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

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 12, 2023; Brooklyn, NY, USA; The Virginia Commonwealth Rams celebrate after defeating the Dayton Flyers 68-56 to win the Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2023; Brooklyn, NY, USA; The Virginia Commonwealth Rams celebrate after defeating the Dayton Flyers 68-56 to win the Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlantic 10 Basketball Saint Joseph’s Hawks guard Erik Reynolds II Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Atlantic 10 Basketball Saint Joseph’s Hawks guard Erik Reynolds II Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /

4. St. Bonaventure Bonnies

2022-23 season record: 14-18 (8-10)

We’ve reached the point in the power rankings where teams are actually retaining most of their talent. One is St. Bonaventure, who brings back its top five scorers from this past season. That includes star guard Daryl Banks (15.4 ppg), forward Chad Venning, and guards Kyrell Luc and Moses Flowers.

Joining the Bonnies is Charles Pride, a quality scoring transfer from Bryant that has a 44-point game in his career at the NEC level. He’s a 6’4 guard but rebounds like a forward so could play the four-spot if needed. Coach Mark Schmidt does better when his teams are flying under the radar but if the Bonnies can score more consistently and not rely on Banks all the time, they can make a jump back to the double-bye range of the A-10.

3. St. Joe’s Hawks

2022-23 season record: 16-17 (8-10)

If I was simply ranking individual talents, the Hawks would be No. 1. Erik Reynolds (19.6 ppg) and both Cameron Brown and Lynn Greer are the best overall backcourt in the A-10 and could be one of the best in the country. And while losing Ekike Obinna hurts, forward Kacper Klacez is one of the better defensive frontcourt players around. Plus, a quality incoming recruiting class and 7’0 center Christ Essandoko adds to the overall talent pool.

The concern is whether or not Coach Billy Lange is the guy that can make Saint Joseph’s relevant again. To his credit, he’s managed to keep the roster together when three of them could’ve been power conference targets in the transfer portal. They’ll need a big defensive upgrade collective to consistently win but this time, the talent is there for them to succeed.

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