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2nd Favorite A-10 Team

7K views 104 replies 52 participants last post by  anXUfan 
#1 ·
I know it is a touchy subject :) but I'm curious to hear from others what is their 2nd favorite team in the A-10?

I'm predicting that an overwhelming majority of Dayton fans will say Xavier and vice versa :p

For me as a UMass fan I'd say Temple. The rivalry between UMass and Temple back in the day when each team was coached by Calipari and Chaney respectively was amazing. I have an incredible amount of respect for Temple basketball.
 
#2 ·
it kind of floats around. I used to love watching Lynn Greer play, by far my favorite non-UD A10er.

I enjoy rooting for Richmond, and Saint Bonnies has always had a soft spot in my heart for some reason.

VCU and Butler could slide into that group as well.

Despite the rivalry, Xavier is on local TV a fair amount and as well coached as they've been for the last decade+ are usually an "easy watch" no matter if I'm rooting for them (like when they play UC) or rooting against them. They had guys that annoyed me to no end, but they've also had their handful of players like Justin Cage or Justin Doelman that were easy to root for.
 
#4 ·
I like Temple too, except I won't be liking them when they destroy my Muskies this Thursday night.
 
#5 ·
I hate all-ya!

I have always been partial to the Bonnies actually. I have no clue why, I just think they are one of those programs that make the whole conference a lot better when they are decent, as compared to others that are up and down at times. I tend to follow Temple more closely as well.
 
#6 ·
I like the Iron Dukes, partly because of the long history between Duquesne and Bona but mostly because so many Duquesne posters say Bona when these threads have come up in the past.

I am going to add Fordham this year as well, but only because so many of you guys pick on them.
 
#8 ·
:clap:

And that's the problem with this kind of thread. Most of us have so little connection with the other institutions we fall back on our opinions of one another. That can skew the results slightly, to say the least.
 
#13 ·
I have always liked Richmond's program and my sister goes to Xavier so I follow them quite a bit. I alos like to see Duquesne do well because of their natural rivalry with the Bonnies. I like they way Shaka has VCU playing as well, such an exciting team to watch. I'm pretty excited for our game with them this weekend
 
#17 ·
Toss up for me between the Bonnies and the Dukes. Both get points for being original members. If I had to pick one I'd go with those merry Sherry loving Friars and their boisterous young charges. I went to a small Catholic HS, that had a rabid following of the hockey team, and they remind of that. The Dukes get dinged a little for sharing a City with the Steelers. And Sidney Crosby.
 
#63 ·
Toss up for me between the Bonnies and the Dukes. Both get points for being original members.
Longtime members, but not originals. Well, Duquesne was, but they left the conference for a time without intending to come back, so I consider them an expansion franchise somewhat like the Cleveland Browns. UMass and GW are the only true founding members left. The others (Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, West Virginia, Villanova and the Dukes) left long ago. Figures Duquesne would be the one to come back.

My second favorite A10 team is probably Rhode Island since I spent part of my childhood there, followed by Temple. But typically I turn their games on TV thinking I'm going to support my A10 mates, only to switch sides when there's a shot of the crowd or the coach or the team does something on the court that reminds me of the times they've tormented UMass. They have to be playing some easily hateable team for me to stay focused, like Duke or UNC. It's actually easier to support them in A10 play, because I'll have the same feelings about their opponents.
 
#18 ·
Between the last thread about "who else in the A-10 do you root for", the title game thread last season, and this thread here, it's nice to know the conference followers have a soft spot for the Bonnies. I'm sure it's rooted in pity and sympathy, but that's what makes it easy to like us when we have brief moments of success?

I don't really have a 2nd favorite A-10 team. I have a couple I don't have great feelings about, but for the most part it's easy to root for every A-10 team in the OOC months. I like pulling for the rest of us bottom-feeders, but also have respect and admiration for programs like Temple and Xavier. I never understood why some Bona fans hated Temple so much. We were never rivals since our prorams have always been in two different stratospheres. It's probably envy. But if we could get one win in Philly before you depart, that would top most everything.
 
#27 ·
Between the last thread about "who else in the A-10 do you root for", the title game thread last season, and this thread here, it's nice to know the conference followers have a soft spot for the Bonnies. I'm sure it's rooted in pity and sympathy, but that's what makes it easy to like us when we have brief moments of success?
Can't speak for anyone else, but I've had a soft spot in my heart for Bonnies prior to WelderGate. There is a certain passion amongst the fan base that I respect and from a distance appears similar to the passion my Flyers get in their home town. I could be dead wrong, I've never stepped foot on campus, I know only 1 person who ever went to the school and I haven't seen that guy in probably 10+ years, just feels like a school that is easy to root for.
 
#22 ·
I root for every A10 team in non conference, though that may change as I probably don't want VCU to have too much success. I root only for Richmond in conference, with a few exceptions: I've been excited about a lot of different A10 teams, like that St. Joes squad (did root for them in conference to stay undefeated, and they are by far my favorite non-Richmond team since we've been here), and I pull for bubble teams to win necessary conference games.

I hate bad A10 teams that put together one or two great games and ruin people's NCAA hopes, unless it's Richmond doing the ruining. Also have "hated" A10 teams that were likely dancing until a late season swoon--so grating. I don't have a second favorite team per se, as some players turn me off to teams at different times and others draw me in.

I liked a lot of John Chaney's temple teams before we joined the league and thought highly of that Marvin O'Conner St. Joes team. Also, enjoyed Lionel Simmons LaSalle squad (but in retrospect maybe I shouldn't weren't they in another league and probably responsible for the A10 invite where they've never had the same success?)
 
