A-10 offseason power ranking: Dayton, Saint Louis early conference favorites

The video then transitions to a scene of the players doing push-ups, which are interrupted by coaches throwing water balloons at the players. Head coach Anthony Grant and Andy Farrell, special assistant to the head coach and recruiting coordinator, bring out water guns to spray the players, who are soon shown fighting back with balloons and water guns of their own.

Kobe Elvis dumps a bucket of water on Grant at one point. Grant gets him back by breaking a water balloon over his head. The team huddles, hands joined together above their heads, as the video ends.

This offseason glimpse of the Flyers comes four months before the start of the season and almost six months before the start of Atlantic 10 Conference play. Every A-10 program has a long way to go before they start competing for the 2023 championship. Still, this is as good a time as any to take a look at the conference as a whole and rank the 15 teams. All but two of the 2022-23 rosters have been posted on the teams’ official websites, though not all of the posted rosters are complete.

Here’s one writer’s attempt to predict the standings:

1. Dayton

Head coach: Anthony Grant, sixth season (102-52).

Last year’s record: 24-11 overall; 14-4 A-10 (tied for second place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: 2020.

Last A-10 tournament championship: 2003.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2017.

Best returning player: Sophomore DaRon Holmes II, a 6-foot-10 forward, made the All-A-10 second team last season and was named the A-10 Rookie of the Year. He led Dayton with 12.8 points per game.

Top freshman: Mike Sharavjamts, a 6-8 guard, was the top-ranked A-10 recruit in class of 2022, according to the Rivals.com rankings. He was No. 95.

Top transfer: The only other newcomer on the 12-man roster is Georgia transfer Tyrone Baker, a 6-9 forward who played in three games last season at Georgia.

Summary: The first team left out of the NCAA tournament field last season, Dayton should be among the hungriest teams in college basketball. Its NCAA tournament drought would have ended in 2020 if the tournament hadn’t been cancelled because of the pandemic. With all five starters and seven of the top eight scorers returning, Dayton has everything it needs to put together a special season and has already been a popular pick to rank in the preseason top 25.

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

2. Saint Louis

Head coach: Travis Ford, seventh season (112-77).

Last year’s record: 23-12; 12-6 (fifth place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: 2014.

Last A-10 tournament championship: 2019.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2019.

Best returning player: Yuri Collins, a 6-0 guard, is one of two All-A-10 first-team selections returning, along with George Mason’s Josh Oduro. Collins led the nation in assists (7.9 per game) last season and ranked second on the Saint Louis roster in scoring (11.1).

Top freshman: Larry Hughes Jr., whose dad played one season with the Billikens before being selected eighth overall in the 1998 NBA Draft, signed with Saint Louis in April. A 6-5 guard, Hughes ranks 273rd in the 2022 class, according to 247Sports.com.

Top transfer: Javon Pickett, a 6-5 guard, scored 950 points in the last four seasons at Missouri.

Summary: Jon Rothstein, of CollegeHoopsToday.com, ranked Saint Louis 30th in his preseason list of the top-45 teams in college basketball. Dayton ranked 32nd. Dayton and Saint Louis are also the two A-10 teams ESPN’s Joe Lunardi is predicting will make the 2023 NCAA tournament. The Billikens return five of their top six scores, including leading scorer Gibson Jimerson (16.9). They also add their leading scorer from the previous season, Javonte Perkins, who missed last season with a torn ACL, back to the mix.

3. Virginia Commonwealth

Head coach: Mike Rhoades, sixth season (102-53).

Last year’s record: 22-10; 14-4 (tied for second place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: 2019.

Last A-10 tournament championship: 2015.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2021.

Best returning player: Ace Baldwin, a 6-0 guard, has started 50 games the last two seasons. He’s one of four A-10 second-team selections returning this season, along with Holmes, Richmond’s Tyler Burton and Davidson’s Foster Loyer.

Top freshmen: While Sharavjamts earned the highest-ranking among A-10 recruits in the ESPN rankings, Alphonzo Billups, a 6-6 forward, had the top ranking on ESPN’s list. He’s No. 94.

Top transfer: Zeb Jackson, a 6-5 guard from Toledo, ranked 71st in the class of 2022, according to ESPN. He played in 20 games the last two seasons at Michigan.

Summary: The Rams lost their top three scorers (Vince Williams, KeShawn Curry and Hason Ward) but bring in the A-10′s top-ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports.com, with Billups and Christian Fermin, a 6-10 center who ranked 143rd in the class of 2022.

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

4. Richmond

Head coach: Chris Mooney, 18th season (312-244).

Last year’s record: 24-13, 10-8 (sixth place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: None.

Last A-10 tournament championship: 2022.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2022.

