Week #14 – Games of Interest/A-10

[Obadiah]

Closing out last night's action, Richmond was able to pull away in second half to secure a road win over Saint Louis, 67-53.

Last night's St. Joe's game at GW was an important one in determining the four teams to get the double bye plum, so why did only 3,091 fans show up for that one?

Only A-10 action tonight is VCU at UMass. 7 PM. On ESPNU.

[hrstrat57]

I just watched the end of Michigan-Minnesota.

Boston College, Minnesota, St. John's, and Rutgers are now a combined 0-46 in their conference games.

Minnesota so down is shocking!

"How bout dem Gophers" has a completely different ring to it now!

(tho she might have been referring to hockey)

Movie Fargo reference btw

[RF1]

Closing out last night's action, Richmond was able to pull away in second half to secure a road win over Saint Louis, 67-53.

Last night's St. Joe's game at GW was an important one in determining the four teams to get the double bye plum, so why did only 3,091 fans show up for that one?

Only A-10 action tonight is VCU at UMass. 7 PM. On ESPNU.

While attendance has been off in Kingston, it is also an issue elsewhere around the league. It is particularly not good for several schools competing for an NCAA at large bid such as GW, SBU, and SJU. St. Joe's, now 20-4, cannot even fill its tiny 4,200 seat gym for all its games.

Code: Select all

A-10 ATTENDANCE YTD 02-10-2016
ATTENDANCE     Home             Avg
Dayton         14-179647           12832
VCU            13-99281             7637
Saint Louis    15-97689             6513
Richmond       13-81482             6268
Rhode Island   14-63868             4562
Davidson       12-50415             4201
Saint Joseph's 12-45940             3828
St. Bonaventure12-44978             3748
George Mason   12-43261             3605
Massachusetts  12-41896             3491
George Washingt14-44513             3180
La Salle       12-24844             2070
Fordham        15-30876             2058
Duquesne       12-23455             1955
Totals         182-872145           4792

[Billyboy78]

Dayton is doing something right...besides winning.

[RF1]

Code: Select all

A-10 ATTENDANCE YTD 02-10-2016
ATTENDANCE     Home             Avg
Dayton         14-179647           12832
VCU            13-99281             7637
Saint Louis    15-97689             6513
Richmond       13-81482             6268
Rhode Island   14-63868             4562
Davidson       12-50415             4201
Saint Joseph's 12-45940             3828
St. Bonaventure12-44978             3748
George Mason   12-43261             3605
Massachusetts  12-41896             3491
George Washingt14-44513             3180
La Salle       12-24844             2070
Fordham        15-30876             2058
Duquesne       12-23455             1955
Totals         182-872145           4792

It is worth noting that the A-10 Tournament in 2017 (Pittsburgh) and 2018 (DC) will be in cities where A-10 average attendance this season currently ranks 11th (GW) and 14th (DU). I hope the league wasn't relying heavily on local residents attending.

[NYGFan_Section208]

Code: Select all

A-10 ATTENDANCE YTD 02-10-2016
ATTENDANCE     Home             Avg
Dayton         14-179647           12832
VCU            13-99281             7637
Saint Louis    15-97689             6513
Richmond       13-81482             6268
Rhode Island   14-63868             4562
Davidson       12-50415             4201
Saint Joseph's 12-45940             3828
St. Bonaventure12-44978             3748
George Mason   12-43261             3605
Massachusetts  12-41896             3491
George Washingt14-44513             3180
La Salle       12-24844             2070
Fordham        15-30876             2058
Duquesne       12-23455             1955
Totals         182-872145           4792

It is worth noting that the A-10 Tournament in 2017 (Pittsburgh) and 2018 (DC) will be in cities where A-10 average attendance this season currently ranks 11th (GW) and 14th (DU). I hope the league wasn't relying heavily on local residents attending.

Downside is that it's a farther haul...upside is...looks like there should be good seats available!

