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Atlantic 10 Basketball: 2023 conference tournament preview and predictions

By Adam Bernstein

Mar 14, 2021; Dayton, Ohio, USA; A view of the A10 championship trophy after the final game of the Atlantic 10 tournament with the Virginia Commonwealth Rams and the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2021; Dayton, Ohio, USA; A view of the A10 championship trophy after the final game of the Atlantic 10 tournament with the Virginia Commonwealth Rams and the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlantic 10 Basketball Yuri Collins #1 of the Saint Louis Billikens (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Atlantic 10 Basketball Yuri Collins #1 of the Saint Louis Billikens (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Key players to watch in the Atlantic 10 Tournament

JR Ace Baldwin Jr. – VCU

2022-23 Stats: 12.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.8 apg, 2.5 spg

Ace Baldwin Jr. is a strong candidate to be named Atlantic 10 player of the year and is a major factor in the Rams’ success this season. The junior has taken over Bones Hyland’s role as VCU’s primary floor general. This season, he ranks 15th in the nation in assists per game and leads the conference in steals per game.

SO Daron Holmes II – Dayton

2022-23 Stats: 18.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.7 apg

Daron Holmes II is also a candidate to be named Atlantic 10 player of the year because he can do it all on both ends of the floor. Not only does the sophomore forward lead the nation in dunks, but he leads the conference in field goal percentage, ranks second in blocks per game, fourth in points per game, and rebounds per game. If Dayton goes on a run later in the week and makes it to Sunday, he will be a big reason why.

JR Yuri Collins – Saint Louis

2022-23 Stats: 11.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 10.1 apg

The Billikens lived up to the hype this season mainly because of how deep they are; however, their star talent certainly does not go unnoticed. Yuri Collins is one of the best guards in the conference and the nation. The junior guard sees the floor very well as he leads the nation in assists per game. Saint Louis could very likely hoist up the trophy again, which they last did in 2019.

SR Josh Oduro – George Mason

2022-23 Stats: 15.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.5 apg

I believe the five-seed George Mason Patriots are one of the biggest sleepers in this year’s Atlantic 10 tournament. While they may not repeat their stunning Final Four run in 2006 this year, they could make a push toward a title game on Sunday. The Patriots will have to lean on senior Josh Oduro. The 6-foot-9 forward is one of the most dominant big men in the league and often assumes the role of a guard with his scoring abilities.

SR James Bishop IV – George Washington

2022-23 Stats: 21.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 5.1 apg

The George Washington Colonials have more than exceeded expectations in year one of the Chris Caputo era. The Colonials were picked to finish eleventh in the conference but somehow managed to crack the league’s top half and enter the tournament with the seventh seed. James Bishop IV put up explosive numbers this season. The senior guard’s 21.5 points per game rank tenth-best in all of Division I basketball.

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