Best returning player: Tyler Burton, a 6-7 forward, led the team with 16.1 points per game last season and made the A-10 second team.

Top freshman: Richmond’s only true freshman is Mike Walz, a 6-11 center who averaged 14.0 points per game as a senior.

Top transfer: Neal Quinn, a 7-0 center, averaged 14.8 points last season at Lafayette.

Summary: The Spiders kept Dayton out of the NCAA tournament by beating it in the semifinals of the A-10 tournament and then beating Davidson a day later. They capitalized on having the nation’s 18th-most experienced roster. While Richmond lost three starters, it also returns three key players: Burton; Andre Gustavson; and Matt Grace.

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

5. Davidson

Head coach: Matt McKillop, first season.

Last year’s record: 27-7; 15-3 (first place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: 2022.

Last A-10 tournament championship: 2018.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2022.

Best returning player: Foster Loyer, a 6-0 guard, led the team in scoring last season with 16.1 points per game. It was his first season at Davidson after three seasons at Michigan State.

Top freshman: Reed Bailey, a 6-9 forward, ranked 182nd in the class of 2022, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings.

Top transfer: Connor Kochera, a 6-5 guard, averaged 11.8 points the last two seasons at William & Mary.

Summary: The defending A-10 regular-season champions lost the A-10 Player of the year, Luka Brajkovic, and another first-team selection, Hyunjung Lee, as well as their longtime coach, Bob McKillop, and will start a new era with the coach’s son leading the program. Four players who averaged double-figure minutes return.

Credit: Gene J. Puskar

Credit: Gene J. Puskar

6. Loyola Chicago

Head coach: Drew Valentine, second season (25-8).

Last year’s record: 25-8; 13-5 in Missouri Valley Conference.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2022.

Best returning player: Braden Norris, a 6-0 guard from Hilliard Bradley High School, has started every game the last two seasons for two teams that made the NCAA tournament. He has averaged 9.4 points in two seasons with the Ramblers.

Top freshman: Loyola’s 2022 class includes Jalen Quinn, a 6-4 guard from Tuscola, Ill, who averaged 24.0 points per game as a senior.

Top transfer: Bryce Golden, a 6-9 center, scored 811 points in the last four seasons at Butler.

Summary: The A-10 newcomer lost five of its top seven scorers. It moves from the nation’s 11th-ranked conference, according to the Ken Pomeroy ratings, to the 10th-ranked. Loyola finished first or second in the MVC in each of the last five seasons.

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

7. George Mason

Head coach: Kim English, second season (14-16).

Last year’s record: 14-16; 7-9 (ninth place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: None.

Last A-10 tournament championship: None.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2011.

Best returning player: Josh Oduro, a 6-9 forward, made the A-10 first team last season while leading the team in scoring with 17.7 points per game.

Top freshman: Elvis Nnaji, a 6-9 forward, ranked 239th in the 2022 class, according to 247Sports.com.

Top transfer: Victor Bailey Jr., a 6-4 guard, played two seasons at Oregon and two at Tennessee. He’s entering his sixth season in college basketball and has 894 points in his career.

Summary: The Patriots have finished above .500 in A-10 play twice in nine seasons since joining the conference. Oduro gives them a chance to compete for a top-four spot this season.

Credit: Andrew Harnik

Credit: Andrew Harnik

8. George Washington

Head coach: Chris Caputo (first season).

Last year’s record: 12-18; 8-9 (seventh place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: 2006 (West Division).

Last A-10 tournament championship: 2007.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2014.

Best returning player: James Bishop, a 6-2 guard, led the team in scoring last season (16.7).

Top freshman: The only freshman on the roster is 6-8 forward Jabari West Jr., a three-star recruit in the 2022 class.

Top transfer: Maximus Edwards, a 6-5 guard, attended Kansas State last season but did not play after suffering a preseason injury.

Summary: The Colonials, who will go by a new but yet unnamed nickname in the 2023-24 academic year, return four of their top six starters.

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

9. St. Bonaventure

Head coach: Mark Schmidt, 16th season (268-195).

Last year’s record: 23-10; 12-5 (fourth place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: 2021.

Last A-10 tournament championship: 2021.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2021.

Best returning player: The only player on the roster who saw action last season is Justin Ndjock-Tadjore, a 6-7 guard who played a total of 31 minutes last season in 12 games.

Top freshman: Yann Farrell, a 6-7 forward, ranked 128th in the 2022 class, according to Rivals.com.

Top transfer: Daryl Banks III, a 6-3 guard, averaged 10 points the last three seasons at St. Peter’s.

Summary: The Bonnies had essentially the same team the last two seasons but were unable to repeat their 2021 success this past season. Now they’re rebuilding after losing their entire starting lineup. Four starters had another year of eligibility because the 2020-21 season didn’t count against anyone’s eligibility but elected to transfer.

