NCAA Basketball: Power conferences’ 2019-20 surprising and disappointing teams

Atlantic 10

Surprise: George Mason Patriots 11-1

In the Atlantic 10, there are two choices I had for surprise teams, a Duquesne team that began the year by winning 10 straight or the George Mason Patriots who sit at 11-1. I decided to go with Dave Paulsen’s Patriots by virtue of the wins they picked up in the Cayman Islands over New Mexico State and an impressive 19-point win over Nebraska. The only loss they have suffered came at the hands of No. 6 Maryland.

They are led by guards Jordan Miller and Javon Greene who average over 13 points per game and combine to pull down 11.7 rebounds per game for a team that ranks 27th in the country in total rebounds per game with 41.08. Junior forward AJ Wilson is also a key contributor with a team-leading nine boards and 11.5 points per game.

Disappointment: Davidson Wildcats 6-5

The most disappointing team in the conference has to be the one that was picked second in the preseason and was a top-25 team for some heading into the year, the Davidson Wildcats. Bob McKillop’s team finds itself at 6’5 with none of the losses being particularly close, all by 10 points or more and to the likes of Charlotte, Temple, and Wake Forest. In fact, the Wildcats’ best win to date is arguably on the road at Northeastern.

They still have one of the best backcourts in the conference with Kellan Grady and Jon Axel Gudmundsson who average 27 points, 10 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game, but Grady has really struggled from deep so far, shooting just over 25%, after being a 35% shooter over his first two seasons.