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Atlantic 10 overview

With Temple depleted, race is wide open

By Ron Chimelis, Special to CNNSI.com

Monty Mack averaged just junder 20 points per game a year ago. Ezra O. Shaw/Allsport

Order of Finish 1. Xavier 2. Temple 3. George Washington 4. Massachusetts 5. Dayton 6. St. Joseph's 7. Fordham 8. La Salle 9. St. Bonaventure 10. Duquesne 11. Rhode Island

Top storylines

For this season only, with the departure of Virginia Tech and a one-year delay before Richmond joins the league, the Atlantic 10 will operate under an 11-team, one-division setup. That gives teams like Duquesne and Rhode Island the unwelcome opportunity to finish 11th, but it also creates an unbalanced, 16-game schedule with some teams playing each other twice, and others meeting only once.

That could have something to say about the order of finish in a league where Temple will come back to the pack somewhat after losing Mark Karcher, Pepe Sanchez and Lamont Barnes from last year's team. With its usual deep cast of athletes, Xavier looks ready to challenge for the title and neither George Washington nor Massachusetts can be counted out. GW relies heavily -- sometimes too heavily -- on offense, while UMass has sometimes faced the reverse problem, depending on a defense that will at least be helped by a restoration of its typically strong rebounding game.

The most intriguing A-10 team might be Fordham, which is rising from the league's depths under Bob Hill but may be a year too young to rise above the middle of the pack -- which would still represent improvement. The rest of the league has a lot to prove, especially with heavy graduation losses incurred at 2000 NCAA tournament participant St. Bonaventure.

How they will spend Selection Sunday
Relaxing	Sweating	Fishing
Xavier, Temple, George Washington	Massachusetts, Dayton	St. Joseph's, Fordham, La Salle, St. Bonaventure, Duquesne, Rhode Island

Players to Watch

Top Three Frontcourt Players

Kevin Lyde, Temple • Had 7.6 rpg, and his 1.65 blocks per game last year led all A-10 returning A-10 players. David West, Xavier • League leader in rebounding (9.1 rpg) as a freshman, and 1.06 bpg. Victor Thomas, La Salle • Slender (200 pounds), but the 6-7 forward ranks among A-10 leaders in scoring (16.2 ppg, eighth) and rebounding (8.7 rpg, second).

Top Three Backcourt Players

Monty Mack, UMass • Shooting guard should become second UMass player (with Jim McCoy) to ever score 2,000 career points. SirValiant Brown, George Washington • A scoring machine whose 24.6 ppg was second in the country, and perfect for GW's run-and-gun style. Marvin O'Connor, St. Joseph's • Villanova transfer scored 16.6 ppg last year and is the Hawks' only player with game-breaking offensive skills.

Top Three Newcomers

Jeff McMillan, Fordham • Landing the highly touted 6-8 power forward is a signal that the Rams will be able to compete in the paint. Ron Blackshear, Temple • On a team that lost a lot of offense to graduation and the pros, the 6-4 sophomore who sat out a year can score. Willie Jenkins, UMass • Not the most highly publicized player to sign with the Minutemen, but he could start at small forward and his work habits have astounded the coaches.

Coaches

Hot Coach

Bob Hill, Fordham • The Rams have gone from nobodies to a significance force on the recruiting front, and that will grow as long as the former NBA coach remains in the Bronx.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Bruiser Flint, UMass • Falling attendance and leftover expectations from the John Calipari years mean Flint must make the 2001 NCAA tournament, or else.

Schedules

Toughest Schedule

Temple • A game with Cincinnati was canceled due to scheduling problems, but the Owls still face Memphis, Duke, Wisconsin and Wake Forest before Christmas.

Quickest-Way-to-20-Wins Schedule

Dayton • The schedule is tougher, starting with the Maui Classic, but there are still home games with Marshall, Prairie View, Old Dominion, Morehead State and Siena tucked in.

Mark Your Calendar

Dec. 2, Duke at Temple • The A-10 doesn't get many chances to bask in the national spotlight, but this is one of them. Dec. 14, Xavier at Cincinnat • Calling a rivalry a "war" is sometimes exaggeration, but not in this case. Feb. 3, George Washington at Xavier • If GW can win this one, the Colonials could capture the Atlantic 10. Feb. 17, Temple at UMass • The Minutemen had the Owls' number for years, and they think they're good enough again.

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