On Tuesday, the Atlantic 10 conference held it’s annual media day at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The event featured the announcement of the preseason all-league teams as well as the predicted order of finish for the upcoming 2014-15 season. VCU was the unanimous winner of the annual poll conducted by the conference that polls all of the conference’s coaches as well as selected media members. Last season, the Rams went 26-9 and 12-4 in conference play and finished as the conference’s runner-ups, only behind Saint Louis. Local schools Saint Joseph’s and La Salle are projected to finish 7th and 8th this season. The rest of the conference projected order of finish is the following;
Projected Finish:
*2013-14 end of season standing placement in parentheses
- VCU (2)
- George Washington (3)
- Dayton (6)
- UMass (5)
- Richmond (7)
- Rhode Island (10)
- La Salle (8)
- Saint Joseph’s (4)
- Saint Louis (1)
- St. Bonaventure (9)
- Duquesne (11)
- Davidson (First season in A-10)
- George Mason (11)
- Fordham (12)
All-Conference Preseason First Team:
- G Jordan Sibert – Dayton
- G-F Patricio Garino – George Washington
- G Kendall Anthony – Richmond
- F DeAndre Bembry – Saint Joseph’s
- G-F Treveon Graham – VCU
- G Briante Weber – VCU
The Atlantic 10 all-conference preseason first team includes a local player in Saint Joseph’s DeAndre Bembry, who is the youngest member of the preseason first team coming in as just a sophomore. As a freshman, Bembry averaged 12.1 points per game along with 4.5 rebounds a game and 2.7 assists. Jordan Sibert, a senior guard averaged 12.2 points per game last season along with 1.5 assists per game,Sibert was a key member of Dayton’s run to the Elite 8 last season, however dissapeared in their 62-52 loss to Florida in which he failed to record a point despite playing 30 minutes.
Patricio Garino, a guard/forward from George Washington was the Colonials fifth highest scorer last year, averaging 12.1 points per game, along with four rebounds and two assists per game. The Argentina native recorded 19 games last season in which he recorded 10 or more points including a streak of 13 consecutive games. Richmond’s Kendall Anthony had a career season last year, averaging 15.1 points , the 5’8 140 lb senior was a dynamic threat last season scoring in the double digits 27 times including six games where he had 20+ points.
The league favorites, VCU have two players represented in the all-conference preseason first team in guard/forward Treveon Graham and guard Briante Weber. Graham, a 6’6 senior last season was the Rams’ leading scorer averaging 15.8 points per game while also averaging seven rebounds per game. Weber, also a senior only averaged nine points per game last season, the lowest of any first team preseason all-conference team member. However, the senior guard averaged almost four rebounds (4.1) , assists (3.9) , and steals (3.5) per game last season.
All-Conference Preaseason Second Team:
- G Dyshawn Pierre – Dayton
- F Kevin Larsen – George Washington
- F Jerrell Wright – La Salle
- C Cady Lalanne – UMass
- G E.C Matthews – Rhode Island
Dyshawn Pierre, a 6’6 junior averaged 11.2 points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds per game. In the NCAA tournament last season, Pierre averaged 12.5 points per game including a high of 18 against Florida in the Elite Eight. George Washington’s, Kevin Larsen was a rebounding machine for GW last season averaging almost seven rebounds per game. To go along with his play around the rim, the 6’10 Denmark native averaged 11.4 points per game.
Another local player made the second team, this time La Salle’s Jerrell Wright was one of La Salle’s most complete players last season averaging 13.3 points per game. His 13.3 points was good enough for second best on the Explorers last season only behind Tyreek Duren. Wright held the team high in shooting percentage, sinking .576% of his shots while also bringing down 6.6 rebounds per game.
UMass’s 6’10 center in Cady Lalanne i the lone center on the third team. Last season, Lalanne averaged 11.3 points per game for the Minutemen along with 8 rebounds a game. Don’t allow his 11.3 points per game average fool you, last season Lalanne manged to put double digits in points 20 times including a season high 27 in their season opener against Boston College. E.C Matthews, the lone sophomore on the preseason second team averaged 14.3 points per game last season as a freshman, as well as 4.3 rebounds per game on his way to the 2013-14 Co-Rookie of the Year Award in the A-10.
All Conference Preaseason Third Team:
- Jon Severe – Fordham
- G Kethan Savage – George Washington
- C Steve Zack – La Salle
- F Gilvydas Biruta – Rhode Island
- C Youssou Ndoye – St. Bonaventure
Fordham’s Jon Severe averaged 17.3 points per game last season as a freshman, only trailing senior Brendan Frazier who averaged 18.2 points per game last season. Kethan Savage of George Washington averaged 12.3 points per game last season, 4.3 rebounds a game.
La Salle’s Steve Zack was a tremendous rebounder for the Explorers last season bringing down just over nine rebounds a game while managing to also average 8.8 points per game. Zack lead the A-10 last season in rebounding as well as double-doubles, collecting 13. F
Forward Gilvydas Biruta, was a .500% shooter for the Rhode Island Rams last season averaging 10.6 points per game along with seven rebounds. St. Bonaventure’s 7’0 senior from Senegal, Youssou Ndoye, averaged 10.2 points per game last season for the Bonnies while collecting an average 5.7 rebounds a game.
[Photo: Atlantic10.com]
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