Atlantic 10 Basketball Power Rankings: VCU on top after non-conference

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 09: Virginia Commonwealth Rams fans cheer against the Rhode Island Rams 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) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 23: Curtis Cobb #33 of the Massachusetts Minutemen shoots against Caleb Martin #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack during the championship game of the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Holiday Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada defeated Massachusetts 110-87. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

#8: UMass Minutemen

UMass is about as inconsistent a team as there is in the A10, but their ceiling is what’s keeping them out of the bottom of these rankings. Out of all the teams listed so far, the Minutemen have the most impressive win – a 20-point comeback on the road against the Providence Friars. They’ve shown flashes in their games against Southern Illinois, who they dismantled 84-62, Temple, and Nevada as well. The question remains, however, about their focus and level of commitment to one another and the team. How can the same team that’s gotten up for all of those big games be the same one that lost to Holy Cross, Howard, and Harvard – all at home?

There’s no doubt that this team has the talent to run with anybody in the league on paper. Luwane Pipkins is a possible Player of the Year (if the team can improve), Jonathan Laurent is one of the league’s more versatile forwards, and Carl Pierre and Rashaan Holloway are no slouches as role players. So far, however, they’ve lacked focus, leadership, and intensity on the defensive side of the ball. If they can somehow acquire all of those things, which the availability of Vanderbilt-transfer Djery Baptiste may help with, then they could end up cracking the top-5 in a conference where even the best teams are flawed.

If they continue to put out the occasional half-hearted effort, however, and fail to find any sort of rhythm, they could conceivably fall outside of the top-10 as well. Whatever happens, we’ll learn a lot about coach McCall and where his boys are at in these coming weeks.

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