quality party school. Not something to be ashamed of, I embrace it completely.

Also, to UD40: The proper term is Zoomass-Slamherst.

AdamtheFlyer · 10-09-2012, 08:22 PM

I don't think Dayton and SLU even remotely have a rivalry. History, sure. But rivalry? Seems like a big stretch.

The true test of a rivalry isn't what happens when both sides are really good, it's what happens when one or both are down. Dayton and Xavier could both be 7 win teams and both games would still sell out with raucous crowds.

bprichard · 10-09-2012, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamtheFlyer

I don't think Dayton and SLU even remotely have a rivalry. History, sure. But rivalry? Seems like a big stretch.

The true test of a rivalry isn't what happens when both sides are really good, it's what happens when one or both are down. Dayton and Xavier could both be 7 win teams and both games would still sell out with raucous crowds.

You know what? I pretty much agree with that completely. Except I can't really think of any better rivalry in the A10 to replace it on the list. I do dread playing Saint Louis and despise losing to them, so that's something.

twisted3829 · 10-09-2012, 08:33 PM

uri and umass is a decent rivalry, based on proximity alone

DistrictBaller · 10-09-2012, 08:35 PM

UR has taken a back seat to ODU over the last several years. At one time the rivalry was extremely strong. I think it will get back to a similar level. The level of play is strong at both programs with 2 of the great young coaches in the game at each school.

I think a lot of UR fans dislike VCU and our fans. I know a lot of older VCU fans dislike Richmond and their fans as well. Younger fans don't have the same affinity for the rivalry since we haven't played in the same conference in several years and VCU has won the majority of the match-ups since then. That is quickly changing however and I think that it will end up being one of the best rivalries the conference has to offer.

You can measure your greatness by the might of your enemy, and if Chris Mooney is the man leading the guys on the opposite sideline, you have to feel pretty good about what it says about VCU that UR is considered our rival. I look forward to watching the rivalry grow. It is great for our city and great for A-10 basketball.

bprichard · 10-09-2012, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twisted3829

uri and umass is a decent rivalry, based on proximity alone

How do the fans feel? That seems like the most important thing in defining what a good rivalry is. I live in mortal fear of URI, personally. No matter how terrible they appear to be, the chances of them beating Dayton (preferably in a heartbreaking fashion) seem astoundingly high.

Bill Russell · 10-09-2012, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z8-Minutemen

This is what I'm talking about. Two lower tier teams that don't matter, this is irrelevant. This is not a quality rivalry, if even a rivalry at all.

However, it seems the UMass-Duquesne rivalry is heating up.

This guy takes the idea of the "troll" to new depths. He doesn't even produce hilariously massive posts outlining his rival's (so, would that be the rival of UMass or Northeastern or some other New England program he's adopted?) recruiting history. Also, z8, one of those "lower tier teams" has been dancing twice since *one* of your squads has provided the A-10 with an NCAA unit. Heavens, though, we should all accept you as the voice of all UMass fans... after all, you made it to all of three games last season.

What a die hard.

Now, tell us all about your origins as a Dallas Cowboys fan. Let me guess: you were a big Michael Jordan fan as a kid, too? Pathetic.

