[2024] NSNN's CMBB 2024 Conference Preview - Atlantic 10

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The wait is almost over, and it's time for another college basketball season. With all the hype incoming for the new season, it's time to see what fans can expect from their teams. With a deep analysis of each player on the team, fans can see what to expect from their teams for the year. From the best of the best to the lowest of lows, this is a comprehensive look at what to expect for each team for the upcoming season, with some getting the benefit of everything more than all of the others. With all of this being said, here is a comprehensive list of all of the teams for the upcoming season and how they fare against the rest. Note this is based on player ratings from our ranking systems, so take this with a grain of salt. Just because a team is low does not mean they will be among the worst, as anything can happen here in college sports.

First up, we have the Atlantic 10 Conference. A conference that saw practically no change to its conference structure with all 15 teams intact, this conference is well known as one of the conferences with high-level talent and the biggest hotly-contested battles to look out for despite being considered a mid-major conference. Let's take a look at how high of a level each team is at the beginning of this 2024-25 season. 
 

15. Saint Joseph's
NSNN Team Grade: 525
NSNN Average Grade: 43.75
Team Overall Rank: 148
NSNN Offensive Rank: 48
NSNN Defensive Rank: 202
Key Player: PG Joseph Hataway

A bit of a surprise for the upcoming season, but you would expect the Saint Joseph's Hawks to be at the bottom of the conference for the upcoming year. They are not a bad team by any means, as they do have some stars to possibly keep this team competitive. Point Guards Joseph Hataway and Jeffrey Force are returning to this team for the upcoming year, and both seem to be sharpshooters on the court. Kent Zimmerman is a good rebounder for the team, and the team managed to snag a four-star in Timothy Terry in recruiting, who should be able to make it to the starting lineup, at least for this year. The problem is that they lack in defense, as they failed to crack the top 200 in that regard. This is especially evident on the perimeter. Expect this team to crash the boards on many occasions only to end up losing because they give up too many threes than needed.

14. George Mason
NSNN Team Grade: 526
NSNN Average Grade: 40.46
Team Overall Rank: 146
NSNN Offensive Rank: 146
NSNN Defensive Rank: 89
Key Player: PF Jay Gu

From arguably the best team in the conference to one of the worst, nobody has it worse than George Mason. This team is just a shell of what they were last season, and there is a huge expectation that this team will struggle this year. They do have a player with a 75+ grade in the form of returning senior Jay Gu, who is a dominant two-way player who gets it done on the boards. Other than that, that's it. There isn't that much to write home about for the Colonels this year. This team rests on the shoulders of Gu and Wayne Bradley, and even then, that won't seem to be enough. Other than the two seniors, the roster seems to be a little bit thin, and even worse, less firepower than we saw from them last year. It'll be tough for George Mason to gain some points, and that will be the factor that will cause them trouble keeping up with the rest of the conference. 

13. Richmond
NSNN Team Grade: 530
NSNN Average Grade: 44.17
Team Overall Rank: 143
NSNN Offensive Rank: 119
NSNN Defensive Rank: 143
Key Player: SG Jeffery Brownlow

For a long while now, the Richmond Spiders have been rebuilding their basketball team. And this year, it seems to be no different. Although they aren't the worst team in these rankings, Richmond might be the candidate for the team to go last place this year. The last two teams on this list, although they have their problems on one side of the ball, are still good on the other side of the ball. Here, that does not seem to be the case. Richmond lands in the 100s on both offense and defense, and both are not too far apart. There also isn't a player that could be considered a top player for Richmond. They do, however, have their ups. Alfredo Melgar and Arthur Fine will make for a good one-two punch on the offensive floor for the Spiders, and Jeffrey Brownlow, the lone 4-star on the team, will help alleviate the woes on the defensive side. 
 

12. UMass
NSNN Team Grade: 539
NSNN Average Grade: 44.92
Team Overall Rank: 131
NSNN Offensive Rank: 141
NSNN Defensive Rank: 131
Key Player: SF Timothy Torkelson

This is not what UMass was wishing for when they announced they would be leaving for the American Conference next year. Once again, the Minutemen find themselves at the bottom of the barrel, with very little talent on their side of the coin. However, they do have a star player on the court. Timothy Torkelson has been arguably the best player on the team, with his best trait being that he is on the defensive front. However, his offensive effort is much more to be desired. In fact, the offensive woes continue on to the rest of the team, which is disappointing. Once again, the UMass Minutemen hopelessly find themselves at the bottom of the Atlantic 10 standings, and if things don't change, they could be considered the worst team in the American Conference next year. 