[URI96]

Code: Select all

A-10 ATTENDANCE YTD 02-10-2016
ATTENDANCE     Home             Avg
Dayton         14-179647           12832
VCU            13-99281             7637
Saint Louis    15-97689             6513
Richmond       13-81482             6268
Rhode Island   14-63868             4562
Davidson       12-50415             4201
Saint Joseph's 12-45940             3828
St. Bonaventure12-44978             3748
George Mason   12-43261             3605
Massachusetts  12-41896             3491
George Washingt14-44513             3180
La Salle       12-24844             2070
Fordham        15-30876             2058
Duquesne       12-23455             1955
Totals         182-872145           4792

It is worth noting that the A-10 Tournament in 2017 (Pittsburgh) and 2018 (DC) will be in cities where A-10 average attendance this season currently ranks 11th (GW) and 14th (DU). I hope the league wasn't relying heavily on local residents attending.

But Pittsburgh is only a few hours from Dayton and DC will get the VCU, Richmond, and Mason people.

[ace]

Dayton is doing something right...besides winning.

Sustained competitiveness/success, good college sports town with few competing interests. The fans give a lot to that program, and they've been rewarded. Aside from the persistent rumors that the coach is always leaving, it's good to be a Dayton fan.

And yeah, the Pittsburgh/DC locations were a nod to the VA schools and Dayton. You may hate UMass, but it's better for Rhode Island when they are good... Fordham, too, but that seems farther away.

[Obadiah]

RF1, how about adding % arena utilization for each school. URI, for example, is at 59.6%.

[RF1]

RF1, how about adding % arena utilization for each school. URI, for example, is at 59.6%.

That would require more work than a cut and paste from the A-10 site and quite frankly I don't care enough about the rest of the league to make the effort.

[ramster]

Would be interesting to see through the same number of games last year's numbers. My guess is that most are down

[rambone 78]

Those numbers really help explain the TV money disparity.

The A10 will never get anywhere near BE money, with so many smaller older venues with little fan interest.

I've had a feeling for a while that the top A10 programs will eventually be plucked from the league, and what's left will be roughly CAA level. It's nothing new really, it's been discussed here off and on.

It's pretty obvious who the top 2 candidates are, with Richmond and St. Louis next. We should be there too, but since we're on an "island" so to speak, it's going to be tough to join them.
Even if we become a regular tourney participant.

I could see us becoming the big dog in a very watered down A10, which gets one or two bids a year. Ugh.

[ramster]

[Ramulous]

Why would anyone care how many bids the A-10 gets ??

[Obadiah]

Here is a view on arena utilization for each A-10 school.

Code: Select all

           Arena Capacity/Utilization by A-10 School
                  (Ranked by Arena Size)

      School	        Arena	              Capacity	 Utilization*

1.	Dayton	       UD Arena	              13,435	     .955
2.	Saint Louis	  Chaifetz Arena	        10,600	     .614
3.	George Mason	 EagleBank Arena	        9,523	     .379
4.	UMass	        Mullins Center	         9,493	     .368
5.	URI	          Thomas M. Ryan Center	  7,657	     .596
6.	VCU	          Siegel Center	          7,637	    1.000
7.	Richmond	     Robins Center	          7,201	     .870
8.	St. Bona	     Reilly Center	          5,480	     .684
9.	Davidson    	 John M. Belk Arena	     5,295	     .793
10.  GW	           Charles E. Smith Center	5,000	     .636
11.  Duquesne	     A.J. Palumbo Center	    4,406	     .444
12.  Saint Joseph's  Michael J. Hagan Arena	 4,200	     .911
13.  LaSalle	      Tom Gola Arena	         3,400	     .609 
14.  Fordham	      Rose Hill Gymnasium	    3,200	     .643

*Based on 2015-16 attendance to date

[rambone 78]

Ramulous, I used to care about that.

Not so much anymore. The rest of the A10 doesn't seem to give 2 squats about us.

Since we don't contribute anything to the year end tourney money winnings, how can anybody blame them?

17 years and counting?

ramster can play the Debbie Downer tune all he wants, I don't care.

It's reality, and he knows it.

