Busting Brackets
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Atlantic 10 Basketball power rankings: Dayton dominates, Rhode Island rallies

By Cody Gerena

DAYTON, OH - JANUARY 22: Ryan Mikesell #33 of the Dayton Flyers celebrates with Obi Toppin #1 and Jalen Crutcher #10 in the first half of the game against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at UD Arena on January 22, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH - JANUARY 22: Ryan Mikesell #33 of the Dayton Flyers celebrates with Obi Toppin #1 and Jalen Crutcher #10 in the first half of the game against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at UD Arena on January 22, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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VILLANOVA, PA – DECEMBER 01: Saul Phiri #13 of the La Salle Explorers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
VILLANOVA, PA – DECEMBER 01: Saul Phiri #13 of the La Salle Explorers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

12. La Salle Explorers

Record 11-11 (2-8)

The Explorers may be 2-8 in conference play but it is a solid 2-8. With most of their conference losses being to teams at the top of the conference, it’s kind of easy to overlook them. La Salle has the potential to play spoiler with any team in this conference, and they nearly have, as three of their last five losses were to teams that are in the upper half of the standings by only one possession.

La Salle is a pretty deep team scoring-wise compared to other teams low in the standings as three of their five starters (guards David Beatty and Isiah Deas and forward Ed Croswell) averaging over 10 points per conference game, with a fourth just being six points shy of joining them (Scott Spencer).

The Explorers may only have wins against St. Joseph’s and Fordham but with the way of how they’ve been playing against good teams and with the momentum provided with their recent win against the Hawks, they may be able to get hot and arrive at the tournament with waves of momentum. La Salle’s games this week are home against Richmond and then away at Saint Louis and with this being the two best teams they have left on their schedule, getting at least one win can make a huge difference for the rest of their season.

11. George Mason Patriots

Record: 13-10 (2-8)

The Patriots have been one of the more disappointing teams in conference play this season, they entered in with a good record and a few wins against some decent teams and now they are at the bottom part of the standings. All of their conference losses barring one (George Washington) have been to teams that are in a position to win the conference tournament but none of them have been close, with the closest one of those losses being their latest loss at Saint Bonaventure by nine points.

This downward spiral has started to get serious when they lost last season’s leading scorer Justin Kier who was All- A-10 Second Team member and the A-10’s Most Improved Player of the year due to a stress fracture in his foot ending his season. Since his last game, the Patriots have regressed to a point that they are losing to teams that they would be considered the favorite in, but it shouldn’t have been by this much especially if you have guys like Javon Greene and AJ Wilson who are scoring a combined 30 points and 10 rebounds per conference game.

George Mason has two games this week, the first one at VCU and one at home against George Washington. If the Patriots can’t get at least one win out of this week then there are in definite danger of being stuck at the bottom of the conference.

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