Busting Brackets
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 8
Next
DAYTON, OH – JANUARY 22: Obi Toppin #1 and Jalen Crutcher #10 of the Dayton Flyers (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH – JANUARY 22: Obi Toppin #1 and Jalen Crutcher #10 of the Dayton Flyers (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Rhode Island Rams

Record: 18-5 (10-1)

The Rams are being robbed this year by the Dayton Flyers. Any other year Rhode Island would’ve been in first place, but not this year. Rhode Island has won 10 straight since they lost their conference opener to Richmond but that is not enough to reach the top. Fatts Russell is averaging over 20 points and nearly 5 assists per game as well in conference play, but that is not enough to make him the star of the A10 this year. Rhode Island is a definite tournament team that is having everything they should earn taken from them by one of the best non-Gonzaga mid-majors in recent years.

Rhode Island is filled with talent, they have Cyril Langevine who is nearly averaging a point and rebound double-double in conference play, and Jeff Dowtin who is averaging nearly 15 points per conference game. Rhode Island will come to Ohio this Tuesday to face Dayton in a huge matchup for first place in the conference standings, then they will face Saint Joseph’s at home on the weekend. This week will provide the opportunity that Rhode Island desperately needs so that they can reap the rewards of being at the top of the Atlantic 10.

1. Dayton Flyers

Record: 21-2 (10-0)

Dayton is one of the best A10 teams in history and has a chance to become the first one-seed in the NCAA Tournament since Saint Joseph’s in 2004. The Flyers started off the season viewed as a contender to the A10 but then Maui happened, and they have been viewed as a contender to the national championship ever since.

Dayton’s only two blemishes on their record are both overtime losses with one to Kansas who is in second place in the Big 12, and one to Colorado who is winning the PAC 12 as of right now. The Flyers have been in complete control of the A10 winning every game so far, which goes great with their non-conference victories against St Mary’s and Virginia Tech.

The Flyers are led by last year’s A10 Rookie of the Year Obi Toppin who is averaging 19.6 points with 7.6 rebounds per game in conference play and is considered to be a potential early first-round draft pick in the NBA Draft. The Flyers also have Jaylen Crutcher who is good enough to be the star player on any other team in the conference with 16.3 points and 5.4 assists per game in A10 games.

The Dayton Flyers two games this week, one being the huge match against Rhode Island and the other being at Massachusetts on the weekend. If Dayton wins out the conference(which is highly likely at over 20% on KenPom) then that would be in a position to afford the loss that the one-seed always takes in the conference tournament and still be considered a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Next. Top-25 mid-major power rankings. dark

The Flyers have the potential to become the first-ever national champion from the A10 and have shown it by dominating their fellow conference members even though the conference is stronger this year than usual. I for one can’t wait to see how just far this team can go.

Home/Atlantic 10