Atlantic 10 predictions: Dayton Flyers a consensus top-four team

The official Atlantic 10 Conference preseason men’s basketball poll comes out in October. Numerous unofficial predictions for the 2019-20 season have come out this summer.

» JABLONSKI: My early A-10 prediction

In short, Virginia Commonwealth, the defending regular-season champion, is everyone’s favorite. Davidson, Dayton and Rhode Island rank in the top four of most predictions — not necessarily in that order. Almost everyone’s picking Fordham to finish last as usual. The nine teams in the middle are harder to pick.

» THE TOURNAMENT: Dayton alums believe they can get it done

NBCSports.com picked Dayton third, and that seems to be the most popular spot for the Flyers. In a story about the whole conference, Rob Dauster wrote of the Flyers, "On paper, Dayton is right there with Davidson and VCU. They lose Josh Cunningham, but with the rest of their rotation – including a bonafide pro in Obi Toppin – returning and four sit-out transfers entering the fold, there is more than enough talent, depth and experience on the roster. The reason I have them a notch below the favorites is because I want to see how all the pieces come together. They can certainly win the league, but managing minutes and egos is going to be the toughest part of Anthony Grant's job this season."

Here’s a roundup of other predictions seen on Twitter.

Atlantic 10 Offseason Power Rankings

1. VCU
2. Davidson
3. Dayton
4. Rhode Island
5. St. Bonaventure
6. Saint Louis
7. Richmond
8. Duquesne
9. George Mason
10. La Salle
11. St. Joe’s
12. UMass
13. GW
14. Fordham
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 8, 2019

How I see the A10 playing out now that rosters and staffs are set. Probably won’t change much if at all between now and the beginning of the season barring injuries:

VCU
Davidson
Rhode Island
Dayton
Bonas
Richmond
SLU
Duquesne
Mason
UMass
La Salle
GW
Saint Joe’s
Fordham
— Stu Luddecke (@SLuddecke93) June 27, 2019

Atlantic 10:

Dayton
VCU
Davidson
Saint Bonaventure
Rhode Island
Duquesne
La Salle
Saint Louis
George Mason
UMass
George Washington
Saint Joseph’s
Richmond
Fordham
— bryan mauro (@threecolorbeard) June 10, 2019

Atlantic 10 Preseason Prediction Standings

1)VCU
2)Davidson
3)Dayton
4)Rhode Island
5)St Bonaventure
6)Richmond
7)Duquesne
8)St Louis
9)George Mason
10)La Salle
11)UMass
12)St Joseph’s
13)George Washington
14)Fordham
— Michael Beard (@ThatBracketGuy) July 9, 2019

Here’s my A-10 Preseason Poll:
1. VCU
2. Davidson
3. Dayton
4. Rhode Island
5. Richmond
6. St. Bonaventure
7. Mason
8. Duquesne
9. St. Louis
10. UMass
11. La Salle
12. Saint Joseph’s
13. GW
14. Fordham#A10MBB https://t.co/sqmw20cwkF
— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) July 17, 2019

A-10 basketball rankings for 2019-20:

1. VCU
2. Davidson
3. Dayton
4. Rhode Island
5. Duquesne
6. St. Bonaventure
7. St. Louis
8. UMass
9. George Mason
10. Richmond
11. La Salle
12. GW
13. St. Joe's
14. Fordham

Expect 3-4 bids from league next season.
— Tristan Freeman (@hoopsnut351) June 29, 2019

A10 Preseason Poll:
1. VCU
2. Davidson
3. Rhode Island
4. Dayton
5. Richmond
6. Duquesne
7. St.Louis
8. St.Bonnie
9. George Mason
10. GW
11. La Salle
12. Umass
13. Saint Joes
14. Fordham

Atlantic Sun Coming Later Today
— Nick Lorensen (@daily_cbb) July 16, 2019