Atlantic 10 Basketball: 2024 offseason grades for each team
UMass Minutemen - Grade: C
The Minutemen were the rare team that could’be returned all of its rotation pieces for another year. However, their two best players, Josh Cohen and Matt Cross, elected to transfer out. Their replacements includin Akil Watson from ASU, while Daniel Rivera (13.3 ppg and 8.1 rpg) is a 6’6 combo forward from Bryant.
The good news for UMass is that they kept all of its key guards, including double-digit scorer Rahsool Diggins, as well as Jaylen Curry and Jayden Ndjigue. Losing Keon Thompson is an underrated loss in the backcourt as well and they didn’t land a transfer to replace him, meaning that the underclassmen core will need to step up to replace his production. There will be some depth in UMass’s last year in the A-10 but a lack of individual starpower is the main concern.
VCU Rams - Grade: A-
It took a unique route that included some headaches for VCU fans but the team’s top three scorers are back, including star guard, Max Shulga. He may have originally committed to Villanova out of the transfer portal but he’s back, along with Zeb Jackson and Joseph Bamisile. Replacing Sean Bairstow in the backcourt is Phillip Russell, a transfer from UT-Arlington and the WAC 6th Man of the Year.
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Losing Toibu Lawal in the frontcourt was a blow but they did add former Clemson forward Jack Clark, who spent the first few years in college at La Salle, where he was the most successful. The frontcourt depth may be a concern but there’s so much firepower on the perimeter, it could be good enough to win VCU the conference next season.