10-09-2012, 05:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
WH Star Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,496 Rep Power: 319215	Best rivalries in the league We all know that Dayton and Xavier has been the league’s best ongoing rivalry, but now they are going to have some competition, especially with X not as dominant as usual. Games I am most excited to see are … Richmond vs. VCU. Trash talking between fans of the two Richmond schools is already hot. This pairing has the potential to take a place besides X and Dayton – if the Spiders can rival the VCU home crowds. No 2 on the list is Butler vs. St. Louis, who play twice this year. Not sure if this will be a great long-term rivalry, but it will be for the next year or two. The two further schools west. Darn shame RM is not coaching. Majerus vs Stevens … darn. Longer term, Butler and Xavier stand to have a great rivalry. These two teams have played enough recently that things are kind of hot being the two schools. No 3 on the list is Butler and VCU. These teams will always be linked because of the Final 4 and this game WILL get national attention. The Philly teams are all good this year – and I bet SJU and LaSalle would love to give Temple a kick out the A-10 door! I actually am looking more toward the SJU-LaSalle matchup than to either school’s game with the Owls. That’s No. 4 on my list. I just wish the league had paired these two schools together this year to feature the two remaining Philly teams (after this year). Dayton and SLU have a long history and these games are almost always tight. There’s No. 5. (BTW, smart to see the league paired Temple and Charlotte as home and homes in their last season in the A-10 In the future, GW and VCU have good rivalry potential. UMass and Rhody take a hiatus for a year until Hurley gets URI back up to speed. That’s going to happen fast. Rhody-Bona loses allure with Baron’s firing, but if Fordham ever gets good the two New York teams will naturally be compared. Duquesne is the one team that doesn’t seem to have a natural rival, at least not since the school has been in the A-10. I’d be curious to know which team Dukes fans view as their nearest rival. One rivalry that will be lost is GW-Charlotte. This one flew under most people's radar, but these two teams have had some fierce battles going back to the last years of Charlotte's time in the old C-USA. Temple and UMass will no longer be an item, but that rivalry faded years ago.

10-09-2012, 05:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
DukesDan Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,135 Rep Power: 15970	Re: Best rivalries in the league Duquesne has been paired with St. Bonaventure for some time. The games are always hotly contested, but since our fans are the nicest and well mannered in the conference the rivalry between fan bases isn't all that exciting. Just my opinion. This is a pretty natural rivalry. __________________ Duquesne Dukes: 2012 A10 tournament qualifier!! 2012-2013 Locks of the Day TBA 2011-2012 Locks of the Day NIT participant 29-26-0...... .527 2010-2011 Locks of the Day Regular Season Champion 31-20-4 ..... .600 #15 Cooper #11 Green #10 Nixon #12 Ricketts #24 Somerset

10-09-2012, 05:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bill Russell Veteran Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,836 Rep Power: 34346	Re: Best rivalries in the league The Bonnies and Dukes have played quite a few times over the years. The two have probably matched up more than most A10 rivals. __________________ www.bonaalumni.com

10-09-2012, 05:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
UD40 Watch The Throne Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 18,587 Rep Power: 8119766	Re: Best rivalries in the league Rhody vs. Zoomass-Amherst. A nice little New England rivalry with an A10 spin. __________________ All Heat First Team Tim Hardaway Dwyane Wade LeBron James Chris Bosh Alonzo Mourning All Heat Second Team Mario Chalmers Eddie Jones Glen Rice Udonis Haslem Shaquille O'Neal

10-09-2012, 08:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
AdamtheFlyer Star Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,819 Rep Power: 157851	Re: Best rivalries in the league I don't think Dayton and SLU even remotely have a rivalry. History, sure. But rivalry? Seems like a big stretch. The true test of a rivalry isn't what happens when both sides are really good, it's what happens when one or both are down. Dayton and Xavier could both be 7 win teams and both games would still sell out with raucous crowds. __________________ Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is, I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called patriotism.

10-09-2012, 08:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
twisted3829 Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,440 Rep Power: 31507	Re: Best rivalries in the league uri and umass is a decent rivalry, based on proximity alone __________________ 2010-2011 Lock of the Day Contest NIT Champion

10-09-2012, 08:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
DistrictBaller Veteran Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,121 Rep Power: 47196	Re: Best rivalries in the league UR has taken a back seat to ODU over the last several years. At one time the rivalry was extremely strong. I think it will get back to a similar level. The level of play is strong at both programs with 2 of the great young coaches in the game at each school. I think a lot of UR fans dislike VCU and our fans. I know a lot of older VCU fans dislike Richmond and their fans as well. Younger fans don't have the same affinity for the rivalry since we haven't played in the same conference in several years and VCU has won the majority of the match-ups since then. That is quickly changing however and I think that it will end up being one of the best rivalries the conference has to offer. You can measure your greatness by the might of your enemy, and if Chris Mooney is the man leading the guys on the opposite sideline, you have to feel pretty good about what it says about VCU that UR is considered our rival. I look forward to watching the rivalry grow. It is great for our city and great for A-10 basketball. __________________ "We will wreak havoc on our opponent's psyche and plan of attack." - VCU Head Coach Shaka Smart

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