Jan. 9, 2013
A quick look around Atlantic 10 men's basketball and the beginning of conference play, which tips-off Wednesday with six games.
ON TAP FOR WEDNESDAY (1/8)
No. 14/17 BUTLER Bulldogs (12-2)
at SAINT JOSEPH’S Hawks (8-4)
7:00 pm | Hagan Arena | The Comcast Network
Series: Saint Joseph’s leads 1-0
Gamenote: This marks the first A-10 conference game for Butler, which played a non-conference tilt at Xavier earlier this season. The teams have met just once before, a Hawks win in 1941.
DUQUESNE Dukes (7-7)
at FORDHAM Rams (4-11)
7:00 pm | Rose Hill Gymnasium | YES Network
Series: Duquesne leads 18-12
Gamenote: The Dukes have won the past four meetings, ncluding a 77-67 win in Pittsburgh last year. Fordham’s last win was in 2007-08, the final win in a five-game streak for the Rams.
ST. BONAVENTURE Bonnies (7-6)
at GEORGE WASHINGTON Colonials (6-7)
7:00 pm | Smith Center
Series: GW leads 31-24
Gamenote: GW and Bona are two of four Division I teams to start at least four foreign-born players. Based on previous lineups, half of Wednesday’s starters will be foreign born.
RHODE ISLAND Rams (7-4)
at RICHMOND Spiders (3-7)
7:00 pm | Robins Center
Series: Richmond leads 12-6
Gamenote: The home team has dominated the series with the Spiders winning 7 of 8 meetings in Richmond and the Rams winning 5 of 8 in Kingston.
DAYTON Flyers (7-5)
at No. 24 VCU Rams (12-2)
7:00 pm | Siegel Center | WHIO
Series: VCU leads 3-1
Gamenote: VCU coach Shaka Smart spent 2001-03 as the Director of Operations for the Flyers under Oliver Purnell. The Rams also started their 2011 Final Four run at the First Four in UD Arena.
LA SALLE Explorers (9-3)
at CHARLOTTE 49ers (11-3)
7:30 pm | Siegel Center | NBC Sports Network
Series: Charlotte leads 5-3
Gamenote: La Salle coach Dr. John Giannini owns La Salle’s only three victories in the series...The first meeting, a non-conference affiar, was in 1977. The Explorers have won the last two meetings.
LISTEN IN
The 16 A-10 head coaches had their first weekly teleconference Monday. Listen to their thoughts on the conclusion of non-confernece play and the beginning of league play by clicking on the
AUDIO ARCHIVE
A-10 SCOOP
>>The A-10 has five teams with multiple-game winning streaks and four of those have streaks of seven wins or more. The Minutemen have seven, Saint Louis has won eight straight (all at home) and Butler and VCU each have won nine straight games. UMass and Saint Louis square off Wednesday, meaning one of the streaks will end and one is gauranteed to continue.
>>VCU joined Butler in the Top 25 this week, checking in at No. 24 in the Coaches’ Poll. Butler is No. 14 in the AP Poll and No. 17 in the Coaches Poll. VCU is the top vote-getter among the non-ranked teams in the AP poll and would be 26th if the poll went that deep. In addition, the A-10 has four other teams that have received votes in the AP and ESPN/USA TODAY Coaches Polls. Saint Joseph’s, Saint Louis, Temple, and Xavier have all gotten votes in both polls. This week both Temple continues to receive votes.
>>A-10 teams have played in overtime 10 times, posting a 8-2 record. Double overtime is even better for Atlantic 10 teams. Twice a team has gone to double OT and won both times: Rhode Island over Auburn, 78-72 (11/25) and UR over William & Mary, 86-78 (11/28).
SUNDAY'S (1/6) RESULT
No. 6 KANSAS 69, TEMPLE 62
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - Kevin Young had 16 points, hitting four critical free throws down the stretch, and sixth-ranked Kansas fended off pesky Temple 69-62 on Sunday for the Jayhawks' 11th straight win.
Travis Releford added 14 points on 5 for 5 shooting, none of his baskets bigger than a 3-pointer from the wing with 34.9 seconds left. With the shot-clock winding down, Releford's shot gave Kansas a 65-58 lead, essentially turning away its Atlantic 10 foe.
Ben McLemore added 13 points and Jeff Withey had eight points, 11 rebounds and nine blocked shots for the Jayhawks (12-1), who enter Big 12 play having won 30 consecutive games at Allen Fieldhouse and 63 in a row against non-conference opponents.
Khalif Wyatt finished with 26 points for the Owls (10-3), who nearly had their second win over a top-10 team this season. Wyatt scored 33 in an upset of then-No. 3 Syracuse on Dec. 22.
