Atlantic 10: Owls return to their roost
|
By Jonathan Ganz, CNN/SI
Veteran Lenny Brown will spearhead Xavier's run for the A-10 title.
(Bob Rosato) | |
| Projected Order of
Finish
|
| Team (East) | Comment |
| 1. Temple* | Should be John Chaney's best team in several
years. |
| 2.
Massachusetts* | Just one player gone from last season's
roster. |
| 3. Rhode
Island** | Lost terrific backcourt, but gains
Odom. |
| 4.
St.
Bonaventure** | Caswell Cyrus, Tim Winn are a formidable inside-outside
duo. |
| 5. St.
Joseph's | Hold on to memories of '97 Sweet
16. |
| 6.
Fordham | Young team hopes experience makes a
difference. |
| Team (West) | Comment |
| 1.
George
Washington**
| Is loss of Alexander Koul addition by
subtraction? |
| 2.
Xavier** | Terrific perimeter game, solid
interior. |
| 3.
Dayton** | Only one starter gone—but he was the
star. |
| 4.
Virginia
Tech | Counting on freshman Dennis Mims to
deliver. |
| 5. La
Salle | Top recruit Rasual Butler needs to
qualify. |
| 6. Duquesne | Graduated team's three leading
scorers. |
*NCAA Tournament lock;
**NCAA Tournament bubble team/NIT
bound. |
|
| |
|
|
All-Conference
Team |
|
Lamont
Barnes, F, 6'10", Jr.,
Temple
| | 1997-98 Stats: 13.2 ppg, 7.2
rpg |
|
Donnie
Carr, G, 6'4", Jr., La
Salle
| | 1997-98 Stats: 18.1 ppg, 4.6
rpg | |
Lari
Ketner, C, 6'10", Sr.,
Massachusetts
| | 1997-98 Stats: 15.2 ppg, 7.4
rpg | |
Antonio
Reynolds-Dean, F, 6'8", Sr., Rhode
Island
| | 1997-98 Stats: 11.2 ppg, 7.6
rpg | |
Shawnta
Rogers, G, 5'4", Sr., George
Washington
| | 1997-98 Stats: 14.7 ppg, 4.8
apg
|
|
|
Player of the
Year |
| Lari Ketner, 6'10", Sr.,
Massachusetts
| | Ketner has combined equal parts potential and inconsistency
until now. He's the anchor of four returning starters from
a 21-11 Minutemen
squad.
| |
|
Coach on the Hot
Seat
|
| Speedy Morris, La
Salle 13th year, '97-98 record:
9-18
| | Four NCAA and two
NIT bids in his first six seasons; squat since. Speedy's
slowing
down.
| |
|
Newcomer of the
Year |
| Lamar Odom, SF, Soph., Rhode
Island
| | With eligibility finally restored and NBA talk put off for
another year, we may finally see what all the hype is
about. At best, he'll remind of Magic Johnson. At worst, he
is Utah's Hanno
Mottola.
| |
|
Top Three
Storylines to Watch
|
| Early to Bed, Early to
Rise
| | There should be plenty of talent at Temple coach John
Chaney's legendary early-morning practices this season.
Prop 48 gunner Mark Karcher joins backcourt stacked with
Pepe Sanchez and Rasheed
Brokenborough.
|
| Where Have All the Good Guards
Gone?
| | After riding Tyson Wheeler and Cuttino Mobley to a
near-appearance in the Final Four last season, Rhode Island
must switch gears and rely on its frontcourt if it wants to
Dance.
| | Let's Go
West
| | That's what most coaches in the East Division will be
saying when they need a breather this season. The West is
much
weaker.
|
|
| The Bandwagon |
| Temple |  |
Things look great with a new arena and loads of
talent. |
| Rhode
Island |  | Coach Jim Harrick will have to work hard to prove last
year was no
fluke. |
| Shawnta
Rogers | | The most exciting 5'4" athlete in the
country. |
|
|
Games to
Watch |
|
Florida State at Temple, Dec.
14
| | Two of the more intense coaches in the country square off
in what should be a defensive
struggle.
|
|
Rhode Island vs. Utah, Dec.
2
| | Harrick & Co. take on a '98 Final Four team a season
after nearly getting there
themselves.
|
|
Xavier at Cincinnati, Jan.
28
| | The pressure of this crosstown rivalry extends from the
court to the bench to the
bleachers. |
|
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|
