Sunday, February 04, 2001
A-10's next school battles for berth
By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
While Xavier and other Atlantic 10 teams hope to earn enough victories for an NCAA Tournament at-large berth, the league's next member has no choice.
Richmond, jumping from the Colonial Athletic Association after this season, entered play Saturday at 14-5. Because it didn't give three years' notice about switching leagues, the CAA barred it from the league tournament and a chance at an automatic bid.
“We have to run the table,” Richmond athletic director Jim Miller said.
Counting their game Saturday at William & Mary, the Spiders had eight more games. At 5-3 in the league, they trail George Mason by a game but play host to GMU in the last week of the season.
They're 58th in the RPI, leaving no margin for error.
“Richmond is basically not going to be considered if they don't win the league,” RPI guru Jerry Palm said.
The odd thing is, Richmond is switching conferences so it will have a chance at at-large berths in future seasons. The A-10 earns them regularly (15 in the last five seasons), the CAA almost never (one in its history).
“All our coaches are excited about competing in the A-10, particularly in men's basketball,” Miller said. “One of the things the university decided in its 10-year strategic plan was to raise its visibility on a national level, and this will help us.”
Richmond has a reputation as a giant-killer, having won six games in its six NCAA appearances since 1984. It will take Virginia Tech's old spot in the A-10 West Division next season.
“I think they'll be a worthy addition to the league, in many ways perhaps more than Virginia Tech was,” XU coach Skip Prosser said.
Tech (8-11 entering play Saturday) is 155th in the RPI.
Richmond has beaten Mississippi State, Massachusetts and George Washington, and was within a basket in the final minute of losses to Wake Forest and Charleston.
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A-10's next school battles for berth
