Atlantic 10 Release

NEWPORT NEWS, VA. -- Duquesne, which returns six starters from last year's 8-7-3 team, was picked to finish eighth in the annual poll of Atlantic 10 coaches released today.

DU, which finished ninth last season with a 3-4-1 conference record, received 74 points.

Saint Louis (7 first-place votes) was picked to finish first, followed by last year's regular season champion Rhode Island (3) and George Mason (1). VCU and Davidson, who were picked to finish fourth and fifth respectively, had the other two first place votes.

Dayton and last year's tournament champion, Fordham, were picked to finish sixth and seventh.

Duquesne did not have any players named to the preseason All-Conference or All-Rookie Teams.

The top eight regular season finishers in the 13-team league will advance to the 2015 Atlantic 10 Championship to be held at George Mason Stadium in Fairfax, Va. on Nov. 12-15.

The Dukes open the 2015 season at Niagara on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 1:00 p.m. DU's home opener is Friday, Sept. 4 vs. Marshall at 7:00 on Rooney Field.

2015 ATLANTIC 10 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as selected by conference coaches - first place votes in parentheses)

# TEAM (1st place votes)
1. Saint Louis (7) -- 162
2. Rhode Island (3) -- 141
3. George Mason (1) -- 139
4 VCU (1) -- 135
5. Davidson (1) -- 120
6. Dayton -- 105
7. Fordham -- 96
8. DUQUESNE -- 74
9. La Salle -- 65
10. George Washington -- 56
11. Saint Joseph's -- 45
12. Massachusetts -- 29
13. St. Bonaventure -- 16