I'll be Mr. Happy, when this team gives me a good reason to be Mr. Happy.

[NYGFan_Section208]

Ramulous, I used to care about that.

Not so much anymore. The rest of the A10 doesn't seem to give 2 squats about us.

Since we don't contribute anything to the year end tourney money winnings, how can anybody blame them?

17 years and counting?

ramster can play the Debbie Downer tune all he wants, I don't care.

It's reality, and he knows it.

I'll be Mr. Happy, when this team gives me a good reason to be Mr. Happy.

Well, get ready to slap that happy face on starting tomorrow and keep it on for a few weeks.
How's the recovery...well enough to get to games?

[ramster]

Ramulous, I used to care about that.

Not so much anymore. The rest of the A10 doesn't seem to give 2 squats about us.

Since we don't contribute anything to the year end tourney money winnings, how can anybody blame them?

17 years and counting?

ramster can play the Debbie Downer tune all he wants, I don't care.

It's reality, and he knows it.

I'll be Mr. Happy, when this team gives me a good reason to be Mr. Happy.

Rambone,
It is a pretty funny video. I really like it when they all start laughing and can't get their lines out

But Seriously I think in regards to the Big East vs Atlantic 10 stuff the Big East has not been talking about expanding. I wonder how much DePaul and St John's are enjoying the Big East these days.
The gap between the two conferences has shrunk - not what it used to be. When the BE first disintegrated I remember the Big East had 18 players in the ESPN Top 100 coming in - much lower numbers now. Tending to level with the A10. Not there yet but the gap is shrinking.
I doubt Xavier ever allows Dayton in
VCU is not Catholic - only Butler is non Catholic and who knows how long they are for the BE
I like the A10, I think it is a good Conference for URI. We will never get in the BE and I'll not spend any time worrying about it - will never happen. I like 14 teams in the A10, I think the BE is stupid to stay at 10 but let them stay there.
Used to be BE talked about "letting" Dayton and St Louis in. SLU made sense at the time being Catholic and very good but look how that program dived
If anyone leaves the A10 there will be good schools waiting in the wings to get in

There is the P5 as we all know
Then there is the P7 which includes the Big East and the A10 for Basketball. As I said we are not that much different. They have had success this year with 3 teams highly ranked but that is fizzling to a degree.
Ranked #8 Nationally, PC has now lost 4 of their last 5 with losses to 9th place DePaul and 8th place Marquette and will be out of the Top 25 Monday. A team that everyone said was a lock could actually miss the NCAA as they are now tied for 6th place. Their Message Board is in meltdown if you haven't visited lately.
Dunn will never get National POY or even BE POY and he is gone this year
Bentil should go NBA - scouts galore were at the Marquette - PC game to watch Dunn and Ellenson but Bentil stole the show. PC is like a two man team with only one recruit signed for next year.

I'll take our URI team over next year's PC team in a NY minute:
Garrett, Terrell, Martin, Iverson, Mathews
Thompson, Akele and Berry with good experience this year
Throw in Robinson as a transfer. Dowtin a star on the 7th best team in the country. Layssard, Tersea and Langevine.

This season took a hit, but the team is improving and next year? Wow. To me it's very exciting to look ahead.

Worrying about the Big East raiding the A10 is something I care less about.

[rambone 78]

ramster, I'm really not too concerned about the short term, when it comes to any more realignment.

That's years down the road.

Who knows, by then we might actually be good, and be in a better position to control our own destiny.

Anyway, in our own conference we have 2 programs [Dayton and VCU] who commit big bucks to their programs, at a consistent high level, and the results speak for themselves.

Can we even approach that level of monetary commitment or success, and stay there? That's what needs to be done here, and it won't be easy, even if Dan gets us to that next level.

If either or both of those schools leave at some point, will we be able to take their place at the top of the A10 pecking order?

[ramster]

ramster, I'm really not too concerned about the short term, when it comes to any more realignment.

That's years down the road.

Who knows, by then we might actually be good, and be in a better position to control our own destiny.

