Atlantic 10 Basketball: Early grades for each teams 2023 offseason moves

2. Dayton Flyers – Grade: B+ (with Holmes), C (without Holmes)

There’s no bigger decision left in Atlantic 10 Basketball than DaRon Holmes, the star of the team. If he stays in the NBA Draft, that means both he and Toumani Camara (officially gone) will be gone. They were the duo that kept the Flyers in contention last season and unless Buffalo transfer Isaac Jack has a breakout campaign, they’ll have to rely on the guard play to be good.

At least, Dayton didn’t lose any of its key guards outside of freshman Mike Sharavjamts. Malachi Smith and Kobe Elvis will be back and hopefully healthy, while Robert Morris transfer Enoch Cheeks and Merrimack freshman guard Javon Bennett helps with the depth. The potential frontcourt departure will be the main headline but the Flyers aren’t doomed for next season.

1. VCU Rams – Grade: A+

VCU was in the same position as George Mason as a program, having lost Coach Mike Rhoades to Penn State. But they made a big-time hire in Ryan Odom, who just led Utah State to the NCAA Tournament. He brought with him a pair of double-digit scorers in guards Sean Bairstow and Max Shulga.

The Rams also brought back a familiar face to Atlantic 10 Basketball, as Joe Bamisile once averaged 16.3 ppg when he was at George Washington. He likely will have to sit out a year but the team has depth, including Richmond transfer guard Jason Nelson.

When you consider this program also beat out Dayton for freshman forward Michael Belle, they’ve already been giving out losses to other teams in this league in the offseason. It’s unclear how this new-look roster will work out but after a period of uncertainty after losing Coach Rhoades and Conference POY Ace Baldwin, they’re right back where they belong… contending for a title.