10/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Four of the six Atlantic 10 schools who appeared in last year's NCAA Championship - VCU, George Washington, Dayton and Massachusetts - were picked to finish one through four in the annual poll of Atlantic 10 coaches and media released today as part of the league's annual media day at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Duquesne, which returns four starters from last year's 13-17 team, was picked to finish 11th. The Dukes did not land any players on the A-10 Preseason All-Conference or All-Defensive teams.
Richmond, Rhode Island and La Salle were tabbed five, six and seven, while the A-10's other two NCAA tournament participants from a year ago - Saint Joseph's and Saint Louis - were picked to finish eighth and ninth. St. Bonaventure was one spot ahead of the Dukes at No. 10.
DU, which was picked to finish 13th in last year's poll, ended up tied for 10th in the final league standings.
Third-year head coach Jim Ferry will field a team with just one senior in returning starting forward Dominique McKoy (9.7, 7.2). A trio of juniors, guard Micah Mason (10.6, 2.8) - the nation's leading 3-point shooter last season, guard Derrick Colter (9.1, 2.5) and forward Jeremiah Jones (6.3, 3.4) round out the list of starters back in 2014-15.
Three sophomores with playing experience are also back in guard Desmond Ridenour (4.8 ppg. in 30g.), forward L.G. Gill (3.6 ppg. in 29g.) and center Darius Lewis (0.5 ppg. in 10g.)
Ferry - who will be fielding a team consisting solely of his recruits for the first time - also added four scholarship newcomers in JC transfer Jordan Stevens (6-0, 190) and freshmen Jordan Robinson (6-8, 250), Eric James (6-5, 205) and TySean Powell (6-6, 215).
The Atlantic 10 - with the addition of first-year member Davidson - will compete as a 14-team conference in 2014-15.
All 14 teams will advance to the 2015 Atlantic 10 Championship March 11-15 at Barclays Center, with the top four finishers receiving byes to the quarterfinal. The Dukes will host an exhibition game against Shippensburg on Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m., before opening the regular season at home against Bluefield State on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2:00 p.m.
2014-15 ATLANTIC 10 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as selected by conference coaches and media - first place votes in parentheses)
# TEAM (1st place votes) PTS IN `141. VCU (28) 392 2nd2. George Washington 343 t3rd3. Dayton 339 t5th4. Massachusetts 294 t5th5. Richmond 261 7th6. Rhode Island 253 t10th7. La Salle 221 8th8. Saint Joseph's 201 t3rd9. Saint Louis 181 1st10. St. Bonaventure 130 9th11. DUQUESNE 94 t10th12. Davidson 84 n/a13. George Mason 82 12th14. Fordham 65 13th
