Atlantic 10 Basketball power rankings: Davidson, Saint Louis lead early season list

BOISE, ID - MARCH 15: Kellan Grady #31 of the Davidson Wildcats reacts in the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 09: Otis Livingston II #4 of the George Mason Patriots dribbles against the Saint Joseph’s Hawks during the first half in the Quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 9, 2018 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

10: George Mason (4-5)

George Mason has been by far the most disappointing team in the conference thus far. They’re far from the only team that’s having a rough start, but it’s proportionately much worse for them because of everyone’s expectations coming into the season. With all of their of all their returning talent (100% of last season’s scoring production), they were a consensus top-4 pick in the preseason. So far, however, they’ve lost to teams like American and Georgia Southern and came extremely close to giving one up to Morgan State last week.

Part of the problem for the Patriots was the play of Otis Livingston II, the team’s star point guard who was tabbed by the A10 coaches as a first team all-conference level player, early on.. In Mason’s first six games (2-4 record), he averaged 8.3 points on 35% shooting. Over their last four, however, he’s averaged 18 points on 43%, and the team has gone 2-2. He’s clearly the heart and soul of this team, and he completely changes their dynamic when he’s on. If he can keep up his recent pace and not fall back into his slump, expect this team to climb sooner rather than later.

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