Rhode Island reached 13-0 two seasons ago before losing three of its last five games. Saint Louis got to 12-0 in 2014 when the A-10 had a 16-game schedule and then lost three of its last four games. Each of those teams still won the regular-season championship. Neither team won the conference tournament. Both teams won one NCAA tournament game.
In all the rankings, whether they’re human or computer generated, this Dayton team (20-2, 9-0) is better than either of those teams and could end up ranked among the great teams in A-10 history. The next nine games will help determine Dayton’s fate.
Before moving forward, it’s a good chance to examine the A-10 midway through the 18-game schedule:
Player of the year: It's hard to imagine anyone passing Dayton forward Obi Toppin, who should become the first player in Dayton history to win this award. He ranks first in the conference in field-goal percentage (62.8), third in scoring (19.7 points per game), seventh in rebounding (7.9), sixth in blocks (1.3). He was the only A-10 player named to the late-season watch list for the Wooden Award.
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Rookie of the year: Massachusetts freshman forward Tre Mitchell ranks fifth in the A-10 in scoring (15.5). That might make him the favorite, but Virginia Commonwealth freshman guard Nah'Shon Hyland has come on strong in A-10 play, scoring 15 or more points in five of his last six games.
Defensive player of the year: Richmond guard Jacob Gilyard, a preseason all-defensive team selection, leads the league and the nation with 3.3 steals per game. Right behind him is Rhode Island guard Fatts Russell (3.1).
Most improved player: George Washington senior guard Armel Potter is averaging 14.5 points per game after averaging 6.0 last season.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
Sixth man of the year: Dayton redshirt junior guard Ibi Watson is tied for the A-10 lead in 3-point shooting percentage (44.1) with Hyland. Watson averages 11.5 points off the bench.
Coach of the year: This will come down to Dayton's Anthony Grant, who's in his third season, or Rhode Island's David Cox, who's in his second season.
Team to beat: Dayton is the highest-ranked A-1o team since George Washington reached No. 6 in March 2006. The Flyers play five of their last nine games at UD Arena, where they are 12-0 this season.
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Team to watch: Second-place Rhode Island (16-5, 8-1) has won eight games in a row and swept two games from preseason favorite VCU, one of five teams tied for third place at 6-3.
Most disappointing team: Davidson, which finished second at 14-4 last season and was picked to finish second again, sits alone in eighth place at 5-4.
Worst team: Last-place Saint Joseph's (4-18, 0-9) could finish with its worst record since a 7-21 mark in 1989-90.
Most interesting stat: VCU, the defending regular-season champion, and Davidson combined to lose six A-10 games last season and already have seven losses this season.
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Best games ahead: Dayton and Rhode Island play twice in the second half of the schedule: Feb. 11 in Dayton and March 4 in Kingston, R.I. Each team won at the other team's arena last season.
The games will match Toppin and his brother Jacob, a freshman at Rhode Island. Jacob averages 4.9 points in 19.3 minutes per game.
Best game so far: George Washington beat Davidson 107-104 in four overtimes on Jan. 29 at the Charles E. Smith Center. There were 20 lead changes and 17 ties.
NCAA tournament picture: In Joe Lunardi's latest bracket prediction for ESPN.com, he had the A-10 getting three bids: No. 2 seed Dayton vs. No. 15 South Dakota State in Cleveland; No. 10 Rhode Island vs. No. 7 Houston in Greensboro, N.C.; and No. 11 VCU vs. No. 11 Mississippi State in the First Four.
SATURDAY’S GAME
Saint Louis at Dayton, 2 p.m., CBS Sports Network, 1290 and 95.7 WHIO
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