A-10 Basketball: Way-Too-Early 2019-2020 Power Rankings

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 13: Maceo Jack #14 of the George Washington Colonials handles the ball against Carl Pierre #12 of the Massachusetts Minutemen in the second half during the first round of the 2019 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament at Barclays Center on March 13, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

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FULLERTON, CA – NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Ashley Howard of the La Salle Explorers calls a play from the bench in the second half of the game against the Grand Canyon Lopes during the Wooden Legacy Tournament at Titan Gym on November 25, 2018 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

11. La Salle Explorers (Tier-4)

Ashley Howard and the Explorers greatly surpassed expectations this past season. Universally picked to finish in the bottom-four of the A10, they managed to finish 8-10 in conference and skip out on having to play the Wednesday game in Brooklyn. In what will be Coach Howard’s second season, they could certainly surprise again, but with the conference getting tougher and their roster taking a hit this offseason, things don’t looking promising.

Pookie Powell has finally graduated after a great career and Jamir Moultrie, Traci Carter, and Miles Brookins, while not star players, are all serviceable role-players that have made the decision to transfer. Howard still has some talent left, but it’s tough to imagine that it will be enough to have the Explorers improving on their 9th place finish from last season.

Look for Isiah Deas and Saul Phiri, who both averaged more than eleven points per game, to lead the charge, and for what was an exciting Freshman class of Jack Clark, Ed Croswell, and Jared Kimbrough to boost their production in their second campaigns. Those players all make for a fairly respectable rotation in and of themselves, and that’s not to mention David Beatty or the two three-star recruits that will be joining the fray. Still, I’m hesitant to place this team higher than 11th because of the void left by Powell at the Point Guard position.

If Howard can turn one of the guards he has left or incoming into a true Point Guard that’s focused primarily on distributing and making everyone else better, the Explorers can avoid a bottom-four finish. If not, the pieces that they have will not be enough to overcome a poorly run and spaced offense.

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