2025 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament Preview
- Zach Penrice
- Mar 10
- 17 min read
Updated: Mar 11
Nuts & Bolts
Dates: March 12-16
Venue: Capital One Arena - Washington, D.C.
How to Watch: USA Network / CBS Sports Network / CBS
Bracket: Available HERE
Final League Standings: HERE
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The Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Conference Tournament gets started on Wednesday as the 15 schools compete for coveted automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
VCU has a chance to earn an at-large bid to make the Big Dance while every other school absolutely must win this tournament in order to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
In this article, we’ll take a quick look at each team in the order in which they finished in the regular season standings, what to watch for, what to know, and how they might fare this week in D.C.
Head Coach: Ryan Odom (2nd season, 49-20 record at VCU)
Record: 25-6 (15-3 in A10)
Last 10: 9-1
NET: 31
KenPom: 29
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 19
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2023
Player to Watch: Max Shulga
One Stat to Know: Ranks #1 in the conference in scoring defense and #10 in the nation, allowing 62.7 PPG
NEXT GAME: 3/14 vs. TBD (Quarterfinal)
VCU had won nine games in a row heading into its final home game of the season, before the Dayton Flyers knocked off the Rams in Richmond this past Friday night. The 79 points allowed to the Flyers is a season high for VCU.
Although the winning streak was snapped, Head Coach Ryan Odom and VCU still clinched the Atlantic 10 regular season title and have a very good chance to hear their name called on Selection Sunday, regardless of what happens in D.C. this week.
No other teams in the field can say that.
It’s now the fourth consecutive season VCU has won at least 22 games, dating back to the last two years under former Head Coach Mike Rhoades, who led the Rams to their last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023 as a 12-seed.
Odom’s Rams are similar to the teams of the past in that they’ve lived on their reputation of defense.
VCU ranks 10th in the country in points allowed per game and is the top defensive team in the conference, allowing 62.7 PPG this season.
In games where the Rams hold opponents to under 70 points, they are 22-3. That’ll be the magic number throughout the week in D.C. and heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Can VCU’s defense hold up when the season matters most?
Head Coach: Tony Skinn (2nd season, 43-19 record at George Mason)
Record: 23-7 (14-3 in A10)
Last 10: 8-2
NET: 73
KenPom: 86
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 6
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2011
Player to Watch: Darius Maddox
One Stat to Know: Ranks #1 in the conference and #3 in the nation in opposing field goal percentage, allowing opponents to score on just 37.8% of field goal attempts
NEXT GAME: 3/14 vs. TBD (Quarterfinal)
Although VCU is the top team in the conference defensively, and one of the best in the nation, George Mason is right there with the Rams, playing a style of defense designed to create havoc and force difficult shots.
The Patriots are third in the country in opposing field goal percentage, and that doesn't just happen by accident. Head Coach Tony Skinn is in his second year at the helm after taking over for Kim English who left for Providence and has only enhanced the program across the board, putting together back-to-back 20+ win seasons for the first time since 2011-13.
Unlike VCU, George Mason absolutely has to win the Atlantic 10 Tournament to advance to what would be its first NCAA Tournament since 2011, when the legendary Jim Larranaga led the Patriots to a program record 27 wins.
From early January until mid February, George Mason won 11 games in a row, including three in overtime. Since, however, the team is 3-2, including an 85-68 drubbing against Duquesne on March 1, the most points the Patriots have allowed all year.
They may not be hitting their stride at the right time, but with the style of defense this team possesses, I’ll be surprised if every game they play doesn't come down to the final few minutes, especially with a potential quarterfinal against rival George Washington and semi final with Dayton looming.
Head Coach: Anthony Grant (8th season, 174-80 record at Dayton)
Record: 22-9 (12-6 in A10)
Last 10: 7-3
NET: 66
KenPom: 74
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 19
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2024
Player to Watch: Nate Santos
One Stat to Know: Ranked #1 in the conference in attendance once again, averaging 13,400+ fans per game, which is 6,000 more than any other program in the Atlantic 10
NEXT GAME: 3/14 vs. TBD (Quarterfinal)
Last year’s conference regular season champs are one of the hottest teams in the league entering the A10 Tournament.
The Dayton Flyers have won four straight games, including a win in Richmond over VCU on Friday night to cap off the regular season, scoring 79 points along the way, the most the Rams have allowed in a game all season.
