From: wbs@cybvax0.uucp (William B. Solomon)
Subject: A10 Report (1-11-93)
Reply-To: wbs@cybvax0.UUCP (William B. Solomon)
Organization: Cybermation, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 22:42:23 GMT


My site now allows me to post after 4 years of being on 
the fritz.

This being the case I'm appointing myself your Atlantic
Ten (eight) Reporter.

The A10 seems to get better each year as the talent gap
between the A10 and the Big East shrinks (I say the Big East
for geographical purposes).

Currently it looks like the balance of power is shifting for
1993.  West Virginia and George Washington should battle it out
for conference honors.  Temple and Massachusetts are both strug-
gling, having to cope with key personnel losses.  Either or both
of these schools could sink to the lower division.  Rhode Island
is as scrappy and dangerous as ever.  St Joesph's should get their
first winning season since 87-88.  Rutgers is a total enigma, enough
talent but not much discipline.  St. Bonaventure is a lock for
last place but is no longer a gimme on the schedule.

My Picks:

1.  George Washington - Solid nucleus that has been together for
    3 years (Dirkk Surles, Sonni Holland, Alvin Pearsall, plus
    Bill Brigham).  Pitt Transfer Omo Moses and 7'0 Nigerian
    Yinka Dare add instant depth.  Dare (pronounced Dah-ray) has
    been playing organized ball for 1 year, is 19 years old, and
    from what I've seen is more advanced than Olajuwan was at a
    similar stage.  Don't be surprised to see this team in the
    Sweet Sixteen.

2.  West Virginia - Basically the same team as last year, but a
    year older.  Last weekend they beat GW by 18 at home.  They've
    been playing at a very high level.  Last season they tailed off
    down the stretch.  They have a great deal of bench depth and
    an outstanding coach.  May not lose at home all year with GW
    out of the way.  Have already burried Maryland and Ohio State
    at home, while losing a tight one at Arizona.  They might just
    get past the first round this year.

3.  Rhode Island - With Temple and UMass looking like crap, URI gets
    the nod here.  The Rams are very deep and very athletic.  Last
    year after being snubbed by the NCAA's,  the NIT tried to oust
    them by giving them an impossible path to Madison Square Garden.
    They had to first win at Vandy, then at BC.  Since that didn't
    get rid of them, they decided that it would only be fair to send
    them to Salt Lake City and take on the Utes.  This is a very
    tough opponent.

4.  Massachusetts - It would be absurd to expect the minutemen to
    duplicate last season.  Gone are 3 senior starters and Confer-
    ence player of the year Harper Williams broke his hand two
    weeks ago.  Lou Roe and Tony Barbee are as good as any, but
    Williams' prescence made them better.  They got by without
    him against weak competition.  They'll be awfully fortunate
    to play .500 ball while he's out.  Sat. they lost at Temple
    in a battle of the inept.  At this point I thik they are NIT
    bound.

5.  St. Joseph - If Rap Curry hadn't tore up his knee this team
    would vie for the title.  Curry is playing, but looks like
    your usual ACL victim.  I'm still trying to figure out how
    this team lost by 20 to American.  They should be a definite
    factor all year.  Funny moment in yesterday's game against
    Rutgers,  after some rough play underneath,  the Zebra ejected
    a male cheerleader.

6.  Temple - Until John Cheany learns to adapt to his personnel, I
    refuse to rate Temple any higher.  Also, the loss of two key
    starters factors in here.  Point guard Vic Carstarphen broke
    his leg at Cincinatti and Center Frazier Johnson flunked out.
    I think Temple would be dynamite as a fast break, run n' gun
    team,  but Cheany negates his own talent.  He has Rick Brunson
    completely messed up and with Carstephen out he's running the
    point.  Eddie Jones and Aaron McKie are super in the open court,
    but Cheany puts a premium on protecting the ball.  Currently,
    they are forced to play their talented freshmen class.  They
    could be tough late in the year when Carstarphen returns.

7.  Rutgers - Lots of talent but they don't seem to make plays
    down the stretch.  Donnell Lumpkin has the worst shot selection
    of any player in the world.  I'm curious how much of their
    problems are coaching.  They like to play fast-paced high
    scoring games.  They make a lot of great looking plays but
    just don't seem to play winning basketball.

8.  St. Bonaventure - Getting better but have a long way to go.
    They're a young team with a new coach.  Should spring an
    upset or two on their home floor.

That's all for now.

--------------------------------
William Solomon