All-in on the A-10

Good morning! We’re less than a month from the start of the college hoops season and there are two things you’ll want to catch today.

We’ll have ongoing coverage from Summit League media day starting at 10 am ET (watch it here) and don’t miss the debut of Every Pod a Wildcat, our Kansas State podcast featuring Coleman Hawkins. First guest, regular Daily reader Jerome Tang!

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1. Nothing but good vibes at A-10 media day

Every media day event overflows with optimism. There are endless possibilities before the games begin.

That was the Atlantic 10 on Monday.

Among the established coaches, young talent, and relative bunching of teams at the top, the A-10 emitted plenty of good vibes. But maybe the strongest came from ESPN’s Seth Greenberg, who said “I could very easily see five A-10 teams making the NCAA Tournament.”

Perhaps a big too optimistic. Nah. Not on media day.

If you’re a time optimist, you could watch all 5½ hours of The Field of 68’s coverage from yesterday, which includes interviews with every coach and player who was in Washington D.C.

OK, you don’t have that much time? Here are some of the highlights:

• VCU’s the pick to win the league, and much of that is due to the return of senior guard Max Shulga. He’s been with coach Ryan Odom since Odom was at Utah State, which was the first time the pair talked through why Shulga should stick with Odom.

• St. Bonaventure is “so lucky to have” Adrian Wojnarowski as its new GM. Bonnies coach Mark Schmidt said that ever since the former ESPN news breaker opens up a lot of doors through existing relationships that not only raise the program’s profile, but opens new revenue streams.

• Erik Reynolds might be the league’s top player this season. The 6-2 senior averaged 17.3 ppg and shot 38% from 3, which would normally make him a prime candidate to transfer to a Power 5 conference. But leave St. Joe’s? No way. Not with how he feels about the school and the fans.

• Nate Santos had hip surgery in the spring, but has been at full health since practices started. That’ll be important for Dayton, who could make a run at the league crown with a healthy backcourt (can Malachi Smith have some good luck this season?) and Santos on the wing.

• This is UMass’ last season in the A-10 before it moves to the MAC. Coach Frank Martin’s optimistic about his team.

• Delonnie Hunt is Richmond’s leader and heads up what could be a dynamite defensive backcourt. He also joked that he sees himself as Secret Service — he’s got to protect Chris Mooney’s nephew (who’s a walk-on). Nothing but good vibes during media day.

• The A-10 and AAC had been primed for a scheduling alliance before commissioner Mike Aresco left in the spring. A-10 Commissioner Bernadette McGlade says the league remains open to that possibility.

• OK, need one more funny moment? Look no further than new Saint Louis star Robbie Avila.

Avila and the Billikens were picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll, but I’d guess that any of those top seven teams could end up claiming the title.

The predicted finish from the A-10 preseason poll:

1. VCU (14 first-place votes)

2. Dayton (6)

3. Saint Joseph’s (2)

4. Saint Louis (2)

5. Loyola Chicago (2)

6. George Mason

7. Richmond

8. Duquesne

9. Massachusetts

10. St. Bonaventure

11. Rhode Island

12. Davidson

13. George Washington

14. Fordham

15. La Salle

Finally, here are the All-League teams:

First team: Nate Santos (Dayton), Des Watson (Loyola Chicago), Erik Reynolds (St. Joe’s), Robbie Avila (Saint Louis), Gibson Jimerson (Saint Louis), Max Shulga (VCU)

Second team: Posh Alexander (Dayton), Darrius Maddox (George Mason), Darren Buchanan Jr. (George Washington), Xayvier Brown (St. Joe’s), Joe Bamisile (VCU), Zeb Jackson (VCU)

Third team: Reed Bailey (Davidson), Rashool Diggins (UMass), Miles Rubin (Loyola Chicago), Jaden House (Rhode Island), Rasheer Fleming (St. Joe’s), Isaiah Swope (Saint Louis)

That’s a whole lot of Saint Louis, St. Joe’s, and VCU players.

2. House v. NCAA settlement moves forward

There might be a bit of news beyond the NCAA Tournament title game on April 7, 2025.

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