St. Joe’s basketball has started the season on fire, making the Atlantic 10 an intriguing conference to follow this season.
St. Joseph’s took down Texas Tech 78-77 in the UKG Legends Classic. They play Texas in the championship game.
General Information
Teams: Texas (4-1) vs St. Joseph’s (4-1)
Tip Time: 9 p.m. EST
Watch: ESPNU
Listen: ESPN Radio
The Art of the Multi-Bid A10
For 18 of the last 19 years, the Atlantic 10 has been a multi-bid league in March Madness. But the last two years have been shaky. VCU danced alone in 2023 after winning both the regular season and conference tournament, and last year saw Dayton dominate the regular season. But they fell short in the conference tournament, opening the road for Duquesne to make their first tournament since 1977!
So why has this been happening? It’s all about the Atlantic 10 Conference setting itself up for success in the non-conference, scheduling solid opposition. And not just scheduling these games – but winning them.
Now, if one team has a great non-conference schedule and wins those games, it will only go so far. But if multiple teams in the Atlantic 10 win their non-conference games vs Power 5 opposition, things could get interesting. So what are the biggest games that move the meter left in 2024?
St. Joe’s (Texas, Princeton, Charleston)
St. Joseph’s has already done most of the heavy lifting with wins vs Villanova and Texas Tech. A win over Texas in Brooklyn tonight would be huge as well. You also have some fun mid major opposition in Ivy League favorite Princeton and perennial CAA leader Charleston, both on Hawk Hill.
Saint Joe’s started off on a rough note in Week 1, losing a buy-game to Central Connecticut State. But since then they’ve beaten Villanova at home, and now a Texas Tech team on a neutral site. This Red Raiders team was the first team left out of the AP Top 25 this week, and has the chance to beat a Texas team that has been to the past four tournaments. Two Quad 1 potential games in the UKG Legends Classic. And that likely Quad 4 loss was offset last night against Texas Tech. A huge win versus Texas coild really get this conversation started.
You also have a random game in Blacksburg at Virginia Tech in December. The hokies are a different animal at home, so tread lightly in Cassell Coliseum. Even if they just lost to Jacksonville at home.
The Hawks just need to not trip up before conference play…
Dayton (Maui Invitational, Cincinnati, Marquette)
Take a shot at the king, you best not miss. Dayton owned the Atlantic 10 in the 2023-24 season. They were in the AP Top 25 multiple weeks. And it’s because they set themselves up for success, with non-conference wins vs LSU, St. John’s, at SMU, and Cincinnati.
This season, they decided to bring it up a notch. They already have a home win vs Northwestern, and next week head to the Maui Invitational. And you get North Carolina in round one. Oh boy. Then in the next game you get either Iowa State or Auburn. Then either Colorado/Michigan St/UCONN/Memphis. All of those games have a high likelihood of being a Quad 1 opportunity. So if Dayton can get through this tournament 2-1, they will be in great position to head back to March Madness as, at least, an at-large bid.
Two more top 25 games in the Buckeye state can also help the Flyer’s chances. A red hot Marquette team at home, and a Cincinnati team looking to make some noise in the Big 12? Great opportunities for the Flyers to boost their resume. Going 1-1 in this stretch at worst will be great for them. Hopefully they won’t have to bolster the weight of the whole conference for a second straight season.
VCU (Nevada, Miami/Oklahoma State)
Dayton knows what they’re doing when they schedule their non-conference slate. But not many other A10 teams do, which can become a problem in the pursuit of a multi-bid league. VCU has already lost to Seton Hall on a neutral floor, a team that has lost multiple games to Hofstra and Fordham already. Now, they only have two more games that could swing either Quad 1 or 2 in terms of NET ranking. And they’re both on the consolation side of the Charleston Classic: Nevada tonight, and either Miami or Oklahoma State tomorrow. Need them both for the sake of the A10. And don’t slip up before conference play…
St. Louis (Wichita State, at San Francisco, at GCU)
A new look Billiken squad with Indiana State phenom Robbie Avila and new head coach Josh Schertz lost opening night at Santa Clara. Not a great start. But they have some funky mid-major games left on the road, or at neutral sites that could allow them to make some noise onto the March Madness bubble scene.
Wichita State in Kansas City tonight in the Hall of Fame series is the first. Projected top four in the AAC preseason poll, the Shockers (4-0) are a nice test for St. Louis on Feast Week.
Road games at San Francisco and Grand Canyon are also intriguing. These could both be Quad 1 opportunities given the fact that the Billikens will have to travel to some road arenas and escape with a win.
Those are the top four projected teams in the Atlantic 10, but it will also come down to teams like Loyola Chicago, Richmond, Duquesne, and George Mason to win their non conference games. You can only spread the wealth in conference basketball season if there’s wealth gained in the non conference (road wins, tournament titles, and avoiding losses in buy-games).
The dream of a three+ bid A10 conference is alive, and it continues tonight for St. Joe’s vs Texas in the UKG Legends Classic Championship.