Hello, A-10 Season

As we move into conference play, the A-10 begins league play this week and hasn't disappointed up to this point. Entering league play, the A-10 looks to have 4 teams primed for auto-bids and could maybe sneak another team if things fall right. They are 7 in conference RPI.

Here's where we stand as of today.

1. Butler, 18 RPI, 53 KenPom:
Butler enters league play having won 9 straight games and its tally of victories include North Carolina, Indiana & Butler. Butler tends to play to the level of its competetion and could lose a few head scratchers but should be a team to be reckoned with in March.

2. Charlotte, 84 RPI, 96 KenPom:
Charlotte needs to play well and finish at least top 3 to steal a bid. Their best win is Davidson and they have a 30pt loss to Miami(FL) on their resume.

3. Temple, 28 RPI, 55 KenPom:
Barring a mediocore conference showing, Temple looks like a lock. They beat Syracuse at MSG and took Kansas to the wire yesterday at Phog Allen. If you don't know the name Khalif Wyatt, you will soon.

4. VCU, 31 RPI, 12 KenPom:
Wake up the space, son. The move to the A-10 should make a trip back to the dance easier for VCU who already have wins over Belmont and Memphis. They also have wins over Lehigh and Alabama. Their 3 losses have been to Missouri, Duke & Wichita State, all very good teams.

5. St. Louis, 58 RPI, 40 KenPom:
St. Louis has been rolling with 8 straight wins. They have wins over New Mexico and Texas A&M. They also got back Sr. G Kwamain Mitchell who missed the first 11 games of the season.

6. LaSalle, 51 RPI, 60 KenPom:
The Explorers best win was over intra-city rival Villanova. Losses include Miami(FL) and Bucknell. There is a bad loss on their resume to Central Connecticut. Like Charlotte, they'll need at least a top 3 finish in conference. Still a solid team.

7. Umass, 47 RPI, 123 KenPom:
I just read the Big East might bring UMass in. Jim Calhoun is rolling over in his grave. He's not dead? Whatever. UMass has won 7 straight but needs a solid top 3 finish to dance. Again, a solid team, nonetheless.

8. Dayton, 82 RPI, 71 KenPom:
Dayton has beaten Murray State and Alabama but has home losses to Illinois State and Weber State. On the outside looking in but worth watching as they work their way to another 20 win season.

St. Joseph's was a trendy pick to start the year to be a top quarter team in the A-10 but has struggled with consistency. Richmond has had a good start as well and will be a tough matchup and should steal a few wins they shouldn't. Xavier has been wildly inconsistent but still has enough talent to make things difficult in league play.

Realistically, the A-10 will probably top out at 4 bids but a bid stealer via the conference tourney wouldn't be all that shocking possibly garnering 5 spots. I think Butler, VCU, St. Louis & Temple are the class of the league and good bets to play in the tourney this year.