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Atlantic 10 Basketball: Richmond, Saint Louis on top in opening weeks

By Benjamin Zacher

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 09: The Atlantic-10 logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the George Washington Colonials andthe Dayton Flyers at the Smith Center on January 9, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 09: The Atlantic-10 logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the George Washington Colonials andthe Dayton Flyers at the Smith Center on January 9, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Atlantic 10 Basketball
Atlantic 10 Basketball AJ Wilson George Mason Patriots (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

9. George Mason Patriots

  • 2020-21 record: 2-1
  • Wins: vs. Queens (66-65), vs. Howard (84-70, neutral)
  • Losses: vs. Belmont (77-67)

George Mason was a lot like La Salle last year.  They both rolled through their non-conference schedule – but struggled to get through A-10 play.  This year, there is a really good opportunity that the Patriots repeat that performance, considering they have returned 91.6% of their point production from last season.

Last year saw the Patriots pick up some great non-conference victories over Nebraska and New Mexico State, but George Mason has shown some early-season struggles thus far.  They were nearly picked off by Div. II Queens, but they hung around a solid Belmont team and shut down the Makur Maker-led Howard Bison in a season-opening MTE.

Returning so much from last season leads me to believe that they will continue to roll through their non-conference foes coming up, which include the likes of Morgan State, Coppin State, and Towson – but time will tell if the Patriots can fare better against A-10 competition this year.

The Patriots are in good hands, too. Jordan Miller has been on an offensive tear, averaging 20 points a game – highlighted by a career-best 30-point (10-15 FG, 8-10 3PT) performance against Howard.  Javon Greene – a Preseason All-Conference Third Team selection – has done fairly well too after leading the Patriots in scoring last year, averaging 13.7 points in the young season.

All of this is without AJ Wilson, another Preseason All-Conference Third Team honoree, an All-Defensive team selection, and the reigning A-10 Most Improved Player.  Wilson has been in a slump to start the season, having only scored two points against Queens, zero against Howard, and not even playing against Belmont.

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