By Paul Gotham
Time is ticking away with a date in Brooklyn looming. The top four teams in the conference earn byes to the quarter-finals. Six A-10 teams rank top 50 in the RPI ratings. Plenty up for grabs as March approaches.
Four weekend A10 games in order of importance.
VCU (20-5/8-2) at No. 12 St. Louis (22-2/9-0) 2 pm ESPN2
If anyone in the A-10 is going to catch St. Louis, it needs to start with a VCU victory. Easier said than done especially considering the game will be played in Chaifetz Arena. Hard to imagine two teams which rely so heavily on defense yet have more opposite approaches. The first-place Billikens lead the nation in points allowed per possession (.854). VCU is tops in steals (11.7), turnovers forced (18.3) and turnover rate (25.0). SLU grinds it out in the half-court. VCU wreaks Havoc. The Bills best defense on Saturday might be ball control to keep VCU from getting uncontested layups. The Rams pressure starts with Briante Weber (3.8 steals a game). SLU’s Jordair Jett scores 13 a game while handing out nearly five assists.
St. Louis by five.
UMass (19-5/6-4) at George Washington (19-5/7-3) 2 pm SNY/CSN MA
One month ago UMass was 15-1 and knocking on the door to get in the Top Ten. Then the Minutemen dropped three of four and find themselves on the outside looking in at the top four of the A-10. Until Wednesday night, GW had weathered the storm well without Kethan Savage. Cady Lalanne averages 8.7 rebounds and 13 points a game for UMass. Isaiah Armwood grabs 8.4 boards and nets a dozen a game for the Colonials. GW is undefeated at home this year. Struggling against VCU’s pressure on Wednesday will have them prepared for the Minutemen.
GW by seven.
St. Joseph’s (16-7/6-3) at La Salle (12-11/4-5) 11 am ESPNU
St. Joseph’s has won three of four with their only loss coming to St. Louis. La Salle has dropped five of six including a two-point setback to SLU. Throw out the records when it comes to this Phily 5 matchup. The Explorers will be looking for redemption, a .500 record in A10 and a 3-1 mark among foes in the City of Brotherly Love. Tyreek Duren leads La Salle and is one of the best playmakers in the nation with 2:1 assist to turnover rate. Halil Kanacevic leads St. Joseph’s in rebounds (8.7) and assists. The Explorers benefit from playing on their home court.
La Salle by two.
St. Bonaventure (14-10/4-6) at George Mason (9-15/2-8) 6 pm MASN
George Mason’s Patriots have picked themselves off the canvas and won two straight on the road including an 11-point win at UMass, Wednesday. St. Bonaventure won for the first time on the road in conference play when they took care of Fordham in their last outing. Bryon Allen leads GMU in points (15.3) and assists (3.1). Matthew Wright nets more than 15 a game for the Bonnies. Bona makes it two in a row away from the Reilly Center.
SBU by three.
Other Games
Duquesne (10-13/2-8) at Rhode Island (11-14/2-8) Noon SNY/OSN
Fordham (9-14/2-8) at Richmond (16-8/6-3) 6 pm SNY/CSN MA
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