2019-20 A-10 Predictions

[ramster]

Another person's predictions for the A-10:

#4. Rhode Island– The Rams have loaded up with talent for 2019-20, thanks to yet another strong recruiting class put together by David Cox to complement a strong returning core. A bounceback year for Fatts Russell will be necessary for URI to reach its ceiling– Russell was moved into an on-ball roll by Cox and struggled mightily, shooting just 22% from 3. It will be interesting to see if Cox elects to move Jeff Dowtin back to the point and free up Russell to score or if he continues the Russell PG experiment.


https://cbbcentral.com/2019/10/04/32x32 ... 0-preview/

Newcomer of the Year: Tre Mitchell (
Winning an award like this takes equal parts talent and opportunity, and Mitchell has both. The 4-star recruit, who held a host of high-major offers before choosing the Minutemen, should immediately step into a featured role on offense for Matt McCall’s bunch. Mitchell is a force on the block with the skill level to play out on the perimeter at times, with the biggest area needing work being to continue to improve his body. After averaging over 23 points and 9 rebounds per game on the team’s international trip to the US Virgin Islands, it’s clear that Mitchell will have a chance to put up massive numbers from the get-go in Amherst.

From the article it will be fun to watch Tre Mitchell this year as s much heralded Freshman in the A10
Interesting that writer has Duquesne #6 which is pretty high. Duquesne will be interesting to watch

Dayton picked 2nd with Davidson 3rd - interesting

[Rhody83]

Colorado is a big game for Dayton (neutral court).

[ramster]

Colorado is a big game for Dayton (neutral court).

Andy Katz had it as 5th of his 5 important A10 games

1. Rhode Island at Maryland, Nov. 9
2. VCU vs. Purdue, Destin, Fla., Nov. 29
3. LSU at VCU, Nov. 13
4. Davidson vs. Marquette, Orlando Invitational, Nov. 28
5. Dayton vs. Colorado, Chicago, Dec. 21

[Rhody83]

[ramster]

From the madness 144 website on Dayton Transfers who are eligible to play ....

but Dayton will go to the next level thanks to four transfers. Ibi Watson, from Michigan, and Rodney Chatman, from Chattanooga, will add options on the perimeter. Watson was used sparingly with the Wolverines, but is a big, tough guard. Chatman averaged 13.2 points and 6.2 assists with the Mocs two years ago. The frontcourt adds 6-11 center Jordy Tshimanga and 6-9 sophomore Chase Johnson. Tshimanga spent two years at Nebraska and averaged 4.0 points and 4.6 rebounds two years ago. Johnson spent most of his time at Florida injured, but he is a very talented player who can make a huge impact if he can stay healthy. Dayton has the talent to reach the NCAA Tournament and win the Atlantic 10, but all of those pieces need to come together quickly if that is going to happen.

[RF1]

Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Media Day, which will serve as the league's tip-off event, will be Thursday, Oct. 24.
http://www.atlantic10.com/ViewArticle.d ... =211812705

[Rhody83]

[phipsiGD'11]

This person did their homework. I think this article is spot on.

[sbrand]

As the author, couldn’t be happier to hear this from what I believe is the wisest collection of basketball minds.

[RhodyKyle]

Kenpom has URI at #83 to start the year - fourth in the A10.

VCU #23
Dayton #57
Davidson #61
URI #83
Richmond #92

The rest are sub-100 teams.

[PeterRamTime]

Kenpom has URI at #83 to start the year - fourth in the A10.

VCU #23
Dayton #57
Davidson #61
URI #83
Richmond #92

The rest are sub-100 teams.

They dont make any sense.

VCU is not that much better than Dayton, Davidson and us.

Richmond top 100? Because of Gilyard and Golden? Ok..

[RF1]

Kenpom has URI at #83 to start the year - fourth in the A10.

VCU #23
Dayton #57
Davidson #61
URI #83
Richmond #92

The rest are sub-100 teams.

The complete ranking for the league:

[TruePoint]

Kenpom has URI at #83 to start the year - fourth in the A10.

VCU #23
Dayton #57
Davidson #61
URI #83
Richmond #92

The rest are sub-100 teams.

They dont make any sense.

VCU is not that much better than Dayton, Davidson and us.

