2019 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship
 

I can wait until the off season to talk about next year. I am very much interested in this year's Flyer team. It looks like the Flyers are destined for a rubber match with SLU on Friday night but looking at the result of the possible match-ups, that is not a given.

The Richmond v Fordham winner plays SLU Thursday night.

Richmond squeaked by Fordham 72-69 at home.

Richmond beat SLU in St. Louis. That was the Billikens 3rd loss of a 4 game losing streak. That was after they had decent non-conference results and started the conference season with 5 wins in a row.
SLU did beat Fordham 63-60 in the Bronx, not taking their go ahead for good lead until 2:06 left in the game.

So in all likelihood, we will be watching that Billiken - Flyer match-up on Friday but it is not a sure thing.

What time do we play on Friday?

8:30pm

2nd game of evening session. Scheduled for 8:30 pm

My question is, why are the games on Wednesday at 1 o’clock? It’s not like they are even on a traditional television network so they have to schedule around that. At least let the games be atnight so those who are rooting for the out-of-town teams can get there.
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I went to a Wednesday night game in Pittsburgh Not too many people there. Not sure it makes a difference what times the games are. Earlier makes it easier for the losers to get out sooner and the winners are in better shape for games the next day.

830p Friday for us. Great scenario for me and MOSTLY CITY LOCALS!

Let's GO FLYERS!

https://mobile.twitter.com/kenpomero...igWcVadVUCO%2F


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D1REnayU...pg&name=medium

If we get to the championship on Sunday I like our chances.

It's St Paddy's Day and the 35th anniversary of Velvet Chapman and the Flyers' dismantling of Wayman Tisdale and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Theory
 

I don't have an answer, but I have a theory.
Wednesday night games have always been lightly attended. We've been going to the tournament since it was at the Spectrum. It's been the same everywhere except UD Arena.

My theory: Local school children.

In past years, there have been lots of local school children attending the afternoon sessions. Rather than have an empty arena in the evening, put some screaming kids in the seats and sell popcorn in the afternoon.

It could also be an plan for teams getting court time in the evening and knowing who their opponents will be. That doesn't help us Friday teams, but it's a thought.

Its probably a combination of all of it, kid some kids in the building, just to have some screaming faces there, gives these teams some extra rest/prep time for their game the next day (IIRC, the winner of the 1st game will also play the 1st game on thursday, less than 24 hours after their game ends), gives their opponents more time to prep, as well as the next team down the line who has the double bye, gives the venue extra time to prep for the 2 full days of hoops that follow.

what TV coverage for Friday night?

Nbcsn

John Feinstein doing color commentary on the ESPN+ early game. UMass already crushing GW by 11 after 6 minutes.

So much for the “fill the seats with school kids” theory. Totally empty building.

Teacher: students, we have a wonderful field trip planned to go to Barclays and see the University of Massachusetts play George Washington University in basketball.

Students: no thanks. We would rather stay in class and learn adding compound fractions.
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GW wins in overtime.
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Think Matt McCall is getting canned at Umass? 11-21 this year, last year 13-20.

Derek Kellogg got fired with records of 15-18 (2016-17) and 14-18 (2015-16) his last two years there and he was an Alum...and had some success there.

I think McCall gets at least one more year. They had a lot of injuries this year, but he also needs to start bringing in some talent.

Richmond wins over Fordham- 52-50 on a last second layup!


Go Flyers!!!

Awful first day. Need to just eliminate it

They and a lot of others thought their loading up on transfers was going to make them very good very soon. They expected big things from Laurant from Rutgers, Cleregot from Memphis, Heyward from LSU and Cobb from Fairfield to go with Pipkins , Holloway and Pierre. St. Louis also went big with transfers.

I think some think that if you came from a big time program you must be good. Surely Shauna Green did.

Really hope our next year’s men’s program fares better with transfers than these three.
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I doubt that will happen. It's been tried and "fixed".

Not to mention, they can stay home and check the 6:00 news for train wrecks.
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Anyone remember a few years back when we were curious if we were even going to make the trip to the A10 tournament?

Wednesday sucks...Thursday sucks...

Friday will be better.

Weekend games actually have people there.

I'll say it again...NYC is not the A10 and doesn't drive fans in the stands for it's entirety.

What that said...see you in Brooklyn Friday... :)

[QUOTE=shocka43;580006]Anyone remember a few years back when we were curious if we were even going to make the trip to the A10 tournament?

Yes I do! As our expectations has risen, so has our team.

Road Island rolls. GW and George Mason tied at the half.
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George Mason over G.W. 61-57

St. Joes up on Duquesne at the half 49-43


Go Flyers!!!

