Atlantic 10 Basketball: Dayton, VCU rises in latest 2021-22 power rankings

14. George Washington Colonials (2-8)

Things started out great for the Colonials in the first week of the season, beating Saint Francis (PA) and nearly beating a previously ranked Maryland team. It looked as if the duo of James Bishop and Virginia Tech transfer Joe Bamisile were going to be a force in the Atlantic 10. However, road losses across the country at Cal State Fullerton and UC-San Diego were part of a miserable run of eight losses in the past nine games.

The offense overall has been bad outside of Bishop and Bamisile, with just Brendan Adams and forward Ricky Lindo the only ones provided any kind of scoring punch. This team doesn’t have much depth and the absence of Arizona transfer Ira Lee (out for the season) has exposed how little frontcourt and rebounding depth they currently have. Unless someone on the bench can become a better scorer, George Washington will need its lead duo to go for 40+combined to have a shot.

13. La Salle Explorers (3-4)

Overall, it’s been no harm, no foul for La Salle so far this season, although they haven’t done much to be above preseason expectations to this point. A pair over Patriot League programs were offset by overtime losses to Sacred Heart and Delaware but outside of an expected loss to Villanova, they’ve been competitive overall.

What the Explorers lack in starpower, they up for in solid depth. Louisville transfer Josh Nickelberry leads the team with 11.3 ppg, with Sherif Kenney (10.0 ppg) the only other double-digit scorer. 6’6 guard/forward Christian Ray leads them in rebounding at 8.9 rpg, including a career-high 16 rebounds against Delaware.