College Basketball Conference Preview #24 - Atlantic 10 Conference
The 2023-24 College Basketball Season will be one to remember for each team in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Look for Dayton to set the pace and finish in 1st place in the Conference. The Flyers are looking to make the NCAA Tournament in 2024 for the 1st time since 2017. Dayton brings back four starters and will be led by junior forward DaRon Holmes II and junior guard Malachi Smith. The Flyers also bring back junior guards Koby Brea and Kobe Elvis - the other returning starters - along with junior forward Zimi Nwokeji - a returning reserve - and sophomore forward Isaac Jack (Buffalo transfer). St. Bonaventure brings back all five starters and will be led by senior guards Daryl Banks III and Moses Flowers. Head Coach Mark Schmidt did well in the Transfer Portal as the Bonnies added senior guards Charles Pride (Bryant transfer) and Mika Adams-Woods (Cincinnati transfer) along with junior center Noel Brown (George Washington transfer). Look for junior guard Kyrell Luc and junior forward Chad Venning - both returning starters - to provide additional scoring for the Bonnies. I predict St. Bonaventure to finish in 2nd place in the final Conference Standings. Duquesne returns three starters from their 2022-23 team in senior guards Jimmy "Tre" Clark III and Dae Dae Grant. The Dukes will also rely on senior forward Tre Williams - the final returning starter - and sophomore forwards David Dixon and Halil Barre - both returning reserves. Expect contributions from senior forwards Dusan Mahorcic (North Carolina State transfer) and Andrei Savrasov (Georgia Southern transfer) as well. Head Coach Keith Dambrot will have Duquesne fighting for a double-bye in the Atlantic 10 Tournament again but their fans need to remain patient this season. I predict the Dukes to finish in 3rd place this season. Saint Joseph's will challenge Dayton, St. Bonaventure, and Duquesne for the Atlantic 10 Conference Title and will need a huge season from junior guard Erik Reynolds II to win the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. The Hawks bring back four starters and will be led by senior guard Cameron Brown, junior guard Lynn Greer III, and the aforementioned Reynolds II. All three players could easily wind up being 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Team All Atlantic 10 Conference Players this season. They will get help from junior forward Kacper Klazcek - the final returning starter - along with sophomore guard Christian Winborne and sophomore forward Rasheer Fleming - both returning reserves. Look for freshmen guards Xzayvier Brown and Shawn Simmons II to provide additional scoring and rebounding for the Hawks this season. I predict Saint Joseph's to finish in 4th place in the final Conference Standings. VCU looks to cause problems in the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2023-24 but it won't be easy. The Rams don't bring back any starters and will be led by sophomore forward Christian Fermin - the lone returning reserve. Look for several newcomers including freshman guards Michael Belle and Alphonzo "Fats" Billups III to play big roles this season for the Rams. VCU also added senior guards Sean Bairstow (Utah State transfer) and Zeb Jackson (Michigan transfer) along with senior forward Kuany Kuany (California transfer) via the Transfer Portal to provide the Rams with additional scoring. New Head Coach Ryan Odom has the team headed in the right direction as he enters his inaugural season at the helm. I predict VCU to finish in 5th place this season. Fordham hopes to climb the Conference Standings even further after a 2nd place finish in 2022-23. The Rams return two starters in senior guard Antrell Charlton and senior forward Abdou Tsimbila. Look for several transfers to play important roles - most notably senior guard Japhet Medor (UTSA transfer) and sophomore forward Joshua Rivera (Lafayette transfer). Sophomore forward Elijah Gray and sophomore guard Will Richardson along with senior guard Kyle Rose - all returning reserves - will have to have big seasons if the Rams hope to finish in the top half of the final Atlantic 10 Conference Standings. I predict Fordham to finish in 6th place this season. Loyola Chicago hopes to get back among the Conference elite as they enter their 2nd season in the Atlantic 10. The Ramblers return four starters and will be led by senior guard Braden Norris and senior forward Philip Alston. Loyola Chicago will need several returning reserves to play big roles including senior forward Tom Welch, senior guard Sheldon Edwards, and sophomore guard Jayden Dawson. They will get assistance from several transfers - most notably senior forward Patrick Mwamba (Oral Roberts transfer) and senior guard Greg Dolan (Cornell transfer). I predict Loyola Chicago to finish in 7th place in the final Conference Standings. Richmond hopes to finish in the top half of the Atlantic 10 Conference but knows it will be extremely difficult. The Spiders return two starters in senior center Neal Quinn and senior forward Isaiah Bigelow. Look for several transfers to play big roles - most notably senior guards Jordan King (ETSU transfer), Tyler Harris (Western Carolina transfer), and DeLonnie Hunt (Wagner transfer). Senior guard DJ Bailey, junior guard Jason Roche, and sophomore center Mike Walz - all returning reserves - should provide immediate scoring off the bench. I predict Richmond to finish in 8th place in the final Conference Standings.
