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Post by blueandgold on Mar 8, 2014 21:22:22 GMT -5
From Jon Rothstein (http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24471519/observations-valentine-helping-carry-spartans):
"Dayton's win at Saint Louis on Wednesday night likely means the Atlantic 10 will have six teams in the NCAA Tournament.
There will be plenty of bubble teams sweating over the next nine days, but none of the them should be from the Atlantic 10. VCU, Saint Louis, UMass, Saint Joseph's, George Washington and Dayton all have strong enough résumés to warrant at-large bids to the field of 68. That's beyond remarkable considering what this conference lost. Xavier, Butler, Temple and Charlotte all left the Atlantic 10 after last season when the league got five teams in the NCAA Tournament. The mere thought of this conference getting six teams in the field of 68 is easily one of the most amazing stories we've seen this year in college basketball."
Barring St. Joe's losing tomorrow, or St. Joe's and Dayton losing their first games in the A-10 tourney - this appears likely.
What's even more interesting to watch.. if St. Louis loses to UMass tomorrow.. and a team other than St. Louis or VCU wins the A-10 tourney - the conference might get 6 or 7 teams into the Field of 68... WITHOUT a Top 25 ranked team.
I'm sure the teams that don't make it from the ACC, Big Ten, etc. would love to see that happen...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 23:34:30 GMT -5
Major props to the commissioner, Bernadette McGlade, for advancing the A10 to where we are today. In five plus years of service, she and her staff have expanded the A10, and gotten us a better TV contract than we'd had before, and put five, now maybe six teams in the tournament. A year ago, I was worried about St Louis, Dayton and maybe even St Joe's or Richmond all leaving the conference. Now, I feel as though we are pretty solid for a number of years again, as long as all of the athletic directors stay on the same page.
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Post by durenduren on Mar 8, 2014 23:59:01 GMT -5
Obligatory "hardly imaginable that we aren't in the discussion" statement, but really remarkable for the A10. Glad to be part of it.
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Post by lasalle89 on Mar 9, 2014 9:10:00 GMT -5
Wow. Six teams. That is amazing. G needs to recruit a higher level of talent now to remain competitive. G is not one of the top coaches in the A10. Not even top half. He must make up for this with better talent. I will again say that I am stunned that we are not one of the six teams. Even doubly stunned we are not in the NIT pIcture as of today. I would like to see the commissioner try to get a head to head conference battle like they use to do in the past.. ACC vs BIG EAST type of thing. Maybe A10 vs New Big East or even PAC 10 or a conference that is perceived to be better so we can raise our brand. Only way we will stop defections and actually get better teams to join. Anyway let's beat St Joes today. If our guys were really crushed and crying after last game then here is the chance to make up for it.
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