The Atlantic 10 regular-season title has been won by four different teams over the past five years, as the league has proven to be both dynasty-proof and pointedly dissimilar to the Big 12. Can reigning champion Davidson flout this anarchic tradition and win a second consecutive A-10 title?
It won't be easy. Virginia Commonwealth lost Shaka Smart, but new head coach Will Wade can call upon veterans like JeQuan Lewis, Melvin Johnson, Mo Alie-Cox, Jordan Burgess and Terry Larrier
VCU's crosstown rival Richmond plays excellent defense and hits its shots; Chris Mooney's team could be just a few rebounds away from returning to the NCAA tournament, and 6-foot-8 Virginia Tech transfer Marshall Wood may help in that endeavor. For its part, Saint Joseph's brings back as many minutes and possessions as any team in the league, not to mention the A-10's only returning member of last season's all-conference first team: DeAndre Bembry.
To be sure, it's not like threats lurk absolutely everywhere for the league's contenders. At Fordham, coach Jeff Neubauer has been brought in from Eastern Kentucky to breathe life into a Ram program that hasn't posted a winning conference record since 2006-07. Another new arrival, George Mason coach Dave Paulsen, will try to do for the beleaguered Patriots what he previously did so well in the Patriot League at Bucknell. Meanwhile, UMass will be young even with Texas A&M transfer Antwan Space added to the mix, and though Duquesne is experienced (and Micah Mason can flat-out shoot), the Dukes project to be porous on defense.
Favorite
Atlantic-10 Player of the Year Tyler Kalinoski is gone, but Bob McKillop brings back every other contributor from an eight-deep rotation that rang up 1.17 points per possession against the league last season. McKillop is quite simply one of the nation's preeminent coaches, Jack Gibbs and Brian Sullivan are both potential A-10 POY candidates, and 60 percent 2-point shooter Jordan Barham may be Division I's best (or perhaps only) center listed at 6-foot-5. The Wildcats' perimeter-oriented style should once again prove entertaining for fans and troublesome for opponents.
Sleeper
I hesitate to hang a sleeper label on the A-10's No. 1 defense (much less on a team that went 13-5 in conference play last season), but after being passed over for an NCAA tournament bid, Rhode Island still has an under-the-radar feel. If Dan Hurley's team can cut down on turnovers, the Rams can push Davidson for the A-10 title. While we're on the subject of sleepers, no one's paying much attention to George Washington or St. Bonaventure, even though the Colonials and the Bonnies each return three starters from teams that scored about as many points as they allowed in conference play last season. La Salle also broke even in that department, more or less, and the Explorers are bringing back easily the league's most prolific per-possession shot-launcher in Jordan Price.
Team that could fall on its face
Dyshawn Pierre is currently suing the University of Dayton after he was suspended for reasons weightier than basketball. In the lightweight realm of on-court matters, Archie Miller still has a hard-working trio of juniors in Scoochie Smith, Kyle Davis and Kendall Pollard. That being said, any time missed by Pierre (who isn't currently enrolled at UD and doesn't appear on the official roster) could leave the Flyers dangerously thin, especially on the boards. At the opposite extreme of the depth spectrum, Saint Louis played a rotation that at times went 10-, 11- or even 12-deep last season -- and suffered a severe turnover-prone drop-off in the process. Even with most of these players returning, the Billikens may still be a rebuilding work in progress.
Top pro prospect
Bembry, Saint Joseph's Hawks
He's not a lock for the 2016 first or even second round, mind you, but Bembry would appear to have the best NBA shot of any current A-10 junior or senior. (Meaning a precocious youngster like, say, Rhode Island sophomore E.C. Matthews may yet develop into a legitimate prospect for the next level.) Bembry, who's been described by SJU head coach Phil Martelli as "an old spirit," is a 6-foot-6 combo guard who doubles as his team's best defensive rebounder. He is a few assists and made 3s away from boosting his stock significantly.
Projected all-conference team
G: Jack Gibbs, Davidson Wildcats
F: DeAndre Bembry, Saint Joseph's Hawks
F: Terry Allen, Richmond Spiders
F: Hassan Martin, Rhode Island Rams
C: Shevon Thompson, George Mason Patriots