As a hoops fanatic and March Madness junkie, I am beyond thrilled that the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship is taking place in Atlantic City beginning today at noon. The gang at the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority has gone all out to make this happen, and hopefully the local populace will join the students from the various A10 schools to make it a box office success. Check out my story in AC Weekly.
Beyond the boost for AC, this tourney should feature some terrific basketball. Although the A10 has slipped in the RPI rankings the last few seasons, most of the teams play solid basketball. While most sportswriters expect Xavier to face UMass in the final game (pictured above is UMass's A10 Player of the Year, Stephane Lasme), there are plenty of teams with upset potential including George Washington, St. Louis and St. Joe’s, the latter if coach Phil Martelli can shake his team out of its current doldrums. The X-men and UMass should earn at-large bids if they both win at least two games in the tourney. Anybody else from the A10 must win the tourney to earn a ticket for the NCAA.
Local sports fans, I hope I see a lot of you at the Hall this week.