Atlantic 10 Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2023-24 season

12. Richmond Spiders

2022-23 season record: 15-18 (7-11)

I’m operating under the standpoint that star wing Tyler Burton (19 ppg) is coming back but it wasn’t like that helped the Spiders last year, as he was the only thing that stopped them from being in last place. And there hasn’t been much difference from the roster so far, as freshman point guard Jason Nelson transferred over to VCU in a surprise A-10 move.

Richmond did land Jordan King, who averaged 15.6 ppg and 3.1 apg on 40% shooting from the field. That’s a good pickup and gives the team a proven guard to run the offense but there’s still both a lack of frontcourt depth and shooting overall. There’s only so much that Burton can do to hold up the roster.

11. Saint Louis Billikens

2022-23 season record: 21-12 (12-6)

No team had lost as much talent as Saint Louis this offseason. That includes point guard Yuri Collins, who led the country with 10.1 apg this past season. 5 of the top 6 scorers are gone, including Javonte Perkins, Javon Pickett, and big man Francis Okoro. That leaves leading scorer Gibson Jimerson (14.0 ppg) back and while he’s one of the best shooters in Atlantic 10 Basketball, he doesn’t have Collins to find him the ball anymore.

The Billikens have added a pair of solid transfers in Tim Dalger and CJ Noland, helping replace all of the lost athleticism and versatility that’s gone. The problem is that right now, it’s looking that Cian Medley is the starting point guard and there are 0 experienced big men on the roster. Unless they find some more pickups, there’s a chance 11 is too high for Saint Louis.