Atlantic 10 Basketball: Dayton, VCU rises in latest 2021-22 power rankings
2. Saint Louis Billikens (7-2)
A 127-point scoring game on the schedule inflates the overall offensive numbers a bit but the Billikens have scored at least 72 points in every game this season, impressive considering they’ve been doing this without star guard Javonte Perkins, out for the season with an injury. Replacing him effectively has been Gibson Jimerson, leading the team with 16.0 ppg on 39% shooting from deep.
Forward Marten Linssen (11.9 ppg) is the only other double-digit scorer but Saint Louis still has plenty of scoring depth to work with. Transfer Jordan Nesbitt has been a solid starter at the wing, while Fred Thatch, Francis Okoro, and Terrence Hargrove each are putting up over 8.0 ppg. And point guard Yuri Collins (6.9 apg) continues to be one of the best pure passers in the country. This team may take on more losses as the games get more in but they’re also comfortable now without Perkins and have a guy in Jimerson they can lean on in crunch time.
1. Saint Bonaventure Bonnies (7-1)
It hasn’t been easy being the clear-cut team to beat in the A-10, as everything the Bonnies have done has been scrutinized so far. They had some near-upsets and close calls but beating Boise State, Clemson, and Marquette to win the Charleston Classic silenced some of those doubters, although the loss to Northern Iowa took them out of the top-25 overall.
Once again, all five starters are averaging double figures for the Bonnies, with guard Jaren Holmes managing to separate himself from the bunch, averaging 16.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, and 4.4 apg. He’ll be needed to be the lead guard going forward with senior point guard Kyle Lofton out for a few weeks with an injury.
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S.t Bonaventure should be fine without him up until league play, assuming the four other starters continue to play at a high level and bench players Linton Brown and Karim Coulibaly provide some production off the bench when on the court. They’ll be tested soon enough with matchups against UConn and Virginia Tech coming up.