11. VCU
NSNN Team Grade: 561.25
NSNN Average Grade: 46.77
Team Overall Rank: 108
NSNN Offensive Rank: 145
NSNN Defensive Rank: 139
Key Player: C Roy Delay

Although they find themselves once again on the lower half of the teams on this list, VCU is not last this year. Even then, this season looks bleak for the Rams. This team has been feeling the loss of Cletus Silver, who left the team via the transfer portal and is playing elsewhere. However, that doesn't mean VCU is down in the gutters yet again. Their stars from last year, Roy Delay and Charles Liva, has returned to the team for potentially one last run with the VCU squad, with Delay being the top player on the team with his playmaking ability. In addition, it seems as if the team has found a hidden gem in David Smith. VCU might not get many wins, and their future looks uncertain, but perhaps this is a step in the right direction for turning it all around. 

10. Dayton
NSNN Team Grade: 567
NSNN Average Grade: 47.25
Team Overall Rank: 98
NSNN Offensive Rank: 100
NSNN Defensive Rank: 126
Key Player: SF Jamie Webb

This is something you would not have expected given the team's history, but the Dayton Flyers find themselves starting off in the top 10. A silver lining, however, is in play, as they are the first team to make it over the Top 100 in the conference. And it all might be because of their two-point shooting. This team is led by the forward duo of Stephen Linton and Jamie Webb, both known for their finishing skills. Webb can also stop opposing players from the perimeter, and Stephen Linton excels in his ballwork ability. Beyond the two are Sergio Sze, who has been progressing nicely for the team his first year with the team, Frank Rivera, who will become a Swiss-army knife shooting the basketball, and William Wright, who will be a beast on the defensive side of the court. 

9. Duquesne
NSNN Team Grade: 569.5
NSNN Average Grade: 47.46
Team Overall Rank: 95
NSNN Offensive Rank: 31
NSNN Defensive Rank: 198
Key Player: SG James Hermann

Just like George Mason, Duquesne was also one of the teams that hit the top teams of the conference but later found themselves in a slump. Although not as bad, it left much more to be desired for the team. And it feels like such a shame for this team as they have a top-50 offensive amongst all of the teams in Division I. Unfortunately for them, as they excel at offense, they are closer to top-200 talent when it comes to defense. James Hermann, however, is a good defender and will perhaps make up for the team's lack of defense overall. If coached well, we could be seeing this team winning the Atlantic 10, perhaps even finding themselves in the tournament, but that is something we will have to wait and see come the end of the season. 

8. La Salle
NSNN Team Grade: 570.5
NSNN Average Grade: 43.88
Team Overall Rank: 93
NSNN Offensive Rank: 105
NSNN Defensive Rank: 109
Key Player: PF Fabio Martinez

La Salle finds itself to be as far as 8th amongst the other teams in the Atlantic 10, but given how the team is constructed, it doesn't feel like it. This team only has two players who seem to be better than all of the rest of the players on the team. Fabio Martinez, who can do everything on both ends of the court, and Cedric Shaw, who is skilled in crashing the board for the Explorers. Other than that, there isn't much for this team to be excited about. This team has had a great group of juniors who will become probable stars once Martinez and Shaw leave the team, but other than that, that is pretty much it. Expect this team to underperform on dangerous levels this season.  

7. George Washington
NSNN Team Grade: 574.5
NSNN Average Grade: 47.88
Team Overall Rank: 89
NSNN Offensive Rank: 70
NSNN Defensive Rank: 152
Key Player: PG Hanh Lee

This might not be the season where George Washington breaks through, but this is surely a good start for the Revolutionaries. This year, they find themselves improving to 7th from 10th last year, and there is a lot of reasons why. Despite a slow defensive effort for this team, they make up for it with an immaculate offensive ledger, ranking inside of the top 100 this year. Hanh Lee is going to be an offensive powerhouse this year, seemingly doing no wrong on that end. James Major is also a good finisher for George Washington, and junior Harry Kuranda will be a viable option to crash the boards. With all of this being said, despite the lack of defensive talent, there is no doubt that George Washington is going to improve this year. 

6. Rhode Island
NSNN Team Grade: 596
NSNN Average Grade: 45.85
Team Overall Rank: 70
NSNN Offensive Rank: 36
NSNN Defensive Rank: 87
Key Player: PF Robert Butcher

Rhode Island's huge advantage in depth has actually benefitted their basketball team in the long run, as now they have widened the gap between themselves and the next-placed team. Not only that, but the Rams also find themselves in the top 100 in both offense and defense and are the first team in the rankings to do so. And it's all thanks to the senior class, who were the anchor of the Rhode Island depth last year as well. Robert Butcher will be helming the offensive side for the Rams, while Edward Kinnick will lock down all of the rest on defense. Rhode Island will surely miss them when they are gone, but everything is looking like Rhode Island this year, and I will not be surprised if they break out. 