Anyway, in our own conference we have 2 programs [Dayton and VCU] who commit big bucks to their programs, at a consistent high level, and the results speak for themselves.

Can we even approach that level of monetary commitment or success, and stay there? That's what needs to be done here, and it won't be easy, even if Dan gets us to that next level.

If either or both of those schools leave at some point, will we be able to take their place at the top of the A10 pecking order?

Yes Rambone, I think so.
A lot to look forward to next year.
And this year's team refuses to quit.
I wouldn't want to be playing this team in Brooklyn.

[rambone 78]

ramster, I agree we will be tough for anybody to play...

but we have to finish the game...and WIN them!

Is that too much to ask?

[NYGFan_Section208]

ramster, I agree we will be tough for anybody to play...

but we have to finish the game...and WIN them!

Is that too much to ask?

I think they start that tomorrow night. This is not your January Rams.

GO RHODY!

[NYGFan_Section208]

UMass up 11 over VCU, at the half

[ramster]

ramster, I agree we will be tough for anybody to play...

but we have to finish the game...and WIN them!

Is that too much to ask?

How are you feeling by the the way? Still sore?

[NYGFan_Section208]

ZooMass...a 6 point winner over VCU....

[RF1]

VCU just pissed away any chance at an at large bid losing to UMass up in Amherst 69-63.

[rambone 78]

Well, I don't think they pissed it away totally.

Certainly didn't help themselves though.

ramster, I'll be sore for a while, at least a couple more weeks.

As long as the drugs do their thing, it's tolerable, but it's tough to sleep. I like to sleep on my side. That's not happening.....

Thanks for asking though.

[rambone 78]

Just watched UConn completely collapse in the last 5 minutes, turning a 12 pt. lead into a 5 pt. loss, 63-58.

That was worse than anything I've seen us do this year late in games.

That was a dagger to their at large chances. Of course, I'm no fan of theirs anyway.......

[ATPTourFan]

Shocking that VCU lost to UMass of all teams. This is exactly why we hear from our coach and others that road games in the A10 are very difficult to win.

[Ramulous]

So isn't it better for the A-10 that VCU won that game against a going-nowhere UMass team....so that come A-10 tournament time VCU has a solid chance at an at-large bid so that they can lose in our tournament so that a URI can steal another bid for the league by winning the auto bid...

[NYGFan_Section208]

So isn't it better for the A-10 that VCU won that game against a going-nowhere UMass team....so that come A-10 tournament time VCU has a solid chance at an at-large bid so that they can lose in our tournament so that a URI can steal another bid for the league by winning the auto bid...

Clearly...a lack of "vision" on the part of UMass...

[ramster]

So isn't it better for the A-10 that VCU won that game against a going-nowhere UMass team....so that come A-10 tournament time VCU has a solid chance at an at-large bid so that they can lose in our tournament so that a URI can steal another bid for the league by winning the auto bid...

That would be logical

[Seawrightspostgame]

VCU losing is exactly why URI needs to be shooting for that #4 seed. All the teams ahead in the standings are not going to win out. URI can beat the teams on its schedule.

Tough? Certainly. But actually doing what they say they want to do is right there in front of them.

[NYGFan_Section208]

^ Agree, keep shooting for that #4 seed, to save the family a night's hotel room, er, I mean, 'to have a better tourney path'.
They need to take care of their own business and for all teams in front of them to lose as much as possible. Simplevision.

[ramster]

Calipari thrown out of game at South Carolina after only 2 minutes!

[Obadiah]

The Saturday A-10 schedule:

* Davidson at George Mason. 4 PM. It would be nice if GMU can use its size and rebounding capability to advantage, but Davidson has a good shooting offense which is why they are favored by 5.5 points.

* GW at St. Bonaventure. 4 PM. SBU favored by 2 points!

* Saint Louis at VCU. 6 PM. On CBS Sports. It's time for the VCU to break its two game losing streak.

* Fordham at Richmond. 6 PM. More separation between URI and Richmond is desirable, so we root the Metro Rams to pull an upset.

