2024 Atlantic 10 Conference Basketball Tournament
The A-10 has always been in the shadow of the Big East in terms of national acclaim. That little brother syndrome continues during conference tournament week with the 2024 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament being played at a less-than-capacity Barclays Center in Brooklyn from March 12-17 while the big guys are across the river headlining a packed Madison Square Garden Arena.
The A-10’s entire roster of 15 teams qualifies for postseason play. The top 9 teams earn a first-round bye while the top four also get a spot in the quarterfinals.
This balanced conference has not had a repeat tournament winner since Temple in 2010. Last year VCU took home the conference outright and tournament. Since 2010, only three No. 1 seeds have won the title but it did occur in two of the past three tournaments.
How to Watch the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament
When: March 12-17
Where: Barclays Center Brooklyn, NY
Format: Top 9 seeds get first-round bye, top four get a double-bye
Watch: USA Network, CBS Sports, CBS; Championship Game on CBS on Mar. 12 at 1:00 p.m. ET
College Basketball Odds | College Basketball Betting Splits | Greg Peterson’s Daily Lines | Steve Makinen’s Power Ratings
Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Bracket
Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Seeds, Teams and Odds
1. Richmond (+475)
2. Loyola Chicago(+550)
3. Dayton (+150)
4. Massachusetts (+700)
5. Virginia Commonwealth (+1000)
6. Duquesne (+1400)
7. St. Bonaventure (+1300)
8. George Mason (+1500)
9. Saint Joseph’s (+2500)
10. La Salle (+35000)
11. Rhode Island (+50000)
12. Fordham (+35000)
13. Davidson (+5000)
14. Saint Louis (+40000)
15, George Washington (+40000)
(odds from DraftKings Sportsbook accurate at time of publish)
Favorite To Win Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament
The Flyers were the preseason favorite to win the conference outright around 3-1. Now in the postseason, even without the top seed, they are back on top of the odds board (+150).
Dayton has a somewhat unique style of play. The Flyers have a KenPom Top-20 rated offense and the best NBA-level player in the conference. However, there is no running and gunning from Anthony Grant’s team. The scoring comes from an offensive style that has one of the slowest tempos in the nation.
This program has just one A-10 tournament title (2003) in its history. Of course the 2020 team with Obi Toppin team was steamrolling the A-10 on its way to a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament before the season was canceled.
Dayton has the best traveling fan base in the conference so they should make some noise in the Barclays Center.
Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Darkhorse
The furthest I could go down the odds board looking for a longer play to even contemplate is Duquesne (+1400). The Dukes went 6-1 to end the regular season after a horrible January took them out of contention. The problem with that option is Dayton, who beat them by double digits twice this season, would be their quarterfinals opponent.
Frank Martin’s surprising UMass team is on the top of the bracket away from the Flyers and Ramblers. The Minutemen beat the Spiders by 10 in Richmond last month.
Players to Watch in Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament
There is an NBA future ahead for Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II who scores 20 points and pulls down eight rebounds a contest. While he is the focus of what the Flyers do on both ends of the court, a pair of guards with a familiar first name for basketball fans, control the backcourt. Kobe Elvis leads the team in assists (3.4 apg) while Koby Brea serves as a spark off the bench ( 10.4 ppg).
Jordan King, now on his third mid-major program, leads Richmond’s back pick and cutting centric offense with 19 ppg.
Loyola’s resurgence after finishing in the A-10 basement last year is led by Des Watson who leads the team in both scoring and rebounding (13.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg) along with the outside threat of Braden Norris (.435 3P%).
Keyshawn Hall from George Mason puts up similar numbers (17.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg) to Holmes.
Keep an eye on a pair of streaky scorers, St. Joseph’s Erik Reynolds II and Dae Dae Grant from Duquesne.
Betting Pick to Win The Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament
Even if the Flyers didn’t win the conference regular season title, they are the best team in the conference with the best player and safely in the NCAA field. The price though is too short.
The Spiders are not only a team with value, they have a strong chance of winning it outright. The No.1 seed obviously puts them in a position to do so even though Dayton will get most of the betting action. Richmond’s passing style and offensive movement works well against teams playing on consecutive days.
Since Loyola will likely play Dayton in the semifinals, Richmond at a slightly less number is a better play than the Ramblers.
If Richmond does make it to the finals, a +475 ticket can be monetized.
Pick: Richmond +475
Makinen Power Ratings for Atlantic 10
Check out the other previews in our 2024 College Basketball Conference Tournament Betting Guide.
