Three Philly Teams in Tourney
With LaSalle back in the mix, and last night’s exciting Temple-St. Joe’s match-up that Temple won in the final seconds, parity is back in the Big Five. That means Big Five fever will be traveling down the AC Expressway for the Atlantic-10 Tourney at Boardwalk Hall March 12–15. Temple, St. Joe’s and LaSalle are coming to AC, with LaSalle being the new addition.
Earlier in the year it looked like perhaps four A-10 teams would earn NCAA bids. Before A-10 play began, the league had some good non-conference victories with an overall non-con record of 116-65, the fourth-best in league history. The big wins included Dayton’s wins over Pittsburgh and Louisville; Xavier beating Kansas State, Virginia and Auburn; UMass and Rhode Island beating Syracuse (the Rams also beat Providence);
Xavier is a lock as a likely third seed. However, parity in the Atlantic-10, including the improvements to teams like LaSalle and Duquesne, has led to a lot of in-conference upsets. Temple just moved into second place in the A-10 with the St. Joe’s victory. It would be better for the A-10 if Xavier doesn’t win the tournament. They are in anyway and a victory in the tourney would eliminate an Atlantic-10 bubble team.
Who should make it from the A-10 beyond Xavier?
If they make it to the finals, St. Joe’s earns an at-large big. The Hawks had too many bad losses down the stretch, to Duquesne and LaSalle in particular.
If they win the tournament, Temple gets the automatic bid. Otherwise, it’s NIT time for the Owls.
LaSalle is much improved but needs to win the tourney to get a bid.
Dayton righted itself after the mid-season slump that saw their Top 25 ranking disappear with loses to UMass, Richmond, St. Louis, GW and Duquesne. The Louisville and Pittsburgh wins should give them a bid if they make the tourney semi-finals.
Ditto for R.I. At 21-9, they should get a bid if they make the semi-finals.
UMass (19-9) probably has to win the tourney to get the bid.
In conclusion, four teams still might make the NCAA tourney. Dayton, St. Joe’s and R.I. need to make a splash in AC to get off the bubble and join the X-Men. For tickets go here