* La Salle at Saint Joseph's. 8 PM. The Hawks are favored by over 16 points and should get an easy win here as they prep for Wednesday's big home date with Dayton.

[NYGFan_Section208]

PC to maybe gag away a 26 point lead?

[rambone 78]

Nope. They made their FT's. Something we don't do. Also got a key offensive rebound, and got a defensive stop at the end.

Listened to the end on the radio.

Would have been a huge gag job, but they closed it out. That's what good teams do.

[Ramulous]

I don't watch or listen to pc games....

[rambone 78]

Ramulous, I didn't plan to listen to it. I went to get something to eat, and my radio was set to EEI.

So I figured I might as well torture myself anyway.......

[adam914]

Dunn shoots 67% on FTs and was only 10-16 today. I wonder why he doesn't practice them more in the off season and why Cooley sucks at coaching them so much! He should shoot them under handed!

[rambone 78]

And Bentil shot them at 90%. Clutch. A big, no less. He and Bullock missed a total of 1 FT against us, in a very close game. That's what separates winners from us.

I would take 67% all day from some of our players.

Jarvis. Great kid, soon to be great player, but 0-3 when it counts?

And he's done that too many times already this season.

What's the excuse? He's a soph? So is Bentil. Mask? Tired? They all are at the end of games.

Excuses are for losers.

[adam914]

Garrett is a 70% free throw shooter, which is better than 67%.

[rambone 78]

I know he is.

But not at the end of games. He's our PG, with the ball in his hands. He's going to get fouled with chances to either put games away, or win them outright.

He's not doing that. He has to.

Everything else about him is great. But that one weakness is a killer.

[NYGFan_Section208]

And Bentil shot them at 90%. Clutch. A big, no less. He and Bullock missed a total of 1 FT against us, in a very close game. That's what separates winners from us.

I would take 67% all day from some of our players.

Jarvis. Great kid, soon to be great player, but 0-3 when it counts?

And he's done that too many times already this season.

What's the excuse? He's a soph? So is Bentil. Mask? Tired? They all are at the end of games.

Excuses are for losers.

Omigosh...the 'excuses are for losers' line is so bleeping old.
Please, name 1 respected winner that ever said anything like that...

Please...please....fill up this board with quotes from respected people that have said "excuses are for losers"...that statement just seems so flippn lame...like a lame excuse for not being willing to consider all factors.

[Obadiah]

George Mason in an exciting win over Davidson, 60-59. Jalen Jenkins put in the winning shot with 1 second remaining after two other GMU shots missed.

George Mason led most of the way in this game and ballooned their lead to 12 points at the 12 minute mark and then in the next 10 minutes the Patriots scored only one basketball as Davidson took at 6 point lead. before GMU got back on track.

[rambone 78]

Davidson is pretty lame on the road.

At home, though, different animal.

[Obadiah]

The A-10 schedule for the week is completed on Sunday with one game on tap:

* UMass at Duquesne. 3 PM. Duquesne is in a race with URI and a few others for the top position outside the four double bye positions, so we have root for the Minutemen to take this one.

[Obadiah]

UMass came back from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Duquesne in OT, 108-99. Donte Clark put in two clutch FT's with 41 seconds remaining to tie in regulation and the Minutemen then went on a tear in OT to salt the win. Jabarie Hinds put in 37 points. Both teams combined to put in 26 treys on about 60 attempts. Duquesne was hurt by 20 TO's.

[ramster]

UMass came back from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Duquesne in OT, 108-99. Donte Clark put in two clutch FT's with 41 seconds remaining to tie in regulation and the Minutemen then went on a tear in OT to salt the win. Jabarie Hinds put in 37 points. Both teams combined to put in 26 treys on about 60 attempts. Duquesne was hurt by 20 TO's.

Obadiah,
It was a great game. Amazing about Hinds (who transferred from West Virginia) is that he came off the bench to score the 37 and he hit 7 of 8 three pointers. Maybe he earned himself a start next game.