Richmond top 100? Because of Gilyard and Golden? Ok..

With Kenpom, it’s not really an opinion. It’s just math. You can have an issue with the math he uses (I do, actually, and have said as much many times here so I won’t go into that right now), but compared to most of the other “predictions” that are being posted here at least KenPom can’t be dismissed as subjective.

And honestly, I think the more subjective and informed a prediction is this year, the better Rhody will do. All in all, from a distance there isn’t a lot to say about URI: they bring everyone important back, yes, but so do the other league contenders and URI was middling in the league last year and these other teams competed to win the conference. People’s predictions reflect this take. In my opinion, URI has a very good chance at exceeding these outside expectations based on two things: they were qualitatively much closer to these other teams down the stretch last year and there wasn’t, for example, a 60 team gap between them and VCU at the end of the season, but the season-long numbers that people will look at might indicate that the gap was even larger than that; and URI isn’t just bringing back all of their contributors from last year, but have also added considerable parts (including experienced players) and specifically in areas of great need - perimeter shooting and interior depth. Last season URI was one of the worst perimeter shooting teams in the country and effectively played with six guys, three of whom were freshman and several of whom were playing significant minutes thru injuries that they probably wouldn’t have been playing if the team had any usable depth. They also had a head coach that had never been a head coach before, and I think it’s not hard to view the turnaround toward the end of the season as being at least in part due to the coach finding his sea legs a bit. It appears that none of these things should be as big of factors this season which I think should allow them to be a better and more consistent team.

[Rhody_NYCT]

This is a response about the mid-major madness write-up. It was well done and a fun read. However, I do believe there was an oversight by not having one mention of Dana Tate. If his name was there and I missed it, I apologize. But Tate is a very important part of this team.

[wpbrown8267]

This is a response about the mid-major madness write-up. It was well done and a fun read. However, I do believe there was an oversight by not having one mention of Dana Tate. If his name was there and I missed it, I apologize. But Tate is a very important part of this team.

Dana Tate = Swiss Army knife

[Rhody83]

Dana has great potential. He worked hard this offseason to change his body and quickness. He worked on his outside shot. How does all of this translate on the court when the bright lights are on? It will be interesting to see. I know he wants badly to make a major jump and has put it the effort.

[Rhody83]

[ramster]

Interesting comments by URI HC on his players

[ramster]

More from Bill Koch

[Rhody83]

Ramster why did you put comments from the Coach’s Show under A10 Predictions. There is a Coach’s Show thread.

[ramster]

Ramster why did you put comments from the Coach’s Show under A10 Predictions. There is a Coach’s Show thread.

Because the comments are from the Coach and most applicable to how the players look in his eyes. Some of most interesting and insightful comments I’ve read in weeks here.

[section(105)]

.......the “October Depth” referred to in another post will certainly turn into A-10 Conference depth, if as coach said the new players demonstrate the defense, “taking care of the ball, and shot selection” to earn playing time is necessary so that we don't end up with tired legs again in March......for me this is key to our season......

[Rhody74]

While the freshmen will see limited minutes it’s been awhile since we’ve had this level of talent 1-12.

[Rhody83]

.......the “October Depth” referred to in another post will certainly turn into A-10 Conference depth, if as coach said the new players demonstrate the defense, “taking care of the ball, and shot selection” to earn playing time is necessary so that we don't end up with tired legs again in March......for me this is key to our season......

Cox always stays positive on every player. He had a positive comment on each player. They regular rotation will be 8-9 players.

[PeteRI]

Interesting comments by URI HC on his players

Hey Coach, what about my man Fatts?

[Rhody74]

Interesting comments by URI HC on his players

Hey Coach, what about my man Fatts?

Coach addressed Fatts but Koch overlooked it. Said he’s matured and has become a leader.

[Rhody83]

Cox had it in another tweet along with Cyril comment.

[sbrand]

I totally agree about the fact that I didn't mention possibly the most improved player this year and one of my favorites. Dana should be in the article.