Now, Head Coach Anthony Grant’s team looks to keep that momentum going all the way to Sunday with three wins in three days to advance to a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
Grant has rebuilt a program that thrived under Archie Miller, when Dayton advanced to four straight NCAA Tournaments. Last year was Grant’s first time taking the Flyers to the Dance, although he would have done in 2020 as a 1-seed before the tournament was cancelled due to COVID after a 29-2 regular season.
This year’s team has been very up-and-down. Dayton has beaten both UConn and Marquette but also lost to George Washington and UMass.
They have five players who average over 9.3 PPG and do a terrific job of spreading the wealth on offense.
If the Flyers can stay hot in D.C. over the weekend, it won’t surprise anyone if the league’s perennial powerhouse program ends back up representing the league in the NCAA Tournament.
Head Coach: Drew Valentine (4th season, 79-44 record at Loyola Chicago)
Record: 21-10 (11-6 in A10)
Last 10: 8-2
NET: 110
KenPom: 115
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 8
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2022
Player to Watch: Jayden Dawson
One Stat to Know: Ranks #1 in the conference in three point percentage
NEXT GAME: 3/14 vs. TBD (Quarterfinal)
Head Coach Drew Valentine has put together three seasons of 21+ wins in his first four with Loyola Chicago since taking over for Porter Moser, who famously took the Ramblers to the Final Four in 2018.
This year’s Loyola team got one of the coveted top four spots in the final standings to earn the double bye for the conference tournament, narrowly edging out Saint Joe’s by a game.
Winners of seven of its last eight games, the Ramblers enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the league, riding their renowned three point shooting ability to this point in the season.
Junior Guard Jayden Dawson is shooting 39% from distance and averaging a team-high 13.5 PPG, leading a Loyola team that doesn’t particularly do any one thing exceedingly well, but does a bunch of things at an above average rate.
That is enough to not have to play a tournament game until Friday and be in position to be just three wins in three days away from the program’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in eight years.
Head Coach: Billy Lange (6th season, 79-102 record at Saint Joseph’s)
Record: 20-11 (11-7 in A10)
Last 10: 7-3
NET: 74
KenPom: 78
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 21
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2016
Player to Watch: Xzavier Brown
One Stat to Know: Ranks #1 in the conference and #5 nationally in blocks per game (5.7), led by Justice Ajogbor, who blocks 2.3 shots per game (14th nationally)
NEXT GAME: 3/13 vs. TBD (Second Round)
The Saint Joseph’s program has completely turned around under the direction of sixth year Head Coach Billy Lange.
In Lange’s first season after taking over for Phil Martelli, the Hawks won six games. In year two, they won five, then 11, then 16.
Last year, in year five, the program leapt forward to its first 20+ win season in a decade, and followed that up with yet another 20 win season, finishing at 20-11 overall and winning five of its last six to close out the regular season.
Saint Joseph’s has size, and is currently fifth nationally in blocked shots per game, led by Justice Ajogbor, who stands at 6’10” and has recorded at least one block in 20 straight games entering the conference tournament.
Offensively, the Hawks are led by sophomore guard Xzavier Brown, who is averaging 17 PPG and shoots 89% from the free throw line while dishing out 4.6 assists per game.
Saint Joseph’s owns wins over Texas Tech, Villanova, and Virginia Tech, clearly displaying that they are more than capable of surprising a team or two and making noise in D.C. this week.
Head Coach: Josh Schertz (1st season, 18-13 record at Saint Louis)
Record: 18-13 (11-7 in A10)
Last 10: 5-5
NET: 101
KenPom: 106
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 10
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2019
Player to Watch: Robbie Avila
One Stat to Know: Senior Guard Gibson Jimmerson ranks #1 in the conference and #4 nationally in minutes played per game (37.3)
NEXT GAME: 3/13 vs. TBD (Second Round)
What was widely viewed as a home run hire in bringing in Josh Schertz as the new head coach has yielded strong early returns for Saint Louis.
After leading Indiana State to a 28 win season last year, Schertz was brought in to replace Travis Ford after a 13-20 campaign a year ago.
Schertz brought a handful of players from last year’s Sycamores team with him, including big man Robbie Avila who has captivated the nation with his signature goggles look on the floor.
In his first year at the helm, Schertz has put together an 18 win season and a very respectable sixth place finish in the league, winning four of the last five games of the regular season heading into the conference tournament, including a 90-88 OT thriller over Duquesne on Saturday.
If SLU is going to advance this week in D.C., they’ll need a lot out of both Avila and senior guard Gibson Jimmerson.