5. Davidson
NSNN Team Grade: 600.5
NSNN Average Grade: 46.19
Team Overall Rank: 66
NSNN Offensive Rank: 77
NSNN Defensive Rank: 39
Key Player: PG Richard Keen

It should come as no surprise that Davidson cracked the top five in the conference. However, this year, the Wildcats' offense will not be carrying the load. Surprisingly, that designation will go towards the defense this year. Although surprising, considering that this team was buoyed by its offense last year, that is not to say this team is offensively lacking. Seniors Richard Keen and Forrest Barber both seem to be better on the offensive spectrum rather than the defensive, as they have that ability to find buckets near the paint. But it is to be seen if this two-point advantage will be enough to keep Davidson competitive and if they have a chance to make it far with a lack of three-point shooting plaguing Davidson this year. 

4. Loyola Chicago
NSNN Team Grade: 602
NSNN Average Grade: 46.31
Team Overall Rank: 65
NSNN Offensive Rank: 22
NSNN Defensive Rank: 133
Key Player: PF Joaquim Kilgore

With new head coach @TheRealJT at the helm for the Ramblers this year, Loyola Chicago is looking to spark the Atlantic 10 this year. They aren't the best team in the league, and their defense is ways off, but they have all of the stops to pull it off. One of the reasons why they will do it this year is the offensive output. Compositionally, the team ranks in the top 25 in offense this year, as this team is currently poised to be the best three-point shooting team this year. This is also partially thanks to the trio of seniors Joaquim Kilgore, Adam Tessmer, and Kevin Bailey, who combined make for a respectable shooting tandem. The future also looks bright with the prospects of sophomore Allan Delaurentis and freshman Patrick Williams. Loyola Chicago might be the next bright spot in the Atlantic 10 conference, and this year is a good start. 

3. Fordham
NSNN Team Grade: 606
NSNN Average Grade: 46.62
Team Overall Rank: 61
NSNN Offensive Rank: 86
NSNN Defensive Rank: 96
Key Player: PG Carlos Guerrero

Being ranked as low as they are in terms of offensive and defensive rankings, you would not expect a team like Fordham to be 3rd in the conference. Yet, Fordham finds themselves in that spot. And it's not hard to see why that is the case. Fordham has produced a great amount of depth on their roster; after finding multiple hidden gems in their sophomore class, the sky is honestly the limit for these Rams. Even if playmaker Gary Romage and 2-point master Xian Rosato leave the team, the Rams are still in good hands. Carlos Guerrero is one of the fastest risers in the conference and could easily see himself propelled to at least one of the best players in the conference next year should he choose to stay. It's a good year to be a Fordham fan. 

2. Saint Louis
NSNN Team Grade: 608.5
NSNN Average Grade: 46.81
Team Overall Rank: 59
NSNN Offensive Rank: 59
NSNN Defensive Rank: 102
Key Player: PF Jose Lee

@MagneticField seems to have something brewing for the Saint Louis Billikens. Close to being one of the bottom-of-the-barrel teams last year, they find themselves in the penultimate spot this year. Once again, however, the defense holds them back, but they are seemingly a better team this year than they were last, thanks to a new wave of transfers joining the team. New additions Eugene Miller and Gonzalo Cervantes are looking to make immediate impacts on their team, and no one can forget about Jose Lee's efforts. He'll be a great layup artist for the Billikens this year, and he even has an edge on rebounding to boot. This Billikens team will be fun to watch and don't be surprised to see them win the conference this year if @MagneticFieldcoaches them properly. 
 

1. St. Bonaventure
NSNN Team Grade: 707
NSNN Average Grade: 54.38
Team Overall Rank: 21
NSNN Offensive Rank: 19
NSNN Defensive Rank: 85
Key Player: SF Everett Ryan

In something that is almost close to insanity, it comes as no surprise that St. Bonaventure tops the list of Atlantic 10 teams in these rankings. This team somehow found two four-star players a couple of years ago, and this year, they are poised to be great players who will remain as the anchors of the team this season. Senior Fred Washington is a dominant powerhouse and looks to continue his momentum for what should be his final year with the Bonnies, with his prowess in the pain and high-IQ perimeter defense. But the real star of the show is Everett Ryan. who will be an even bigger and meaner menace on the boards. And even better news, he's going to come back next year if he ever wants to stay with St. Bonaventure. With this pedigree and with the talent that they have, St. Bonaventure has no excuses if they lose the A10 this season.

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Edited August 16 by nemolee.exe

[Vivid]

Saint Joseph’s confirmed only member in A10

Edited August 16 by Vivid

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Just now, Vivid said:

Saint Joseph’s confirmed only member in A10

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