Philly teams gearing up for Atlantic-10 hoops schedule

So what do we know about the Atlantic 10, aside from the fact that it will now, for whatever reasons, be headquartered in Newport News, Va.?

Well, Dayton has been picked as the team to beat in men's basketball, having received 33 of a possible 57 first-place votes.

Xavier, which has won the regular season the last three years, is the only team with a new coach. Former top assistant Chris Mack takes over for Sean Miller, who went to Arizona.

Richmond, under Philadelphia's own Chris Mooney, is the third choice. Springfield-Delco's Dan Geriot, who missed last season with an injury, returns. As does almost everyone else, from a team that won 20 games without him for the first time since 2004.

Temple, which has to replace Dionte Christmas and two other starters, is trying to become the first team to win the conference tournament three consecutive times since Massachusetts (1992-97). The Owls finished in a tie with Duquesne - the team they beat 7 months ago for the title - for fifth in the balloting. Lavoy Allen was a first-team selection.

Saint Joseph's, where Phil Martelli just became a first-time grandfather, went 17-14 with Player of the Year Ahmad Nivins. Without him, the Hawks have been picked 10th. They'll open Hagan Arena Nov. 13 against Drexel.

The title, for the fourth consecutive March, will be decided in Atlantic City. But the final will be played on Selection Sunday afternoon, instead of Saturday night. On CBS rather than ESPN. And only eight teams will get there. The format now calls for first-round games to be held on campus sites earlier in the week. The bottom two teams will still stay home.

The last time a top seed won the title was 2005 (George Washington). At least one Philly school has made it to the final all but two times since the tourney was last played in South Philly in 2002. Actually, it was either Temple or St. Joe's. But now La Salle, for whatever it's worth, has been projected the highest (at No. 4) of the city's three rivals.

"Whether you're picked first or 14th or somewhere in between is not of great concern to us," said Explorers' coach John Giannini, who's starting his sixth season. "We're more concerned with how we play. We have a veteran group. We also have some good young talent, which I think is the mix you strive for."

Rodney Green (17.8 points a game) is the A-10's leading returning scorer. Freshman big man Aaric Murray was very heavily recruited by, among others, Temple, St. Joe's and Villanova.

"Certainly we're pleased with being picked higher than we have been before, having people recognize us," said Giannini. "At the same time, we've finished in the top half of the league 3 of the last 4 years, while we were rebuilding. So it's not like, wow, we're coming out of nowhere. I think people see that we're improved. I also hope they see this has being a process . . . We're just trying to get better.

"Last year George Washington finished 13th, yet Dayton and Rhode Island needed overtime, and a little bit of luck, to beat them. I'm sure, like Duquesne last year, someone's going to emerge that might not be predicted right now."

Two years ago, Temple was picked ninth. The Owls came in second, then left AC with the trophy.

"In our profession, you replace guys each and every year," said Owls' coach Fran Dunphy. "That's your job. Seniors know what they're doing out there. I think [our A-10 tourney success] helps [give] us a certain level of confidence, in maybe we know the work ethic that's involved to get there. The fact is, this is a different team than we were the last 2 years.

"The mind-set you have to take into every game is that anybody can beat anybody else on any given night. It'll be interesting to see how these predicted orders of finish do filter out."

It usually is. But you have to start somewhere.

Last season, for the second straight time, the A-10 sent three teams to the NCAA Tournament. Xavier, a four seed, lost to Pitt in the Sweet 16. Dayton, an 11, lost to Kansas in the second round. Temple, another 11, lost its opener to Arizona State. The last time four teams get there was 2004 . . . St. Joe's Garrett Williamson made the preseason all-defensive team. Aaric Murray was all-rookie.