Jimmerson rarely comes out of the game for the Billikens, playing nearly 38 minutes per game while racking up 18.3 PPG. In fact, the trio of Jimmerson, Avila, and Senior Guard Isaiah Swope account for 70% of the team’s offense, the most of any trio in the conference by a significant margin.
With SLU needing four wins in four days, the biggest concern here is fatigue for the ‘big three.’ However, with the season on the line there is no alternative than to lean on the players who got you to this point, which is what Schertz will do starting on Thursday in the Billikens’ second round matchup.
Head Coach: Mark Schmidt (17th season, 323-236 record at St. Bonaventure)
Record: 21-10 (9-9 in A10)
Last 10: 6-4
NET: 96
KenPom: 101
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 8
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2021
Player to Watch: Melvin Council Jr.
One Stat to Know: All five starters average 8.6+ points per game and all play 31+ minutes per game
NEXT GAME: 3/13 vs. Duquesne (Second Round)
It’s been a tale of two seasons for Head Coach Mark Schmidt and St. Bonaventure.
The Bonnies started the year 14-1 and 2-0 in the league, including a win over VCU to kick off the conference slate and the only loss to that point coming against Utah State, who finished the year 25-6.
Since January 8, however, the Bonnies are 7-9, but enter the conference tournament having won four of the last five games.
Junior Guard Dasonte Bowen went down with a foot injury in mid-December; he was the team’s fourth-leading scorer and is a big reason why the season turned the direction it did for the second half of the year in his absence.
For St. Bonaventure to find success this week and into the weekend in D.C. and advance back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021, they’ll need to distribute the ball across a starting five that scores at a relatively equal clip.
The starters have a disproportionate share of the minutes played and the points scored; it’ll be very interesting to see how that translates in a tournament setting if/when the Bonnies get to a third or even fourth game.
Head Coach: Chris Caputo (3rd season, 51-44 record at George Washington)
Record: 20-11 (9-9 in A10)
Last 10: 5-5
NET: 118
KenPom: 109
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 11
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2014
Player to Watch: Rafael Castro
One Stat to Know: Ranks #1 in the conference and #21 nationally in steals per game (9.1)
NEXT GAME: 3/13 vs. TBD (Second Round)
Head Coach Chris Caputo just led George Washington to the program’s first 20 win season since 2016-17.
It was a tremendous turnaround season after finishing dead last in the league a season ago, finishing 15-17 overall and 4-14 in the league after starting 14-3 overall.
This year, the team started 11-2 and has not won or lost more than two straight games since January 25.
That inconsistency does not bode well for this week in D.C. However, the path for the Revs is shaping up favorably, with a potential quarterfinal game against rival George Mason on the horizon, a team that GW lost to by a combined six points over two meetings, followed by a potential semifinal game against Dayton, a team the Revs have already beaten this year.
The team’s turnaround in 2024-25 is largely due to defensive improvement. The Revs were one of the worst defensive teams in the country last year and have made a jump to allowing just 67 PPG, good for 45th in the nation.
On offense, Caputo’s squad is led by center Rafael Castro, who averages 13.9 PPG and 9.3 rebounds per contest while shooting 67% from the field. The big man has put up 13 double-doubles this season, including in three of the last five games entering the conference tournament.
George Washington has yet to win an Atlantic 10 Tournament game under Caputo. However, if Castro continues to be the stabilizing force while the Revs get production elsewhere, there’s a legitimate chance the team won’t just win its first conference tournament game under Caputo, but make a serious run into the weekend and even to Sunday’s championship game.
Head Coach: Dru Joyce III (1st season, 13-18 record at Duquesne)
Record: 13-18 (8-10 in A10)
Last 10: 4-6
NET: 147
KenPom: 131
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 6
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2024
Player to Watch: Tre Dinkins
One Stat to Know: Junior Point Guard Kareem Rozier is #1 in the conference and #7 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (3.33)
NEXT GAME: 3/13 vs. St. Bonaventure (Second Round)
This was last year’s Cinderella Story of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
Not only did Duquesne come out of nowhere to win the conference tournament and advance to its first NCAA Tournament since 1977, the Dukes won their opening game, 71-67 over 6-seed BYU, before the season came to an end in a loss to Illinois.
After the season, Head Coach Keith Dambrot retired, leaving the program to Dru Joyce, who had a difficult first season at the helm for the Dukes.