Duquesne and St. Joe’s must be in a track meet as A-10 games go. Was 72-70 Hawks with over 7:00 to go, last I checked.
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Saint Joey of brackets wins 92 to 86. And now for the game we’ve all been waiting for.
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Richmond leads SLU 36-30 at the half. Golden has been golden thus far.

http://thenewportblast.com/wp-conten...ode-Island.jpg

Travis Ford whining about the refs big time during his halftime TV interview.

Edit: And now he’s at half-court yelling at the refs during a timeout less than a minute into the second half.

Richmond now up 10 and Travis Ford is powerfully POed

Ford is not far from Hurley in my opinion. Will the leash get short for him at SLU if they lose tonight?

SLU is a physical team, Richmond is mostly not. Hence, more fouls called on SLU.

Looking for SLU defense pressure to lose steam and allow Spiders to prevail.
That's what we want!!!

Not sure either team is any more of a gift than the other. SL is such a horrible shooting team but Richmond takes care of the ball, plays zone and milks the clock on offense.

Better be ready to be physical underneath if St Louie wins
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I don’t know how/why Richmond is letting French dominate them. Foul him when he’s shooting. Make him make free throws, not dinks and dunks.

All things being about equal. I’d rather play a team that is on their 3rd game in 3 days, than their 2nd in two days.
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St Louis is like a hockey club - just dump it in toward the rim and then crash the boards. Not a good matchup for us.
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St. L defense just pushed UR completely away from the basket in the second half and they destroyed them on the offensive glass.
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SLU wins. 70-67
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Trey will be important for us tomorrow night. His kind of game!

We just need to rebound and we will be okay. Jalen will need to bring his A game to defend against the pressure.

Did anyone think Travis Ford should have been T’d up after spending the last 5 minutes of the game out of the coaching box. And 2-3 feet on the court with game action live in front of his bench.

Maybe I haven’t been paying attention, but a lot at the end of this game while action was live in front of him

Ford was on the court more than Grant Golden. LOL

The refs were very “patient” with him to say the least, and a bunch of fouls called on Richmond in the second half.

Then, in his post game interview, he says he wasn’t mad about the refs, he was mad about his team’s play in the first half. Which, of course, completely contradicts his actual halftime interview comments...

I was looking for the technical foul. In fact, I thought the ref was beginning to motion that and backed off.

Was hoping UR would hold on and we'd be playing an opponent playing their 3rd game in three days. Our inside guys are a terrible matchup for Grant Golden. He does not scare me in the least. But French is a man child and the way Sloo rebounds they can push us around like rag dolls if we're not at our best.

This game is a toss-up from my seat.

Might be the first time I’ve heard the “hockey” reference to describe SLU’s style, but very appropriate. A stark contrast to the days of Majerus, when they had a 7-footer shooting 3s because he was capable of it.
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Willie and the Pep Band on NBC's TODAY show this morning...

I cannot believe the comments he made just prior to the start of the second half. It wouldn’t surprise me if the league doesn’t fine him. He basically called out the officials for the disparity of fouls called which I thought you weren’t allowed to do...
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Dayton (-4) vs St. Louis.

Also Travis Ford called Obi Toppin a first round draft pick, and even a lottery pick, in his post game comments when asked about the matchup with Dayton tonight.

Depends if he did call them out or basically called them out. Big difference..

Well, not sure of that's going to happen but one big man in Hayes for Texas went down with what could be a serious knee injury last night so that right there could elevate Obi a few spots.

VCU is up early on Rhody, but Marcus Evans from VCU (1st team all A10) just went down with what appears to be a bad knee injury. Prayers for the young man who's already had to overcome 2 achilless injuries IIRC. Looks like a good chance he's done for the tournament at best, and certainly a possibility that it could be much, much worse.

That sucks so bad. VCU may actually have been able to do a little damage in the NCAA tournament but not now, unless it's just a sprain and he can make it back by next week.. I hate to see injuries ruin a season for a team and of course for Evans as well

Wishful thinking ?? And the sooner the better for SLU

Clever. Maybe Ford will help him get an agent.
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RI up 4 with 6 to go.

Evans not playing.

A10 has a pretty good history of mid tier a10 teams making a run. With that said, I dont think VCU wins it.

I believe its US or an outlier.... mainly the Bonnie's or URI makes a run


Tonight..
Flyers BY 6!

Bring on the next round

VCU with a loss today to the first four in Dayton. I will root for them.

I just saw on the VCU board that VCUScott is demanding Mike Rhoades be fired.

And down goes VCU

And now there are probably two A10 teams in the Dance. RI 75-70

Rhody a winner...

