By PAUL GOTHAM
Heading into the second half of the Atlantic 10 schedule with VCU (9-0), Dayton (8-1) and Saint Joseph’s (7-2) leading the way. George Washington, St. Bonaventure and Duquesne, within a game of each other, are battling it out for the fourth spot in the standings. Three nationally televised games highlight the weekend slate. Here’s the rundown:
George Washington (17-5/6-3) at VCU (17-5/9-0) Noon Saturday CBS Sports Network
VCU has won 12 straight and only one of those victories was a single-possession game – on the road against a good Saint Joseph’s team. This much has stayed the same under first-year head coach Will Wade, the Rams force 16.9 turnovers a game (3rd nationally), but the Rams are connecting 38.2 percent from long range in comparison 34.3 a year ago. Melvin Johnson leads the A-10 nailing 3.7 makes a game. GW’s only loss in their last four happened in double overtime to Richmond. Tyler Cavanaugh (16.8 ppg/ 7.6 rpg) continues to be the Colonials most consistent performer scoring double figures in all 22 games.
Davidson (12-8/4-5) at Duquesne (5-4/15-7) 12:30 p.m. Saturday NBCSN
Quietly Duquesne has won three straight and five of six. The Dukes only loss in that stretch occurred at VCU. Duquesne lost team leader Jeremiah Jones to a season-ending injury in late December and has figured out how to win with Derrick Colter (18.1 ppg/4 apg) and Micah Mason (16.1 ppg/4.3 apg) leading the way. The Dukes have not lost at home since January 2. Davidson, the reigning regular season conference champion, is looking to stop a two-game skid. Jack Gibbs is fourth in the nation scoring 25.5 points a game.
Halfway through #A10MBB regular season conference play. Check out the teams that sit atop the conference right now: pic.twitter.com/wmEJnUIqyz
— Atlantic 10 MBB (@A10MBB) February 5, 2016
No. 24 Dayton (18-3/8-1) at George Mason (8-14/2-7) 6 p.m. Saturday MASN
Dayton’s only conference loss occurred on the road. The Flyers used it for motivation:
Preview: @DaytonMBB gets chance to avenge its worst loss of season against La Salle https://t.co/7zLgnNwgtf pic.twitter.com/np0sggM2AI
— David Jablonski (@DavidPJablonski) January 30, 2016
UD, coming off a mid-week bye, is 17th in the nation holding opponents to .92004 points per possession with a defense limiting opposing shooters to 39.7 percent from the floor (21 in country). Charles Cooke (15.7 ppg) leads an offense hitting 53.3 percent inside the arc. Jaire Grayer and Otis Livingston II combined for 38 points as George Mason won at Richmond on Wednesday.
Saint Louis (8-13/3-6) at St. Bonaventure (14-6/6-3) 2 p.m. Sunday NBCSN
Winners of two straight, the Bonnies are 6-3 for the first time in Mark Schmidt’s nine-year tenure as head coach. Marcus Posley (19. ppg) leads a Bona offense ranked top 50 in the nation committing 11.1 turnovers per game. The Bonnies lead the A-10 with 9.1 mishandles in conference games. Jaylen Adams ranks top 50 in the nation with a 1.31 PPWS (Points per Weighted Shot. Measures how efficiently a player translates field goal attempts and free throw attempts into points). Ash Yacoubou paces the Billikens with 12.2 points and 5.9 rebounds a game.
OTHER GAMES
Saint Joseph’s (18-4/7-2) at Fordham (12-8/3-6) 2 p.m. Saturday A10 Network
UMass (9-12/2-7) at Richmond (11-10/3-6) 6 p.m. Saturday CSN-MA-Plus A10 Network
Rhode Island (12-10/4-5) at La Salle (5-15/1-8) 8 p.m. Saturday ASN A10 Network
Leave a Reply