Busting Brackets
Fansided

Atlantic 10 Basketball: 2021 Conference Tournament preview and predictions

By Adam Bernstein

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 12: A general view of the Barclay Center prior to the start of the 2020 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament - Second Round on March 12, 2020 in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. Tournament games will be played without fans amid growing concerns of the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 12: A general view of the Barclay Center prior to the start of the 2020 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament - Second Round on March 12, 2020 in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. Tournament games will be played without fans amid growing concerns of the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Atlantic 10 Basketball Jamison Battle George Washington Colonials (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Atlantic 10 Basketball Jamison Battle George Washington Colonials (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

No. 14 Seed – Fordham

Record: Overall: 2-11 Conference: 2-11

Best Non-Conference Win: They did not play any non-conference games this season.

Best Conference Victory: Chris Austin had a career-high 20 points, and hit a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds, Fordham would defeat Dayton at home on Jan. 5th.

Most Valuable Player: Joel Soriano led the team in rebounds per game (9.2) and blocks per game (0.7). The 6-foot-11 sophomore has been electric for the Rams this season and will be a huge piece in the future of this team.

Most Likely to have conference tournament performance like Kemba Walker in 2011: Chris Austin is leading the team in points averaging 11.4 per game and shooting 33.3 percent from the three-point range. If the ball is in the hands of this guy, don’t let him shoot an open look.

Prediction: The Rams will drop their first game against George Washington.

No. 13 Seed – Saint Joseph’s

Record: Overall: 4-14 Conference: 3-9

Best Non-Conference Win: The Hawks defeated the Albany Great Danes on Jan. 9th. Taylor Funk recorded 14 points and shot 50 percent from the field.

Best Conference Victory:  The Hawks defeated the Richmond Spiders on March 1st. Taylor Funk posted 22 points and six rebounds in the victory.

Most Valuable Player: Taylor Funk. The junior guard is leading the team in points per game (17.8) rebounds per game (5.8), and blocks per game (0.8). Funk is also shooting 35.6 percent from the three-point range.

Most Likely to have conference tournament performance like Kemba Walker in 2011: Ryan Daly. The redshirt senior only played in eight games this season but, has had an impressive collegiate career with both Delaware and Saint Joseph’s.

Prediction: The Hawks will upset the La Salle Explorers but, will be eliminated in a defeat to the UMass Minutemen in the second round.

No. 12 Seed – La Salle

Record: Overall: 9-15 Conference: 6-11

Best Non-Conference Win: The Explorers defeated the Drexel Dragons back on Dec.12. Anwar Gill posted 15 points and eight rebounds.

Best Conference Victory: The Explorers defeated the Saint Louis Billikens 82-75 on Feb. 3. David Beatty had 22 points and five rebounds.

Most Valuable Player: Jhamir Brickus. The true freshman leads the team in assists per game (3.5) and steals per game (1.9). Brickus is averaging 9.0 points per game and shooting 50 percent from the field.

Most Likely to have conference tournament performance like Kemba Walker in 2011: Sherif Kenney. Kenney is averaging 9.9 points per game. He is shooting 40 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from three.

Prediction: The Explorers will be eliminated in the first round to the Saint Joseph’s Hawks.

No. 11 Seed – George Washington

Record: Overall: 4-11 Conference: 3-5

Best Non-Conference Win: The Colonials defeated Coppin State on Dec. 5. James Bishop nearly had a triple-double. In 34 minutes played, Bishop posted 20 points,  nine assists, and eight rebounds.

Best Conference Victory: The Colonials defeated the Rhode Island Rams on Feb. 21 in their first game back from a program pause due to positive cases. Jamison Battle recorded 26 points and Bishop posted 28 points.

Most Valuable Player: James Bishop is leading the Colonials in points per game (19.1) and assists per game (5.2). The sophomore guard will be a stud for years to come in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Most Likely to have conference tournament performance like Kemba Walker in 2011: Jamison Battle is leading the team in steals per game (0.9). Battle is averaging 17.8 points and 5.5 rebounds. He is also shooting 36.6 percent from the three-point range. He has a great shot so, don’t let him get any open looks from range.

Prediction: The George Washington Colonials will cruise past the Fordham Rams and the George Mason Patriots but, find themselves in trouble against the Davidson Wildcats in the Quarterfinals.

Home/Atlantic 10