You root for them, I'll hope for them.



https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-H...IdY/s640/3.jpg

I said so awhile back, but the 1 seed seems to struggle in the A10 noon game fairly often. Happened again today, goodbye Juan, say hola to his cousin Duo

HOLY...:eek:!

The door is open, Flyers! Carpe diem!
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The shot of the game - that running trey to barely beat the shot clock with a couple of minutes left.

Now THAT.....is **** funny!!

Wow. I got that one wrong. Thought VCU would handle Rhody. Give Rhody credit. Looks like they are on their own “revenge tour”. Avenging earlier beat downs at hands of UD and now VCU
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What a win by Rhodi. Let’s take care of business tonight!
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Find it hard to believe VCU would be relegated to the first 4 at UD.

1000%

That's often what occurs in conf tourneys. Or teams recover from injuries or losing streak.

They r on fire

If Evans is out, I would not put it past the NCAA to drop them this far.

If I am VCU, I do all I can to hide the truth, if indeed it is a serious injury, and call it a minor sprain and claim Evans is practicing tomorrow and will be 100% next week.

But it did not look good, prayers for the guy, terrible way to end your season if it is serious.

He meant eventually. Not this year. Heck Obi isn’t even in the top 100 on the NBA draft board right now. I could see it in a couple of years if he improves.

I saw him make that comment also- an old gamesmanship ploy...’let me see if i can show coach Ford he’s right about how good I am’...thereby trying to make Obi do too much. Ford should be ashamed
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Watching the post game interview, they showed a few highlights before cutting back to the studio.
Dowtin was yelling and talking trash to the VCU players in the handshake line pointing fingers, URI coach kinda shoved him and told / motioned him to get down to their bench.
Kinda makes me hope RI gets a reality check soon....

If they drop VCU to First Four that will be as embarassing as doing it to us 4 years ago. VCU is a main bracket team by a mile

Give it 2 weeks and he'll be on the top 100 NBA draft boards

I predicted URI would be a tough out in the A10 tourney. They are a team with lots of talent that severely underachieved for the first 2/3 of the season. They have certainly seemed to figure some things out.

They couldn't stop Santos-Silva down low but VCU stop getting him the ball for some reason.

they showed more footage.

it started in the handshake line when Evans yelled at Dowtin and shoved him

The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!
— A10
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This is what I saw. No idea what was or was not said before shove, but VCU guy made first contact.

Prior to todays game, ESPN did not have VCU listed as a "lock", only as a "should be in". We know what has happened in the past with many other "mid major" teams, so do not get too excited yet. Complete BS if VCU even gets sent here to play in the first four as they should be at least a 9 or 10 seed, but I do not trust the selection committee one bit when it comes to choosing non football power house schools for the tourney, and if Evans is lost who knows what the selection committee will do.

Replays of the line, clearly show Evans saying something first then hitting Dowtin before Dowtin can even react. Replays of the injury don't show anything wrong with the play; Dowtin was making an effort on the ball on the breakaway, nothing dirty.

Is VCU still in the A10? That is reason enough to relegate then vs a Power Conference team

Earlier in the game a VCU player made a 3 then walked in front of a URI player and started clapping. Surprised taunting wasn't called.

Sounds like it was an intense, somewhat chippy game all around.

VCU is a lock for the tourney. The Evans injury might throw a wrench/question mark into it just a hair, but if they're smart, they'll keep that close to the vest and simply say that we expect him to be ready, pending further evaluations.

Ironically, with VCU losing we may need to win the tourney even more now. If we do lose in the Championship game, it will be to Bona or URI. VCU has a NET score of 31. Bona is 130 and URI is 137 (before todays finals)

Root for VCU in the NCAA tournament. The more wins and exposure A10 teams, the more money and exposure UD gets.

Have to have the championship anyway. Any prayer of an at-large vanished with the Home Loss to URI

I don't so much mind if they alter seeds based on injuries, be it either losing someone or someone coming back, but injuries in no way should affect whether a team gets in or not. Injuries are part of the game and a teams record is what it is. If you lose a guy it wouldn't be fair to the rest of the team to not get in because of the injury. Just like a guy coming back should not bolster a resume saying the team would have done better if said player had played, you can't just assume that.

I do not disagree. But this bubble looks especially weak.

I think Ford's comment was aimed at his own team lest they take Obi or the Flyers lightly.

Agreed. I would choose the word embarassing over weak. Its pitiful. Multiple 13,14 and potential 15 loss teams being discussed. This NET/Quad garbage is code for how do we get more P5/BE in the tournament. UNC Greensboro and Belmont should be i n without a second thought. Not a 14 loss Florida and others

St Joe and Davidson not exactly setting the world on fire in the 1st half, 27-26 Davidson at the break.