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

10. Massachusetts

Head coach: Frank Martin, first season.

Last year’s record: 15-17, 7-11 (10th place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: 2007.

Last A-10 tournament championship: 1996.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2014.

Best returning player: Noah Fernandes, a 5-11 guard, led the team with 14.9 points per game last season.

Top freshman: RJ Luis, a 6-6 guard, ranked 229th in the class of 2022, according to the 247Sports.com rankings.

Top transfer: Wildens Leveque, a 6-10 forward/center, averaged 4.9 points the last three seasons at South Carolina.

Summary: Martin is the fifth coach hired by UMass this century. Only Derek Kellogg, in 2013-14, has taken the program to the NCAA tournament since it made seven straight NCAA appearances in the 1990s.

Credit: David Jablonski/Staff

Credit: David Jablonski/Staff

11. Fordham

Head coach: Keith Urgo (first season).

Last year’s record: 16-16; 8-10 (eighth place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: None.

Last A-10 tournament championship: None.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 1992.

Best returning player: Darius Quisenberry, a Wayne High School graduate, elected to return for a fifth season in college basketball. He played three seasons at Youngstown State and then averaged 16.2 points last season in his first season at Fordham.

Top freshman: Will Richardson, a 6-2 guard, ranked 152nd in the 2022 class, according to 247Sports.com.

Top newcomer: Khalid Moore, a 6-7 forward, averaged 4.4 points the last four seasons at Georgia Tech.

Summary: The Rams ended a streak of five straight losing seasons last season but then saw coach Kyle Neptune take Jay Wright’s spot at Villanova.

12. Rhode Island

Head coach: Archie Miller, first season.

Last year’s record: 15-16; 5-12 (11th place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: 2018.

Last A-10 tournament championship: 2017.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2018.

Best returning player: Ishmael Leggett, a 6-2 guard, averaged 7.6 points in his first two seasons.

Top freshmen: Miller’s first recruiting class includes three unranked recruits: Louis Hutchinson, a 6-7 guard/forward; Jeremy Foumena, a 6-11 center; and Rory Stewart, a 6-8 forward.

Top transfer: Brayon Freeman, a 6-2 guard, averaged 10.3 points last season as a freshman at George Washington.

Summary: The former Dayton and Indiana coach Miller returns to college basketball after a one-year absence. He inherits a program that failed to build on back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in the last two seasons of Dan Hurley’s tenure and now is rebuilding after losing its top three scorers.

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

13. Saint Joseph’s

Head coach: Billy Lange, fourth season (22-60).

Last year’s record: 11-19; 5-13 (tied for 12th).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: 2005 (East Division).

Last A-10 tournament championship: 2016.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2016.

Best returning player: Ejike Obinna, a 6-10 forward/center, ranked third on the team with 12.1 points per game last season and led the team with 7.9 rebounds per game.

Top freshman: Christian Winborne, a 6-2 guard, ranked 236th in the 2022 class, according to 247Sports.com.

Top transfer: Lynn Greer III appeared in 10 games for Dayton last season before joining the Hawks at midseason. He sat out the remainder of the season.

Summary: The Hawks, who won a total of 10 A-10 games in Lange’s first three seasons, return three of their top five scorers.

Credit: Matt Slocum

Credit: Matt Slocum

14. La Salle

Head coach: Fran Dunphy, first season.

Last year’s record: 11-19; 5-13 (tied for 12th).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: None.

Last A-10 tournament championship: None.

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 2013.

Best returning player: Josh Nickelberry, a 6-2 guard, averaged 11.2 points last season.

Top freshman: The only true freshman on the roster is Rokas Jocius, a 6-10 forward from Lithuania.

Top transfers: Fousseyni Drame and Hassan Drame combined to average 13.0 points last season for St. Peter’s.

Summary: The Explorers lost their top two scorers but return their next three scorers as they try to end a streak of nine straight non-winning seasons in A-10 play. Dunphy returns to coaching three years after his last season at Temple.

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

15. Duquesne

Head coach: Keith Dambrot, sixth season (71-71).

Last year’s record: 6-24; 1-16 (14th place).

Last A-10 regular-season championship: 1981 (Eastern 8).

Last A-10 tournament championship: 1977 (Eastern 8).

Last NCAA tournament appearance: 1977.

Best returning player: Kevin Easley Jr., a 6-7 forward, averaged 10.7 points last season.

Top freshman: Among five incoming freshmen is Devin Carney, a 6-1 guard who scored 2,082 points in high school.

Top transfer: Dae Dae Grant, a 6-2 guard, scored 1,171 points the last three seasons with the Miami RedHawks.

Summary: The Dukes experienced their worst season since 1998-99 (5-23) this past season and return two of their top seven scorers.