[Rhody83]

[RF1]

Ranking every college basketball team from No. 1 to 353 for 2019-20 and an interesting fact on every team
Matt Norlander's annual extravaganza of looking at all 353 teams is back for the 2019-20 season
https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... very-team/



A-10
19. Davidson
27. VCU
37. Dayton
68. Rhode Island
88. St. Bonaventure
123. George Mason
125. Richmond
137. Duquesne
177. Saint Louis
186. George Washington
196. UMass-Amherst (UMass-Lowell is #195)
205. Fordham
238. La Salle
263. St. Joseph's


68 Rhode Island
Fortunately, the Rams still roster one of the most beautiful names of the past decade in college basketball, Fatts Russell. Thing is, Jeff Dowtin is the big-time scorer, and those two give URI fans hope they can keep the program on the steady and compete in the back end of the at-large pool for the NCAA Tournament. Maryland, Alabama, LSU, Providence, West Virginia and Western Kentucky are all on the schedule. Talk about your opportunities.

[Rhody74]

Norlander has PC 15th which makes me question his judgment.

[RhodyKyle]

He also, almost exactly a year ago, accurately predicted that Wofford would be a quad 1 team regardless of where a team played them. He gets bullish on teams so let's hope he overestimates the talent at PC.

[Bill Koch]

David Cox speaks during the afternoon session, which starts at 1 pm. Updates will follow from Brooklyn.

[Rhody15]

Rhody predicted for finish 4th.

Cyril - First team and All Defense
Jeff - Second team
Fatts -Third team

There’s no way anyone can say the A10 shafted URI with their preseason predictions like someone says every year.

(Wouldn’t be surprised if someone found a way though.)

[ace]

Quite a blow to the tiny but vocal “Fatts is not a D1 player” contingent that resides on this board.

[Rhody74]

It’s about what I expected.

[wpbrown8267]

Rhody predicted for finish 4th.

Cyril - First team and All Defense
Jeff - Second team
Fatts -Third team

There’s no way anyone can say the A10 shafted URI with their preseason predictions like someone says every year.

(Wouldn’t be surprised if someone found a way though.)

They got it right for the preseason

Thats where Cyril should have been after last season over Grant Golden, woof!

[RF1]

[RF1]

[Billyboy78]

I might be a little biased, but I think Jeff is the best player in the league and a POY candidate.

[SandorClegane]

I think based on last year and this years projections, these Predictions are pretty much spot on. Would love to see JD on the 1st team but he’ll have to earn that during the season. Obvious choice to slot Grady, Evans and JAG above him based on last years numbers. Gilyard goes either way for me.
Also why 6 players on the first team?

[SandorClegane]

The other guy I could see breaking into the 1st category is Kier. Without Livingston he could easily average high teens for GM. Will see how injuries and a losing record impact that though.

[PeterRamTime]

Ok Gilyard is not better than Jeff.

[Rhody83]

All three all conference teams have 6 players. That way they can promote more all conference players. 18 instead of 15. It use to be first team had POY + 5 players. Now every team has 6.

[Rhodyram]

I was also surprised to see Fatts on the 3rd team- not sure of exactly who in the a10 was more deserving so I don’t have the strongest argument that he shouldn’t be there. That being said, he had some dreadful games last year and his shooting/turn over #’s leave a lot to be desired. His cool name and flashy play certainly helps him with fans and others in the media- I don’t think he’d be as recognizable as “Deron” instead of “Fatts”. I also think being named to the 3rd team will do wonders for his confidence and hopefully that shows this season on the court.

[PeterRamTime]

I mean it is a prediction.

I think it's very reasonable to me, knowing how talented Fatts is that he would improve going into his junior year.

[bigappleram]

I think the intangible with fatts is that last year was almost like his freshman year given he was in a brand new role as an alpha. So the expectation is similar to the jump you see from a FR to a SO potentially, a year he learned how to play in a new role and how to impact a game beyond scoring. Consistency is gonna be key to that, we shall see.

[rhodyruckus]

It is definitely a projection, and while us as fans look at the season as a whole including the struggles during the early season most casual followers see that based on Fatts' final 2 weeks of the regular season he was nearly playing like a POY candidate. Hell, during his 41 point game Fatts was playing like Allen Iverson.

[PeteRI]

We have THREE players on A10 All Conference Teams. That is FANTASTIC!!!

[section(105)]

.......roll 21-9 around the cheeks and gums......