Duquesne started the year 0-6 and never had a record over .500 at any point. Usually, that would mean a worse finish than 9th in the league, but the Dukes proved to be scrappy throughout the year, led by the junior guard Kareem Rozier, who is one of the best ball-handlers and distributors in the nation.
He has the top assist/turnover ratio in the Atlantic 10, and when the season is on the line, there’s perhaps nobody in the conference you would trust more to make the right decision.
For Duquesne to pull off the miracle of four wins in four days yet again, it’ll need to be Rozier leading the way throughout the week and into the weekend.
Head Coach: Archie Miller (3rd season, 39-54 record at Rhode Island)
Record: 18-12 (7-11 in A10)
Last 10: 4-6
NET: 135
KenPom: 140
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 10
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2018
Player to Watch: Sebastian Thomas
One Stat to Know: Guard Sebastian Thomas ranks #1 in the conference and #19 nationally in assists per game (6.1) while also leading the team in scoring (17.5 PPG)
NEXT GAME: 3/12 vs. Fordham (First Round)
Archie Miller put together Rhode Island’s best season in five years, finishing above .500 for the first time since 2019-20 with an 18-12 overall regular season and 7-11 in the league.
The Rams jumped out to a 9-0 start, including a huge win over Big East foe Providence, before losing its first game in double overtime to Brown on December 10.
Since the 9-0 start, Rhody is 9-12 and enters the Atlantic 10 Tournament having lost four of the last five games. Miller’s squad did take out last-placed Fordham on the final day of the regular season, 86-67 and they’ll see that same opponent in Wednesday’s opening round matchup.
For Rhode Island to advance to Thursday and beyond, they’ll look to Senior Guard Sebastian Thomas.
Of Rhody’s 30 games this year, Thomas had led the team in scoring 14 times and led the team in assists 23 times. Against Fordham this past weekend, he had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals to lead the Rams to a victory.
At just over 6 assists per game, he currently ranks 19th in the country in assists while also leading the team in scoring at 17.5 PPG.
If Archie Miller’s team wants to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Dan Hurley took the program in 2018, they’ll need the week of a lifetime from their star point guard.
Head Coach: Frank Martin (3rd season, 47-46 record at UMass)
Record: 12-19 (7-11 in A10)
Last 10: 3-7
NET: 215
KenPom: 212
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 9
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2014
Player to Watch: Rahsool Diggins
One Stat to Know: Ranks #1 in the conference and #9 in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (14.07)
NEXT GAME: 3/12 vs. La Salle (First Round)
In Frank Martin’s third season at the helm of the UMass program, the team has taken a significant step back.
The Minutemen went 15-16 in his first season as head coach before a dramatic improvement last year to 20-11, the program’s first 20 win season since it last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2014.
This season, things slid off the rails as UMass finished in 11th in the Atlantic 10 at 12-19 overall and 7-11 in the league.
It was just eight years ago that Martin took South Carolina to the Final Four. In the eight seasons he’s coached since, he has four winning seasons and now may be on the hotseat with UMass, needing a big week to show he’s still the right man to lead the program.
The Minutemen can do that by utilizing size and creating second-chance opportunities. UMass is 9th in the country in offensive rebounds per game and the top team in the conference at creating second chances.
UMass’ size advantage and rebounding ability can prove to be the difference throughout the week, especially if they can get out of the First Round and start playing teams who played the day before and are fighting tired legs.
It’s a tall task for Martin’s squad, who has lost six of its last seven games entering the conference tournament.
Head Coach: Matt McKillop (3rd season, 47-48 record at Davidson)
Record: 16-15 (6-12 in A10)
Last 10: 3-7
NET: 151
KenPom: 145
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 15
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2022
Player to Watch: Reed Bailey
One Stat to Know: Reed Bailey leads the Wildcats in points, rebounds, assists, and three point percentage
NEXT GAME: 3/12 vs. Richmond (First Round)
Head Coach Matt McKillop took over for his father as head coach of Davidson three years ago, following a 27-7 season from the Wildcats led to Bob’s retirement after 33 seasons and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.
The last three years since Matt took over have been much more of a struggle. Davidson hasn’t won more than 16 games in a season over a three year stretch for the first time since 1999-2001 and is about to miss the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season, barring a miracle five wins in five days by the Wildcats.
It’s been a long fall for a program which had won 20+ games 13 of Bob’s last 18 years at the helm.