George Washington's new nickname is the Revolutionaries. The Revolutionaries return two starters in senior guard James Bishop IV and sophomore guard Maximus Edwards. A pair of incoming transfers will also play key roles as the Revolutionaries added sophomore guard Benny Schroder (Oklahoma transfer) and freshman forward Darren Buchanan (Virginia Tech transfer). Look for contributions from junior forward Keegan Harvey - the lone returning reserve - along with freshman guard Garrett Johnson (Princeton transfer) and senior center Babatunde Akingbola (Auburn transfer). I predict George Washington to finish in 9th place this season. UMass only returns one starter in senior forward Matt Cross. Head Coach Frank Martin has the team headed in the right direction as he begins his 2nd season at the helm with the program trending upward. Look for junior guard Rahsool Diggins and sophomore guard Keon Thompson - both returning reserves - to play big roles this season. Senior forward Josh Cohen (St. Francis PA transfer) and sophomore forward Daniel Hankins-Sanford (South Carolina transfer) should give the Minutemen a spark off the bench in each Atlantic 10 contest. I predict UMass to finish in 10th place this season. Rhode Island is looking to continue the rebuild as the Rams don't bring back any starters but have a bevy of new faces. Look for several experienced returning reserves including junior forward Josaphat Bilau along with sophomore guard Brandon Weston and sophomore forward Rory Stewart to have huge seasons for the Rams as they try stay out of the Atlantic 10 Conference cellar. The Rams also added junior guards Jaden House (High Point transfer), Luis Kortright (Quinnipiac transfer), and Zek Montgomery (Bradley transfer). Head Coach Archie Miller has his work cut out for him in his 2nd season at the helm but he is up for the challenge. I predict Rhode Island to finish in 11th place this season. Saint Louis only returns one starter in junior guard Gibson Jimerson. The Billikens will need senior forward Terrence Hargrove Jr., junior guard Sincere Parker, and sophomore guard Larry Hughes Jr. - all returning reserves - to propel them to new heights this season. Look out for senior forward Tim Dalger (Tulsa transfer) and sophomore forward Bradley Ezewiro (Georgetown transfer) - as well. The Billikens may take their lumps this season as they continue to try to climb the Atlantic 10 Conference ladder. I predict Saint Louis to finish in 12th place in the final Conference Standings. Davidson is in for a rebuilding year. The Wildcats only bring back two starters in senior guard Grant Huffman and sophomore forward Reed Bailey. Look for senior guard Connor Kochera, senior forward David Skogman, and sophomore guard Styrmir Thrastarson - all returning reserves - to provide additional scoring for the Wildcats. Junior guard Jarvis Moss (Stanford transfer) and freshman guard Angelo Brizzi (Villanova transfer) will look to make an immediate impact under 2nd Year Head Coach Matt McKillop. I predict Davidson to finish in 13th place this season. George Mason only welcomes back one starter in senior guard Ronald Polite III. Look for solid contributions from senior forward Malik Henry and sophomore guard Devin Dinkins - both returning reserves. Senior guard Darius Maddox (Virginia Tech transfer), junior guard Jared Billups (Siena transfer), and junior forward Jalen Haynes (East Tennessee State transfer) will all provide additional scoring and rebounding for the Patriots. I predict George Mason to finish in 14th place in the final Conference Standings. LaSalle welcomes back two starters in senior guard Jhamir Brickus and junior guard Khalil Brantley. Look for solid contributions from senior guard Anwar Gill, junior guard Daeshon Shepherd, and sophomore forward Rokas Jocius - all returning reserves. Junior guard Charles Ireland and sophomore guard Jorge Sanchez-Ramos - both returning reserves - will provide additional scoring for the Explorers this season. I predict LaSalle to finish in 15th place in the final Conference Standings. Regardless of which team wins the Conference Tournament it will be a great season in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Enjoy all of the games!
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