There is a lot of traffic near the top of the Atlantic 10 standings. The uncertainty, last-minute cancellations and overall juggling of schedules in this pandemic has been the main factor.
Saint Louis, the favorite of many, has not played a conference game to date. In fact, Travis Ford’s Billikens last took the floor on December 23, a 62-45 victory over UMKC. Their A-10 schedule is set to begin January 20, as they visit UMass. Dayton, thought to be in for a long season after a loss to Fordham, has won two straight and seems to be back on track.
It seems relatively early, but the fact is we are a third of the way through the conference schedule. The next few weeks will undoubtedly give us a clearer picture regarding the conference race. For now, conference contenders and pretenders have yet to be sorted out. The following set of numbers is the efficiency margins and records for conference play. Games through January 13 are included, with numbers courtesy of KenPom.
Efficiency Margins and Records
1) St. Bonaventure (+14, 3-1)
2) UMass (+12, 3-1)
3) Richmond (+11, 3-1)
4) Dayton (+8, 3-2)
5) Davidson (+6, 3-2)
6) VCU (+4, 3-1)
T-7) Rhode Island (+2, 3-3)
T-7) George Washington (+2, 2-2)
9) George Mason (0, 2-3)
10) Duquesne (-2, 2-3)
11) La Salle (-9, 2-3)
12) Saint Joseph’s (-21, 0-4)
13) Fordham (-24, 1-4)
Saint Louis (+18 OOC, 0-0 A-10)
Fastest Pace
T-1) UMass, Saint Joseph’s, and VCU (73 possessions per game)
4) Rhode Island (72)
5) LaSalle (70)
It does not look like there will be much change among the teams listed here. They are all in on the uptempo game.
Slowest Pace
T-1) Fordham and Dayton (63 possessions per game)
T-3) Duquesne and St. Bonaventure (66)
5) Davidson (67)
As with those pushing the pace, the quintet listed here has a few teams, such as Fordham and Davidson, in this group that have been buying into a more controlled pace for several seasons.
Offensive Efficiency Leaders
1) Richmond (112)
2) Dayton (109)
T-3) Davidson (106)
T-3) UMass (106)
5) St. Bonaventure (105)
Some impressive numbers at the top, but they are certain to drop slightly as the season progresses and defenses adjust.
Defensive Efficiency Leaders
1) St. Bonaventure (91)
T-2) VCU (94)
T-2) UMass (94)
4) Rhode Island (95)
5) George Mason (96)
The Bonnies are playing well on the defensive end. In their 68-54 win at Fordham on Wednesday the Rams were limited to 17 second-half points.
Turnover Rate Leaders
1) Richmond (12 percent)
2) UMass (17)
T-3) Davidson, St. Bonaventure, and Duquesne (19)
As noted many times, a 20 percent rate is the generally accepted threshold for turnovers. You want to keep your turnovers below 20 percent of your total possessions. A 20 percent rate means you are turning the ball over once every five possessions, an unacceptable figure.
Richmond has been outstanding and the Spiders’ 12 percent rate goes a long way toward their 112 offensive efficiency. UMass also deserves special recognition. The Minutemen push the ball at a very fast pace. In that transition tempo, coming in with a 17 percent rate is impressive, and a number playing no small part in their impressive start.
Games of Note
January 8: Dayton 89, Davidson 78 (OT)
Possessions: 71
Coming off a loss at Fordham three nights earlier, the prospects of invading Belk Arena proved quite less than favorable. The Flyers, who opened their conference season with a home loss to La Salle, rose to the occasion, scoring a huge overtime victory. Time will tell but this could be a season-changer for Anthony Grant’s group. Dayton had an incredible stat, recording just one offensive rebound. The Flyers did limit their turnovers to an impressive 14 percent rate while racking up an equally impressive 125 offensive efficiency.
January 9: Rhode Island 83, VCU 68
Possessions: 76
In the battle of the Rams, the representatives from the Ocean State went southward to score a convincing victory. While Rhode Island shot 8-of-14 from 3-point range, en route to a 109 efficiency, it was defense that was the order of the day. VCU could only manage an 89 efficiency as it shot 39 percent from the field and was forced into a 21 percent turnover rate.
Saint Joseph’s 67, Albany 64
Possessions: 69
No, Albany is not in the A-10. The game bears mention, though, as it was the Hawks’ first victory of the season. After heartbreaking losses in overtime to Auburn and Rhode Island, and a close one against Drexel, Billy Lange and his team finally got into the winner’s circle. The Hawks had been allowing a too-generous 109 on the defensive efficiency end. In this one, they limited the Great Danes to a 93 to secure the long-awaited win.
Upcoming Contests to Watch
January 15: Duquesne at St. Bonaventure
Mark Schmidt’s Bonnies are on a roll, with three straight wins after a season-opening loss at Rhode Island. Visiting Duquesne, year in and year out, is always a tough out for the hosts.
January 17: Dayton at George Washington
On paper, one would have to say Dayton is the better team. Games are not played on paper, however, and the Flyers certainly remember what happened at Rose Hill last week. This is a game they should not let slip away.
*Note: This game is now being played at George Mason
January 18: Saint Joseph’s at La Salle
Beyond the A-10 implications, this is a Big 5 matchup. Throw out the records in those games. One can argue the rivalry is not what it was during the Palestra days, but still, there is a rivalry making this game special.
January 20: Saint Louis at UMass
Travis Ford returns to his old Mullins Center stomping grounds, where he coached the Minutemen a little over a decade ago. Ford’s concern is his own Saint Louis team and how it will respond after a lengthy layoff.
Conference Statistics
Offensive efficiency: 99
Tempo: 69 possessions per game
Turnover rate: 20 percent
Home court record: 14-16 (.467)
Home teams are still not enjoying the full advantage of being on familiar ground. The absence of crowd support, as noted last week, reduces many of these games to more of a neutral-court environment.
Blowouts: 5 of 30 (16.7 percent)
KenPom defines these as games with a final margin of 20 or more points. In the early going, the conference has seen few one-sided affairs. As the weeks go by, that can change and will be worth keeping an eye on. The numbers may alter in the blowout category, but from the early going, there is an indication there will not be a drastic shift in those numbers.
All-KenPom Team
Jordan Goodwin, Saint Louis
Jalen Crutcher, Dayton
Grant Golden, Richmond
Fatts Russell, Rhode Island
Bones Hyland, VCU
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