#26 ·
Also, enjoyed Lionel Simmons LaSalle squad (but in retrospect maybe I shouldn't weren't they in another league and probably responsible for the A10 invite where they've never had the same success?)
Correct. They were in the MAAC then. Fordham played them in the MAAC finals my freshman year, days after Hank Gathers died. There was talk that Simmons and perhaps some others who were friends with Gathers would not play. We had a power forward by the name of Sanford Jenkins who was also from Philly and rumors were he might not play either. They all played though and La Salle beat us 71-61.
 
#25 ·
Following up, invariably I've supported Xavier, Temple, more than other teams because of their postseason play. So I guess technically one of them would be second favorite. But, as a weird sadist, I also enjoy the A10, because the N.I.T. is relevant. Pulled hard for Dayton, Umass etc. in there.

I'm weird but I like caring about the extra games in March, and most of the time our teams in it don't treat the tournament like an insult so I can get behind them. That's one strange perk for our station in the conference hierarchy. Even if it's the N.I.T. its fun to see us take on big conference teams and succeed against them in any format.

I have to say this if Richmond were to join the Catholic Seven, I think I'd pull more for the teams that went with us, AND the teams we left behind than I would the Big East leftovers. Oddly, I don't think I'll feel any solidarity with those wannabes. Maybe if both leagues are close every year I'd be compelled to root for my new conference over my old--maybe. Which is completely different compared to how I felt when we parachuted out of the CAA.
 
#32 ·
I respect Xavier, for the way they rise to the occasion. And the genius of building an arena designed to be loud.

I respect Temple, for decades of success, John Chaney's class, and some clever fans chucking cookies at me in 2000.

I respect Saint Joe's for Phil's bravado about the conference. When they were undefeated and #1 in the country in 2004, he answered questions about the "weaker" A-10 by stopping just short of saying F-You. He brazenly said "the A-10 would get FOUR bids" and was right. He used the spotlight to promote everyone else in the league every chance he got.

I respect La Salle, because being a La Salle fan can't be easy. And because they get it: If you ain't got a new banner, make your old banners ridiculously sweet looking and ridiculously big.

I respect Duquesne, because I think they're basically us in a bigger city with different challenges. And I respect them hiring a Xavier guy to be their AD. Savvy move.

I respect Richmond, because I hate Syracuse and the Spiders have always been near in dear after a 15-2 upset over the Orange.

I respect VCU & Butler, because I love Shaka Smart and I love rooting for non-BCS schools over BCS schools and these two have done more for me saying "screw you, you don't need football to be good at basketball" than anyone else.

I respect UMass, because their fans and our fans always had a playful banter back and forth. In 1998, our cheering sections at the A-10 tourney were next to each other and just started chanting back and forth at each other's expense. For no reason other than it was fun. A Philly paper wrote about it. It was great.

I respect Dayton, because at the 2000 NCAA Tournament, there were about 8000 fans in Cleveland who jumped on our bandwagon during the Kentucky game: They were chanting "Let's Go Bonnies" late in the game, but as I was sprinting to the men's room during a timeout, I passed a pair of Dayton students standing up and yelling "Let's Go BONAS."

I respect URI, for their how good of a program they had in the 90s with facilities that weren't like XU/UD/Temple; for recognizing the job Baron did and hiring him.

I respect GW, because they always seem to have a guy who's been making our life hell for years. That guy who makes you say "How's he still got eligibility left? Hasn't he been on GW for 7 years?"

I respect Fordham because being a Fordham fan can't be easy.

I respect Charlotte because of their ability to win in the C-USA tournament to the point where the rest of the league was calling it The Bobby Lutz Invitational.

I respect SLU for the same reason: as well as hiring Majerus and, like Charlotte, saying "The A-10 is the place for us" in 2005.
 
#35 ·
I respect Dayton, because at the 2000 NCAA Tournament, there were about 8000 fans in Cleveland who jumped on our bandwagon during the Kentucky game: They were chanting "Let's Go Bonnies" late in the game, but as I was sprinting to the men's room during a timeout, I passed a pair of Dayton students standing up and yelling "Let's Go BONAS."
It's cool how Dayton fans and residents who go to the NCAA First Four strictly for the love of watching the tournament often adopt some of the teams to cheer for. It's usually when an underdog is playing inspired ball and taking it to a higher seed. It gives those teams a huge lift because they are never expecting a crowd of that size consisting largely of 3rd party fans to get behind them with a roar. It has produced some magical moments.
 
#33 ·
Right now, Richmond, because I went to HS with Richmond senior G/F Greg Robbins. He's also from my town. Overall, it would probably be Butler because I love Stevens, Hinkle is awesome, and their players are easy to root for. They also are similar to us in that they dont get the love that Indiana and Notre Dame sports do.
 
#38 ·
Ooh good thread. I'm sure there will be lots of votes for Dayton. ;).

I think Temple is my favorite, too. They just don't do anything to piss you off. Good team, seemingly nice, no-nonsense players, and always a quality win if you can get it. Plus Owlfan2272 balls out on the game threads every day. What's not to like? They will be sorely missed next year.

Honorable mention goes to SBU, VCU, and LaSalle.

I like SBU because all their fans are diehard, foxhole types, which I respect the hell out of. I was at the A10 tourney last year and their fans were beaming - well deserved.

VCU has Shaka Smart, former Dayton assistant, as their coach, and they haven't beaten us in an important game yet to make me hate them. Wait 2 days for this one.

LaSalle I've always been intrigued by because they are never good but they always have talent. Its just interesting, no other way to explain it. They have a decent number of NBA players, and even more great individual players over the last 15 years, but are never good. That might change this year.
 
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