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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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 17: LaDarien Griffin #15 of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 17: LaDarien Griffin #15 of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

4. Richmond Spiders

Record: 17-6 (7-3)

Yet another team that was apart of the five-way fray this past week, they picked up something so huge that they could be considered one of the top winners this week. So who’d they beat you may be asking?  Well, they beat Fordham at Fordham, but it wasn’t about who they beat, it was about with who did they beat as Blake Francis returned after four weeks of not playing due to injury.

The Spiders junior guard has been a contributing factor in some of Richmond’s best performances this season such as the wins against Wisconsin and Rhode Island. Francis leads the team in points per game and will no doubt continue to play a key role.

Blake Francis isn’t the only junior starter that deserves attention on this team as the entire starting line-up are all juniors and are all averaging at least 9.5 points per game (Jacob Gilyard, Grant Golden, Nick Sherod, and Nathan Cayo who is the odd one out) in conference play. In the seven games without him, Richmond has gone 4-3, including a close loss to Dayton at home.

I believe that Richmond could beat any team in the A10 now that they are healthy. The Spiders have two games next week, the first at La Salle and then a critical one at home against VCU who has beaten them during the Blake-less times. If Richmond can get their win back they’ll have no excuse to not get a four-seed or better.

3. St. Bonaventure Bonnies

Record: 16-8 (8-3)

The Bonnies rebounded from three straight losses when they lost Osun Osunniyi for three games back in January by winning four straight games when he returned to make them this week’s winner of the five-way tie as they now have sole possession of the third spot in the conference.

Saint Bonaventure has taken advantage of what some may call a light conference schedule that they got and used it to the fullest, sweeping Fordham, George Washington, and George Mason in the conference series. They are also coming off of their biggest conference win so far at Duquesne which put them ahead of the Dukes in the standings.

The Bonnies are led by Kyle Lofton who is first on the team in points and assists and has produced 13.6 points and 5.7 assists so far this conference season. In addition, Osunniyi nearly averages a double-double in conference contests with 11 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. The Bonnies have two games this week, one at Saint Joseph’s and one at home against Davidson.

The Bonnies have one of the easiest schedules remaining in the A10, with two matches against last-place Saint Joseph’s, one against La Salle, and one against Duquesne who they recently beat away. The Bonnies should be able to get at least the fourth seed by seasons end with the remaining schedule that they have.

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