Since joining the Atlantic 10 in 1996, Dayton has never won an outright regular-season title. That all changes this year.
Head coach Brian Gregory returns all but one of his top 12 scorers from a team that went 27-8 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament before bowing out against Kansas. The Flyers – led by YouTube dunking sensation Chris Wright – finally have the depth and athleticism for Gregory – a Tom Izzo disciple – to implement the Michigan State system. It’s a system that demands intensity on defense and the backboards. If you’re not on board, find a new school.
Gregory needs to see the type of dominance Wright displayed in Dayton’s first round NCAA Tournament win against West Virginia (27 points, 10 boards) on a nightly basis. If that happens, Wright likely will be A-10 Player of the Year, Gregory win be in line for a more high-profile job and the Flyers will win the A-10.
Xavier, the A-l0′s best program over the past half-dozen years (a stretch that includes two Elite Eight trips), lost three starters as well as head coach Sean Miner (to Arizona), but new coach Chris Mack inherits plenty of talent and should push Dayton for the title. Some of the Musketeers’ gifted young players – i.e. Indiana transfer Jordan Crawford – must take on starring roles immediately if Xavier is to stay atop the A-10 charts.
Crawford, who started his career at Indiana, created quite a buzz over the summer with his dunk over LeBron James. He averaged 9.7 points and 2.3 assists for the Hoosiers as a frosh and will be one of the A-10′s bright new faces, along with UMass freshman Terrell Vinson, La Salle freshman Aaric Murray and Temple freshman Rahlir Jefferson.
If anyone can break up the state of Ohio’s expected stranglehold on the A-l0, it likely will be either Richmond a team that returns four starters and also welcomes back 6-9 junior Dan Geriot (who missed all of last season with a knee injury) – or John Giannini’s senior-laden La Salle squad, paced by 6-5 future pro Rodney Green.
OUR 2009-2010 ATLANTIC 10 STANDINGS PREDICTIONS & PICKS
1. Dayton Flyers
2. Xavier Musketeers
3. Richmond Spiders
4. La Salle Explorers
5. Massachusetts Minutemen
6. Temple Owls
7. Duquesne Dukes
8. St. Bonaventure Bonnies
9. Rhode Island Rams
10. St. Joseph’s Hawks
11. Charlotte 49ers
12. Saint Louis Billikens
13. George Washington Colonials
14. Fordham Rams
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