This season, the Wildcats were off to a 12-4 start and 2-1 in the conference before winning just four of its final 13 games, including a four game losing streak entering the conference tournament.
It’s a long road ahead for McKillop and Davidson to get back on track, and the road may only get longer after a potential early exit in the conference tournament this week.
Head Coach: Fran Dunphy (3rd season, 44-54 record at La Salle)
Record: 13-18 (5-13 in A10)
Last 10: 2-8
NET: 224
KenPom: 230
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 12
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2013
Player to Watch: Corey McKeithan
One Stat to Know: This is La Salle’s best rebounding team in 14 years, averaging 36.8 rebounds per game
NEXT GAME: 3/12 vs. UMass (First Round)
The La Salle Explorers haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since the team made a remarkable run to the Sweet 16 in 2013.
In the 12 years since, La Salle has put together just one winning season and has now finished below .500 for the fifth straight year.
Head Coach Fran Dunphy is in his third season at the helm and has just completed his worst year yet, finishing 13-18 overall and 5-13 in the league, good for a 13th placed finish.
The Explorers were able to win on the final day of the regular season over Saint Joseph’s, snapping an eight game losing streak that lasted just over a month.
Before that streak, La Salle was 12-10 and right in the thick of things in the Atlantic 10. Now, they’ll play in the opening round once again, needing five wins in five days to miraculously make it back to the NCAA Tournament.
Head Coach: Chris Mooney (20th season, 358-288 record at Richmond)
Record: 10-21 (5-13 in A10)
Last 10: 3-7
NET: 250
KenPom: 236
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 10
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2022
Player to Watch: Dusan Neskovic
One Stat to Know: Ranks #1 in the conference and #13 nationally in free throw percentage
NEXT GAME: 3/12 vs. Davidson (First Round)
Head Coach Chris Mooney is the elder statesmen of Atlantic 10 Conference head coaches.
Now in his 20th season, Mooney has led the Spiders to three NCAA Tournament appearances and eight 20+ win seasons.
The last time Richmond made the Big Dance was also the last time this conference tournament was held at Capital One Arena in 2022. The Spiders won four games in four days, all by single digits, en route to earning an 11-seed in the NCAA Tournament and an opening round win over Iowa before bowing out in a second round in a loss to Providence.
That year, the Spiders lost its final two games of the regular season before winning five straight. This year, the team has lost four in a row entering the conference tournament, including a double overtime loss at Dayton and a four point loss at home to George Mason this past Saturday.
In fact, Richmond has won just three of its last 16 games entering Wednesday’s opening round game against Davidson. The Spiders have struggled to score throughout the year while the defense has surrendered 72 PPG; not exactly a winning recipe.
Where Richmond thrives is at the free throw line, which directly translates to a tournament setting such as this. The Spiders rank #13 in the country in free throw percentage and are the best team in the conference from the charity stripe; not something you’d generally see from a team that finished second-to-last in the conference.
Three of Richmond’s starters are 80% or better from the free throw line. If the Spiders can get into the paint, draw fouls, and get to the free throw line and slow the game down, they could be a strong contender to make some noise this week and advance into the weekend.
Head Coach: Keith Urgo (3rd season, 49-48 record at Fordham)
Record: 11-20 (3-15 in A10)
Last 10: 1-9
NET: 246
KenPom: 243
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 4
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 1992
Player to Watch: Jackie Johnson III
One Stat to Know: Jackie Johnson III is 2nd in the conference in scoring, averaging 18.6 PPG, including a 36 point outburst on 1/15/25 vs. UMass
NEXT GAME: 3/12 vs. Rhode Island (First Round)
It’s been a surprising fall from grace for Head Coach Keith Urgo and Fordham over the last couple of seasons.
It was just two years ago that Urgo won Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in his first season leading the Rams. In 2022-23, Fordham won 25 games, putting together the program’s best season since 1991.
Since, Fordham has put together back-to-back losing seasons and is once again in the basement of the conference.
There is no team in the Atlantic 10 that has a longer drought in NCAA Tournament appearances, with the Rams last appearing in the Big Dance in 1992. And after the promising first year under Urgo, the program is right back where it was prior to his arrival.
The Rams started conference play 0-6 and won just three league games all year. The team now enters the conference tournament having lost eight games in a row, including the last five by double digits.
Fordham is the least likely team in the field to win, or even win a game this week in D.C. For Urgo and company, it’s likely a long road back to New York and back to the drawing board ahead of what will be a pivotal offseason for the program.
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