All articles tagged with #atlantic 10
Defector's Lauren Theisen argues the Saint Louis Billikens are a compelling March Madness pick, noting a season that started 24-1, a 3-3 finish, and two exciting Atlantic 10 tournament wins as they chase their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019.
After a 47-year drought, Duquesne secured their first NCAA tournament bid by defeating VCU 57-51 in the Atlantic 10 championship game. Despite a challenging second half, the Dukes relied on their defense and an eight-game winning streak to clinch the victory. Coach Keith Dambrot, who previously coached LeBron James in high school, led the team to their first NCAA bid since 1977. This triumph comes amidst personal challenges for Dambrot, whose wife has been battling breast cancer.
The University of Massachusetts is set to join the MAC for the 2025-26 school year in applicable sports, leaving the Atlantic 10 Conference where it has been a member since 1976. UMass will remain an independent in football but will join the MAC for other sports, with its hockey program staying in the Hockey East. The move brings the MAC up to 13 teams and may lead to speculation about adding a 14th member for balance.
The Richmond Spiders and Boston College Eagles, both with 2-0 records, will face off in a non-conference game. Neither team has a history of playing at a fast tempo, and both have ranked low in possessions per game in recent seasons. Richmond's addition of Jordan King has improved their 3-point shooting percentage, while Boston College has struggled in that area. With Richmond's strong defense and both teams playing at a slower pace, the prediction is for the game to go under 144.5 points.
The University of Rhode Island women's basketball team is favored to win the Atlantic 10 regular season championship, receiving 12 out of 15 first-place votes at Media Day. Four players, including Mayé Touré and Teisha Hyman, received individual recognition. Coach Tammi Reiss expressed confidence in the team's ability to win the league and tournament championships and make it to the NCAA Tournament. Last season's conference tournament semifinals loss to Saint Louis serves as motivation for the Rams.
VCU basketball players Jalen Deloach and Ace Baldwin reacted to rumors of head coach Mike Rhoades' potential departure on Twitter. If Rhoades leaves, it could lead to a complete rebuilding process for the Rams under a new head coach, with many players potentially entering the transfer portal. Rhoades has not yet informed VCU officials of his decision, but there is an increasing expectation of his departure.