Men's Basketball | November 9, 2020
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Atlantic 10's 2020-21 men's basketball preseason poll was announced on Thursday, in conjunction with its first-ever virtual Media Days. The conference also announced preseason all-conference awards, as chosen by a panel of the league's head coaches and select media members. Richmond has been selected as the preseason favorite, while La Salle was picked to finish 13th.
The Explorers figure to be led by an experience backcourt that includes seniors
David Beatty and
Scott Spencer. Beatty was the team's leading scorer in 2019-20, averaging 10.7 points per game, while Spencer ranked as one of the top three-point shooters in the Atlantic 10, connecting on 43.8 percent of his attempts from deep.
Last year, La Salle finished 15-15, a five-game improvement from head coach
Ashley Howard's first season, and won the Gulf Coast Showcase by defeating Wright State (25-7), Murray State (23-9) and South Alabama (20-11). The Explorers also closed the year with impressive victories over Atlantic 10 foes St. Bonaventure, George Washington and Saint Joseph's.
The Spiders finished second in the Atlantic 10 regular season in 2019-20, and last won the A-10 Championship in 2011. UR returns five starters and had 19 first-place votes in the poll with 380 points. Led by a trio of Preseason All-Conference selections in Jacobs Gilyard, Blake Francis and Grant Golden, the Spiders finished 24-7 overall last year and 14-4 in the A-10.
Saint Louis was picked second in the 2020-21 preseason poll. The Billikens totaled 364 points, including seven first-place votes. SLU also returns five starters and three preseason award winners Jordan Goodwin, Hasahn French and Javonte Perkins. Saint Louis finished at 23-8 last year, 12-6 in league play.
The 2020-21 men's basketball season tips off on Wednesday, Nov. 25. The season is scheduled to culminate with the Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. The league's premier event will begin Wed., March 10, and the league will crown its 2020 champion on March 14, Selection Sunday.
PRESEASON POLL
| 1. |
Richmond (19) |
380 |
| 2. |
Saint Louis (7) |
364 |
| 3. |
Dayton (2) |
318 |
| 4. |
St. Bonaventure |
307 |
| 5. |
Duquesne |
278 |
| 6. |
Rhode Island |
246 |
| 7. |
Davidson |
229 |
| 8. |
Massachusetts |
192 |
| 9. |
VCU |
175 |
| 10. |
George Mason |
133 |
| 11. |
George Washington |
113 |
| 12. |
Saint Joseph's |
85 |
| 13. |
La Salle |
80 |
| 14. |
Fordham |
40 |
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
| Player |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
| Kellan Grady |
Davidson |
Sr. |
G |
6-5 |
17.2 |
4.2 |
2.5 |
| Jalen Crutcher |
Dayton |
Sr. |
G |
6-1 |
15.1 |
3.2 |
4.9 |
| Tre Mitchell |
Massachusetts |
So. |
C |
6-9 |
17.7 |
7.2 |
1.9 |
| Fatts Russell |
Rhode Island |
Sr. |
G |
5-10 |
18.8 |
3.4 |
4.6 |
| Jacob Gilyard |
Richmond |
Sr. |
G |
5-9 |
12.7 |
3.1 |
5.7 |
| Jordan Goodwin |
Saint Louis |
Sr. |
G |
6-3 |
15.5 |
10.4 |
3.1 |
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
| Player |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
| Marcus Weathers |
Duquesne |
Sr. |
F |
6-5 |
14.3 |
8.1 |
1.7 |
| Blake Francis |
Richmond |
Gr. |
G |
6-0 |
17.7 |
2.2 |
2.0 |
| Grant Golden |
Richmond |
Gr. |
F |
6-10 |
13.4 |
6.9 |
3.4 |
| Kyle Lofton |
St. Bonaventure |
Jr. |
G |
6-3 |
14.1 |
2.6 |
6.0 |
| Ryan Daly |
Saint Joseph's |
R-Sr. |
G |
6-5 |
20.6 |
6.8 |
4.3 |
| Hasahn French |
Saint Louis |
Sr. |
F |
6-7 |
12.4 |
10.4 |
2.3 |
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM
| Player |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
| Sincere Carry |
Duquesne |
Jr. |
G |
6-1 |
12.2 |
3.9 |
5.3 |
| Javon Greene |
George Mason |
Sr. |
G |
6-2 |
13.8 |
5.6 |
2.6 |
| AJ Wilson |
George Mason |
R-Sr. |
F |
6-7 |
12.2 |
7.4 |
1.0 |
| Osun Osunniyi |
St. Bonaventure |
Jr. |
F/C |
6-10 |
10.8 |
8.4 |
1.2 |
| Javonte Perkins |
Saint Louis |
Sr. |
G/F |
6-6 |
15.0 |
3.5 |
0.7 |
| Nah'Shon "Bones" Hyland |
VCU |
So. |
G |
6-3 |
9.0 |
2.2 |
1.8 |
PRESEASON ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
| Player |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
PPG |
SPG |
BPG |
| AJ Wilson |
George Mason |
R-Sr. |
F |
6-7 |
12.2 |
0.6 |
2.9 |
| Jacob Gilyard |
Richmond |
Sr. |
G |
5-9 |
12.7 |
3.2 |
0.2 |
| Osun Osunniyi |
St. Bonaventure |
Jr. |
F/C |
6-10 |
10.8 |
0.7 |
2.5 |
| Hasahn French |
Saint Louis |
Sr. |
F |
6-7 |
12.4 |
1.0 |
2.6 |
| Jordan Goodwin |
Saint Louis |
Sr. |
G |
6-3 |
15.5 |
2.1 |
0.2 |
